E/CN.4/1993/26
page 15
40.
In addition to the above-mentioned the Special Rapporteur sent an urgent
appeal to the Government on 21 February 1992 on behalf of Kanti Charan Chakma,
Bandi Charan Chakma, aged 17, and Tungo Chakma, with respect to whom fears
were expressed that they might be at risk of being tortured. According to the
information received, these persons were arrested on 14 January 1992, during
the campaign for local elections in Chittagong Hill Tracts. They were taken
to Baraitali army camp by members of the Bangladesh military stationed in
the Chittagong Hill Tracts. It was also reported that they were held
incommunicado and that another person arrested at the same time,
Mr. Abiran Chakma, had died as a result of excessive beating.
Information submitted by the Government in connection with Commission
resolution 1992/42
41.
On 6 April 1992 the Government submitted a list of people who had been
killed or kidnapped in terrorist acts carried out in the Hill districts of
Bandarban, Khagrachari and Rangamati.
Bhutan
Information transmitted to the Government and replies received thereon
42.
By letter dated 21 August 1991 the Special Rapporteur communicated to
the Government that he had received information on alleged abuse and torture,
including the rape of teenage girls and old women carried out by security
forces in Bhutan. He also communicated the following individual cases,
to which the Government replied on 20 October 1992.
43.
Jayanarayan Bhandari was arrested without a warrant by the army
on 9 November 1991 and imprisoned in the district jail of Samdrupjongkhar,
where he was whipped and kicked on the genitals, punched in the stomach and
immersed in cold water. He was released on 21 February 1992.
44.
With respect to this case the Government reported that
Jayanarayan Bhandari was arrested on 9 December 1991 for aiding and
abetting a terrorist. Investigations revealed that he made a full
confession of his links with the Bhutan Peoples Party as soon as he was
arrested. There is no evidence whatsoever to show that he was inhumanely
treated while in detention. There are strict government orders to police
officers not to torture or ill-treat prisoners in any way while in detention.
The agency in Bhutan which is responsible for investigating allegations of
torture or ill-treatment of prisoners and prosecution of those responsible is
the Ministry of Home Affairs. The investigations are carried out methodically
and thoroughly by senior officers not below the rank of director. Whenever
any evidence is detected of police high-handedness or violation of rules and
regulations, the concerned police officers are severely punished. The
question of giving any compensation to the relatives of Jayanarayan Bhandari
does not arise as he confessed to aiding and abetting a terrorist, and he had
also participated in several acts of terrorism.
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