Srinagar, Feb 25: Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission, Justice (retd) Bashir-ud-din, on Friday told the Government of India appointed interlocutors that solution to human right problem in Jammu and Kashmir lies in addressing the legal and political issues.
 “Human rights issue (in Kashmir) has political and legal facets. They are intermingled and unless political issue is addressed human rights issue can’t be resolved,” Justice Bashir-ud-din told the 3-member panel of interlocutors who had gone to meet him to discuss the HR situation in the Valley and the role played by the Commission.
 “I told the interlocutors that human rights issue (in Kashmir) has legal and political facets. They are intermingled and we can’t address one issue and leave the other. The legal point is being taken care of by the Commission while the political part has to be resolved by people who matter.”
 About the role of the Commission as a recommendatory body to prevent HR abuses, the chairman said he told interlocutors during their half an hour meeting with him that the existing Act needs “drastic changes and amendments” to make it more forceful.
 “The powers that the Commission should be vested with are not there.  The Commissions’ recommendations need to be acted upon both at the centre and state level. The human rights issue has crept (in JK) in 1932 and more precisely after 1947. We have to give vent to their (relatives of the victims) feelings otherwise it is becoming a vicious circle. The issue has to be addressed or the human rights violations will continue,” Justice Bashir-ud-din said.
 The interlocutors are on their 5th visit to JK. They have already completed Jammu trip and are concluding their Valley visit tomorrow.
 The panel headed by journalist Dileep Padgaonkar with academician Radha Kumar and former Information Commissioner, MM Ansari as its members would submit their next report in two weeks. The panel has maintained that the report is focused on the contours of solution to the political problem.  
 The panel, which has been making monthly visits to JK, was expected to hold talks with all political parties, separatist groups, youth and students as part of New Delhi’s “fresh initiative” to solve Kashmir. Though it had asserted to come up with a roadmap on Kashmir in nine months, since their appointment last October, they have failed to break ice with the separatists whom they had formally invited for talks.
 The chairman said the panel also discussed with him wide-range of issues including detention of minors in the jails. “I told them that in such cases laws should be followed strictly. Special courts could be set up in this regard which will ensure that the justice is done,” he said.
 The panel which claims to have included was scheduled to meet religious leaders and members of civil society groups ahead of winding up their Kashmir tour.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 IST