Impal, Jul 11: Contending that no formal extradition proceedings were followed between the Indian Government and the Government of Thailand before the four PLA cadres were deported to India, Amnesty International has sent its recommendations to the two countries.

In the recommendations sent to India-Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh-Amnesty India urged them to disclose the whereabouts of the four cadres, named as Romen Thounaojam, Saratchandra Thingujam, Ibomcha Meitei and Keshokumar Meitei.

The Indian Government has also been urged not to subject the four cadres to torture and ill treatment if they are to undergo interrogation or to be remanded in custody.

Amnesty International also urged the Government India to ensure that the four are given full access to lawyers of their choice, their family members and medical treatment that they may require, if they are remanded to custody.

The Indian Government has also been urged to provide a fair trial to the four rebels meeting both international trial standards as well as Indian Constitutional standards, if they are to be charged with a cognizable offence.

A copy of the statement of the Amnesty International, dated July 7 and which was made available to the press by Human Rights Alert expressed concern to the Thailand Government by clearly stating, that the four were "forcibly returned to India where they may face persecution, despite the fact that the determination of their refugee claims was yet to the concluded." Amnesty International called upon the Minister of Interior Affairs of Thailand, Kongsak Wantana to clarify the circumstances under which the four were deported to India, and sought to know why formal extradition proceedings did not take place prior to the deportation.

The Government of Thailand was also reminded that forcible deportation, in particular during a Refugee Status Determination procedure conducted by the office of UN High Commissioner of Refugees, would contravene the principles of non-refoulement, which places an obligation on all States not to deport anyone to a country where they would face persecution including serious human rights violation.

The four PLA cadres were arrested on March 10, 1997 and were set free on June 30 this year after a series of clemency.

After their release the four PLA cadres were transferred to the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok as illegal migrants pending deportation, where their claims for refugee status were accessed.

The Amnesty International report mentioned that the four were previously associated with the RPF, an organisation outlawed by the Indian Government in the wake of the long running conflict in Manipur.

Comment