GENEVA – A panel of United Nations human rights experts has formally urged the Government of India to ensure the immediate release of five Indigenous human rights defenders currently held in Assam. The experts expressed significant apprehension that the criminal charges filed against these individuals could undermine the crucial work of advocates striving to protect Indigenous community rights amidst ongoing business and development initiatives in the region.
In a statement issued on Friday, the UN specialists highlighted their profound worry over reports indicating that the activists have been deprived of their liberty purely for peacefully championing the land and inherent rights of Indigenous populations. They cautioned that such arrests and subsequent prosecutions risk creating a 'chilling effect' on civic engagement, potentially discouraging others from voicing concerns against alleged human rights violations.
The individuals identified by the experts as being detained by Assam Police are Pranab Doley, Rajib Pegu, Brijit Kutum, Amit Nag, and Bhaskar Saikia. The international body underscored the importance of allowing advocates to operate freely, emphasizing that restricting their activities can impede open dialogue and accountability concerning development projects affecting vulnerable communities.
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