NEW DELHI: Several European countries are upset about the way india permits its security forces to violate human rights of people. They have taken note of widespread violations in Kashmir, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere. For instance, Norway has an institute of human rights known as Norwegian Institute of Human Rights which keeps track of the human rights situation in India German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, French and Swiss govemments reject India’s plea that outsiders have no right to “interfere” in India on ground of human rights violations. These government hold that human rights 13 a universal concept and that no civilized society can dccept torture, for example, as an internal matter of a country Moreover, India is a Signatory to international convenent on civil and human rights. Last year, the European Parliament passed a resolution expressing concem about the role.
Played by Indian security agencies to routinely violate the Peoples human rights in Kashmir. The German govemment is likely to present to the Country’s parliament answers to 1 questions raised by certain Members about complaints of Violation of human nights in India According to reports here, India finds itself in a tight Indian diplomats do not know what reply to give to questions on Custodial deaths and rape allegations compiled by Amnesty International. The diplomats quietly accept the truth but plead that state governments and not the central Indian government is responsible for these violations. This plea is taken because most foreign governments are not aware of the tight control the Indian central govemment has on the law and order machinery and security forces operating in the states.
Interestingly, India stoutly opposes any investigation of allegations of human rights violations by human rights groups from other countries. Even the European countries have failed to persuade India to treat human rights as an international concern.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 17, 1993
