LONDON (PTI) India:  has warned the U N Human Rights Commission against use of any threat or sanctions for alleged human rights abuses in Kashmir.

It was not any part of the functioning of a body such as this to use threat or sanction, Janardhana Reddy, the leader of the Indian Delegation to the 49th session, told the U N Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Reminding the members of the commission that our respective democratic regimes for human rights evolved within our societies and were not imposed from Outside, Reddy said a move towards universal norms of human Tights had to be a process of evolution ‘and it was the task of the commission to help the process by extending understanding and en-couragernent.

Reddy rejected Pakistani allegations of human rights abuses in Nashmirand warned that any condemnation of governments fighting terrorism could Idea to a situation in which human rights are seen as preserves of the practitioners of terrorism.

Pakistan had tabled an 11point resolution on Kashmir before the 49th session of the U N Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Apart from seeking to recall previous U N Security Council resolutions on Kashmir, the Pakistani resolution sought a fact finding mission to Jammu and Kashmir to investigate the allegations of human rights abuses.

India took a serious view of the Pakistani move and informed all the 53 member countries that the resolutions were totally unacceptable and would be opposed at the introduction stage

“In the event of a remote possibility that such a resolution is tabled and voted in favor, India would not accept it,” an Indian foreign office spokesman said in Delhi on March 2.

Reddy informed the commission of the decision taken recently by India to set up an independent human rights commission to strive ceaselessly for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its.

The leader of the Indian delegation emphasized that the debate, on “the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of the world over,’ should not be an occasion for leveling accusations or making strident attacks or spirited defence.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 12, 1993