23-24 March 2007
Qutab Hotel, Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi
A Round Table facilitated by Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
AGENDA
The Objectives of the Round Table are to provide a forum for:
• the exchange of experiences of police reform;
• examining current challenges and debates in the region;
• analyzing existing mechanisms for police accountability and
• creating a plan to catalyze and track police reform processes in the participating countries of South Asia
Day 1 Friday 23 March 2007
9.00 – 9.30 Registration
Opening session: The Discourse on Policing
Session Objectives:
1. Provide an opportunity for participants to table their key concerns about what needs fixing in policing.
2. Raise awareness about the concept of democratic policing
Session Moderator: Ms. Maja Daruwala
9.30 – 9.45 Welcome remarks
Mr. BG Verghese (Chair, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative)
Mr. Verghese will speak about the work of CHRI and set the context for this conference.
9.45 – 10.05 Inaugural Address
Mr. Shivraj Patil (Minister, Home Affairs, India)
Mr. Patil will welcome international guests to India and raise the significance of police reform to good governance in democratic nations.
10.05 – 10.45 Introductory Exercise by participants on ‘What ails policing in the countries of South Asia?’
Facilitator instructs participants to introduce themselves to their neighbour and talk to them about either (1) the key causes of problems in policing, or (2) their 3 main complaints about the police, or (3) the main constraints police face in doing their job. All three aspects will be discussed by sections of participants. Participants’ observations will be shared with the whole group, with the facilitator scribing responses and drawing out themes and commonalities.
10.45 – 11.00 Hallmarks of Democratic Policing
Ms. Maja Daruwala (Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative)
Ms Daruwala will speak on the concept of democratic policing, and her vision for the police we have and the police we deserve.
11.00 – 11.15 Morning Tea Break
Session 2: Police Reform Initiatives in South Asia
Session Objectives:
1. Examine the commonalities in policing concerns among South Asian countries, whilst acknowledging the individual differences.
2. Understand the political context and its impact on current police reform processes
3. Get an overview of police reform initiatives in the region and impediments to their success
Session Moderator: Ms. Maja Daruwala
11.15 – 12.40 What’s happening in South Asia?
In this session, representatives from each participating country will make a 15-minute presentation on:
• the political context in their country vis a vis policing concerns
• police reform initiatives currently underway
• blocks hindering the reform measures from being realised
Bangladesh: Dr. Md. Shamsuddoha Khondaker (Additional Inspector General Recruitment, Management & Training, Bangladesh Police and National Programme Coordinator - Police Reform Programme
India: Mr. Prakash Singh (Indian Police Service, Retired), Ms. Swati Mehta (CHRI)
Maldives: Ms Aminath Najeeb (Human Rights Association of Maldives, registration denied since July 2004)
12.00 – 12.10 Q & A
Pakistan: Mr. Mukhtar Ahmad Ali (Executive Director, Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives)
Sri Lanka: Basil Fernando (Director, Asia Human Rights Commission)
12.40 – 1.30 Open Floor Discussion
Ms. Daruwala will then moderate an open floor discussion on the challenges facing policing and police reform in the participating countries vis a vis their specific political contexts.
1.30 – 2.30 Lunch
Session 3: South Asian Experiences of Police/Executive Relationships
Session Objectives:
1. Understand the nature of police/executive relationships in countries of South Asia
2. Identify if and how this poses problems in police functioning
3. Generate discussion on reform measures to address these problems
Session Moderator: Ms. Maja Daruwala
2.30 – 4.00 Police-Executive Relationships in the countries of South Asia Panel
Each panelist will make a 15-minute presentation on:
• How the police-executive relationship is defined in law;
• What happens in practice?
• Whether there have been any government commissions or committees to review relationship;
• If so what suggestions have they made? Have any of them been implemented?
Bangladesh: Prof. Ishrat Shamim (President, Centre for Women and Children Studies)
India: Mr. Kamal Kumar (Indian Police Service, Retired)
Maldives: Mr. Mohamed Jinah (Police Officer, Maldives)
3.15 – 3.30 Q & A
Pakistan: Dr. M. Shoaib Suddle (Director General, National Police Bureau)
Sri Lanka: Mr. J. Thangavelu (Deputy Inspector General, Sri Lanka Police)
4.00 – 4.30 Open discussion [Tea served at the table]
Session 4: Getting the Balance Right – International Experiences
Session Objective:
Reflect on international experiences and models of healthy police/executive relationships
Session Moderator: Ms. Maja Daruwala
4.30 – 5.00 Ingredients for a healthy police/executive relationship
Prof. Philip Stenning, School of Criminology, Education, Sociology & Social Work, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK.
Prof. Stenning will make a 30-minute presentation on the ingredients required for a healthy police/executive relationship, with reference to international good practices.
5.00 – 5.30 Interactive Discussion
5.30 Close of Day 1 Proceedings
_____________________________________________________________
Day 2 Saturday 24 March 2007
9.00 – 9.15 Review of proceedings
Session 5: Who Polices the Police? A Discussion on Police Accountability
Session Objectives:
1. Examine current police accountability systems in South Asia
2. Debate the reasons for the gap between intent and practice and ways to narrow the gap
3. Explore through case studies, the role/effectiveness of specific police oversight bodies.
Session Moderator: Ms. Maja Daruwala
9.15 – 10.30 Focussed discussion based on session objectives.
10.30 – 10.45 Morning Tea
10.45 – 11.15 Have police oversight bodies in South Asia been successful in holding the police to account?
Each presenter will detail in a 10-minute presentation:
• the structure and mandate of the oversight body
• the extent to which the body has satisfied its mandate
• challenges faced in fulfilling its mandate
Police Integrity Commission: Maldives
Ms. Shabab Rasheed (Member, Police Integrity Commission)
National Police Commission: Sri Lanka
Ms. Kishali Pinto Jaywardane (Senior lawyer)
Human Rights Commission: India
Mr. Chaman Lal (Former police officer and special rapporteur, National Human Rights Commission)
11.15 – 11.30 Questions and Discussion
Session 6: Civilian Oversight of Police – International Experiences
Session Objectives:
1. Reflect on the Northern Ireland experience of civilian police oversight bodies
2. Learn about international examples of effective civil society intervention in police reform
11.30 – 12.00
Ms. Maggie Beirne, Director, the Committee on the Administration of Justice, Northern Ireland.
Ms. Beirne will make a 30-minute presentation on the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland and share reflections on the role played by the Committee on the Administration of Justice in the police reform process.
12.00 – 12.30 Interactive Discussion
12.30 – 1.30 Lunch
Session 7: Police Reform … treading the path from rhetoric to reality
Session Objectives:
1. Identify the value of civil society input in police reform processes
2. Map strategies to catalyse and track police reform in participating countries
1.30 – 1.45 Civil Society – Integral or Marginal to Police Reform?
Ms. Patricia Mukhim (Journalist)
1.45 – 1.50 Allocation of Breakout Groups and focus questions
Ms. Maja Daruwala (Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative)
1.50 – 2.45 Breakout groups
The participants will be divided into 6 small groups – one per country, with the Indian participants being split into two groups, one for police officers and government members and one for civil society. CHRI staff and the International Guest Speakers, Phillip and Maggie will be assigned to each of the small groups as facilitators. The focus questions the small groups will deliberate on are:
• From which quarters have we encountered resistance to police reform or are likely to do so?
• How should this resistance be addressed?
• How do we progress police reform, both within our country and in solidarity?
2.45 – 3.45 Spokespersons from each group to present deliberations to large group
3.45 – 4.00 Tea break
Session 8: Collective Action
Session Objective:
Collectively draft a conference statement for release to the media and to form the basis of communiqués issued in participating countries
4.00 – 5.00 Working as a group on the adoption of a Conference Statement
5.00 – 5.20 Valedictory Address
Mr. I.K. Gujaral (former Prime Minister, India)
5.20 – 5.30 Vote of Thanks
Ms. Maja Daruwala (Director, CHRI)
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Police Reform in South Asia: Sharing of Experiences
1. Background
Over the last eight years, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has been working on issues related to police reform. During this time, CHRI has worked on police reform and police accountability across the Commonwealth, and has particularly focused on catalysing a reform movement in India. CHRI has identified the enormous potential for and value in sharing experiences of policing and challenges to reform in South Asia, and is facilitating a workshop on police reform in South Asia in New Delhi, March 2007.
CHRI recognises the importance that community focused, transparent and accountable policing has on democracy, development and the protection and promotion of human rights.
2. Police reform in South Asia
Presently, there is growing debate on police reform in all the five Commonwealth countries of South Asia – Bangladesh, Maldives, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Both Bangladesh and Pakistan have witnessed donor driven police reform initiatives. In 2002, Pakistan enacted a new law to govern the police. Pakistan’s Police Order is the most modern law in all the five countries, but is yet to be implemented in spirit.
In India, a Committee set up by the Federal Government has drafted a new Model Police Bill and in a separate initiative, the Supreme Court has directed all the state governments to institutionalise best practices in policing. However, state governments that are required to implement police reform are resisting change.
Sri Lanka gave impetus to police accountability in a 2002 constitutional amendment that saw the establishment of one of the strongest civilian oversight bodies in the Commonwealth, but once again lack of political will subverted the entire process of reform.
The Maldives does not have a law to govern the police and is in the process of enacting a Police Act. Meanwhile, police accountability is a key policy focus of the government’s Roadmap for Reform policy document, which has led to the creation of a Police Integrity Commission.
3. Aim
South Asia faces huge problems in terms of police brutality and a lack of accountability, yet few organisations in the region work on systemic police reforms.
This workshop provides the first opportunity to different stakeholders and voices to share experiences and best practices from across the region, particularly from a human rights perspective. The workshop will bring together government, media, police, civil society and human rights institution representatives from across the region with a view to examine current challenges and debates on police reform in the region and to look at some of the best practices from around the globe. As well as a forum for open discussion and debate of challenges and experiences, the workshop will include a focus on the technical aspects of reform, exploring the structure and mandates of existing and possible mechanisms that aim to create stronger police accountability. The workshop also aims to put together a plan for moving forward with the reforms process in each of the jurisdictions in South Asia.
4. Workshop details
The Roundtable will focus on two key policing issues: the police/executive relationship and police accountability.
Over the last eight years, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has been working on issues related to police reform. During this time, CHRI has worked on police reform and police accountability across the Commonwealth, and has particularly focused on catalysing a reform movement in India. CHRI has identified the enormous potential for and value in sharing experiences of policing and challenges to reform in South Asia, and is facilitating a workshop on police reform in South Asia in New Delhi, March 2007.
CHRI recognises the importance that community focused, transparent and accountable policing has on democracy, development and the protection and promotion of human rights.
2. Police reform in South Asia
Presently, there is growing debate on police reform in all the five Commonwealth countries of South Asia – Bangladesh, Maldives, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Both Bangladesh and Pakistan have witnessed donor driven police reform initiatives. In 2002, Pakistan enacted a new law to govern the police. Pakistan’s Police Order is the most modern law in all the five countries, but is yet to be implemented in spirit.
In India, a Committee set up by the Federal Government has drafted a new Model Police Bill and in a separate initiative, the Supreme Court has directed all the state governments to institutionalise best practices in policing. However, state governments that are required to implement police reform are resisting change.
Sri Lanka gave impetus to police accountability in a 2002 constitutional amendment that saw the establishment of one of the strongest civilian oversight bodies in the Commonwealth, but once again lack of political will subverted the entire process of reform.
The Maldives does not have a law to govern the police and is in the process of enacting a Police Act. Meanwhile, police accountability is a key policy focus of the government’s Roadmap for Reform policy document, which has led to the creation of a Police Integrity Commission.
3. Aim
South Asia faces huge problems in terms of police brutality and a lack of accountability, yet few organisations in the region work on systemic police reforms.
This workshop provides the first opportunity to different stakeholders and voices to share experiences and best practices from across the region, particularly from a human rights perspective. The workshop will bring together government, media, police, civil society and human rights institution representatives from across the region with a view to examine current challenges and debates on police reform in the region and to look at some of the best practices from around the globe. As well as a forum for open discussion and debate of challenges and experiences, the workshop will include a focus on the technical aspects of reform, exploring the structure and mandates of existing and possible mechanisms that aim to create stronger police accountability. The workshop also aims to put together a plan for moving forward with the reforms process in each of the jurisdictions in South Asia.
4. Workshop details
The Roundtable will focus on two key policing issues: the police/executive relationship and police accountability.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Charter Presented To Rahul Gandhi On His Coming Visit To Agra
CHARTER OF DEMANDS: Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal and several other architectural wonders which attracts lakhs of visitors from all parts of the globe annually, is unfortunately dying, and is urgently in need of focused attention to streamline civic amenities and overhaul its infrastructure. The decadent city which during the Mughal period was a mega metro, more developed than London and Paris, has been a victim of lobbying and consistent stepmotherly treatment. The city has also suffered as a result of poor political leadership. The city’s economic growth has remained stunted as a result of the pollution war. Promises of developing pollution-free industries including the IT sector have not been kept and the shrinking of opportunities is forcing young graduates to migrate to Delhi and other parts of India. Without adequate economic activities, the city might in future be reduced to a backwater region peopled by retired senior citizens, and the lonely aged couples left to fend for themselves.
To restore to Agra its original glory of the past and a qualitatively better life for its citizens we wish to submit for your kind consideration and action the following demands:
1. International Airport: The city must have its own international airport. This issue has been hanging fire because of intense lobbying by various interest groups including the Delhi lobby of tourism and travel leaders. The Central Government has already taken a principled stand on this and a feasibility study is to be done. But no time frame has been set.
2. Yamuna Waters: The city’s life-line is dying. We need water not only for drinking and consumption but also to ensure good health to the Taj Mahal. A dry river bed is a constant threat to its survival. The SPM level is constantly rising because of the dust from the dry river.
3. Keitham Lake: Agra has one of the biggest lakes along the Delhi highway, but because of poor maintenance, cleanliness, and lack of water supply, we are not able to take advantage of this natural scenic spot, which could be used for both tourism promotion as well as adventure sports. The Mathura Oil Refinery has been pumping away all its supply without paying any attention to its upkeep. The state government should be asked to develop the lake and ensure it remains full of water.
4. Agra Roads: The city is eternally jammed with traffic chaos obstructing vehicular movement within the city. Tourist vehicles are stranded for hours in traffic jams. A scientific road management system has to be put in place along with widening of the roads and demolishing encroachments.
5. Water Logging, Choked Drains, Dirt And Squalor, Overflowing Sewer Lines: Agra has often been described as the dirtiest city in the world. The Agra Municipal Corporation has proved unequal to the challenge of rising mounds of dirt. The city does not have a scientific waste disposal plan and the facilities for regular cleanliness are non-existent. An Action Plan to clean up the city on a war footing and maintaining the tempo of cleanliness subsequently is urgently required through institutional arrangements supported by adequate funding.
6. Power Supply: Even though the Supreme Court of India had directed the state government to ensure uninterrupted 24x7 power supply to the Taj Trapezium Zone, spread over 10,000 sq kms, the goal is yet to be achieved. Erratic power supply, frequent voltage fluctuations and inadequate capacity have led to a situation when use of diesel generators has become an inevitable necessity. A gas based power plant for Agra is a long pending demand which needs to be addressed urgently. The Gas Authority of India Ltd already has an extensive pipeline network feeding the local industries. The same could be used for running a power plant for the city.
7. Local Transport Connectivity: The city lacks a proper local bus transport system. The connectivity being poor between different tourist places, tourist are fleeced and cheated by tempo and taxi operators. Decent air conditioned buses should be available for the tourists to enable them to visit all the tourist spots. Locals should also benefit from a regular and streamlined transport system which should be pollution free, comfortable and affordable.
8. Tourism Projects: half a dozen important tourism related projects are in a limbo. No one knows their fate. Ad hocks has seriously affected the tourism sector which has not achieved its optimum level. Even a modest project like Tourist Police has not been given final shape, despite regular complaints of cheating and misbehavior by tourists. Government agencies pay no heed to the demands from the local tourism bodies. It is therefore necessary that all sectors which are involved in tourism and travel business are involved in drawing up a comprehensive promotional strategy to make the city tourist friendly and accelerate the growth of this industry in the interest of the country.
9. Test Matches And ODIs In Agra: Sports lovers of Agra have been long demanding holding of test matches and ODIs in Agra, but interest groups have been sabotaging action on this. Foreign teams and their fans always want to see the Taj Mahal and other monuments. The city is well connected and has highly developed hospitality industry. The BCCI should be asked to hold matches in Agra to promote sports tourism.
10. Multiple Sets Of Authorities: It has been one of the long standing demands of this city that for speedy and scientific development of the city, the Central government should work out some institutional arrangement to ensure there were no conflicting perspectives and action plans. Right now we have the Mission Management Board, the Taj Trapezium Zone coordination committee, the central and the state pollution control boards, the Nagar Nigam and the Agra Development Authority, each with its own set of priorities and levels of accountability. The Central Government should take up Agra’s development in its own hands, because the Taj Trapezium is India’s most sensitive eco zone.
To restore to Agra its original glory of the past and a qualitatively better life for its citizens we wish to submit for your kind consideration and action the following demands:
1. International Airport: The city must have its own international airport. This issue has been hanging fire because of intense lobbying by various interest groups including the Delhi lobby of tourism and travel leaders. The Central Government has already taken a principled stand on this and a feasibility study is to be done. But no time frame has been set.
2. Yamuna Waters: The city’s life-line is dying. We need water not only for drinking and consumption but also to ensure good health to the Taj Mahal. A dry river bed is a constant threat to its survival. The SPM level is constantly rising because of the dust from the dry river.
3. Keitham Lake: Agra has one of the biggest lakes along the Delhi highway, but because of poor maintenance, cleanliness, and lack of water supply, we are not able to take advantage of this natural scenic spot, which could be used for both tourism promotion as well as adventure sports. The Mathura Oil Refinery has been pumping away all its supply without paying any attention to its upkeep. The state government should be asked to develop the lake and ensure it remains full of water.
4. Agra Roads: The city is eternally jammed with traffic chaos obstructing vehicular movement within the city. Tourist vehicles are stranded for hours in traffic jams. A scientific road management system has to be put in place along with widening of the roads and demolishing encroachments.
5. Water Logging, Choked Drains, Dirt And Squalor, Overflowing Sewer Lines: Agra has often been described as the dirtiest city in the world. The Agra Municipal Corporation has proved unequal to the challenge of rising mounds of dirt. The city does not have a scientific waste disposal plan and the facilities for regular cleanliness are non-existent. An Action Plan to clean up the city on a war footing and maintaining the tempo of cleanliness subsequently is urgently required through institutional arrangements supported by adequate funding.
6. Power Supply: Even though the Supreme Court of India had directed the state government to ensure uninterrupted 24x7 power supply to the Taj Trapezium Zone, spread over 10,000 sq kms, the goal is yet to be achieved. Erratic power supply, frequent voltage fluctuations and inadequate capacity have led to a situation when use of diesel generators has become an inevitable necessity. A gas based power plant for Agra is a long pending demand which needs to be addressed urgently. The Gas Authority of India Ltd already has an extensive pipeline network feeding the local industries. The same could be used for running a power plant for the city.
7. Local Transport Connectivity: The city lacks a proper local bus transport system. The connectivity being poor between different tourist places, tourist are fleeced and cheated by tempo and taxi operators. Decent air conditioned buses should be available for the tourists to enable them to visit all the tourist spots. Locals should also benefit from a regular and streamlined transport system which should be pollution free, comfortable and affordable.
8. Tourism Projects: half a dozen important tourism related projects are in a limbo. No one knows their fate. Ad hocks has seriously affected the tourism sector which has not achieved its optimum level. Even a modest project like Tourist Police has not been given final shape, despite regular complaints of cheating and misbehavior by tourists. Government agencies pay no heed to the demands from the local tourism bodies. It is therefore necessary that all sectors which are involved in tourism and travel business are involved in drawing up a comprehensive promotional strategy to make the city tourist friendly and accelerate the growth of this industry in the interest of the country.
9. Test Matches And ODIs In Agra: Sports lovers of Agra have been long demanding holding of test matches and ODIs in Agra, but interest groups have been sabotaging action on this. Foreign teams and their fans always want to see the Taj Mahal and other monuments. The city is well connected and has highly developed hospitality industry. The BCCI should be asked to hold matches in Agra to promote sports tourism.
10. Multiple Sets Of Authorities: It has been one of the long standing demands of this city that for speedy and scientific development of the city, the Central government should work out some institutional arrangement to ensure there were no conflicting perspectives and action plans. Right now we have the Mission Management Board, the Taj Trapezium Zone coordination committee, the central and the state pollution control boards, the Nagar Nigam and the Agra Development Authority, each with its own set of priorities and levels of accountability. The Central Government should take up Agra’s development in its own hands, because the Taj Trapezium is India’s most sensitive eco zone.
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