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559. On 9 August 2000, the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent appeal on behalf of ethnic
Chin from Myanmar who were said to be facing imminent and forcible repatriation to
Myanmar, where they allegedly were at risk of torture. The Mizoram state government has
issued an order that all ethnic Chin and other asylum-seekers from Myanmar must leave India on
or before 31 August 2000. The Mizoram state authorities reportedly began arresting these
individuals, who they claim are illegal migrants, on 25 July. At least 100 asylum-seekers are
said to have been recently returned to Myanmar. Those detained are reportedly held in several
jails and police posts, inter alia in Lawngtlai, Saiha, Champhai, and Lunglei, under the
Foreigners Act, which is said to make no provision for the claiming of asylum. The Mizoram
police in Saiha, in the Chimtuipui district, reportedly arrested 79 people which are believed to
be at imminent risk of being handed over to the Myanmar Armed Forces stationed in
Vuangtu village, Thantlang township, in Chin state.
560. On 25 September 2000, the Special Rapporteur sent a joint urgent appeal with the
Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the Special Rapporteur
on the right to freedom of opinion and expression on behalf of Robin Thokchom,
Secretary-General of the All Manipur United Clubs Organization (AMUCO), reportedly
detained in Imphal Central Jail. He was said to have been arrested with another senior member
of AMUCO, a senior member of a human rights organization and Khundrakpam Tomcha, a
member of a Manipur-based armed opposition group, the Revolutionary People’s Front, on
10 September in Imphal, by soldiers from the 17th Battalion of the Assam Rifles. The two other
activists, Ito Tongbam and Surjit Chongthamcha, were said to have been handed over to police
the following day, and have reportedly been charged with conspiring to wage war against the
State and crimes under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. They are said to be currently
on bail. Initially, the Assam Rifles reportedly denied having arrested Robin Thokchom and
Khundrakpam Tomcha, claiming that the two men had escaped arrest. After the police
reportedly found Khundrakpam Tomcha’s body on the afternoon of 12 September, the
Assam Rifles allegedly claimed that Khundrakpam Tomcha had been killed on the night
of 11 September when he had resisted arrest, and that they had arrested Robin Thokchom when
they found him hiding nearby. The Assam Rifles reportedly handed him over to police
on 13 September, after an order from the Guwahati High Court. In custody, he was said to have
been blindfolded, kicked and beaten, and slapped on his ears. A court reportedly ordered his
release on bail on 16 September, but before he could be released an order was allegedly passed
for his detention under the National Security Act, which is said to permit administrative
detention for up to one year.
Follow-up to previously transmitted communications
561. By a letter dated 3 March 2000, the Government responded to a number of cases
transmitted by the Special Rapporteur on torture and the Special Rapporteur on violence against
women on 22 November 1999.
562. Concerning Bina Das (E/CN.4/2000/9, para. 501), the Government replied that the
allegations made against the Border Security Force personnel were totally baseless and that it
appeared to be family problems that had led to the death of Bina Das. In this context, two
persons, Mohan Das and Bapuram Das were arrested and detained.
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