[hr-education] URGENT: Arrest of Henri Tiphagne

[***Moderator's note: Henri Tiphagne has been an active member of the
Global HRE List for many years. We urge list members to appeal to the
National Human Rights Commission in New Delhi and the Director General of
Police in Chennai. ***]

11-10-2004

Dear Friends

We are forwarding the statement on the arrest of its Executive director Mr.
Henri Tiphagne. Mr. Henri Tiphagne Member, National Core group on NGOs of
National Human Rights Commission along with 15 other members at 10.30 a.m
in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. No Custody memo has been given at the place of
arrest and the reason for the arrest has also not been given.

Please send appeals to National Human Rights Commission and the Director
General Police, Tamil Nadu to condemn this unlawful act of the police at
the instigation of Mr. Prem Kumar, Superintendent Police, Cuddalore and to
urge for the immediate release of Mr.Henri Tiphagne and 15 others and for
appropriate action against Mr.Prem Kumar.

Thank you

In solidarity

  Dr. I. Devasahayam
       Associate Director,
People's Watch – Tamil Nadu


Addresses to send appeals

Justice A. S. Anand
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Sardar Patel Bhavan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi 110 001,  INDIA
Tel: + 91 11 23346244, Fax: + 91 11 23366537
E-mail: ionhrc@hub.nic.in or chairnhrc@nic.in

Director General of Police
Police Head Quarters
Dr.Radha Krishnan Salai
Mylapore
Chennai-600 004
Ph No : 044-2844 7777, 2844 7755



---------


People's Watch-Tamil Nadu
No.6, Vallabai Road, Chokkikulam, Madurai - 625 002.
Phone: 0452-2531874 & 2539520    Fax: 0452- 2531874
E.mail:
info@pwtn.org

eb: www.pwtn.org


"HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST MR.HENRI TIPHAGNE ARRESTED"
-          One more atrocity of Mr. Prem Kumar, Superintendent of Police,
Cuddalore


It is very unfortunate to inform you that Mr. Henri Tiphagne, The Executive
Director of PEOPLES WATCH – TAMIL NADU and Member, National Core group on
NGOs of National Human Rights Commission has been arrested along with 15
other members including Mr. Nizamudeen, State General Secretary of FEDCOT,
Mr. Balki, Mr.Murugappan, Peoples Watch-TN and a women, at Cuddalore this
morning (11.10.2004) around 10.00 a.m.

Mr. Henri Tiphagne along with a Team of Human Rights Activists has camped
at Cuddalore to conduct a Human Rights training program of Campaign Against
Torture ( CAT), in the forenoon to be followed by a Press meet about the
ever long human rights violations of Mr. Prem Kumar, Superintendent of
Police, Cuddalore. When the training was about to start by 9.30 this
morning, a group of police men headed by a Dy. Superintendent of Police Mr.
Payas Ferozkhan Abdullah have forcefully entered the training hall and
tried preventing Mr. Henri Tiphagne and others from conducting the
training. When they were asked for reasons, the police men told that the
press -meet should not be conducted. Mr. Henri Tiphagne explained them that
this is only a training program and the press meet would be organized only
in the afternoon. Since the police men had clear orders from their
Superintendent of Police Mr. Prem Kumar to prevent Mr. Henri Tiphagne from
doing the Human Rights training and press-meet at Cuddalore, they all sat
inside the training hall and prevented the Campaign people from doing their
social responsibility. When Mr. Henri Tiphagne objected for the Police men
preventing the Human Rights training program, the police men wanted Mr.
Henri Tiphagne to cancel the program. Having left with no choice, Mr. Henri
Tiphagne and his team has voiced slogans condemning the unlawful activities
of the Police men. Reacting to this the police men warned Mr. Henri
Tiphagne that he would be arrested. When Mr. Henri Tiphagne demanded for
the Arrest warrant, the police men headed by the DSP, forcefully
demonstrated physical excess on Mr. Henri Tiphagne and carried him to the
Town Hall Police Station at Cuddalore.

It is obvious that this is a well planned and unlawful action initiated by
Mr. Prem Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Cuddalore, in personal revenge on
Mr. Henri Tiphagne. Mr. Henri Tiphagne was instrumental for getting Mr.
Prem Kumar a conviction earlier and also made to pay a fine amount of Rs.
10,000 to Gandhi Museum, for violating the human rights in the case of an
Ex-Army Subedhar Mr. Nallakaman, a resident of Vadipatti. It is also not
out of place to mention that he was suspended by the Election Commission
during the recent Parliamentary election.

This is the high time, everybody who have belief in HUMAN RIGHTS and RULE
OF LAW must join together to secure the release of Mr. Henri Tiphagne and
sought for appropriate action of the State on Mr. Prem Kumar.


    Dr. I. Devasahayam
         Associate Director,
People's Watch – Tamil Nadu



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