Report Slams Both Gov't & Militants Over Kashmir

[Guest guest]

SRINAGAR (13 September 2006): A revolt in Jammu and Kashmir has

drawn religious radicals into the conflict, making it even more

dangerous, a US-based human-rights group said yesterday, at the same

time urging India to repeal tough anti-terror laws.

 

The report, entitled "Everyone Lives in Fear" [to read report in

full, go to http://hrw.org/reports/2006/india0906/ -DB], was

released by Human Rights Watch in Srinagar, the summer capital of

Kashmir, where a deadly insurgency has raged against New Delhi's

rule since 1989.

 

The study said the separatist insurgency had "visibly mutated into

an even more dangerous fight under the banner of religion, pitting

Islam against Hinduism, and drawing religious radicals into its

heart."

 

Sixty-eight percent of Kashmir's 10-million population are Muslims,

28 percent are Hindus and the remaining 4 percent are a mixture of

Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists.

 

"Security forces claim they are fighting to protect Kashmiris from

militants and Islamist extremists while militants claim they are

fighting for Kashmiri independence and to defend Muslim Kashmiris

from a murderous Indian army," the report said.

 

In fact, the report compiled from interviews with officials, police,

separatists, journalists and civilians, said both sides had

committed widespread rights abuses and violations of international

humanitarian law.

 

Brad Adams, Asia head of Human Rights Watch, said people were fed up

with daily violence but that while human rights abuses had fallen

over the past few years the "situation was still severe."

 

The 158-page report alleges serious abuses in which civilians in

particular have been targeted by government forces and militants in

Kashmir.

 

"Kashmiris are trapped in an armed conflict between abusive Indian

government forces and armed militant groups waging a brutal

separatist struggle with the backing of the Pakistani government,"

it said.

 

A peace process between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan has stalled

over New Delhi's charges that Islamabad has failed to crack down

on "cross-border terrorism" against Indian targets. Pakistan denies

the charges.

 

Adams called upon India to repeal tough counter-insurgency laws in

force since the rebellion began in Kashmir 17 years ago.

 

"These laws are unacceptable in our society," said Adams, referring

to the Public Safety Act, Disturbed Areas Act and Special Powers Act.

 

The laws give sweeping powers to the armed forces to shoot any

suspect, raid any building and detain anyone for two years without

trial.

 

"These laws, enacted near the beginning of the conflict, allow

lethal force to be used against any person who is acting in

contravention of any law or order for the time being in force in the

disturbed area.

 

"It is absurd that the world's largest democracy, with a well

developed legal system and internationally recognised judiciary, has

laws on its books that prevent members of its security forces from

being prosecuted for human rights abuses," said Adams.

 

"It's time to repeal these laws," said Adams, whose report was the

first to be released in Kashmir under a new Indian government policy

aimed at allowing freer debate over the situation in the region.

 

"The Indian government's failure to end widespread impunity for

human rights abuses committed both by its security forces and

militants is fuelling the cycle of violence in Kashmir," he said.

 

"Human rights abuses have been a cause as well as a consequence of

the insurgency in Kashmir," he added.

 

While there was no immediate reaction from the Indian government to

the report, New Delhi says it investigates all accusations of human

rights abuses and punishes anyone found guilty.

 

Adams also criticised Pakistan.

 

"The Indian government has effectively given its forces free rein,

while Pakistan and armed militant groups have failed to hold

militants accountable for the atrocities they have committed," he

said.

 

Some 44,000 people have died in the conflict in the scenic Himalayan

region by official count. Separatists say the toll is at least

double.

 

SOURCE: Gulf Times, Qatar

URL: http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.aspx?

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