PUBLIC
AI Index: ASA 20/039/2001
13 July 2001

Further information on UA 162/01 (ASA 20/038/2001, 29 June 2001)

Fear for safety

INDIA

John Abraham
Rina Abraham (his wife)
13 other adivasi (tribal) activists

There are grave concerns for the safety of land rights activist John Abraham. Two other activists were shot dead by police at a protest march on 25 June, in an apparent extrajudicial execution: those arrested after the march apparently overheard police officers discussing the killings, saying that the "other one" - John Abraham - was still "remaining" and that he would be taken care of next.

John Abraham is being sheltered by fellow human rights activists, but he is due to return to Kopargaon district on 18 July for a court hearing, and will then be returning to Puntamba village to inquire into the detention of 43 adivasis since the march.

Fourteen people were arrested after the morcha (protest march) in Puntamba village on 25 June. John Abraham was arrested the day after the march, when he came to the police station to enquire about Rina Abraham, who was one of those arrested. He and the other 14 protestors were released on bail on 9 July, and John Abraham went to stay with relatives. Police apparently came to the house to take him in for further questioning: when the relatives asked to see an arrest warrant, the officers left, saying they would ask another police station to take action. Since then police officers have reportedly come to the house again to ask where John Abraham was.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/ airmail letters in English or your own language:
- urging the authorities to provide John Abraham with immediate protection and take all necessary steps to ensure his safety;
- noting that the Government of Maharashtra has ordered an inquiry into the police firing on the demonstration on 25 June, but urging them to order a judicial inquiry that is fully independent and impartial, and to make its findings public in full;
- urging the authorities to give a commitment that human rights defenders will be free to carry out their peaceful activities without fear of harassment and that action will be taken against anyone interfering with those activities.

APPEALS TO:

Vilasrao Deshmukh
Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Office of the Chief Minister
Mantralaya
Mumbai 400 032
Maharashtra
India
Telegrams: Chief Minister, Mumbai, India
Faxes: + 91 22 2029214
Salutation: Dear Chief Minister

Collector, Ahmednagar
Fax: + 91 241 322432
(A collector is involved in all police affairs, particularly inquiries or disciplinary action)

COPIES TO:

Mr Lal Krishna Advani
Minister of Home Affairs
Ministry of Home Affairs
North Block
New Delhi 110 001
India

and to diplomatic representatives of India accredited to your country.

INDIENS AMBASSAD
BOX 1340
111 83 STOCKHOLM
FAX 08-24 85 05
E-post: information@indianembassy.se

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 24 August 2001.

Source: Amnesty International, International Secretariat,
1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom
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