By IANS
New Delhi : India's policies on Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and rehabilitation for those affected by developmental projects do not "fully address" human rights concerns, according to Amnesty International.
In its International Report 2007, released here as part of its worldwide launch, the rights body also alleged that the "perpetrators of past human rights violations" in the country continued to "enjoy impunity".
Pointing out that laws were being misused to "facilitate arbitrary detention and torture", the 340-page report, released here by eminent legal expert A.G. Noorani, said: "Implementation of the security legislation led to human rights violations in several states."
It also noted that while the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), effective in militancy-hit states, was not repealed yet, at least 400 people remained in jail under the repealed Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (POTA).
Talking about the economic rights, perhaps for the first time, the international rights body pointed out that around 300 million people remained in poverty despite implementation of a new law, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act which promises 100 days of employment for one able bodied in every rural family.
"Concerns grew over protection of economic, social and cultural rights of already-marginalised communities including adivasis (tribals) amidst fears of unchecked exploitation of their resource base by the government and businesses.
"New legislation on the right to information, seen as a means to empower the poor, was not fully implemented. The union government and state governments were reluctant to disclose crucial information about their decision-making processes," the report said.
Referring to violent protests in parts of the country against land acquisition for industry, it said: "Several states witnessed periodic protests against acquisition of land and other resources for mining, irrigation, power and urban infrastructure purposes. Such developments were associated with forced evictions, harassment, arbitrary detentions, excessive police force and denial of access to justice."
It referred to violence in Orissa's Kalinganagar, where 11 tribals were killed in police firing in January 2006 while protesting against land acquisition for a Tata Steel project.
"Several states including Orissa and West Bengal witnessed protests by people whose livelihoods were threatened by ongoing and proposed fast-tracked development projects. High suicide rates by debt-ridden farmers were recorded in some states including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala."
The report also referred to the rising Maoist rebellions across the country as well as the increasing incidents of "politically motivated" violence and torture and death in police custody in Jammu and Kashmir. Quoting reports, it pointed out that some 10,000 people had been victims of enforced disappearance in Jammu and Kashmir since 1989.
The rights body also expressed concern over the clemency petition of December 2001 parliament attack convict Afzal Guru pending before President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
The report said that there were very few successful prosecutions relating to the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat and the rehabilitation of the affected people continued to be slow.
Noorani said the country's record on respecting human rights and human rights bodies was poor. "India has not been kind to Amnesty. Even China has accepted a visit from the Amnesty.
"India has double standards when it comes to international commitment on human rights. If any country criticises us we are up in arms against them," he said.
Delivering the keynote address, National Commission for Minorities member Zoya Hassan expressed concern over "deliberate manipulation of fear by the state".
She said the human rights bodies should give more emphasis to the social and economic rights violations.