Amnesty India Calls for Immediate Halt In Demolitions

SRINAGAR: In view of the ongoing anti-encroachment drive Amnesty International India on Wednesday said that the demolitions in Kashmir must be halted and those affected should be compensated.

“The ongoing demolitions appear to be an extension of the brutal human rights violations the region of Jammu and Kashmir, the only Muslim majority region of India, has historically witnessed. These demolitions could amount to forced evictions which constitute a gross violation of human rights,” Aakar Patel, chair of the board for Amnesty International India said.

“Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which India is a state party, everyone has the right to adequate housing which includes a prohibition on forced evictions. Where justified, evictions should be carried out in accordance with general principles of reasonableness and proportionality and include safeguards of reasonable and adequate notice; provision of legal remedies for infringement of rights; and provision of legal aid to people who need it to seek redress from the courts. No one should be made homeless or vulnerable to other human rights violations because of evictions.”

No one should be made homeless or vulnerable to other human rights violations because of evictions, the statement by the Amnesty added.

Aakar Patel said the government must “immediately halt the demolition drive” and “ensure that safeguards against forced evictions as outlined in international human rights standards are put in place before any evictions are carried out”. It added: “They must offer adequate compensation to all those affected without discrimination, ensure that victims of forced evictions have access to effective remedy, and those responsible are held to account.”