Srinagar, Apr 23: After taking cognizance of latest developments in the state regarding alleged human rights violations and detention of youths under the controversial Public Safety Act, the two-member Amnesty International team left the Valley on Sunday finishing their 10-day visit.
Talking to Greater Kashmir from Delhi over telephone, the team members said Amnesty International will come up with a comprehensive report over the happenings in Valley. “We took stock of every development and the rights violations in Valley and a comprehensive report will soon be released,” said Sahana Basavapatna.
“Apart from the main contours of Kashmir situation, the present condition of victim families will also be included in the report,” she said.
The member said she must not comment over what it felt being in Kashmir but “everything will be thoroughly included in the report which will be a reflection of happenings and our perspective of what it was to be in the Valley,” Sahana said.
Programme Coordinator, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, Khurram Parvez said the AI team will visit again. “After their thorough visit and meetings with people, the team will again come and take stock of things,” he said. However, he did not mention when exactly they will come again.
During their stay in the valley, the team met separatist leaders, visited High Court Bar Association and took notice of cases in State Human Rights Commission. The team also called on Inspector General of Police and victim families whose wards are detained under Public Safety Act.
On Saturday, the team visited the house of jailed separatist leader Masrat Alam.
Informed sources told Greater Kashmir that Human Rights Watch will also dispatch a team to the Valley to take stock of alleged human rights violations. “A 3-member delegation from New York is likely to visit the Valley on May 7. The team will take stock of the issue of unmarked graves and disappearances besides taking cognizance of controversial laws like PSA and AFSPA,” sources said.
Pertinently, United Nations (UN) Rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary and arbitrary executions is also submitting its report on Kashmir next year. UN Rapporteur Christof Heyns was recently on a fact-finding mission to Jammu and Kashmir.
He met lawyers, academicians, human rights activists and victim families to get the first hand information. Heyns submitted a provisional report on Jammu and Kashmir in New Delhi on March 30. He said a full report would be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) next year.
Throwing light on his mandate to visit India Heyns said; “The Special Rapporteur carries out his mandate through correspondence with government about specific incidents of killings, and through fact-finding visits to countries in which there are allegations of unlawful killings.”
In its interim recommendations the UN Rapporteur has called for repeal of controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Jammu and Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) and Public Safety Act (PSA).
“AFSPA allows the state to override rights. Such a law has no role in a democracy and should be scrapped,” Heyns told reporters in New Delhi on March 30 while releasing interim report of his 12-day visit to India. The contentious law has become a symbol of excessive state power and has resulted in consuming innocent lives in J&K and Assam, he said.
Describing AFSPA a clear violation of international law, Heyns said its repeal would “not only bring domestic law more in line with international standards, but also send out a powerful message that instead of a military approach, the government is committed to respect the right to life of all people of the country.”

Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST