Amnesty accuses Indian police, militants of arbitrary killings

The Amnesty International has accused both security forces and militants of arbitrary killings, abduction and other human rights violations in India.

Releasing Amnesty's annual report for 1996 in New Delhi, the London-based human rights organisation's Indian chief S S Nehra alleged that torture, rape and ill-treatment were ''endemic throughout the country.''

The Amnesty report said the Indian government continued to face violent attacks by militants in Jammu and Kashmir, throughout the North-Eastern states and certain other parts of the country, including Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian government, the group regretted, was yet to ratify the UN Convention against torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment. The militants still committed grave human rights abuses, including torture, and arbitrary killing and abduction of civilians.

The report pointed out that in May 1996 militants threatened the public with dire consequences if they participated in the Jammu and Kashmir elections and killed several candidates.

Amnesty alleged the authorities have detained thousands of political prisoners without charge or trial under special legislations such as the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Disturbed Areas Act.

It praised the National Human Rights Commission for striving to create public awareness about rights. However, it regretted that despite having discretionary powers such as awarding compensation, the NHRC's mandate was still limited in relation to human rights violations committed by the armed forces.

Referring to the human rights situation in Pakistan, Nehra said journalists have been jailed there for exposing rights abuses. Torture remained widespread, reportedly leading to at least 70 deaths. More than a 100 people, many of whom may have been victims of extrajudicial executions, have already been killed there.

In Afghanistan's Taliban-controlled areas, the Amnesty report said, women and girls were finding their freedom of movement and association severely restricted. Some have been beaten with chains for being outside their homes or not wearing burqua. Many have been banned from attending work and schools.

Amnesty said disappearances in Sri Lanka hit a high since 1992, as hostilities continued between the government and the LTTE.

In China, the authorities continued to jail human rights activists and others brave enough to voice dissension.

Nehra said serious human rights violations were reported throughout the United States. Thousands of violations are remaining unpunished, and the death penalty continues to be used extensively (a total of 45 prisoners were executed and more than 3,150 were under death sentence).

The US also tops the list of five countries where death penalty is given to children.

In Europe, reports of torture, ill-treatment and police brutality continued, with members of ethnic minorities being particularly vulnerable.

The Amnesty has, during 1996, documented 4,272 cases of execution in 39 countries.

UNI