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EU-India
Summit urged to address anti-terror laws,
Nepal and Burma situations
The Asian Centre
for Human Rights (ACHR) today urged the fourth EU-India summit taking
place in New Delhi on 29 November 2003 to address due process of
law in the war against terror and the human rights situations in
neighbouring Nepal and Myanmar.
"The
due process of law must be upheld in the war against terror. The
misuse of Prevention of Terrorism Act of India is reflected from
the fact the highest numbers of detainees are not from Jammu and
Kashmir, the central focus of India's war against terror but from
Jharkhand where Adivasis have been affected. The detainees in Jharkhand
include children as young as 12 years old and elderly as old as
81 years" - stated Suhas Chakma, Director of ACHR.
The EU-India summit must
not only focus on the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan but also
the situations in Nepal and Burma.
The situation in Nepal is
alarming and about 1000 persons have been killed since the collapse
of the cease-fire between the Maoists and the government on 27 August
2003. The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal has also received
complaints of over 100 cases of disappearances by the security forces.
The military has refused to respond to the NHRC and even refused
to accept the orders of the Supreme Court of Nepal. In such a situation
of lawlessness, Prime Minister has set up National Centre for Promotion
of Human Rights to undermine the NHRC. "As there is no military
solution to the crisis, EU-India summit should urge Nepal to invite
mediation by the United Nations and also allow the Office of the
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to establish monitoring
offices in Nepal' - stated Mr Chakma.
The UN Special Rapporteur
on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, Prof. Paulo Sergio
Pinheiro after his visit to Myanmar from 2-8 November 2003 reported
about the regression of human rights situations. India-EU summit
should demand the unconditional release of Burmese pro-democracy
leader, Aung San Suu Kyi and all of her colleagues and that India
should substantively contribute to the efforts of the ASEAN and
United Nations to make progress in the national reconciliation process
and restoration of democracy in Myanmar.[END]
For
more information please call Director of Asian Centre for Human
Rights in New Delhi, India at +91-11-25503624 or 25620583
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