[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
``INDIA'S DIRTY LITTLE WAR''
______
HON. DAN BURTON
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 7, 1994
Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I would like to put into the
Record a recent editorial from the New York Times about India's human
rights abuses in Kashmir. I would like to commend the New York Times
for paying attention to the atrocities being committed in this distant
corner of the world, and urge other news media to do the same.
The Times' editorial was prompted by a report from Human Rights
Watch/Asian entitled ``Continuing Repression in Kashmir--Abuses Rise as
International Pressure on India Eases.'' The report details the murder,
torture, and rape of the Kashmiri people by Indian security forces and
notes that India's trading partners have ceased pressuring India on
human rights in order to improve economic relations.
The report states:
The human rights situation in Kashmir is getting worse at a
time when international pressure on the Indian Government has
all but ceased. Indeed, it could be argued that the increase
in deaths in custody and other abuses over the last 6 months
is not unrelated to the signals sent by India's one-time
critics, notably in bilateral discussions.
Mr. Speaker, this is wrong. We must continue to protest the gruesome
crimes being committed by Indian forces in Kashmir--gang-rapes,
torture, murder, torching of entire villages. The Clinton
administration must not be silent on this issue any more. When Congress
returns in January, I will renew my efforts to cut India's aid until it
repeals its repressive laws and stops the oppression in Kashmir. I will
also reintroduce my resolution calling for U.N. sponsored plebiscite
for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Human Rights Watch report should be mandatory reading for every
Member of Congress. I will not include the entire report in the Record,
but I would like to include the appendix listing the interrogation
centers in Kashmir where torture is practiced. My colleagues will note
that it is a lengthy list.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to comment on a related subject. It
has come to my attention that several of my colleagues have prepared a
letter to the State Department urging that Pakistan be placed on the
list of terrorist states. This would be a terrible mistake.
Placing Pakistan on the list of terrorist states would drive Pakistan
into the arms of terrorist states such as Iran and Sudan. Instead, we
should be working to pull Pakistan into a stronger alliance with the
United States and other Western powers. Pakistan is a democracy which
has joined us in alliances in the Persian Gulf war, Somalia and
Afghanistan. This is a relationship we should be building on instead of
tearing down.
On the issue of nuclear proliferation, we should be pursuing a policy
of limiting and reducing nuclear arms on a regional basis in South
Asia. We must seek a regional agreement to eliminate nuclear arms--in
Pakistan, India, and all other nations in the region. This is the only
solution. Attacking only one country is unfair and ignores the reality
in that area.
The Pressler amendment has not worked, and it should be replaced with
a more realistic policy of regional diplomacy.
appendix i
List of interrogation centers in Kashmir where torture is
practiced:
In Srinagar district.--Sonwar Bagh Joint Interrogation
Center (JIC), Raja Bagh JIC, Pantta Chhok BSF camp,
Government Degree College Bemina (now a CRPF camp), Bagh-e
Mehtab JIC, Badami Bagh Army camp, and Old Airport Army camp.
In Baramulla district.--Pattan Army camp, Doobgah CRPF
camp, Wadoora College Sopore BSF camp, Government Degree
College Sopore BSF camp, Government Degree College Sopore BSF
camp, Sundarwani Bandipora BSF camp, Dawar Gurez BSF camp,
Gulmarg (Baba Reshi) Army camp, and Singh Pora Baramullah
Army camp.
In Budgam district.--Pir Bagh Intelligence Bureau
Interrogation Centre, Kakao Rini Chrari Sharif BSF camp, Khan
Sahib Army camp, Town Hall Budgam CRPF camp, HMT Zainakote
CRPF camp, Ompura CRPF camp, and Chana Pora BSF camp.
In Anantnag district.--Doora Shahabad Army camp, Khanabal
Police Lines, Baniball Army camp, Chattergul Brah BSF camp,
Khundroo Army camp, Qazigund Army camp, Bijbehara Army camp,
and Frisal Army camp.
In Pulwama district.--Kakapora CRPF camp, Balev Gund Army
camp, Shopian BSF camp, Police Lines Pulwama, Boonarta Army
camp, Awantipora Army camp, and Tral Army camp.
In district Kupwara.--Zangli (Kalimitti) BSF camp, Trehgam
Army camp, Karnah Army camp rest house, District Police Lines
Kupwara, Battergam BSF camp, Chowkibal Army camp, and
Drugmullah Army camp.
In Srinagar city.--Raj Bagh Police/CRPF camp, Seki-Dafar
CRPF camp, Pampora (By-pass road) Police station, Bagh-e-Ali-
Mardan Army/BSF/CRPF interrogation camp, Sakura Army/BSF/CRPF
interrogation camp, Tail-Bal Army/BSF/CRPF interrogation
camp, Shalimar Army/BSF/CRPF interrogation camp, Shah Cinema
Army/BSF/CRPF interrogation camp, Neelam Cinema Army/BSF/CRPF
interrogation camp, Hawal Cinema Army/BSF/CRPF interrogation
camp, Hari Niwas Interrogation Center (CRPF), Papa I (CRPF),
Papa II (BSF), Red 16 (BSF), Gogoland--between the old and
new airports (CRPF), Bagi Ali Mardan (Nowshera) (BSF), Lal
Bazaar Police Station (BSF), Hotel Mamta, Dal Gate (BSF), and
Shiraz Cinema, Khenyar (BSF).
____
[From the New York Times, Sept. 6, 1994]
India's Dirty Little War
A relentless, deadly struggle goes on and on in India's
mainly Muslim state of Kashmir, where New Delhi is trying to
crush forces seeking independence or union with Pakistan. The
violence comes from both sides, but India's insistence on
resolving a political problem by force has increasingly
enmeshed it in a campaign of lawless state terrorism. The
ugly results are documented in a new study by Human Rights
Watch/Asia.
Regrettably, Washington, instead of raising its voice to
defend human rights, has lowered it in an effort to improve
commercial and diplomatic ties. The U.S. may have little
power to deter India from repression. But the Clinton
Administration should assert American disapproval more
forthrightly.
Kashmir's political status has been disputed almost since
the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947. A local Muslim
uprising drew armed support from Pakistan. The Hindu
maharajah then called in Indian troops who recaptured most of
his lost territory. The two countries have confronted each
other over tense cease-fire lines ever since. Meanwhile on
the Indian side a promised plebiscite was never held and the
state was formally incorporated into India in 1954.
Separatist agitation continued on and off, flaring again into
open conflict in 1989.
Some pro-Pakistani militant groups have reported to
terrorist deeds like kidnapping, assassination and extortion
and even to common crime. No political grievance can justify
such acts.
But Human Rights Watch/Asia reports that Indian forces,
which are obliged to follow higher standards, have also
resorted to reprisal killings and burning down villages. They
are also said to be executing many suspects without trial;
200 in the first half of this year and 50 in one month alone,
according to local human rights groups. There are also many
reports of torture and ``disappearances,'' two other common
features of state terrorism.
India insists has prosecuted some responsible for these
crimes, but has offered no information about such
prosecutions. The State Department, in its latest annual
human rights report, said ``there was little evidence that
the responsible officials received appropriate punishment.''
Until this year, American officials were equally candid in
their public statements. But more recently, after New Delhi
warned that continued human rights criticism could damage
relations, the Clinton Administration has gone silent on the
subject. Meanwhile, India has aggressively courted help from
the likes of China and Iran to block condemnation by the U.N,
Human Rights Commission
The Administration needs to find a firm and consistent
voice on human rights, whether in powerful countries like
India and China or puny ones like Haiti and Cuba. Selective
denunciations carry no moral authority. Criticizing the weak
but not the strong is bullying, not leadership.
Meanwhile India, which captured the world's moral
imagination with Gandhi's nonviolent struggle for
independence, is now in the unflattering company of countries
that use deadly force in keep their unhappy citizens in line.
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