India

Front Line is seriously concerned following reports of the arbitrary detention and intimidation of a group of human rights defenders opposed to the construction of the Mapithel Dam in Manipur State.These include T. Dewal from the village of Itham, L. Bipin from Tumukhong, L. Bobojit and H. Kendra Luwang from Moirangpurel. All are members of the Mapithel Dam Affected Ching-Tam Organization (MDACTO), an organisation which defends the rights of communities affected by the dam project.  

Front Line is gravely concerned following reports of the attempted assassination of human rights defender, Advocate Parvez Imroz, at his home on 30 June 2008. Advocate Parvez Imroz is the co-convener of the International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indianadministered Kashmir, and the co-founder and president of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.  

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports that complaints have been filed against human rights defenders Mr Henri Tiphagne, National Director of the National Project on Preventing Torture in India (NPPTI), Executive Director of People's Watch and Member of the National Core Group of NGOs of the National Human Rights Commission of India; Mr S. Martin, Advocate and Regional Law Officer of People's Watch in Trichirapalli; Mr G. Ganesan, State Human Rights Monitoring Officer of People's Watch in the State of Tamil Nadu; Mr Prabakar, District Human Rights Monitor of the NPPTI for Madurai District in Tamil Nadu; and Mr Kirity Roy, President of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and State Director of the NPPTI in Howrah, Kolkata, West Bengal.  

Front Line is deeply concerned following the re-arrest of human rights defender Sapam Kangleipal Meitei following his release on bail. Sapam Kangleipal Meitei is the President of the Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF), a voluntary civil organisation which works for the protection and promotion of human rights, peace building and social issues at the grass-roots level.  

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arbitrary detention of human rights defender and human rights lawyer Bijaya Chanda on 5 March 2008. Bijaya Chanda is a practicing lawyer at Alipore District Sessions and Criminal Court in West Bengal where she defends victims of human rights violations. She is also a member of the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), and also closely attached to Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), both of are human rights organisations based in West Bengal.