NEW YORK: its annual report released here July 8 in the wake of the first UN World Conference on Human Rights in 25 years, the Amnesty International US. Cited India among 62 nations for grave violations of human rights in Kashmir and Punjab.
The Amnesty International 1993 annual report reveals that during 1992 prisoners of conscience were held in at least 62 countries; over 110 governments used ‘torture in their prisons.
Or police stations; and political killings were used by the state in 45 countries to exterminate opponents and “troublemakers.”
“Governments. Continue to put politics before people’s lives,” Amnesty International said Thursday as it released its 1993 annual report.
Commenting upon the serious human rights abuses in India, the report says “In India, hundreds of political activists was ‘extra judicially executed and scores more “disappeared” in conflict zones. Throughout Indi, torture was rife.” It further adds, “In at least eight Asian countries, particularly India and Sri Lanka, human rights abuses were committed by armed opposition groups as well as governments. Voicing concern over US govts. Failure to fulfill its obligations on certain human rights issues, the report states, Amnesty International USA will not allow the U.S. Government to cover up its inaction on human rights issues with vague words and promises.
The United States, for instance, must fulfill its promises to ratify international human rights treaties and covenants, without reservation, Rest assured that Amnesty International’s 400,000 members in the United States stand ready to put pressure on this government to fulfill its moral, humanitarian and international obligations.”
Article extracted from this publication >> July 16, 1993
