ARREST OF DR BINAYAK SEN

Early day motion 1615, tabled 5 June 2007 by Diane Abbott (Labour). Signed by 22 members.

That this House is concerned at the arbitrary arrest of the human rights activist and General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh unit of the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Dr Binayak Sen, in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh; notes with concern that this arrest has taken place in the aftermath of the alleged involvement by the police in the unlawful killing of 12 adivasis or tribal people; further notes that, despite these allegations being substantiated by a police inquiry, the state government still refuses to approve the prosecution of those suspected to be involved; further notes that this has occurred in the context of an escalation in violence between Maoist rebels and the Salwa Judum militia, which is widely believed to be sponsored by the state government; further notes with concern that other members of the PUCL have been subject to harassment and threats of arrest; and therefore supports the calls of Amnesty International for the state government to release Dr Sen immediately unless he is charged with a recognisably criminal offence and take urgent steps to end the harassment of the other human rights defenders in the state.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Liberal Democrat 2, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.