Letter to Indian Prime Minister Singh on Illegal Detention of Uyghur Refugee

His Excellency PM Manmohan Singh,

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) presents You its compliments and would hereby like to bring the following matter to Your attention.

Mr. Aimaiti Alimu, a Uyghur refugee from Xinjiang province of China, is currently under illegal detention in New Delhi, held by officials of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). Mr. Alimu arrived in India on 14 February 2005 on a three-month visa, expiring on 11 May 2005. On 9 May 2005 around 2 pm, Mr. Alimu went to the FRRO, possibly with the intention of applying for a visa extension. His whereabouts were subsequently unknown until the late afternoon of 10 May 2005, when he was allowed to call a friend to inform about his situation. It is learnt that he had been sent from the FRRO to the Lampur Detention Centre, where foreigners are typically detained for overstaying or pending a decision on their deportation or other action.

Mr. Alimu’s detention is illegal as he held a valid visa as of 9 May 2005, and had committed no offence. Further, Mr. Alimu is not known to have been produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of his detention. This is contrary to Article 22 (2) of the Indian Constitution, the provisions of the Indian Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the guidelines laid down by the Indian Supreme Court in the DK Basu case. Nor was Mr. Alimu allowed to contact his friend until more than 24 hours after he was detained.

UNPO is gravely concerned by the illegal detention of Mr. Alimu, and hereby:

Calls upon the Government of India to acknowledge the illegality of Mr. Alimu’s detention

Demands of the Government of India the immediate release of Mr. Alimu

Urges the Government of India to safeguard Mr. Alimu’s right to asylum

UNPO seeks Your assurances that the Government of India will give due consideration to the request contained in this letter.

Sincerely,

Marino Busdachin
General Secretary