Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

UN official exchanges views with NE stakeholders

By Staff reporter

GUWAHATI, March 28 � The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, Prof Christof Heyns, today assessed the complaints of human rights violations in the North East, findings of which would be placed before the UN General Assembly.

Prof Heyns, who is here in a fact-finding mission to investigate allegations of human rights violations, will also make necessary recommendations to the Government and Human Rights Council based on the findings of the report.

Addressing the gathering comprising human rights activists and victims of human rights violation, Prof Heyns, who is in India for two weeks, said that the basic stress is on propagating the theory of �Right to Live�.

�The mandate is to set accountability, if and whenever life is taken. Every life is of concern to the international community,� remarked Prof Heyns, who interacted with various stakeholders at Hotel Brahmaputra Ashok here today.

The alleged violations towards which Prof Heyns� attention was drawn included fake encounters in Manipur, killing of journalists in Manipur, journalist Parag Das murder case and witch-hunting.

Besides, issues related to inquiries under Commissions of Inquiry Act, State Human Rights Commission and extrajudicial killings of children in NE were also deliberated upon in today�s North East Regional Consultation. The Extrajudicial Execution Victims Families� Association, Manipur also took part in the consultation.

Earlier, attending the consultation, WA Shishak, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh, dwelt on various aspects of human rights violations, especially those taking place in Manipur.

The former chairperson of Manipur Human Rights Commission also deliberated on the Arms Forces Special Powers Act and termed it as a �draconian law� under the shadow of which gross human rights violations are taking place.

Next Story