Kerala - Alappuzha   

`Developed nations misusing human rights concept'

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, DEC. 12. Speakers at a seminar on `Development and Human Rights' organised by the Jama-Ath-Islami-Hind here today, cautioned against the attempts by colonial powers to selectively interpret human rights to serve their interests.

A. K. Ramakrishnan, head of the Department of International Affairs at the Mahatma Gandhi University said developed nations were often found using the concept of human rights to establish their hegemony. The U.S. President, George Bush, often cited human rights violations by the former Iraq administration while justifying the American attack on Iraq, he said. The U.S. administration was justifying the occupation of Iraq as an attempt to establish democracy, pointed out Mr. Ramakrishnan.

Rights of common man

Mr. Ramakrishnan pointed out that some of the present day discussions on human rights did not include discussions on the rights of the common man. The idea of human rights was being misinterpreted to mean trade-related market-friendly human rights, pointed out Mr. Ramakrishnan.

In the emerging international scenario, companies have equal rights like individuals, he said. Often the rights of the companies get preference over the rights of the individuals and societies, pointed out Mr. Ramakrishnan. The concept of market has become equivalent to the idea of God which should not be criticised, said Mr. Ramakrishnan.

Rights of companies

He said that human rights should be connected with various basic rights of human beings and protection of natural resources which are the wealth of societies. But individuals and societies were now losing their rights over resources to companies, Mr. Ramakrishnan said.

Big companies were gaining rights from the Governments by the use of their collective bargaining power, he added.

The historian, K. N. Panicker, who was to inaugurate the function did not turn up. The Jama-Ath State vice-president, T. Arif Ali, presided over the function. T. K. Farooq and C. R. Neelakantan spoke.

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`Developed nations misusing human rights concept'

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