UN rights chief ‘deeply concerned’ about impact of Indian govt’s actions on rights of Kashmiris – World

The United Nations chief of human rights said Monday that he was "deeply concerned about the impact of recent actions" by the Indian government on the human rights of cashmere.

In her presentation speech for the start of the last session of the Human Rights Council, Michelle Bachelet expressed her concern about India's actions against cashmere, as well as the killing and illegal injury of Palestinians by security forces Israelis

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi today went to Switzerland on a three-day visit to represent Pakistan at the 42nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The Foreign Minister is expected to address the session and present the case of Kashmir to the delegates attending the forum around the world. Pakistan Radio reported.

On August 5, the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stripped the cashmere of constitutional rights they had for seven decades through a hasty presidential order. Since then, there has been an indefinite curfew in occupied Kashmir, while elected leaders are still under house arrest.

Bachelet, in his comments on occupied Kashmir, said his office continues to receive reports on the human rights situation on both sides of the control line. "I am deeply concerned about the impact of the recent actions of the Government of India on the human rights of cashmere, including restrictions on Internet communications and peaceful gathering, and the detention of local political leaders and activists," he said.

"While I continue to urge the governments of India and Pakistan to ensure that human rights are respected and protected, I have especially asked India to relieve current blockages or curfews; to guarantee people's access to basic services; and that all due process rights are respected by those who have been arrested, "he urged.

"It is important that the people of Kashmir be consulted and participate in any decision-making process that has an impact on their future."

The Foreign Minister had written to the UN chief of human rights last month to ask India to put an end to human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir.

Qureshi, in a letter addressed to Bachelet, had asked him to demand that India "rescind its unilateral actions, lift curfews and other draconian measures and restore the fundamental rights of the people of Kashmir."

Environmental concerns

The chief of rights, who was former president of Chile, focused her attention mainly on environmental concerns and called for greater participation in the fight against climate change by companies and more space for environmental activists to express their points of view.

"We are literally burning our future," said Bachelet. “The world has never seen a threat to human rights of this scope. This is not a situation in which any country, any institution, any legislator can stay out of it. ”

Looking beyond the personal criticism against her of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in recent days, Bachelet also reiterated his concerns about the "drastic acceleration of the deforestation of the Amazon."

"The fires that currently plague the rainforest can have a catastrophic impact on humanity in general," said Bachelet, "but its worst effects are suffered by women, men and children living in these areas, including many indigenous peoples. " He urged the authorities of Brazil, as well as Paraguay and Bolivia, to ensure that "long-standing environmental policies" are carried out, "thus avoiding future tragedies."

Last week, Bolsonaro praised the 1973 military coup of General Augusto Pinochet in Chile that led to the death of Bachelet's father a year later in captivity. Asked for The Associated Press To respond to those comments, she declined to comment.

Migrant Rights

Regarding the rights of migrants in Central America and on the border with the United States, Bachelet said he was concerned that the policies of the United States, Mexico and others in the region "put migrants at greater risk of violations and abuses of human rights".

"It should be noted that I am alarmed that migrant children continue to be held in centers in the United States and Mexico, which contravenes the best interests of the child, which is a fundamental principle of international law," he said, adding at least 35,000 asylum seekers. They have been "pushed" to Mexican border areas to await their hearings this year.

The Trump administration withdrew the United States from the council last year, accusing it of an anti-Israel bias and denouncing some member states that Washington says they are repeated violators of rights.

Alarmed by illegal killings of Palestinians

As for Israel, whose government has repeatedly accused the council of anti-Israeli prejudices, Bachelet denounced "very high levels of violence by settlers and Israel's failure to adequately protect Palestinians from such attacks or hold perpetrators accountable."

He cited a recent increase in house demolition under an Israeli planning and zoning framework "that strongly discriminates against Palestinians."

"I continued to be alarmed by reports of murders and illegal injuries of Palestinians by Israeli security forces throughout the occupied territory, accompanied by a lack of total responsibility in cases of possible excessive use of force," he said.