NEW DELHI (PTI): India on Sept.29 said it was studying implications of the reference to the Kashmir issue by American President Bill Clinton at the United Nations general assembly.

This was stated by an external affairs ministry spokesman when asked by newsmen lo comment on U.S. president Bill Clinton identifying Kashmir as among the areas where “bloody, ethnic, religious and civil war” raged.

Clinton’s reference to the Kashmir issue in his maiden speech at the U.N, general assembly was the first by an American President Since the end of the cold war.

The Indian government officials are seriously concemed about this which has also prompted it to set up a human rights commission to counter the serious allegations of human rights violations in that part of the country.

In an effort to counter charges of serious human rights violations in India, the government by a special ordinance on Wednesday constituted a national human rights commission,

The newly constituted commission has been empowered to seek a report from the union govemment of complaints rights violation. ‘

Talking to newsmen, senior govemment Officials said the commissions would in no way affect or influence the existing laws goveming the armed forces.

The commission, to be based in Delhi, will have nine members and will be chaired by a former chief justice of India.

The ordinance defined “human rights” as nights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the constitution or embodied in the international covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

The commission will also have a retired or present supreme court judge, a former or present chief justice of high court and two members“ having knowledge of orpraclical experience in matters relating to human rights.”

The chairpersons of national commission for minorities, national commission for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and national commission for women will also be members of the commission. It is a well-known fact that most Indian commissions of enquiry are mouth pieces of the government, due to their members being known government sympathizers or those with selfish interests. recover file from outlook temp mac The Indian commission on human right is expected to be a mere white washing agency of the government to support its actions in the International forums.

Article extracted from this publication >>  October 8, 1993