LUDHIANA: The visas granted to 10 members of the fact-finding mission from Europe to Punjab were cancelled at the last minute on the request of the Government of India, recently.
The delegation of MPs, senators and human rights activists ‘was also scheduled to attend the seminar organized by the International Human Rights Organization on December 4 last at Ludhiana. “i am directed to inform you on the instructions of the Government of India that the visa issued to you (visanoT12415 dated 281194) for tourism has been cancelled,” wrote A. Behari, firs secretary, Embassy of India, Brussels, on Nov.30, according to JHRO chairman D.S.Gill, Not only the visas of the senators and the MPs, but also the visa of the representatives of the UN High Commissioner of Refugees was cancelled.
“Even the visas of some tourists who had booked their seats on that day were cancelled,” said Peter Vinland, leader of the delegation. The delegation, besides attending the seminar, was scheduled to visit different parts of Punjab, Chandigarh and New Delhi from December 5 to 11 to have firsthand information on human rights and political situation of Punjab, said IHRO statement. Besides Mr.Lindt and Mr.Germain, the delegation included John De Mol (MP), Willy Kuijpers (senior & mayor), V. Yves DeSeny (senator), Jef Utburghs (senator & priest), Frans Smeets (lawyer), Nadine Veulemane (first secretary of peoples union) and Prof Frans Swartele (director of world education center). While thanking all of the people in Punjab and Delhi who were supporting their mission, the delegation leader condemned India’s action saying that “by refusing this mission, India confirmed our fears that the violation of human rights in India, especially in Punjab and Kashmir, are severe, widespread and are going on day by day.”
Article extracted from this publication >> December 16, 1994
