Amnesty International
Press Release
Monday, November 23, 2009

Amnesty International Urges Obama to Address Human Rights in India During First State Visit

Human rights organization says that there must be accountability for past abuses by Prime Minister Singh’s own political party and protection of civilians in the continued military actions against Maoists-Naxalites

(Washington, DC) T. Kumar, Amnesty International USA's director for international advocacy, issued the following statement regarding the upcoming meeting between President Barack Obama and India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the first state visit of the Obama administration:

“While President Obama honors Prime Minister Singh with the first state visit of his administration, Amnesty International urges him to remember the plight of the Indian people who have endured and continue to face many abuses. As the world’s largest democracy, human rights must be fundamental, and accountability for past abuses should be treated not as a luxury but as a necessity.

“From the Gujarat killings in 2002 in which more than 2,000 Muslims were massacred, to the mass killing of Sikhs in 1984, to daily discrimination against the Dalit community, India cannot ignore either past or ongoing abuses.

“Amnesty International is urging President Obama to press Prime Minister Singh to move human rights in India forward by ensuring the protection of civilians in the continued military actions against the Maoists-Naxalites, making armed forces personnel accountable for human rights violations in Kashmir, and bringing long-overdue justice to those involved in the mass killings of Sikhs and Muslims.

“India is becoming a regional and global leader, and with such recognition comes the responsibility to demonstrate leadership in advancing human rights. Such leadership must begin with India’s treatment of its own civilians. President Obama should not miss this opportunity to remind Prime Minister Singh of this.”

Contact: AIUSA media office, 202-544-0200 x8634, media@aiusa.org.

For more information, please visit: www.amnestyusa.org

Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.

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