GUWAHATI, Sept 23 � Global human rights body Amnesty International today called for a fair trial for detained TV journalist Jaikhlong Brahma.
�The Government of Assam must release Jaikhlong Brahma from administrative detention or charge him with recognizably criminal offences, and guarantee him a fair trial which meets international standards,� Amnesty International India said in a release.
Brahma, who works for a State-based private TV channel, was detained by police at Kokrajhar on September 2 after being accused of having links with banned armed groups including the NDFB(S).
The Amnesty International India said that �he is at risk of being detained for 12 months without charge or trial under the National Security Act (NSA).�
�Journalists Jaikhlong Brahma and Rinoy Basumatary were arrested by police in Kokrajhar, Assam, on September 2 on suspicion of criminal offences including multiple counts of conspiracy, being a member of an 'unlawful association� and �inciting unlawful activities�. Rinoy Basumatary has since been released while Jaikhlong Brahma remains in detention without charge.
�The use of administrative detentions under the National Security Act, 1980, or any other legislation must end and all legislation that facilitates the use of administrative detention should be repealed,� said Shailesh Rai, Programme Director at Amnesty International India.
The release added, �Brahma was remanded in judicial custody by a local court for two weeks after his arrest on September 2. A detention order under the NSA, which allows administrative detention for up to 12 months, was issued by the head of the local administration on September 9. Brahma continues to be in detention under the NSA. Administrative detention is a system that allows the authorities to detain individuals by executive order without charge or trial, and denies them the safeguards of a fair trial as required under international law.�
It said the government should take all necessary measures to guarantee that journalists are able to carry out their activities without fear of harassment or arbitrary detention.
