Babloo draws attention of MPs to implement UN recommendation for repeal of AFSPA
Source: Hueiyen News Service (KCC News)

New Delhi,, August 14 2014 : A "Dialogue between the Parliamentarians and the Working Group on Human Rights in India and the UN (WGHR)" was held at Ashoka Hotel Chanakyapuri, New Delhi on 13 August 2014 .

The dialogue attended by MPs from BJP, Congress and CPI(M), prominent human rights activist from various sectors as well as the United Nations was chaired by Henri Tiphane, Convenor of WGHR.

Dr T Meinya, MP from Manipur attended the function.

Mr.Miloon Kothari Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing introduced the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanisms which in the new mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council where all the human rights of all the members States were reviewed by the other member States.

He said, "India has gone through the process twice in 2008 and in 2012.Many recommendations have been made to India, some of them have been accepted by the Government of India, but unfortunately the recommendations have not been implemented on the ground.

The WGHR has developed tools to monitor the implementation of these recommendations." He emphasized the need for the Parliamentarian to be involved in the UPR Process.

Babloo Loitongbam, who is also a member of the WGHR, highlighted the issues of AFSPA and Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the context of implementation of the UPR recommendation.

Pointing out the AFSPA has been critiques by various human rights treaty bodies and special procedures prior to the establishment of the UPR mechanism; he underlined how the UPR has brought the issue in sharper focus.

He stated, "When India was first reviewed in 2008, government of Canada, Germany and UK raised the issue and in the second review in 2012 the government of Slovakia, Switzerland and France made specific recommendations and also UK, Norway and the US raised the issue indirectly.

Unfortunately the Government of India has not accepted any of the recommendation" .

But he pointed out that it is important for the MPs to know these developments.

When AFSPA was pass in the Parliament in 1958 the then Home Minster promised the Parliament that it would only be a temporary measure and be taken out once normalcy was restored in the Naga Hill and ever since the promise of 56 years had passed by.

Babloo also pointed out the recommendation to ratify the ILO convention 169 dealing with the Rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Living in Independent Countries.

He said, "India has ratified the ILO convention 107 deal with the same issues but not the 169.The 107 convention is outdated as it seeks to mainstream the indigenous and tribal people, which are now considered as a form of ethnocide, convention 169 seeks equal partnership between the State and the indigenous peoples.

In the both the UPR I and well as UPR II several governments have recommended the government of India to ratify the 169 convention which India still do not comply" .

He urged the tribal and indigenous MP to join these push by civil society and the some UN for India to ratify the ILO convention 169 to safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples in India.

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