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[home]>[programmes]>[campaigns]>Punjab
Solidarity
Solidarity in
support of families of 'Disappeared'
in Punjab
Several human rights organisations and
groups of concerned individuals have initiated a campaign of solidarity
in support of justice for the families of the ‘disappeared’ in Punjab.
SAFHR has been an active member of the Solidarity Campaign both in terms
of mobilizing financial support and lobbying nationally, regionally and
internationally on ‘disappearances’ and an institutional culture of
impunity. Its centerpiece is the disappearances and illegal cremations
case which is being conducted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
under the directives of the Supreme Court. The case was first brought
before the Supreme Court of India by the Committee for Initiative and
Information on Punjab. The Committee is a partner of SAFHR in India.
On behalf of the Solidarity, SAHR published
“Reduced to Ashes; Insurgency and Human Rights in Punjab”
(2003), the final report of the Committee for Coordination on
Disappearances in Punjab. It is an attempt by Ram Narayan Kumar and
others to tell the truth of the human rights abuses which occurred from
1984-1994. The complex denial of truth about the political killings,
enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests, torture - the stock in trade
of the anti insurgency operation embedded in an institutional culture of
impunity, has made the atrocities invisible and irrevocable. It is the
major roadblock in the transition from conflict towards a sustainable
peace, repression to democracy. The publication of the report is being
used to mobilize public opinion on the unfinished agenda of ‘justice’
and accountability, necessary if there is to be a healing of society and
democratization of the polity. Proceeds from the sale of the publication
are to be used by the Solidarity.
Background:
In 1994-95, Jaswant Singh Khalra and Ram Narayan Kumar (Committee for
Information and Initiative on Punjab -CIIP) investigating the records of
3 cremation grounds in the district of Amritsar, discovered that the
police had cremated over 2000 bodies, labelling them as unidentified/
unclaimed, even though in many cases the names and addresses of those
cremated were entered in the records. The cause of death in most cases
was stated to be “bullet” (or firearm) injury or, simply, “encounter”.
Were these the 2000 persons reported as ‘disappeared’ at the hands of
the security forces in Amritsar district?
punjabsolidarityindia@yahoo.co.uk
and
www.punjabjustice.org
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