“European Human Rights Conference on Bangladesh” at the House of Lords, United Kingdom

21 Nov 05 London

Follow up of the 17 June 05 conference at SOAS on “European Human Rights Conference on Bangladesh” was held at House of Lords on 21 Nov 2005. The conference was chaired by Lord Eric Avebury, Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Group. The conference was aimed at to launch a declaration on Bangladesh and to announce an international Human Rights network to implement the resolutions adopted at the conference. Report of 17 June 05 conference on “European Human Rights Conference on Bangladesh” edited by Prof. Menski was also published.

21 Nov conference was addressed by MEP, MP, representatives from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Liberation, Academic, High Commission of Bangladesh, representative from opposition party, Bangladesh (Awami league), members of minority including Jumma Peoples Network UK / Vanishing rites, Hindu Buddha Christian Unity Council UK so on.

On behalf of Jumma Peoples Network UK (JPN UK)/ vanishing rites Ina Hume made a statement. Ms Hume addressed many issues on CHT, among the main issues are related to peace keeping forces involvement at the human rights violation in the CHT, Rape as a weapon of torture being used against indigenous people of the CHT, IP leader summon issue by Parliamentary Standing Committee (Bangladesh).

During her speech members of JPN UK distributed leaflet “Demanding Justice for the Indigenous Jumma People of the CHT” which include implementation of the peace accord with constitutional safe guard, constitutional recognition of the indigenous Jumma people and past human rights violations to be investigated and exemplary punishment to be given to the perpetrators to show that no one (even the military in the CHT) is above the law.

JPN UK’s urges ‘International Human Rights Network’ to set up a working group on the CHT and to investigate ways in which the findings of investigations on human rights violations can be handed over to an independent authority to ascertain the facts of each case and whether or not there is a basis for further legal action.

Members and supporters of JPN UK have attended conference to give their supports. Buddhist monks from Leicester and Birmingham also have come all the way to London to give their supports for Jumma Peoples Network UK.

Statement of Jumma Peoples Network UK / Vanishing Rites’ can be found at the following JPN UK’s web link:

http://www.jpnuk.org.uk/news/oct2005/21nov05state.htm

Distributed JPN UK’s leaflet can be found at the following JPN UK’s web link:

http://www.jpnuk.org.uk/news/oct2005/21nov05leaflet.htm

Resolutions adopted at 17 June 05 conference can be found at the following JPN UK’s web link:

http://www.jpnuk.org.uk/news/jun2005/17Juner.htm

Jumma Peoples Network UK’s (JPN UK) 17 June 05 conference statement can be found at the following JPN UK’s web link:

http://www.jpnuk.org.uk/news/jun2005/17junjpnuk.html

Vanishing Rites 17 June 05 conference statement can be found at the flowing JPN UK’s web link

http://www.jpnuk.org.uk/news/oct2005/17june05vr.htm

Other 17 June 05 Conference details can be found at the following JPN UK’s web link under news dated 17 June 05

http://www.jpnuk.org.uk/archive/jun2005.html