The UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (WGEID) has expressed concern over allegations of “enforced disappearance and the existence of mass graves” in Indian Held Kashmir.
“The Working Group remains concerned about allegations of a widespread practice of enforced disappearances between 1989 and 2009 and the existence of mass graves,” the latest report on the subject by the UN body said, Xinhua reported on Friday.
“According to the Declaration, the Government is under obligation to investigate those allegations and bring to justice those responsible,”said the report.
The UN WGEID submitted its annual report on Feb. 6. The report will be presented during the 96th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this month from March 12 to 16.
“The Working Group received information from credible sources concerning obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance in India. This information was transmitted to the Government on Feb. 11, 2011, after the Working Group’s 92nd session,” read the report.
The report mentioned that between 1989 and 2009, the actions of military and paramilitary forces in Indian Held Kashmir have led to more than 8,000 enforced and involuntary disappearances.
“It was reported that in the majority of instances related to enforced disappearances, civilians have been detained during cordon and search operations. In certain instances, non-combatant persons were extra-judicially executed following detention, and labeled afterwards by the Government of India, and the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir as militants who emigrated to Azad Kashmir in Pakistan to seek arms training,” said the report.
“It was reported that acts of oppression and violence towards presumed insurgents were deemed as acts of service, which were rewarded and compensated,” it said.
The report quoting findings of the Civil Society Organisation about presence of 2,700 unmarked graves in 55 villages of northwest of Srinagar said the Working Group remains concerned about allegations of a widespread practice of enforced disappearances between 1989 and 2009 and the existence of mass graves.
“The remains of the person should be clearly and indisputably identified, including through DNA analysis securing the full participation of the family and without fully informing the general public of such measures,” it observed.
The report said that the Government of India didn’t respond to general allegation forwarded to it in February 2011.
Source: The Nation (http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/02-Mar-2012/un-report-expresses-concern-over-enforced-disappearances-mass-graves-in-ihk) – 2/3/2012