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> AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
> PRESS RELEASE
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> AI Index: ASA 13/004/2006 (Public)
> News Service No: 094
> 13 April 2006
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> Bangladesh: Young boy among six killed in electricity protests
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> The Bangladeshi government must immediately set up an independent
> investigation into the killings of farmers protesting electricity
shortages
> in the northern town of Kansat, said Amnesty International today. Six more
> deaths were reported overnight as police clashed with farmers.
>
> Ten-year-old Anwar and 63-year-old Abdur Rahman, a teacher, were among
> those killed by police yesterday as up to 12,000 people took to the
> streets, according to local officials. People at the scene said police
> fired live ammunition with AK47s, rubber bullets and tear gas to dispel
the
> crowd, which responded with sticks and machetes. Local news reported
around
> 300 people were injured, including nearly 20 police officers.
>
> "At least twenty people have been killed in these electricity protests
> since January," said Abbas Faiz, South Asia researcher at Amnesty
> International. "There must be an impartial investigation into these deaths
> and anyone found responsible for illegal killing should be brought to
> justice without delay. Any police officers suspected of shooting civilians
> should be removed from active service pending investigation."
>
> According to local news reports, police also vandalised and looted houses
> in a number of villages, beat up villagers and arrested dozens of people.
> The reports also said that police prevented journalists going near the
> scene, and threatened them with a gun when they asked for the names of
> victims.
>
> There are severe shortages in the supply of electricity and fuel to the
> area, affecting the pumps that farmers use to irrigate their crops. The
> resulting lack of water is seriously threatening the current rice crop and
> farmers' livelihoods. Local people fear food shortages in the coming year.
>
> It is the responsibility of governments to ensure people have the
necessary
> means to prevent the destruction of their livelihood.
>
> "The authorities must ensure the means for farmers to grow their food and
> maintain their livelihoods," said Abbas Faiz. "A regular supply of
> electricity is urgently needed for irrigation to prevent the destruction
of
> the current paddy crop, on which these farmers depend for their survival."
>
> Most of those protesting are electricity customers who pay the
> government-owned Rural Electrification Board for supplies they say they do
> not receive. Farmers report not receiving electricity for days, and then
> when they do get a supply it is only for a maximum of four to five hours.
> Farmers are demanding that electricity supplies be continuous, and that
> they should pay only for the electricity that they actually receive.
>
> Background
> On 4 January 2006 two men were killed and 50 received bullet wounds when
> police opened fire at demonstrators in Kansat, Chapainawabganj district.
> The killings triggered further protests. On 23 January 2006 seven people
> were killed and more than 100 injured by police firing at demonstrators. A
> 12-year-old boy died the following day from his injuries.
>
> On 5 April 2006 at least four people were killed when local Bangladeshi
> Nationalist Party members mounted bomb attacks on the farmers' rally.
>
> The Bangladesh Bar Council's Human Rights Committee feared police would
> resort to arresting large numbers of people and filed a public interest
> litigation before the High Court. On 10 April the High Court ruled that
> none of the protesting farmers should be arrested or harassed except in
> compliance with the law. It also gave the government three weeks to
explain
> why the killings on 4 and 23 January should not be considered unlawful;
why
> compensation should not be paid to the bereaved families; and why the
> authorities should not be directed to provide electricity to the area for
a
> specified period.
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> Public Document
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