 |
| Mr Ram Dass |
I understand that the Indian prisoners released along with Mr. Ram Dass disclosed that Mr. Ram Dass was in Kot Lakphat Prison Pakistan for 10 years during which he was tortured. Mr. Ram Dass lacks mental capacity believed to be as a result of the torture and abuse he suffered during his detention in prison. Mr. Ram Dass did not receive any medical treatment throughout the duration of his detention. Sadly, he is not in a position to confirm details of his family or address in India. No one turned up to collect him when he reached the Red Cross Centre in Amritsar Punjab India.
Further, the Pakistani authorities have failed to provide an explanation or details of his crime, arrest, conviction or sentence.
Mr. Dass's plight has been featured in a local news report in the hope that it is picked by the national press so that his family can come forward to collect him.
Knowing what I know of the Indian authorities from previous cases, they would not have de-briefed, medically examined, assessed or treated these prisoners, let alone provide them with counseling. I would be extremely surprised if the Pakistani informed the Indian authorities of Mr. Dass's detention. Equally, I would be interested to know what attempts were made by the Indian authorities to ascertain the details of Indian nationals detained in Pakistani prisons. I fear that the Indian Government did not make any attempts to secure the release of these prisoners or indeed ensured that they had access to Consular services and legal advice.
I have previously asked the Red Cross whether to visit the Indian prisoners in Pakistani prisons. I was informed that they do not have “permission “to visit certain prisons in Pakistan. If this is indeed correct then it is of course is contrary to the international communities’ mandate given to the Red Cross under the Geneva Conventions which authorises them to visit these prisoners.
I am aware of other cases of vulnerable prisoners unlawfully detained in Pakistani prisons - including a 15 year old Indian boy who has been in the unlawful custody of the Pakistani authorities for the last 9 years and continuing.
Despite having repeatedly drawn these cases of gross human rights abuses to the attention of the international human rights organisations such as the UN, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, they have failed to intervene thus allowing Pakistan to continue to abuse and torture with impunity.
Mr. Dass's case and the details of the other Indian nationals released by the Pakistani authorities on Thursday 11th of July 2013 were reported in the local press in Amritsar Punjab India. These reports are written in Hindi and Punjabi and are rarely picked up by the English press and therefore fail to reach the media in the West.
News reports:
http://epaper.jagbani.com/Amritsar/fullstory/62293770_94206#.UeVIZNu8GG0.email
http://epaper.punjabkesari.in/amritsar/fullstory/30313144_316217#.UeVGXRsy5TA.email
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/He-returned-from-Pakistan-prison-only-to-find-family-untraceable/articleshow/21178807.cms
