Author: J. Venkatesan
Publication: The Hindu
Date: November 12, 2002
URL: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/11/12/stories/2002111202791300.htm
The Prime Minister, Atal Behari
Vajpayee, today called upon human rights institutions to recognise the
truth that the single greatest enemy of human rights "is terrorism fuelled
by religious extremism'' and "it strikes at innocent lives.''
Inaugurating a three-day meeting
of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights institutions here, Mr.
Vajpayee said that such terrorism "targets the symbols of our freedoms.''
The meeting hosted by the National
Human Rights Commission was co-sponsored by the office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The Forum comprising Human Rights
Commissions of Australia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, New
Zealand, Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Mr. Vajpayee said the debate on
human rights either in the global context, or in the context of the Asia-Pacific
region, would be grievously incomplete without serious consideration of
the threat posed by terrorism. "All forms of terrorism are dangerous, but
the one that is inspired by religious extremism is especially lethal,''
he added.
Referring to the deprivation of
human rights to terrorists and the protests voiced by human rights institutions,
the Prime Minister said "we have sometimes to take tough decisions- even
infringing some of our freedoms and abridging some of our human rights
temporarily- to firmly counter terrorism, so that our future generations
can live in peace and harmony.''
In an obvious reference to Pakistan
justifying the killing of innocent men, women and children as "freedom
struggle,'' Mr. Vajpayee said in the past two decades, nearly 60,000 people
had been killed in acts of terrorism in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere
and "it baffles us.''
He pointed out that the U.N. resolution
had rejected justification of terrorism for whatever consideration- political,
philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic or religious.
Seeking the cooperation of all nations
to fight terrorism, the Prime Minister said "it is incumbent on all the
nations in our region and around the world to join hands to fight the menace
of international terrorism.''
He was of the view that "respect
for all faiths and protection of pluralism should be recognised as an obligation
for all countries in the world. This obligation cannot be fulfilled merely
by proclamations, declarations and acceptance of the U.N. resolutions.
Our actions and cooperation at the national, global and regional levels
must match the threat posed by international terrorism and religious extremism.''
Mr. Vajpayee said "human rights
are no doubt a lofty concept'' but at the same time he reminded the nations
that "we live in an imperfect world and this reality imposes practical
difficulties in living by the ideal standards of human rights.'' He lamented
that those who take a narrow and non-historical view of the matter often
distorted the debate on human rights.
In his opening remarks, the chairperson
of the National Human Rights Commission, Justice J.S. Verma, said the evil
acts of terrorism and its threat had vitiated the atmosphere and had made
the promotion and protection of human rights more difficult and complex.
He said "in such an environment,
harsh and sometimes intemperate voices have been raised propounding the
view that the defence of human rights wittingly or unwittingly, weakens
the State and furthers the purpose of terrorists.''
Mr. Justice Verma reiterated that
the defence of human rights "is not something unrealistic and weak-minded
undertaking of those who lack the courage to stand-up for the defence of
their country or the principles that it holds dear.''
The Special Adviser to the U.N.
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Brian Burdekin, in his address lauded
the efforts of India in protecting human rights of its citizens.
