Amnesty International’s file listing human rights violations is growing fatter at an alarming rate. The violations are no longer confined to the totalitarian or fascist regimes. Most of the democratically elected governments not only show little respect for human rights but are increasingly participating in perpetuating exploitation of man by man. The compulsive urge to dominate often drives power drunk majorities to victimize ethnic minorities. Heinous crimes are committed against them with impunity under the cloak of democracy.
But the world generally remains oblivious of their grim fate. They are worse off than the Jews of the Soviet Union and the Blacks of South Africa. There is concern for the Jews and compassion for the Blacks but no tears are shed or protests are made when thousands of innocent Sikhs and Muslims are slaughtered in India, when Tamils are brutalized in Sri Lanka, when Catholics are persecuted in Ireland. They cry for succor. They plead for justice. But all their supplications fall on deaf ears. Democracy is their burden, democracy is their bane, because democracy is a rule by the majority and the majority is dead set to strangulate and suppress their legitimate aspirations.
They find themselves hopelessly betrayed. The custodians of justice act as demons dealing death blows to them. The world dismisses them as the usual disgruntled fringe and media ignores them. They are left with no option but to resort to guerrilla’s tactics. But the moment they take their first step in this direction, they are instantly branded as “terrorists”. The media suddenly becomes aware of their existence and begins to paint them as trigger happy monsters who kill for the sake of killing only. They grow further alienated and in desperation commit violent acts. To the world they, become “terrorists” but to their own community, they remain heroes and martyrs and the vicious cycle of bloodbaths grows murkier and murkier. With each passing day, the problem is assuming frightening proportions.
Yet no scientific attempt has been made to remedy the circumstances that force law abiding citizens to resort to desperate recourses. The problem is essentially rooted in the violation of human rights, and can be solved by ensuring basic human rights and civil liberties to the minorities that are besieged. by permanent as well as hostile religious majorities. The United Nations Commission for Human Rights needs to be invested with wide ranging powers. It should exercise jurisdiction over all member countries and should look into the complaints of the minorities. The aggrieved party, irrespective of its numerical strength, should have free access to present its case before the commission. The commission’s ruling should be mandatory and economic sanctions should be imposed on any country that ignores its recommendations. The commission should also have its own permanent investigative department to periodically review the state of affairs in each member country.
Right to freedom and right to justice are no internal matters. They are fundamental to a democracy. Every individual must be given the feeling that there is a redress for his legitimate grievances. Only then he will stand like Socrates and willingly drain down the cup of poison administered by the justice system of the country.
The scope of International Court of Justice should also be expanded. Political activists, who are falsely implicated in criminal cases and are convicted by communally motivated judges, should have the right to appeal to the International court of justice. By providing these minimum safeguards, a sense of confidence and faith can be generated among the minorities and the compulsive urge of the majorities to dominate can also be contained and a terror free era of peace and goodwill can become a reality. ‘
Article extracted from this publication >> October 14, 1988
