re India, Human rights, Amnesty sla

[cd@xxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: re India, Human rights, Amnesty slams Govt

Burma Readers  and Amnesty Intenational Watchers : Re India, Human Rights 

Headline: Amnesty International Blames Indian Government for Murder in 
Death of Human Rights Activist
Keywords: India, Human Rights, Kashmir, Amnesty International, Jalil 
Andrabi, murder 
Date: April 1 1996


Burma Readers  and Amnesty Intenational Watchers : Re India, Human Rights 
Metta, Dawn Star


Amnesty International Blames Indian Government for Murder in Death of 
Human Rights Activist

SRINAGAR, India, March 28 (UVI) - As thousands Kashmiris gathered in 
ceremony chanting anti-Indian slogans to mourn the brutal slaying of 
Jalil Andrabi , well-known Kashmiri lawyer and human rights activist 
whose body was found in a river, Amnesty International slammed the Indian 
government for negligence bordering on complicity in the murder.

The London-based human rights organisation condemned Andrabi's murder, 
and said,  "His death appears to fit the recently emerging pattern of 
human rights abuses committed by security forces in connivance with armed 
groups.The government's complicity in this killing demonstrates its 
complete disregard for human rights ».

More than a dozen militant groups are fighting New Delhi's rule in
Jammu and Kashmir, India's only Moslem dominated state. More than 20,000
people have died in the six-year-old rebellion.

"The position of human rights activists has become untenable when they
are no longer able to document violations in Jammu and Kashmir," Amnesty
International said.

Police said at least 13 people including four militants and six Indian 
paramilitary troopers were killed last week when militants attacked 
security pickets in the past 24 hours in the Kashmir valley.

"The position of human rights activists has become untenable when they
are no longer able to document violations in Jammu and Kashmir," Amnesty 
International said.

"His death appears to fit the recently emerging pattern of human rights 
abuses committed by security forces in connivance with armed groups. The 
government's complicity in this killing demonstrates its complete 
disregard for human rights," it said.

 More than a dozen militant groups are fighting New Delhi's rule in Jammu 
and Kashmir, India's only Moslem dominated state. More than 20,000 people 
have died in the six-year-old rebellion.
 Police said on Thursday at least 13 people including four militants and 
six Indian paramilitary troopers were killed when militants attacked 
security pickets in the past 24 hours in the Kashmir valley.

On March 9, Jalil Andrabi, chairman of the Kashmir Commission of Jurists, 
was
kidnapaped  by unidentified gunmen as he was driving home. His wife
declared  Indian security forces had picked him up, but the army denied 
the charge.

His body was found in the Jhelum River in Srinagar on Wednesday. Shops 
and businesses were shut in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir state's summer 
capital, in a strike called by separatist groups in protest against
Andrabi's death. Senior members of the leading separatist umbrella 
organisation, All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, and members of 
the Kashmir Bar Association walked in the funeral procession, witnesses 
said.

  Most city streets were deserted apart from security patrols.Police used 
teargas in several areas of Srinagar to disperse agitating Kashmiri 
Moslems, but they did not disrupt the funeral proceedings,
witnesses said.

The body was laid on a stretcher for the funeral and covered with a white 
cloth. But Andrabi's mutilated face showing  his eyes gorged out, was not 
covered, , they said. He was buried in Kashmir's largest "martyr's 
graveyard," Idd-Gah, in a simple Moslem ceremony. A sign reading "Martyr, 
Jalil Andrabi" was posted
at the head of the grave.