NEW DELHI: India which promised to constitute a human rights commission to blunt worldwide criticism of violations of human rights is almost determined to make a mockery of the proposal.
In the first instance, undue delay is being allowed to be made in the formulation of a law on the commission, When finally a proposal has emerged, it turns the tables on those who had been pleading for such a commission. Now India seeks to include acts of violence by Muslim, Sikhs or other groups also to be a part of the proposed commission even while there are plenty of laws in operation to deal with killings by individuals. Commenting on the proposed commission, a spokesman of the Amnesty International has said that the commission would have no worthwhile powers to tackle the violations of human rights by the state and its agencies. If India went ahead with its proposal, it would have no credibility. The Amnesty wants to commission to be independent of the government preferably in terms of an amendment in the Indian constitution.
The Amnesty also wants hearings of the commission in public and automatic reference of the findings to judiciary for appropriate action without delay.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 30, 1993
