Voice of Vitasta provides guidelines to Amnesty International

[Prachalita Vidyamaana]

Voice of Vitasta provides guidelines to Amnesty International

Bangalore

15^th August 2016

Amnesty International Ltd has published a report titled “DENIED – Failures in accountability for human rights violations by security force personnel in Jammu and Kashmir” in 2015.  Amnesty International is funded by Government agencies of UK, USA and other European Countries.  The report provides recommendations to Indian Government, Government of Jammu and Kashmir and Indian security establishment.  Unfortunately, the report published by the Amnesty International is not positively contributing the cause of human rights.  Further, Amnesty International is organizing public programmes and community outreach programmes in different cities of India.  In this context, the Voice of Vitasta issued a statement and Sri. Rakesh Koul released the following statement.  

                “The Amnesty International (AI) report titled ‘DENIED – Failures in accountability for human rights violations by security force personnel in Jammu and Kashmir’ provides a biased perspective and is negatively contributing to the human right protection in Kashmir and elsewhere.  The report fails to advise Pakistan government, security and military establishments who are main perpetrators of Kashmiri bloodshed. Instead, the report directs all its recommendations only to the Indian government agencies.  Amnesty International should initiate a serious introspection and inquiry into its programmes and processes around human rights issue.  The report published by the AI appears to be inciting people against Indian establishment and spreading propaganda unleashed by separatists. 

Amnesty International needs to record and publish reports on activities and human rights violations perpetrated by organizations such as Lashkar-e-Tobias and their followers such as Burhan Wani.  Simultaneously, AI cannot continue one-sided human right activism and should take up sufferings of Kashmir Pundits and violation of their rights.   Amnesty International should stop false propaganda against Indian armed forces.  Instead, Amnesty International should recognize best practices of Indian army in humanely dealing with the separatists and misguided protestors and general public.  Guidelines to be published by AI declaring stone pelting and such acts of protestors as human rights violation.  Amnesty International need not insist on harmonization of Indian laws and operating procedures with the interpreted meanings of UN guidelines.  AI could restrict itself in assessing due diligence and compliance by government agencies without casting aspersions on intent, information sharing procedures, outcomes and implementing the decisions.

Amnesty International should stop direct and indirect support to exclusive ideologies and thought processes, government and non-government agencies supporting intolerant and consumerist ideologies of Jihad and proselytization detrimental to the human rights” 

NOTES - 1:

Amnesty International provides platform for anti-national elements

Amnesty International had organized a program titled “Broken Families – Journey for Justice” on Saturday, 13^th August 2016 in The United Theological College, Bangalore between 7pm to 8.30pm.  The main focus of the program was to facilitate interaction of public with members of three Kashmiri families.  Amnesty International had described these three families (all the three families were Muslim families) as victims of human rights violations committed by Indian Army.  The program was not designed to include Kashmiri Pundit families who were victims of human rights perpetrated by Islamic militants. 

A few alert citizens of Bangalore established contact with organizers (Amnesty International) and pointed out bias and inappropriateness of the scope and nature of the program.  Then, the office bearers of Amnesty International agreed to include one representative of Kashmir Pundits to present their view point on stage.

Ms. Tara Rao, Program Director of Amnesty International in her welcome speech, wrongly quoted figures of causalities of Kashmir Pundits during insurgency and this was promptly corrected by participating alert citizens.  Some of the audience strongly objected to this correction although finally Ms. Tara Rao agreed to incorporate corrections to her statement.  After the welcome speech, three videos representing views of three Kashmiri Muslim families were screened and members of families were allowed to speak.  The request of Kashmiri Pundits to show one video of 8 minutes “AND THE WORLD REMAINED SILENT by Ashok Pandit was denied by the organizers of the programme.

Later during the panel discussion, Mr. Mattoo – representative of Kashmiri Pundits, referred to the discipline and responsiveness of Indian army personnel in handling a difficult scenario where thousands of youth are misguided by propaganda unleashed by foreign elements exploiting Islamic militancy.  The same section of the audience vehemently objected to the positive remarks about the Indian army.  Other participants of the audience strongly objected to interference and there was chaos in the program.  Mr. Mattoo talk was interrupted and after intervention of organizers, well minded citizens of the audience and police personnel, the program continued.  Later, Mr. Matto continued his talk and his appeal to all sections of the society to end Kashmir unrest was well received by the entire audience.

At the end of the presentation, some people along with Kashmir Pundits left the hall without continuing their participation till the end.  A significant section of the audience remained in the hall and started shouting Pro-Independence slogans.  This was not stopped by the organizers of the Amnesty International.  This was immediately noticed and those citizens who were leaving the venue of the programme alerted police and started opposing anti-national slogans. 

Amnesty International has published a report titled “DENIED – Failures in accountability for human rights violations by security force personnel in Jammu and Kashmir” in 2015. The program on 13^th August was based on this report.  The tone and tenor of the entire report is directed against Indian government agencies and especially the Indian army.  The report provides recommendations to Indian Government, Government of Jammu and Kashmir and Indian security establishment.  Unfortunately, the report published by the Amnesty International is not positively contributing the cause of human rights.  In the program, the office bearers of Amnesty International have connivingly collaborated with anti-national elements and allowed their platform to be used for raising anti-India slogans and provoking the public against Indian government and government agencies. 

(This report was prepared by well-intended citizens who attended the programme)

NOTES - 2

Following observations of citizens of Bangalore related to the scope of the Amnesty International is worth recording in this context.  Basically these observations represent

What Amnesty International must do to protect human rights?

 1.     The report published by the Amnesty International titled “DENIED – Failures in accountability in Jammu and Kashmir” provides a biased perspective and is negatively contributing to the human right protection in Kashmir and elsewhere. Amnesty International should initiate an immediate introspection and inquiry into its report making process.
2.     Amnesty International report fails to provide mature recommendations.  The Recommendation section, all the suggestions are directed to the government of India and to the local government of Jammu and Kashmir.  There is no recommendation to the government of Pakistan, Pakistan Military and other armed militant groups of Kashmir – who are main perpetrators of the bloodshed and confusion of Kashmir in the last 3 decades.
3.     Amnesty International cannot claim neutrality for reports generated with financial support of and published in UK.  Amnesty International should immediately redefine its associations with UK and other countries before giving recommendations in Kashmir.
4.     Several families in Jammu and Kashmir are suffering due to ongoing Islamic militancy.  Many youths are misled to act against government and security personnel.    The approach of Amnesty International in reporting such incidents is not matured.  Amnesty International should stop inciting people against Indian establishment in fuel propaganda unleashed by separatists.
5.     Amnesty International should publish a report on activities and human rights violations perpetrated by Lashkar-e-Tobias, Hijbul Mujahedeen and its followers such as Burhan Wani.
6.     Amnesty International should publish a report and pursue cases related to the incident of Haal of Shopian District where more than 2000 Kashmir Pandit employees were tortured and forced to leave the valley and who are languishing in the transit camps in Jammu.
7.     Amnesty International should publish reports on human right violations against five lakh Hindus and its consequences in the last 26years and follow up with Indian Government to rehabilitate them to their native place/houses.
8.     Amnesty International should focus on about 3 lakh Sikh community who are physically threatened by separatists to join their protests or to face death.
9.     More than 300 temples of Kashmir are destroyed.  Temples which are under security are systematically attacked by separatist minds of Kashmir.  Kashmiris are exposed to systematic misinformation campaign and brainwashing in the name of Islam by Pakistan and Jihadi forces.  World powers and their sympathizers in India are actively supporting this sabotage. Amnesty International should go beyond stereotype report generation to real problem solving mode as a demonstration to its commitments to true human rights.
10.  Amnesty International should stop its bad practice of targeting Indian armed forces.  Young personnel facing hostile, instigated crowds are showing maximum restraint not heard anywhere in the world anytime in the past to save lives.  Amnesty International should declare stone pelting and such acts of protestors as human rights violation.  Amnesty International should also recognize the human role played by the Indian security agencies and showcase the same in other parts of the world where human rights are violated.
11.  Amnesty International should learn about the initiatives Like UDHAN of Indian army towards the rehabilitation of victims of terrorism.
12.Amnesty International should stop demanding harmonization of Indian laws and operating procedures with the interpreted meanings of UN guidelines.   

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