Open letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

November 16, 2007

Ms. Louise Arbour
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
UNOG-OHCHR                                                                                                 
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Dear Ms. Arbour,

On behalf of the Fund of Global Human Rights, I write to you today out of grave concern regarding President Musharraf’s suspension of the constitution and imposition of martial law in Pakistan.  According to Human Rights Watch, almost two-thirds of Pakistan’s senior judges have been placed under house arrest and thousands of lawyers and opposition activists have been detained.  There are credible reports of torture and beatings of detainees.  President Musharraf has perpetrated an unprecedented assault on the judiciary, civil society and any other voices he deems to be threats to his ability to remain in power.

The Fund for Global Human Rights is an international organization that provides financial and other support to human rights organizations around the world.  The Fund is led by a distinguished Board of Directors that includes Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on the situation of human rights defenders, and is chaired by Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.  The Fund awards grants to hundreds of independent human rights organizations around the world dedicated to the promotion of rights, freedoms and democracy.  Our colleagues in Pakistan work tirelessly to bring about justice, equality, and the advancement of freedoms and democratic values for all Pakistanis.  We are all deeply concerned that this crisis undermines the rule of law and prospects for democracy in the short and longer terms. 

 
We respectfully urge you to build on your November 5, 2007 statement with a strong condemnation of President Musharraf’s actions and increased efforts to press for a restoration of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the release of all those human rights activists, lawyers, journalists, and political figures unjustifiably detained or placed under house arrest.  We urge the High Commissioner’s Office to marshal all resources available through the United Nations system and to take the strongest measures possible.  We also request that your office make the following demands of President Musharraf:

• Return Pakistan to constitutional rule and restore fundamental rights.
• Release all judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts who have been suspended unconstitutionally and restore them to their positions.
• Remove all restrictions on print and electronic media.
• Release without condition the thousands of lawyers, human rights defenders, journalists, and political opposition leaders who have been unjustifiably detained.

We thank you for your attention to our concerns and would appreciate a response as to the status of your efforts to bolster the thousands of courageous civil society activists in Pakistan who, despite the great danger, are raising their voices in opposition to a brutal regime.

Sincerely,

Regan E. Ralph
Executive Director