Indian and state authorities should improve HR situation in
Kashmir - British MP
London, Feb 25 (KMS): " We continue to take a close interest in the
human rights situation in Kashmir and we condemn any human rights
abuses that take place in Jammu and Kashmir."
This has been stated in the letter written by Douglas Alexander, MP,
the British Minister responsible for relations with India from the
office of the Minister of state for Trade, Investment and Foreign
Affairs in reply to a letter written to Foreign Minister Jack Straw MP
by Marsha Singh MP. The letter from Marsha Singh who is also Treasurer
to All Parties Parliamentary Group for Kashmir was based on a report on
human rights abuses in Kashmir sent by Professor Nazir Ahmad Shawl,
Executive Director, Kashmir Center, London.
Douglas Alexander MP in his letter said, "we continue to take a close
interest in the human rights situation in Kashmir. We raised our
concern about the Handawara and Sheikhpora-Sallar incident with the
authorities in Jammu and Kashmir during an official level visit and our
High commissioner regularly raise our concerns about the human rights
situation in Jammu and Kashmir with the Government of India in New
Delhi and the state authorities during visits to Jammu and Kashmir. We
condemn any human rights abuses that take place in Jammu and Kashmir.
India has signed and ratified five of the six core UN human rights
treaties, including the international Covenant for Civil and Political
Rights. But its implementation of the rights set out in these
conventions is patchy," the letter from Douglas Alexander, said.
British Ministry of Home Affairs also published an outline strategy at
the end of last year, which said "avoiding human rights violations by
forces: prompt, expeditious and transparent enquiries; strict action
against offenders; reiteration of instructions and training for humane
behavior by Indian forces. " We will continue to urge the Indian
authorities to take more steps to improve the human rights situation in
Jammu and Kashmir," the Ministry of Home Affairs report stated.
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