United Nations, June 19 (TNS): In the opening statement and global update of human rights concerns, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein urged all nations to take notice of Indian actocities in occupied Kashmir.
“Nations need to do more, to speak louder and work harder for the common purpose and for universal human rights law, to better our chances for a global peace.” Zeid, in his address, spoke about violations in Indian occupied Kashmir.
“I have sought to engage substantively with both India and Pakistan over the past two years regarding the situation in Kashmir, on both sides of the Line of Control. Refusals by India and then Pakistan to enable unconditional access have led us to conduct remote monitoring, with a first report issued last week. I encourage the Council to consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry for a more comprehensive investigation of the human rights situation in Kashmir, and reiterate my calls for access. I am tremendously saddened by the assassination last week of Shujaat Bukhari, a courageous human rights defender actively working for peace, including through his participation in the Track Two diplomacy seeking to help both India and Pakistan put an end to the violence.”
The United Nations released the first-ever report on human rights violation in occupied Kashmir and demanded an international probe into it, evoking a sharp reaction from India which termed the document as “fallacious and motivated”. The report which was released on 14 June evoked bizarre response from New Delhi who shamelessly lodged a protest with the United Nations, saying the government is “deeply concerned that individual prejudices are being allowed to undermine the credibility of a UN institution.”
Zeid called for maximum restraint and for establishing a commission of inquiry. He said, “It is also why I will be urging the UN Human Rights Council to consider establishing a commission of inquiry to conduct a comprehensive independent international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir.”
Even in September last year, Zeid, in his comments at the 36th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, had criticised India on the issue of deportation of Rohingya as well as on religious intolerance and threat to rights activists. New Delhi had reacted strongly to the statement saying, it was surprised that individual incidents are being “extrapolated” to suggest a broader societal situation.
