Dear Editor
Knowing of your interest in the condition of human rights in India I would like to share with you what I believe is a great accomplishment in that fight. For too long the government of India has tolerated serious human and civil rights abuses against its minorities; however the U.S. government and Congress has been unwilling to recognize that these abuses are occurring in India.
I am proud to report that I was able to have legislation included in H.R.2508 the Foreign Assistance Act which puts Congress on record for the first time documenting that serious human rights abuses have been committed by Indian security forces. This legislation also mistakes it the stated policy of the U.S. government that the Indian governments should take significant steps to improve human rights in their country including allowing internationally recognized human rights organizations unrestricted access fulfilling the recommendations of the U.N. Human Rights Committee to review and revise India’s security related laws and to work towards local elections in Kashmir. Of course much more remains to be done but I believe that we have taken an essential step in halting the severe human rights abuses in India. i believe it imperative that we remain relentless in our efforts to keep the pressure on India to bring a stop to its current tactics and this legislation is an important part of that effort. Again I will continue to fight to push the Indian government to respect the human rights of all its citizens.
Wally Herger
Member of Congress
House of Representatives
Washington DC
Article extracted from this publication >> June 28, 1991
