News Analysis |
Once again human rights group Amnesty International has said the Indian government is widely misusing a law allowing for detention without trial in Occupied Kashmir. The human rights organizations have been repeatedly saying that India is violating international law and targeting civilian population across Indian occupied Kashmir.
According to details, the head of Amnesty International India Aakar Patel said the Public Safety Act is a “lawless law” under which the authorities hold children, old people and the disabled. He said this act is contributing to inflaming tensions between the state authorities and local populace and must be immediately repealed.
protests after the martyrdom of Burhan Wani in 2016 and the brutal use of pellet guns against protesters among the human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir
According to the statement, the Public Safety Act circumvents the criminal justice system in Kashmir to undermine accountability, transparency and respect for human rights. It said, the text of the PSA violates several of India’s obligations under international human rights law, including respecting detainees’ fair trial rights.
The international community has raised its concerns over the brutalities being committed by India. Recently, European Parliament stood up for the people of Kashmir. “Members of European Parliament called on India to immediately put a halt to its atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir and carry out investigations into the incidents of grave human rights violations.”
Members of European Parliament called on India to immediately put a halt to its atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir and carry out investigations into the incidents of grave human rights violations. pic.twitter.com/MIbrRULsqJ
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) February 20, 2019
The report of the United Nations’ Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) on Kashmir recently concluded that the situation in India occupied Kashmir is worst. Christine Chung, one of the authors of the report was invited to the event by the sub-committee. It is worth noting here that the OHCHR issued its first-ever report on the situation in Kashmir June 14, 2018.
Read more: International pressure over India increases: MEPs demand end to violence against Kashmiris
The report highlights the protests after the martyrdom of Burhan Wani in 2016 and the brutal use of pellet guns against protesters among the human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir. The report noted that Indian armed forces not only use force indiscriminately but also rape and humiliate Kashmiri women. A member of the European Parliament also called on India “to end violence against women & children in IOK. Voices of Kashmiri women & children must be heard.”
EU @TheresaMEP called on India to end violence against women & children in IOK. Voices of Kashmiri women & children must be heard @ EU Parl HR Committee Meeting in Brussels 19 Feb #KashmirBleeds @ForeignOfficePk @AmbNaghmanaHash @LodhiMaleeha pic.twitter.com/M1W7tzbb7g
— Nauman Bashir Bhatti (@NaumanMFA) February 20, 2019
Since the BJP, anti-Muslim and Hindu nationalist party has once again won the elections in India. Human rights organization and international community fear that the more violence may take place in India occupied Kashmir since PM Narendra Modi is someone who follows hard-core Hindu ideology and prefers to use violence instead of dialogue. It is yet to be seen whether the USA, a longstanding economic partner of India, takes a firm position over the violations of human rights or ignores as it happened earlier.