AI: India bulletin Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit +------------------------------------------------------+ + AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL URGENT ACTION BULLETIN + + Electronic distribution authorised + + This bulletin expires: 26 July 1999. + +------------------------------------------------------+ PUBLIC AI Index: ASA 20/23/99 UA 138/99 Harassment/Fear for safety 14 June 1999 INDIA The family of: Gulsham Bano, 20 (f) Raja Begum (f) Muhammed Shafi Wani Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Gulsham Bano, her mother Raja Begum and father Muhammed Shafi Wani, and their family, who have reportedly been continually harassed by members of the ADA-322 battalion of the Indian army since 19 March 1999, when Gulsham Bano and her mother lodged a complaint that they had been raped by members of the battalion. On 31 May Gulsham Bano and her father were detained for several hours and reportedly threatened with false charges by members of the battalion, in an attempt to force the women to drop the complaint. On 14 March Raja Begum and Gulsham Bano were detained by soldiers of ADA-322 battalion as suspected militants after a landmine exploded near their village, Moradaree, in Mangota Tehsil district, near Doda in Jammu and Kashmir. The two women were detained until 19 March, when they were released without charge. While in custody they were reportedly raped repeatedly by soldiers of the ADA-322 battalion. On their release Gulsham Begum and her mother filed a complaint at Doda police station against the men they alleged had raped them. Amnesty International has received reports that while they were in Doda after filing the complaint, the women were approached by soldiers of the same battalion who threatened to harm male members of their family unless they dropped the complaint. On 31 May Gulsham Bano and her father, Muhammed Shafi Wani, were travelling to Doda when soldiers of ADA-322 battalion stopped the bus and made them get off. The soldiers searched both of them, and accused Muhammed Shafi Wani of carrying a hand grenade and other explosives in his bag. They were taken to Doda police station and later released without charge, reportedly on condition that Raja Begum and Gulsham Bano drop the complaint against their alleged rapists. Amnesty International is concerned about the reports of continued harassment of this family by the security forces and that they are at risk of further human rights violations. The high profile of this case, following public protests by the local population and its being reported in the press, may have contributed to the harassment of the family. To Amnesty International's knowledge, the police have so far taken no action on the complaint lodged by the women against their alleged rapists. +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + Supporters of Amnesty International around the world are + + writing urgent appeals in response to the concerns + + described above. If you would like to join with them in + + this action or have any queries about the Urgent Action + + network or Amnesty International in general, please + + contact one of the following: + + + + Ray Mitchell, ua@amnesty.org.uk (UK) + + Scott Harrison, sharrison@igc.apc.org (USA) + + Guido Gabriel, ggabriel@amnesty.cl.sub.de (Germany) + + Marilyn McKim, mmckim@amnesty.ca (Canada) + + ua@aibf.be (Belgium) + + Anne Nolan, ua@amnesty.iol.ie (Ireland) + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-06.19.99-02:40:34-20304