INDIA SRI LANKA PAKISTAN SAARC MALDIVES HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2006 NEPAL BHUTAN BANGLADESH ASIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2006 S A R C ASIAN CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS edited by: Suhas Chakma SAARC Human Rights Report 2006 Edited by: Suhas Chakma Director, Asian Centre for Human Rights Published by: Asian Centre for Human Rights C-3/441-C, Janakpuri, New Delhi 110058 INDIA Phone/Fax: +91 11 25620583, 25503624 Website: www.achrweb.org Email: [email protected] First published 2006 © Asian Centre for Human Rights, 2006. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission of the publisher. Photos: Courtesy - India (The Tribune, India, 26 April 2005 at http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20050426/punjab.htm) Sri Lanka (http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/1469/r28473599251cy.jpg) Pakistan (BBC News, 3 March 2005 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4315491.stm) Maldives (Minivannews.com; http://www.minivannews.com/photos/12-13/pages/bf%20(24)_jpg.htm) Nepal (Kantipur Online, Nepal at http://www.kantipuronline.com/admin/nepfrontimg/kpr2005-7-25.jpg) Bhutan (http://ec.europa.eu/echo/images/photos/nepal/nepal_01.jpg) Bangladesh (http://www.albd.org/newsletter/2004/hartal_women_torture.jpg) ISBN : 81-88987-15-8 Price Rs. 745/- SAARC Human Rights Report 2006 iii Table of Contents Preface . .1 1. SAARC Human Rights Violators Index 2006 I. Indicators for ranking . .3 II. Explanation about ranking . .3 II. SAARC Human Rights Violators Index . .4 Bangladesh: Rank 1st . .4 Bhutan: Rank 2nd . .6 Nepal: Rank 3rd . .7 Maldives: Rank 4th . .8 Pakistan: Rank 5th . .9 Sri Lanka: Rank 6th . .10 India: Rank 7th . .11 2. Bangladesh I. Ranking in Human Rights Violators Index: 1st . .15 II. Political freedom . .15 III. Human rights violations by the security forces . .16 a. Right to life . .17 b. Torture . .18 c. Arbitrary arrest under Section 54 . .18 d. Arrest under false charges for quick promotion . .19 IV. Judiciary and administration of justice . .20 a. Attacks on judges . .20 b. Judicial delay . .20 V. Status of National Human Rights Institutions . .21 VI. Repression on human rights defenders . .21 VII. Freedom of the press . .22 VIII. Violations of the rights of indigenous peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts . .24 IX. Violations of the rights of minorities . .25 a. Violence against Ahmadiyas . .25 b. Persecution of non-Muslim minorities . .26 X. Violations of the prisoners' rights . .26 XI. Violence against women . .27 a. Status of minority and indigenous women . .28 b. Trafficking of women and children . .28 XII. Violations of the rights of the child . .29 iv ACHR XIII. Status of refugees . .29 a. Plight of the stateless Biharis . .29 b. Plight of the Rohingya refugees . .30 XIV. Status of Internally Displaced Persons . .30 XV. Violations of International Humanitarian Laws by Armed Opposition Groups . .31 3. Bhutan I. Ranking in Human Rights Violators Index: 2nd . .33 II. Political freedom . .33 III. Right to life . .34 IV. Judiciary and administration of justice . .34 V. Status of National Human Rights Institutions . .34 VI. Repression on human rights defenders . .34 VII. Freedom of the press . .35 VIII. Violations of the rights of minorities . .35 a. India's obstruction for exercising the right to return . .35 b. Deplorable conditions of the refugees . .36 c. Denial of cultural rights . .37 IX. Violence against women . .37 X. Violations of the rights of the child . .37 4. Nepal I. Ranking in Human Rights Violators Index: 3rd . .39 II. Political freedom . .39 III. Human rights violations by the security forces . .40 a. Extrajudicial killings . .40 b. Involuntary disappearances . .41 c. Torture and use of disproportionate force . .42 d. Impunity . .43 IV. Judiciary and administration of justice . .44 V. Effectiveness of National Human Rights Institutions . .46 VI. Repression on human rights defenders . .47 VII. Freedom of the press . .47 a. Attacks following the Royal Coup . .48 b. Torture and arbitrary detention . .49 c. Attacks by the Maoists . .49 VIII. Violence against women . .50 IX. Violations of the rights of indigenous peoples . .51 X. Violations of the rights of the Dalits . .51 XI. Violations of the rights of the child . .52 SAARC Human Rights Report 2006 v XII. Violations of the prisoners' rights . .53 XIII. Status of Internally Displaced Persons . .53 XIV. Status of the Tibetan refugees . .54 XV. Violations of International Humanitarian Laws by the Maoists . .55 a. Arbitrary killings . .55 b. Illegal confinement and torture . .56 c. Abduction . .57 d. Economic blockade and its consequences . ..