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India has institutional framework but no respect for human rights says ACHR
WSN Bureau

In a report which will upset the rights fraternity, a watchdog group by the name of Asian Centre for Human Rights released the South Asian Human Rights Index 2008 and claimed that India was the best human rights performer in South Asia, while Sri Lanka was the worst.

According to its report, the score received by the respective countries Sri Lanka with 52 points followed by Bangladesh (45), Bhutan (43), Pakistan (41), Maldives (23), Nepal (24) and India (24).

Correcting its own report and qualifying it the ACHR director Suhas Chakma said, "India is the best human rights performer in the South Asian region because of the existence of institutional mechanisms. However, its record on human rights continued to be poor,"

According to the report, India continues to fail to ensure political freedom and inclusion to vulnerable groups like Dalits, Sikhs who migrated from Pakistan to Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 and the Chakmas and Hajongs of Arunachal Pradesh, the report said.

"India records high number of cases of blatant violations of the right to life due to custodial deaths, fake encounter killings, torture and killings through the disproportionate use of fire-arms. From April 1, 2007 to Dec 31, 2007, a total of 1,459 cases of custodial deaths were registered. It implies over five persons were killed in custody every day."

According to the index prepared by this newly set up human rights body, Sri Lanka had the worst human rights record for violations of the right to life, child rights, attacks on human rights defenders and violations of the rights of the minorities. On press freedom, it ranked as the second worst violator only after Bhutan - which has no independent press.

"Discrimination lies at the heart of the war with the Tamils and the introduction of restrictions on Tamils travelling to Colombo are a powerful symbol of government intent. the report stated.

According to the report, in the year 2007 in Pakistan, hundreds of people disappeared, arbitrary detention and torture in detention remained routine and impunity for human rights violations remained high.

ACHR has prepared the report by using an indexing system comparing the assessment of nine issues relating to human rights: political freedom, right to life, judiciary and administration of justice, status or effectiveness of National Human Rights Institutions, press freedom, violence against women, violations of the rights of the child, violations of the rights of the minorities and tribal peoples and repression on human rights defenders.

6 August, 2008
 

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