AMRITSAR: Asia Watch an internationally known human rights organization has charged both security forces and militants in Punjab with “flagrantly” violating human rights and advised them to abide by international human rights laws to protect civilians.
The organization in its report on human rights violations in Punjab titled “Crisis in Punjab” asked the militant groups to abide by the provisions of common Article three which prohibit killings or other attacks on persons taking no part in hostilities.
The Article also asks them to refrain from issuing threats against members of ethnic or religious groups journalists Government pee and other civilians.
The report made available here recently wanted the Government to establish independent impartial commissions of inquiry into all reports of encounters and killings.
The organization further wanted the Government to instruct security forces to use non-lethal methods of crowd control and repeal legislations such as Punjab Disturbed Areas Act and the Punjab Special Powers Act which granted the security forces powers to shoot to kill.
It has asked the Government to repeal the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) as its provisions are “so broad as to virtually criminalize legitimate political dissent and free speech.”
The organization asked the Government to amend the National Security Act to ensure that it may not be used to curb political dissent and free speech and sought permission for the International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC) to undertake full range of its protection activities.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 27, 1992
