The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : India urged to secure justice to Palestinians

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Dec 18, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

India urged to secure justice to Palestinians

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 17. Palestine Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has urged the Indian Government to influence UN bodies, diplomatic and political institutions to exert pressure on Israel to respect human rights in Palestine.

The co-head of PCHR, Jabr M.Wishah, and HR activist from France, Mireille Mendes, at a press conference here on Friday, said that the excesses by the Israeli forces had crossed all limits and hoped that only international intervention could bring peace in the disputed areas.

Pleading for an end to bloodshed, the HR activists felt only international laws could help find a peaceful solution to the contentious issue. Mr. Wishah hoped that India would play a positive role by raising the issue at international fora. However, he expressed concern at India trying to forge new relations with Israel in the area of defence.

Torture of prisoners

Mr. Wishah alleged that Israeli forces were torturing the Palestine youth in the jails. He said 87 per cent of the detained youth were exposed to torture and humiliation. Ms. Mendes, extended full support of the French HR bodies to the Palestinian struggle. Another Palestine HR activist, Jamal Hassouneh, denounced the terror tactics of Israel. They said the people of Palestine only hoped that there would be an end to Israeli occupation and they would be given the right to self-determination.

Earlier the three-day Anti-War Assembly being held here denounced the wars unleashed by the US and the UK on the people of the world. Speakers from Iraq, Palestine, UK, Sri Lanka, Philippines and India were critical of US actions. A member of Al-Sadr Movement, Cheik Hassan Zarkani, denied media `propaganda' that there was a divide among the Shia and Sunni communities. He blamed Saddam Hussein's tyranny for creating conditions, which enabled the US to attack Iraq. Chairman of organising committee, P.M. Bhargava, welcomed the gathering.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh