[A-List] Bangladesh Detains U.N.Human Rights Expert

["Yoshie Furuhashi" <critical.montages@xxxxxxxxx>]

<http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6090>
Bangladesh Detains U.N.Human Rights Expert
Sat, 2007-06-09 13:16

By Thalif Deen - Inter Press Service

United Nations, 09 June, (IPS): The United Nations has expressed
concern over the detention of one of its human rights experts by the
Bangladeshi government on charges of corruption.

Sigma Huda, a native of Bangladesh and a U.N. Special Rapporteur on
Trafficking in Persons, has been barred from leaving the country on
the ground she is "a security risk for Bangladesh as she may give
statements detrimental" to the present army-backed interim government
in Dhaka.

Huda was expected to be in Geneva next week where she was scheduled to
address a human rights meeting.

Yves Sorokobi, a spokesperson for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, told
IPS the United Nations has been advised that Huda has been prevented
from leaving Bangladesh, "where she has reportedly been charged under
provisions of anti-corruption legislation in that country."

"We have requested clarification from the Bangladeshi authorities
regarding the legal proceedings and charges against Ms. Huda," he
said.

Sorokobi said the United Nations is seeking further clarification,
particularly in the context of the international convention on
privileges and immunities of U.N. experts on mission and their status,
rights and duties.

The convention protects U.N. experts in the performance of their
duties, including attending and addressing U.N. meetings.

The Institute on Religion and Public Policy released a letter
purported to have been written by Huda, who said: "Whilst I am writing
to you, the Joint Task Force comprising of officers from the armed
forces and the government are searching my chambers and the office
space from where I work as Special Rapporteur."

"They are making inventory of my belongings and not even caring that I
am immune from any (such) indignity under the U.N. Convention on
Privileges and Immunities which Bangladesh has ratified in 1978,
without any reservation."

In her letter, Huda also said the Bangladeshi authorities "have gone
so far as to intimidate my lawyers working in the Office of the
Special Rapporteur seeking their home addresses and making them
witness to what I do not know."

In a statement released Thursday, the president of the Institute on
Religion and Public Policy, Joseph Grieboski, said "such treatment of
an international civil servant dedicated to combating the worst form
of modern slavery is unjust, unjustifiable, illegal and inhumane."

He said the interim government of Bangladesh "has mistakenly believed
that no one is attentive to its treatment of Ms. Huda. The
international community must not remain silent as Ms. Huda is
victimised by this Hensonian [puppet] regime."

Meanwhile, a coalition of non-governmental organisations and human
rights activists, led by the Institute, has written a letter to U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice expressing "our deep concern"
regarding the detention of Huda.

"The detention of Ms. Huda within Bangladesh is a denial by the
government of Bangladesh of her inalienable right to freedom of
movement and a direct attack on both the principles and institution of
the United Nations," the letter said.

Huda "has been an ardent supporter and activist for women's rights, as
well as an advocate for victims of trafficking around the world... It
is truly a tragedy to witness the misuse of power against an
individual who has dedicated her life to protecting the rights of
others."

The letters asks "immediate U.S. intervention" in order to press the
government of Bangladesh to permit Huda to carry out her duties and
responsibilities as U.N. Special Rapporteur.

Since January, the interim government in Bangladesh headed by former
Central Bank Governor Fakhruddin Ahmed has arrested over 170 people on
charges of bribery and corruption.

Those detained include Awami League party General Secretary Abdul
Jalil, and a slew of former ministers who served in the governments of
former prime ministers Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina Wajed.

The probe has reached the highest levels of government with Sheikh
Hasina Wajed being dragged into an investigation that involves the
purchase of some 223 million dollars worth of arms. The former prime
minister has denied the charges.

- Inter Press Service (IPS) News Agency -

--
Yoshie