ID :
75190
Thu, 08/13/2009 - 20:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/75190
The shortlink copeid
US body puts India under 'Watch List' on religious freedom
Lalit K Jha
Washington, Aug 13 (PTI) The US Commission on
International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has placed India on
its "Watch List" for New Delhi's largely inadequate response
in protecting its religious minorities.
In a statement, USCIRF said India earned the "Watch List"
designation due to the "disturbing increase" in communal
violence against religious minorities -- specifically
Christians in eastern Indian state Orissa in 2008 and Muslims
in western Indian state of Gujarat in 2002 –- and the largely
inadequate response from the Indian government to protect the
rights of religious minorities.
"It is extremely disappointing that India, which has a
multitude of religious communities, has done so little to
protect and bring justice to its religious minorities under
siege," said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair.
USCIRF's India chapter was released this week to mark the
first anniversary of the start of the anti-Christian violence
in Orissa.
Any country that is designated on the USCIRF "Watch List"
requires "close monitoring due to the nature and extent of
violations of religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by the
government."
Other countries currently on the Commission's Watch List
are Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Laos, the
Russian Federation, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and
Venezuela.
USCIRF, which released its annual report early this year
had delayed the publication of its India Chapter due to the
general elections.
]
USCIRF members wanted to visit India for their first hand
assessment of the situation but they did not get the visa.
The organisation observed that last year in Orissa, the
murder of Swami Saraswati by Maoist rebels in Kandhamal
sparked a prolonged and destructive campaign targeting
Christians, resulting in attacks against churches and
individuals.
These attacks largely were carried out by individuals
associated with Hindu nationalist groups, and resulted in at
least 40 deaths and the destruction of hundreds of homes and
dozens of churches. Tens of thousands were displaced and today
many still remain in refugee camps, afraid to return home, it
said.
"India's democratic institutions charged with upholding
the rule of law, most notably state and central judiciaries
and police, have emerged as unwilling or unable to seek
redress for victims of the violence. More must be done to
ensure future violence does not occur and that perpetrators
are held accountable," Leo said.
Similarly, during the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat,
India's National Human Rights Commission found that the
government not only failed to prevent the attacks against
religious minorities, but that state and local officials aided
and participated in the violence.
In both Orissa and Gujarat, court convictions have been
infrequent, perpetrators rarely brought to justice and
thousands of people remain displaced, USCIRF alleged.
The India chapter of the annual USCIRF notes that the
deficiencies in investigating and prosecuting cases have
resulted in a culture of impunity that gives members of
vulnerable minority communities few assurances of their
safety, particularly in areas with a history of communal
violence, and little hope of perpetrator accountability.
The report recommends that the Obama administration must
urge Indian government to take new measures to promote
communal harmony, protect religious minorities, and prevent
communal violence by calling on all political parties and
religious or social organisations to denounce violence against
and harassment of religious minorities, women, and low-caste
members, and to acknowledge that such violence constitutes a
crime under Indian law.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal government
commission. Its Commissioners are appointed by the US
President and the leadership of both political parties in the
Senate and the House of Representatives.
Its principal responsibilities are to review the facts
and circumstances of violations of religious freedom
internationally and to make policy recommendations to the
President, the Secretary of State and Congress. PTI LKJ
SDE
Washington, Aug 13 (PTI) The US Commission on
International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has placed India on
its "Watch List" for New Delhi's largely inadequate response
in protecting its religious minorities.
In a statement, USCIRF said India earned the "Watch List"
designation due to the "disturbing increase" in communal
violence against religious minorities -- specifically
Christians in eastern Indian state Orissa in 2008 and Muslims
in western Indian state of Gujarat in 2002 –- and the largely
inadequate response from the Indian government to protect the
rights of religious minorities.
"It is extremely disappointing that India, which has a
multitude of religious communities, has done so little to
protect and bring justice to its religious minorities under
siege," said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair.
USCIRF's India chapter was released this week to mark the
first anniversary of the start of the anti-Christian violence
in Orissa.
Any country that is designated on the USCIRF "Watch List"
requires "close monitoring due to the nature and extent of
violations of religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by the
government."
Other countries currently on the Commission's Watch List
are Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Laos, the
Russian Federation, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and
Venezuela.
USCIRF, which released its annual report early this year
had delayed the publication of its India Chapter due to the
general elections.
]
USCIRF members wanted to visit India for their first hand
assessment of the situation but they did not get the visa.
The organisation observed that last year in Orissa, the
murder of Swami Saraswati by Maoist rebels in Kandhamal
sparked a prolonged and destructive campaign targeting
Christians, resulting in attacks against churches and
individuals.
These attacks largely were carried out by individuals
associated with Hindu nationalist groups, and resulted in at
least 40 deaths and the destruction of hundreds of homes and
dozens of churches. Tens of thousands were displaced and today
many still remain in refugee camps, afraid to return home, it
said.
"India's democratic institutions charged with upholding
the rule of law, most notably state and central judiciaries
and police, have emerged as unwilling or unable to seek
redress for victims of the violence. More must be done to
ensure future violence does not occur and that perpetrators
are held accountable," Leo said.
Similarly, during the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat,
India's National Human Rights Commission found that the
government not only failed to prevent the attacks against
religious minorities, but that state and local officials aided
and participated in the violence.
In both Orissa and Gujarat, court convictions have been
infrequent, perpetrators rarely brought to justice and
thousands of people remain displaced, USCIRF alleged.
The India chapter of the annual USCIRF notes that the
deficiencies in investigating and prosecuting cases have
resulted in a culture of impunity that gives members of
vulnerable minority communities few assurances of their
safety, particularly in areas with a history of communal
violence, and little hope of perpetrator accountability.
The report recommends that the Obama administration must
urge Indian government to take new measures to promote
communal harmony, protect religious minorities, and prevent
communal violence by calling on all political parties and
religious or social organisations to denounce violence against
and harassment of religious minorities, women, and low-caste
members, and to acknowledge that such violence constitutes a
crime under Indian law.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal government
commission. Its Commissioners are appointed by the US
President and the leadership of both political parties in the
Senate and the House of Representatives.
Its principal responsibilities are to review the facts
and circumstances of violations of religious freedom
internationally and to make policy recommendations to the
President, the Secretary of State and Congress. PTI LKJ
SDE
