International Internship Programme 2011

Greetings from the May 18 Memorial Foundation!

We are in the middle of recruiting 2 international interns for 2011.
The deadline of the submission is 20 Jan. 2011.

About International Internship Programme

The International Internship Programme strives to contribute to the development of democracy and human rights throughout our international network by recruiting 2 Interns from overseas, who have been working for human rights, democracy, and peace building organizations in their countries, and by giving them an opportunity to experience and learn the history and development process of human rights and democracy in South Korea, particularly the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Interns will have the chance to exchange and network with Korean civil society groups. They can also choose or will be assigned research during the course of their internship. As interns, they will be assigned particular duties and responsibilities as part of the International Cooperation Project.

Goals of the Internship Programme

The annual internship programme is an imperative part of the Foundation’s mandate to promote international solidarity and further the promotion of human rights across the world through the internship programme.
The Foundation aims:
1) to build concrete solidarity through the exchange of human resources
2) to nurture outstanding individuals to lead global civil society.

Main Policy of International Internship

The May 18 Memorial Foundation believes that the International Internship Programme is a part of our international networking efforts with international civil communities. It is not only a programme for individuals to build their career but also a cooperative programme between network organizations allowing the sharing of ideas and mutual prosperity for a better future.

In this sense, we are not just seeking those who want to have good qualifications for ones’ own personal gain. Applicants should be supported by their organizations and are required to go back to their organizations after finishing the internship.
We require a recommendation letter from the representative of the organizations in which applicants are involved.

This is a co-parntership programme, so organizations are also encouraged to select staff who are interested in applying for this internship programme.

Eligibility

Applicants should be a working member of an organization: applicants cannot apply as individuals without the knowledge/support/recommendation of their current organization or network.

Applicants who have minimum of 3 years NGO or social development work experience, though not necessarily in the field of human rights, are encouraged to apply.

Applicants needed to have received a proper education. Preference will be given to those with degrees in human rights-related subjects such as social sciences and communication, and to those who have specialized in human rights issues within these disciplines.

Applicants must be computer literate (email/internet, web page, lay-out/design, etc) and proficient in English; working knowledge of Korean is an advantage.

Time Frame

2 Interns accepted for this programme will participate for 10 months, for the period March 2011 to December 2011.

Conditions of Service

The relationship between the Foundation and the intern is one of mutual benefit. Interns are assigned to a unit of the Foundation according to the needs of the office and their own areas of interest. They are involved, inter alia, in managing workshops, preparing for the Human Rights Folk School, conducting their own research, working on human rights issues, drafting analytical papers and reports, providing substantive and technical service, depending on the needs of the Office. At the same time, the programme purposes to increase the intern's understanding of current human rights issues at the international level.

Interns are assigned to work with a supervisor who is responsible for providing them with an orientation of duties and a work plan. Upon completion of the internship, the interns are required to complete their final reports describing what was attained during the internship. Additionally, every intern is demanded to complete an evaluation questionnaire on his/her assignment and to submit it to the May 18 Memorial Foundation.

Interns must fulfill their duties and abide by the rules and regulations of the programme.

In case of illness or other circumstances that might prevent the completion of the internship, interns will inform their supervisors.

There is no expectancy of employment at the end of the internship and interns cannot apply for any jobs or pursue a higher degree until the termination of the internship.

Interns are supposed to work from 9 AM to 6PM Monday through Friday and to carry out the duties assigned to them.
They receive summer holiday and special holiday on December. They are compelled by the same duties and obligations as regular staff members; in particular, all confidential and unpublished information obtained during the internship may not be used by interns.

Sojourn Expenses

Travel costs, airfare and living expenses are provided by the Foundation. Housing will be provided but utilities (telephone/internet, electricity, and gas) will be paid by interns. Public health insurance will be given to cover accidents/illness incurred during an internship.

Requirements

Applicants should submit the following documentation:

• Completed, dated and signed internship application form
• Curriculum Vitae
• A scanned copy of valid and not expired passport
• A write-up detailing your expectations, objectives, and interest in the May 18 internship programme (not more than two pages).
• An official endorsement letter from your superior or head of your organization.
• An endorsement/Referral Letter from any Alumni/Contact/Network of the Foundation in your country or abroad. (Please check our website links at
http://eng.518.org/eng/html/main.html?TM18MF=06010000
• An attestation of conscription in undergraduate studies and a list of courses taken, transcripts of grades or diplomas; a written sample of research work or an abstract of academic papers (3-10 pages maximum), if undertaken.

Application Deadline

December 17, 2010 until January 20, 2011

Notification

Selected candidates are normally informed around the last week of January 2011. Unsuccessful candidates will be notified by email and are encouraged to apply again the following year.

Contact

Culture and Solidarity Team
The May 18 Memorial Foundation
Postcode 502-260 Sangchon-dong 1268 5.18 Memorial Culture Centre Seo-Gu, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

Phone: +82 62 457 0518

Fax: +82 62 456 0519

Email: 518interns@gmail.com

Please send all the documentations listed above with the application form as scanned documents either in PDF format or as WORD attachments.
Please visit our website for the latest announcements at
http://eng.518.org/eng

If you have further information please contact 518interns@gmai.com

BIOGRAPHY

Sushil Pyakurel

Sushil Pyakurel is the President of the Accountability Watch Committee (AWC), Nepal, and a member of the Dialogue Group for the Constituent Assembly. He is also the founder and former Chairperson of the Nepalese human rights organization INSEC and a former Commissioner of Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

For over two decades Pyakurel has been actively involved in the promotion and protection of human rights and democracy in Nepal. In 1984 he co-founded the Forum for the Protection of Human Rights, the first human rights organization in Nepal. This was the first of many organizations founded and managed by Pyakurel in the course of his long and impressive career in the field of human rights. In 1985 he was appointed General Secretary of Forum for Democracy and National United (FODENU) and in 1987 he became a founding member of the Free Political Prisoners Campaign. As Pyakurel’s reputation grew, he became known not only as a local leader but also as a national representative of Nepal. For example in 1989 he had the opportunity to lead the Nepalese delegation to “People’s Plan for 21st Century” (PP21) held in Japan. In the same year Pyakurel founded the Informal Service Center (INSEC), which has gone on to become a leading human rights organization in Nepal. Pyakurel held the office of Chairperson of INSEC for ten years, during which he often represented his country at the international level and explained the human rights situation in Nepal to global actors. In 1990, for instance, he participated in the World NGO Congress on Human Rights, New Delhi, India, and in 1993 he attended the UN World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna as a member of Nepalese NGO delegation.

After ten years with INSEC, Pyakurel took the post of Vice-president of the Asian Network for free election (ANFREL), an international organization monitoring the election process which focuses on Asia and the Pacific. This role once again put him in close contact with the international community.

In the 2000s Pyakurel made several significant and, on occasion, controversial contributions to the field of human rights. Most notably, he boldly criticized the King of Nepal’s decision to assume executive state power on 1st February 2005. As a result, he was burdened with travel restrictions until 20th March. On this date his travel restrictions were unwillingly relaxed following the submission of a letter written by eight US Senators and pressure from the international community. Soon after this, the Nepalese Government permitted him to visit the USA where he had the opportunity to brief the US Senate and other political leaders and international human rights organizations about the human rights situation in Nepal following the royal takeover. Around this time he was also invited to address the European Parliament with regards to the human right situation in Nepal, where he raised the issue of sanctioning the royal family and others involved in the royal oppression.

Since the peace agreement of November 2006, Pyakurel has been engaged in raising national and international attention and support for elections to the constituent assembly. In 2008 Pyakurel was appointed President of the Accountability Watch Committee. AWC is a loose national network of individuals and organizations working in the fields of human rights, rule of law, accountability and transitional justice in Nepal. It aims to bring together the “fragmented efforts of civil society” through advocacy and coordination. The organization also seeks to arrest the spread of impunity and to address the needs of those suffering continued human rights abuses.

Other the course of his career Pyakurel has made a strong impact on the human rights situation both in Nepal and in the international arena. His personal commitment to human rights has won him the respect of a diverse range of social and political actors. As a result of his involvement, the seven political parties (SPA) and the Maoists have all agreed to respect certain human rights principles. He also played a crucial role in pushing for the establishment of the Office of High Commissioner in Nepal at the 61st annual meeting of the UNHRC, using his in-depth knowledge of human rights in Nepal and his understanding of the United Nations and the international community.

His efforts and longstanding reputation in this field have gained Pyakurel extensive recognition. In 1991 he received a Letter of Outstanding Contribution from His Majesty’s Government’s Committee on Investigation of Cases of Disappearances during the Panchayat regime, and in 1997 he received the National Award for Outstanding Social Activist from Antarastriya Manch (International Forum) Magazine. His contribution is also recognized at the local level, and in 1998 he received an award from the Organization of Downtrodden Communities for supporting their movement fighting against untouchability and social discrimination.

To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the May 18 Memorial Foundation is awarding the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights 2010 to Sushil Pyakurel. Just as the May 18 Democratic Uprising expressed the spirit of the citizens of Gwangju who protested against the usurpation of power by the military regime, so Pyakurel’s life reveals a spirit which will not succumb to physical oppression and imprisonment. In this way Pyakurel’s life and spirit run parallel to the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. In awarding this prize to Sushil Pyakurel, the Award Committee hopes that his life and work will continue to promote the values of May 18 by developing democracy and human rights in Nepal. We hereby offer our sincere congratulations to Sushil Pyakurel and present this prize to him in the spirit of international solidarity.

Sushil Pyakurel Award Ceremony Speech

Sushil Pyakurel
Award Ceremony Speech

Winner, 2010 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights 18 May, 2010
Gwangju, South Korea

Honorable members of The May 18 Memorial Foundation
Fellow activists of democratic and human rights movement from different parts of the world,
Ladies and gentlemen!

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for giving me this glorious Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award 2010. I take this award as recognition of my struggle for democracy and human rights for the last 30 years. In course of these last thirty years of continuous struggle for human rights and democracy, I have seen and passed through various struggles such as peasants’ and workers’ movements against feudalism and the people's movement against autocratic monarchy. These struggles have made me realize that without a just distribution of resources and power, the foundation of human rights cannot be built. I am honored to receive this award which is given in the memory of those who have sacrificed their lives during the democratic movement. The spirit of Gwangju shall always inspire us to struggle in defense of democracy. Gwangju is not an unfamiliar name for me and among the youths who have fought in support of democracy in the decade of the 1980s and it is a name frequently recalled which remains as a source of inspiration to many of us. This award has inspired me to stand firmly on the path led by the Gwangju movement of May 18th.

I want to express my commitment to devote the rest of my life for the protection and promotion of human rights. I would like to share with you that I feel very much honored being awarded with such a glorious award, and I would like to dedicate this award to my late Comrade Prakash Kaphley who always inspired and led me in the struggle for Human Rights and Democracy. I also take it as an honor towards the whole democratic movement of Nepal.

At this moment, I would also like to remember the heroes who became injured in course of the Gwangju democratic uprising and to express my heartfelt respect to the martyrs who have raised their voices in favour of freedom of the people and against all kinds of oppressive rules. I would also like to salute the people of Gwangju whereby democracy in Korea is getting strengthened under Gwangju spirit and other Asian countries too have to learn lesson from it. Particularly, South Asian countries have to internalize the Gwangju spirit, as this is a region of vast population, plurality in terms of culture, language, economic status, climate and environment. The abolition of dictatorial and military regime in South Asia opened a way to establish somehow democratic system. All the countries except one in South Asia are republican states. The other part of the story is that this is the region of poverty and hunger where millions of people are forced to live under absolute poverty line. Exclusion, exploitation and social injustice are rampant in each of the countries. Impunity and lack of accountability towards truth, justice and reparation as well as extra judicial killing, torture, disappearances and other forms of heinous human rights violations as well as armed insurgency has become very common phenomenon in South Asia. It is equally sad that the region has been seen as one of the base area for international terrorism.

In spite of these contexts and challenges in the region, I have been struggling to protect human rights and defend the democratic system. Freedom and justice for the citizen has remained the basis of my struggle wherever I have worked. But I feel that we have not been able to comprehend citizen’s freedom and justice properly. I acknowledge receiving the Gwangju prize for Human Rights Award 2010 as a source of great inspiration, as the greatest achievement of my life. In this auspicious moment, I would also like to affirm that certain portion of this Award amount will be utilized in memory of my late Comrade Prakash.

Finally, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the 2010 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee for nominating me as the recipient of this glorious Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award 2010.
Thank you.

Announcement for 2010 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School

The Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School started in 2004. Till now, 127 people from 22 countries have participated. The aim of the Folk school is to introduce the participants to Korean History and various democratic movements, including the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, through both theoretical and practical experiences.

The Folk School strives to contribute to the development of democracy and human rights through out Asia by hosting 20 invitees from all over Asia who have been working for human rights and peace organizations in their own countries. The emphasis is on organizational partnership, so applicants endorsed by their organization will be given priority.

Junior Staff - 8 (with 2-5 years experience)

Middle Management/Advisory- 8 (with 5-15 years experience)

Senior/Director- 4 (with more than 15 years experience)

One of the perks of attending the Folk School is the opportunity to be endorsed for a scholarship at Sungkonghoe University’s Master of Arts in Inter-Asia NGO Studies (MAINS). Students will be chosen and selected by the folk school committee based on their active participation and performance during the folk school.

Applicants are advised to read the guidelines carefully. The foundation will only accept and consider applicants who will properly comply with the set guidelines and rules.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

See Application forms for more details.

Useful Information

Applicants should ensure that they have no potential visa problems. If an applicant is denied entry to Korea because of personal history which they did not disclose to the May 18 Memorial Foundation, the foundation will absolutely not cover their travel expenses. This is the applicant’s responsibility.

If an applicant later decides not to come to the folk school (cancels their application) after they have accepted a place, the May Memorial Foundation will not accept any applications from their organization for three years.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation will cover the following expenses during the programme:

l Visa fees

l International airfare to Korea

l Transportation in Korea

l Accommodation

The following expenses will NOT be covered:

l Internal transportation, including internal flights, in your country (for example, to the airport or to the embassy)

l Official fees other than visa fees (for example, travel tax)

Please send your application to

518folkschool@gmail.com

Application deadline May 31, 2010.

Period of event: August 09 – August 27, 2010

Call for nominations for Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award 2010.

Call for nominations for Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award 2010.
Each year, the May 18 Memorial Foundation announces this award in a spirit of solidarity and gratitude to those who helped them in their struggle for democratization. The award goes to one individual or organization who has contributed to the promotion and advancement of human rights, democracy and peace in their work.

Candidates eligible for the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights are nominated by other individuals or organizations. An individual cannot nominate himself or herself.

Core criteria:
1) An outstanding person or group who is active in the promotion and advocacy of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights.
2) A person or group working for the reunification of Korea.
Nominations will be taken from November to the first week of May. Preliminary and final reviews of nominees take place from May to April, and the winner of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award will be announced in the last week of April.
November 2009
Announcement and nomination forms are sent out. The Committee sends out invitation letters containing forms to persons who may be interested in making a nomination.

01 March 2010
Deadline for submission of the form and related documents. The Committee assesses the candidates' work and prepares a shortlist.

April 2010
The committee reviews the shortlist and consults advisers as to their knowledge of chosen candidates. The advisers do not directly evaluate nominations nor give explicit recommendations. On April 23, 2010, committee members will choose a winner and the next day a public announcement and press conference will be held to announce the winner.

18 May 2010
Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award Ceremony. The prizewinner receives the award.
The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award will be presented to the laureate at a ceremony in Gwangju, Republic of Korea on May 18, which is the 30th Anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising. The Award consists of a gold medal, a certificate and a 50 Million Korean Won (KRW 50,000,000.00) grant to support the ongoing work of the laureate.
The annual Gwangju Prize for Human Rights has the following aims:1) To enhance the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising by recognizing individuals, groups and institutions who have contributed to protecting the human rights of the excluded, impoverished and disempowered at the grassroots level.2) To reward individuals, groups and institutions for promoting the goals of the May 18 Democratic Uprising as a movement toward peace, unification and cooperation.
Application Form (Download)
The application deadline is 01 March 2010.

New 2009 Grantees Announced

FEDO and Kalikasan-PNE Receive 518 Grants

This year’s call for the 2009 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia (GDHRPA), received 26 applications where two organizations will be supported for one year. The grant is awarded to non-government organizations that continually play a significant role in strengthening people’s participation and empowerment in creating a civil society that respect human rights and protect democracy and peace and encourages international solidarity. Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) of Nepal and Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (KPNE) of the Philippines will receive this year’s 2009 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia (GDHRPA). The one-year grant support amounts to KRW 3,000,000.00. Read more here : http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05010000&idx=421&page=1&key=&keyword=

Protest against the Demolition of Old Provincial Hall

On a chilly Saturday afternoon of 13 December 2008, Gwangju citizens and mostly protectors of the memory of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising (popularly known as 518) marched from Chonnam University to the Old Provincial Hall to demonstrate and protest the City administration’s plan of demolishing Gwangju’s symbol of democracy to give way to a Asia Culture Complex.

The parade from Chonnam University was lead by a salmunori group followed by a multisectoral bearer of a big Korean flag, one of the bearer was an old man who walked all the way through the parade limping with his cane. A streamer was held by an all men–old guards of 518 carrying the main message of the protest. Contingents of the mobilization came from different civil society groups including their friends and allies.

From 왜가리

From 왜가리

From 왜가리

From 왜가리

The more than 5 km walk that stopped in front of the Old Provincial Hall occupied a single lane where protesters set up a stage and raised the issue to the public and commuters of Geumnamro through songs and speeches. Candles where lighted and slogans shouted. The program that started by a lively drum beats was ended with a community singing of a protest song made popular in the 80s.

Statement of Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Winners on the 60th Anniversary of UDHR

Message on the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Laureates of the Gwang...

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Activism Politics universal declaratio the may 18 memorial

Please visit and check these links:

Gwangju Prize Winners' Statement - http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05020000&idx=413&page=1

Mr. Muneer Malik's Message - http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05020000&idx=412&page=1

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi's Message - http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05020000&idx=410&page=1

Nomination is Now Open for 2009 Gwangju Prize

“We feel vindicated that our struggle has borne some fruit and we expect that the democratic forces shall forever close the door to military intervention in the body politic by strengthening all the institutions of the state to perform the functions assigned to them under the Constitution. We feel that we have woken up the slumbering giant – the people of Pakistan- to take charge of its own destiny. Our movement does not end with the reinstatement of the deposed judges. It continues and is in fact a never ending journey during the course of which we shall continue to strive for an independent judiciary, for maintaining the supremacy of the Rule of Law, the Constitution and the establishment of civilian supremacy in running the affairs of the Pakistan. And we shall continue to draw inspiration from the Gwangju Democratization Movement of May 1980”.

Those were the concluding statements of Mr. Muneer Malik’s valedictory speech when he received his 2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award. The 2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee chose Mr. Malik for his fight against military rule in Pakistan. His struggle for the restoration of democracy and human rights is laudable. The award bestowed on him is a message of encouragement to all the citizens, human rights activists and lawyers in Pakistan, who are fighting all together with Muneer A. Malik.

Now, on its 10th year, the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights is open for nomination. Since its inception, this prestigious award has been given to 10 individuals and a Korean organization. In 2006 and 2007 saw co-winners receiving the award. Among the winners include Xanana Gusmao (Timor Leste), Daw Aung San Suu Kyii (Burma), Wardah Hafidz (Indonesia), Malalai Joya (Afghanistan) and Irom Sharmila (India).

For 2009, the prize at stake is 50 Million Korean Won (KRW 50,000,000.00), a gold medal and a certificate. The winner will be invited to grace the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award Night on 18 May 2009, in Gwangju, Republic of Korea. This yearly award is sponsored by the May 18 Memorial Foundation.

The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights was established to celebrate the spirit of May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising by recognizing both individuals, groups or institutions in Korea and abroad that have contributed in promoting and advancing human rights, democracy and peace in their work. The prize is awarded by the citizens of Gwangju in the spirit of solidarity and gratitude from those whom they have received help in their struggle for democratization. It is hoped that through this award the spirit and message of May 18 will be immortalized in the hearts and mind of humankind.

The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights which is given yearly has the following aims:
1). To enhance the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising by awarding individuals, groups or institutions in Korea and abroad on their contribution to improving human rights and peace throughout the world.
2). To reward individuals, groups and institutions in Korea and/or abroad for promoting the goals of the May 18 Democratic Uprising as a movement toward unification and cooperation.

Deadline for submission of application form is 20 March 2009.

Please follow this link if interested to nominate (form is available from this link):

http://www.518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05010000&idx=392&page=1&key=&keyword=

AFAD Strongly Condemns the Abduction, Beating and Detention of Atty. Parvez Imroz

AFAD Strongly Condemns the Abduction, Beating and Detention

of Atty. Parvez Imroz, Firdous Ahmed Sofi and Ajaz Ahmed Mir of India

The Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), a regional federation of human rights organizations working directly on the issue of enforced or involuntary disappearance, strongly condemns the arrest, beating and detention of Atty. Parvez Imroz and his two associates, Firdous Ahmed Sofi and Ajaz Ahmed Mir. The arrest took place at 12:30 noon on Monday, November 17, in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. To this writing, the three are still detained.

AFAD learned about this condemnable incident from an urgent appeal sent by the Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), our partner-organization in Kashmir. According to said appeal, JKCCS President Parvez Imroz along with a team of around 50 volunteers composed of journalists, human rights activists, trade union activists from within and outside Kashmir, were monitoring the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir State Legislative Assembly Election.

Monitoring the elections is a usual activity of the JKCCS along with civil society groups from various parts of India. It is recalled that the group also monitored the Assembly Elections of 2002 and the parliamentary elections in 2004. Accordingly, Advocate Parvez Imroz and his two companions, Firdous Ahmed Sofi and Ajaz Ahmed Mir, were arrested when they reached the place where a protest demonstration was going on.. The three were allegedly beaten up by the police in front of media men and were later taken to the Police Station in Bandipora.

December 9, 2008 is the 10^th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. Moreover, December 10, 2008 is the 60^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this connection, abducting, beating and detaining human rights defenders like Atty. Parvez Imroz and his two companions should never be done by agents of the Indian government.

Atty. Parvez Imroz is an internationally-known human rights defender and a recipient of the Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize in 2006. He was also the representative of their human rights organization, the Srinagar-based Association of the Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), during the initial conceptualization and founding of our Asian-wide Federation for the disappeared and is presently AFAD's Council member. It is, indeed, absurd to abduct, beat and detain him and his two companions because of their human rights activities. Certainly, their continuing detention is detrimental to the international posturing of India which poses itself as the "biggest democracy" in the world.

It is worrying to note that because of his work, Parvez Imroz has indeed earned the ire of the powers-that-be in the country that boasts itself as the biggest democracy in Asia. It has been more than three years since his passport has not been renewed and very obviously, such act by the Indian government can be obviously interpreted as constraining Imroz' mobility with the desperate intention of keeping his mouth shut on the sorry state of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir, thus, constraining his capability to tell the international security about the skeletons inside the closet in this beautiful yet sad valley of Kashmir.

Furthermore, on June 30, 2008 at 10:00 p.m., 4 armed men, believed to be policemen, knocked at the house of Mr. Imroz. When asked of their identity by Mr.. Imroz' wife, Rokhsana, the men were aggressively calling on Mr. Imroz to open the door and come out. Aware of the intimidation he received days earlier because of the work of the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights, Mr. Imroz immediately informed his brother, Sheik Mustaq Ahmad through the backdoor. Mr. Ahmad reportedly shined a torch at Mr. Imroz door and asked the persons in front to identify themselves only to be aggressively ordered to put off the torch. Mr. Imroz nephew came out of Mr. Ahmad's house, afraid that Mr. Imroz might have been taken away. This forced the armed men to leave, but only after firing a shot in the dark believed to be pointing towards the direction of Mr. Imroz' nephew. The perpetrators threw a grenade that exploded in Mr. Imroz' compound. On their way back, the perpetrators beat a male neighbor.

In view of the above, AFAD strongly calls on the Indian government -

· To release Atty. Parvez Imroz, Firdous Ahmed Sofi and Ajaz Ahmed Mir from detention at the soonest possible time, and

· To ensure that those who are responsible for the arrest, beating and detention of the three human rights defenders be brought to justice in urgency.

· To be true to India's being a signatory to the UN Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance which provides for the right of families of the disappeared and their organizations to organize themselves, thus, the government should give Parvez Imroz and his colleagues in the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons their freedom to form their association and work for truth, justice, redress, memory for the disappeared and other victims of human rights violations.

In positively responding to our urgent calls above, India proves that it is, indeed, "the biggest democracy" in the world.

Signed and authenticated by:

MUGIYANTO MARY AILEEN D. BACALSO

Chairperson Secretary-General

Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD)
Rms. 310-311 Philippine Social Science Center Bldg.,
Commonwealth Ave., Diliman, 1103 Quezon City

Phone: 00-632-9274594
Telefax: 00-632-4546759
Website: www.afad-online.org