UN rights chief calls for major probe into IOK abuses
Zeid Al Hussein is urging Human Rights Council to consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry in held Kashmir
UN rights chief calls for probe into Kashmir abuses. PHOTO: AFP
GENEVA:
The UN human rights chief on Thursday called for a major investigation into abuses in Indian Occupied Kashmir, as his office released its first-ever report on alleged violations committed in the disputed territory.
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he would urge the Human Rights Council, which opens a new session next week, “to consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to conduct a comprehensive independent international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir”.
A COI is one of the UN’s highest-level probes, generally reserved for major crises like the conflict in Syria.
Stop massacre in Kashmir, Pakistan urges India
The report, which the UN said was the first-of-its-kind for Occupied Kashmir, highlights “chronic impunity for violations committed by security forces”, the rights of office said in a press release.
The findings come after months of deadly clashes along the Line of Control.
The report said that Zeid met with representatives of both governments following an upsurge of violence in July 2016, triggered by India’s killing of 22-year-rebel commander Burhan Wani.
Kashmir carnage: Anti-India protest continues in AJK for second day
Concerned by what the UN termed “large and unprecedented” protests after Wani’s death, Zeid asked for “unconditional access” to Kashmir, but neither government agreed.
His office then began remote monitoring of the region, ultimately producing a report covering alleged abuses between January 2016 and April of this year.
The report accuses Indian troops of being responsible for an estimated 145 unlawful killings.
“It is essential that the Indian authorities take immediate and effective steps to avoid a repetition of the numerous examples of excessive use of force by security forces in Kashmir,” Zeid was quoted as saying.
The UN human rights chief on Thursday called for a major investigation into abuses in Indian Occupied Kashmir, as his office released its first-ever report on alleged violations committed in the disputed territory.
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said he would urge the Human Rights Council, which opens a new session next week, “to consider establishing a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to conduct a comprehensive independent international investigation into allegations of human rights violations in Kashmir”.
A COI is one of the UN’s highest-level probes, generally reserved for major crises like the conflict in Syria.
Stop massacre in Kashmir, Pakistan urges India
The report, which the UN said was the first-of-its-kind for Occupied Kashmir, highlights “chronic impunity for violations committed by security forces”, the rights of office said in a press release.
The findings come after months of deadly clashes along the Line of Control.
The report said that Zeid met with representatives of both governments following an upsurge of violence in July 2016, triggered by India’s killing of 22-year-rebel commander Burhan Wani.
Kashmir carnage: Anti-India protest continues in AJK for second day
Concerned by what the UN termed “large and unprecedented” protests after Wani’s death, Zeid asked for “unconditional access” to Kashmir, but neither government agreed.
His office then began remote monitoring of the region, ultimately producing a report covering alleged abuses between January 2016 and April of this year.
The report accuses Indian troops of being responsible for an estimated 145 unlawful killings.
“It is essential that the Indian authorities take immediate and effective steps to avoid a repetition of the numerous examples of excessive use of force by security forces in Kashmir,” Zeid was quoted as saying.