Southern States - Kerala   

Protect human rights: Antony

By Our Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram Dec. 10. The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, today said his Government would not brook any deliberate violation of human rights, including those committed by Government officials in their line of duty.

Inaugurating the Human Rights Day celebrations at the Police Training College (PTC) here, Mr. Antony sought to differentiate between violation of human rights by `omission' and those by `commission'. The Government would regard violations by `commission' differently from those by `omission', he said.

Mr. Antony said those wielding Government power should show matching restraint in their actions. The freedom given to the Police Department should not be misused. It would defeat the aim of the Government to insulate police functioning from outside interference. When it came to protection of human rights, the Government should be a model for private individuals and other agencies. In a democracy, no one had absolute right or power. All rights were subject to reasonable check and balance, he said.

Mr. Antony said violation of human rights by Government departments were not uncommon in the State. "Sadly, such violations do happen. But it is definitely not on Government direction," he said.

The Chief Minister said his Cabinet had approved the Kerala State Human Rights Commission acting chairman, S. Balaraman's report on the alleged police atrocities at Killi in Thiruvananthapuram district. On the basis of the report, he had placed eight policemen under suspension and ordered relief for the victims.

"I had not bargained to attend a function at the Police Training College immediately after announcing the suspension of eight policemen. I hope the police force will take it in the right spirit. The Government is serious in upholding the fundamental and human rights of citizens," he said. The Chief Minister lauded the efforts of the Commission in highlighting human rights violations.

The Director General of Police, P.K. Hormese Tharakan, said agencies such as the Human Rights Commission were yet to address violations of human rights as a `whole'. He said hartals and bandhs often resulted in the violation of the human rights of individuals. The right to protest should not be at the cost and expense of the human and fundamental rights of fellow citizens, he said. The police chief said policemen were also human beings and their rights often ended up being violated. "In Kottayam, a policeman lost his eye while policing a protest meeting. At Kozhikode, a woman constable was seriously injured. No one has given them any interim relief. As police chief, I can only order the registration of a case in such instances," he said.

Mr. Tharakan said policemen also had families to care for and no officer in his right mind would carry out an unprovoked action. "But it is only human to hit back when you are attacked."

Mr. Tharakan said he was `hurt' by attempts on the part of the media and politicians to demonise the State police, which was among the best in the country. He said he would not allow anybody to demoralise the police or tarnish their image on the basis of any isolated incident.

The former Chief Minister, P.K. Vasudevan Nair, said that finally it was the political executive, which would be held accountable for the actions of various Government departments. He said the suspension of eight policemen would be "disconcerting' for the police, but it should be taken in the right spirit.

The Mayor, J. Chandra, said that gender discrimination and sexual harassment were also serious human rights issues. Dr. Balaraman, the ADGP (Training), Jacob Punnoose, and the DIG (Training), Padmakumar, were among those present.

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