Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
New Delhi, November 14, 2003

The Delhi-based Asian Center for Human Rights (ACHR) today made a formal
complaint with the Indian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against
alleged atrocities meted out to Burmese refugees by Delhi police on 12 November.

In the letter to NHRC Chairman Justice A.S. Anand, ACHR Director Suhas Chakma complained against the torture of 80 Burmese refugees on 12 November and the arrest of more than 100 Burmese nationals by the Delhi Police at Lodhi Police Station in New Delhi.

The ACHR has sought urgent intervention by the NHRC and appealed for an
investigation into the incidents of 12 November. It has also asked the Commission to direct the Government of India to immediately release all refugees, including 24 Burmese men and women who are now lodged in Tihar Jail, and to drop all charges against them.

Several Burmese refugees had staged sit-in protests against UNHCR in front
of the UNHCR Office in New Delhi since 20 October. They demanded the
recognition of refugees by the UNHCR and their resettlement in third countries.

On 12 November, Delhi Police took action against the demonstrators and dispersed the Burmese refugees by the use of water cannons and lathi charges.

A total of 435 Burmese, including women and children, were rounded up by the
police. Several got injured. The police later released all but 24 Burmese men and women who were charged with rioting.

Delhi police claimed that some demonstrators had turned violent and tried to
enter the UNHCR compound. The police thus had to use mild force. In the
scuffle, 12 police personnel and 22 Burmese were injured the police stated.

The Burmese demonstrators stated that it had been the police who had started
provoking the demonstrators who had not tried to enter the UNHCR compound.
They said they had been demonstrating peacefully.