A/HRC/23/51 - Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights

Date
Type
01/02/2013
JUA
05/02/2013
JUA
Case No
Country Mandate(s) Summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> allegation transmitted Reply
VNM 2/2013
Viet Nam
BGD 3/2013
Bangladesh
Arbitrary detention;
Freedom <strong>of</strong>
expression; Human
rights defenders;
Independence <strong>of</strong>
judges and lawyers;
Summary executions;
Alleged detention <strong>of</strong> prominent blogger in a mental health institution
without judicial process. According to <strong>the</strong> information received, at 10:15
a.m. on 24 January 2013, six security agents appeared at <strong>the</strong> workplace <strong>of</strong>
Mr. Le Anh Hung in Hung Yen, forced him into a car and took him to an
unknown location. Later he was found to be interned in Social Support
Centre No. 2 in Ung Hoa, Hanoi, a mental health institution, but his friends
and family were prevented from seeing him. It is reported that Mr. Le Anh
Hung may be detained in Support Centre No. 2 under Ordinance 44 <strong>of</strong> 2002
on Handling <strong>of</strong> Administrative Violations, which allows for <strong>the</strong> detention <strong>of</strong>
individuals without trial for up to two years under house arrest
(‗probationary detention‘); in ‗reformatories‘; educational institutions;
rehabilitation centres or ‗medical treatment establishments‘, including
psychiatric wards. The provisions <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ordinance relate to those who
‗commit acts <strong>of</strong> violating legislation on security, public order and safety, but
not to <strong>the</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> penal liability‘ (Art 1.3 <strong>of</strong> Ordinance 44).
Alleged sentence to death after a trial conducted in absentia and which did
not provide for all <strong>the</strong> guarantees <strong>of</strong> a fair trial and due process, and alleged
sentence to life imprisonment after a trial which did not provide for all <strong>the</strong>
guarantees <strong>of</strong> a fair trial and due process. According to <strong>the</strong> information
received, on 21 January 2013, Mr. Abdul Kalam Azad was sentenced to
death by <strong>the</strong> Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal. His trial was
conducted in absentia and <strong>the</strong> State-appointed defence lawyer was
reportedly inadequate. It is also alleged that political pressure was exercised
on <strong>the</strong> Tribunal to accelerate <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> Mr. Azad and make it <strong>the</strong> first
verdict <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Tribunal, even though Mr. Azad had been one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> latest
accused to be indicted and his case was less advanced than that <strong>of</strong> many <strong>of</strong>
<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r accused. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, on 5 February 2013 <strong>the</strong> Tribunal reportedly
passed a sentence <strong>of</strong> life imprisonment against Mr. Abdul Kader Molla. Mr.
Molla was <strong>the</strong> subject <strong>of</strong> previous communications (see A/<strong>HRC</strong>/22/67, case
no BGD 6/2012 and BGD 8/2012) .
03/04/2013
21/02/2013
15/04/2013
A/<strong>HRC</strong>/<strong>23</strong>/<strong>51</strong>
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