Skip to content Skip to navigation

FORUM-ASIA condemns Tawang killing

By AT News |

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) strongly condemns the excessive use of force by police which has led to the death of two protestors in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh in the north-eastern state of India on 2 May 2016. Two people were shot dead by police at around 4 p.m. and many were injured when a group of people protested against the arrest of Mr. Lobsang Gyatso, a Buddhist monk who has been actively opposing mega dam projects in Tawang. FORUM-ASIA demands the Government of India to conduct a prompt, full, impartial, and independent investigation into the death of the two protestors and take actions against those responsible.

On 2 May 2016, a group of people gathered outside the Tawang police station to support Mr. Lobsang Gyatso and demand his release. Being denied of bail, he was brought back and secretly taken into the police station bypassing the protestors in the front of the police station. The police opened fire at the protestors without any warning when they tried to move towards the police station. Media report indicated that the two protestors—21-year old Nyima Wangdi, a monk from Tawang and 31-year old Tsering Tempa, a resident of Jangda village—were shot twice and shot in the forehead, respectively, with seven others injured. Mr. Lobsang Gyatso was given bail after a few hours.

 

Authorities in Arunachal Pradesh have approved the construction of about 168 mega dam projects in the state. Thirteen of these projects, which are to be located in Tawang, have been opposed by the indigenous people of the state.

 

Mr. Lobsang Gyatso is the Secretary of the Save Mon Region Federation (SMRF), an organisation of the Monpa community in the Mon-Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh. Under his leadership, the SMRF has been protesting against ecologically destructive hydropower projects, demanding accountability in state development projects, and campaigning against corruption.

 

FORUM-ASIA was informed that, on 26 April 2016, Mr. Lobsang Gyatso was arrested for allegedly leading a group of people from Gongkhar village where the 6 MW Mukto Shakangchu project is coming up, and later released on bail. He was rearrested on 28 April 2016 for his critical comments regarding the protests recorded in an audio clip circulated on social media, and later denied bail.

 

“The right to freedom of assembly is a human right and not a privilege. This right should be exercised without arbitrary interference from the State. State also has the obligation towards ensuring protection of the right to freedom of assembly”, says Evelyn Balais-Serrano, Executive Director of FORUM-ASIA. “Credible investigation must be ensured in this case to fix the accountability of the law enforcement officers for a shooting without prior warning”, she adds.

 

In February 2016, two United Nations Special Rapporteurs, Maina Kiai and Christof Heyns, recommended in a joint report that “force shall not be used unless it is strictly unavoidable, and if applied it must be done in accordance with international human rights law”. The report further clarifies that “States and their law enforcement agencies and officials are obligated under international law to respect and protect, without discrimination, the rights of all those who participate in assemblies, as well as monitors and bystanders. The normative framework governing the use of force includes the principles of legality, precaution, necessity, proportionality and accountability.”

 

“Any use of force must be kept to a bare minimum and be proportionate”, says Anjuman Ara Begum, South Asia Programme Officer of FORUM-ASIA.

 

FORUM-ASIA believes that an independent investigation on the whole incident is essential, focusing on the role of political leaders and police officials, in order to ascertain the proportionality of the force used and to fix accountability for the loss of human life.

 

FORUM-ASIA condemns the killing of the protestors and calls on the Government of India to ensure freedom of assembly and to protect the life and liberty of the protestors.

  • 11252 reads

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Centre likely to restore employees' DA

The Centre is likely to restore the employees' Dearness Allowances(DA) effective from July, this year. The government had decided to not dole out the Allowances after the onslaught of the new coronavirus and the subsequent prolonged lock-down imposed to contain the meance in the country  However, as its earlier decision the government, reportedly, mulled to restore the DA, which would benefit lakhs of its empolyees. On March this year, the government informed in the Parliament that the Central government employess' would receive the upcoming July DA. If it happens, the DA of the Central Government employees would leap to 28 percent from the current 17 percent.

Central govt employees to receive bihu holiday

After a massive protest, the Central government has, reportedly, decided to restore the Rongali Bihu holiday for its employees posted in Assam. The government, of late, announced no holiday in the upcoming bihu for its employees posted in the state, which has created a massive uproar. Realising the gravity of the situation, the concerned authority announced restoration of the Rongali bihu holiday. In a meeting of the Central Govt. Employees Welfare Co-ordination Committee organised  at the Accountant General office located in the Beltola area of the Guwahati, on Monday, it was resolved to restore the bihu holiday . In a communique, the Committe's General Secretary said, “ As...

Essay competition on Bihu organized by ICOMOS

The Indian branch of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) as well as International Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH) has organized an online essay competition on Bihu. The North East Zone committee of ICOMOS India is managing this competition. The competition is open for the students of graduate level and post graduate level anywhere in India. The NRI Assamese students can also participate in a separate category. The topics are as follows. For degree level students in India : History and Evolution of Bihu as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, for post graduate level students in India : Why should Bihu be included in Representative List of Intangible Cultural...

UFLA-I releases Ram Kumar

Guwahati : The United Liberation Front of Something has released Ram Kumar four months after they kidnapped the private oil exploration firm in Arunachal Pradesh. Kumar was released at an undisclosed location along the Indo-Myanmar border in Nagaland on Monday wee hours.  Kumar was kidnapped along with Pranab Kumar Gogoi on December 21,2021 whom they freed on Saturday.  ULFA-I took the duo to their captivity claiming Rs 20 crore and in February the insurgents threatened to kill Kumar and Gogoi for failing to meet the demand. But they suspended the extreme step under the mounting pressure from all sides.

Electioneering ends finally

Guwahati : The heat and dust of the electioneering for the final phase of Assam Assembly polls have ended on Sunday. Union home minister Amit Shah held a rally in Sorbhog in the morning and left two others unattended in Bhawanipur and Jalukbari following the insurgent attack on central police forces in Jharkhand early morning. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal attended a huge rally in Jalukbari on behalf of Himanta Biswa Sarma in the afternoon. Congress party also held a series of rallies along with BPF and AIUDF in lower Assam and BTR in support of the oppidition grand alliance.  Polls are slated for 40 seats on Tuesday which would be crucial for both the coalition.

Gauhati Press Club Condemns Minister Pijyush Hazarika

The audio clip wherein Minister and BJP candidate from Jagiroad constituency Pijush Hazarika is, reportedly, heard intimidating a television journalist over phone for airing a news report is highly condemnable and cannot be condoned at any cost, said a statement issued by the Gauhati Press Club. The Press Club, while condemning the act of intimidation in the strongest words is further of the opinion that it is very unbecoming of a public representative to threaten a journalist of dire consequences, no matter what. At a time when the protection of journalists has become a cause of concern, such an uncalled-for attitude by a public representative comes as a shocker.  “If he had any...

Voting underway in 47 seats

Guwahati: Amid an unprecedented security arrangement, brisk polling is going on in 47 assembly constituencies where both BJP and Congress have high hopes on Saturday.  Polling began on a brisk note at 7 in the morning where the voters lined up to exercise their franchise.  Chief minister Sarbanabd Sonowal, opposition leader Debabrata Saikia, assembly Speaker Hitendranath Goswami. State Congress president Ripun Bora are prominent among those are in the fray on Saturday.  The polling which began at 7 in the morning will end at 6 in the afternoon.

Workshop on wildlife crime scene

GUWAHATI: The clandestine but burgeoning trade in illegal wildlife parts/products has reached an alarming proportion across the globe posing serious threat to wildlife resources in the planet. Prevention of wildlife crimes like poaching and trade in wildlife parts remains a Himalayan task for enforcement agencies across frontiers and demands sustained high-level coordination among various agencies including police, intelligence agencies, security forces, frontier guards, transport sector key stake holders etc. An adequate level of awareness about the alarming global scenario of wildlife crimes and law provisions in vogue to deal with such crimes in respective country among all concerned...

Assam Para Swimming team won 10 medals

GUWAHATI: Assam Para Swimming team won 10 medals in the XX National Para Swimming Championships held at Bangalore on March 21-22. Among the 10 medals 7 are gold, one silver and two bronze. Medal winners are: Sahana Begum (2 gold, 1 Bronze), Anyatam Rajkumar (2 Gold and 1 Bronze), Krishna Das (2 gold), AnowarSikdar (1 gold, 1 silver).

Virtual spotlight to mark Earth Hour on March 27

Guwahati 22nd March 2021: Over the last 15 years, the lights-off moment saw entire streets, buildings, landmarks, and city skylines go dark - an unmissable sight that drew public attention to nature loss and the climate crisis. Earth Hour India too resonated with landmark monuments like India Gate, Parliament House, streets, and buildings go dark for an hour. But due to the on-going pandemic, Earth Hour this year, on 27th March 2021, wants to raise awareness and create the same unmissable sight online through a Virtual Spotlight. The goal is simple, to make the world see our planet, the issues we face, and our place within it in a new light. The event, ‘Speak Up for Nature with Shantanu...