Bengaluru: A day after an FIR was registered against it, the Amnesty International India has issued a clarification, rubbishing the charges leveled by the ABVP.
In a release issued on Tuesday, the NGO said, “The allegations mentioned in the complaint are without substance. They are preventing the families of victims of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir from having their stories heard. And preventing civil society organisations from enabling these families to exercise their constitutional right to justice.” The NGO has also issued a point-by-point rebuttal on the allegations raised in the complaint by an ABVP representative:
Allegation: “Sindhujaa Iyengar, a political science lecturer at a private university in Bengaluru, Seema Mustafa and Roushan Illahi sang anti-national songs and raised anti-national slogans.”
Amnesty International India (AII): Sindhujaa Iyengar is an employee of Amnesty International India. She was not present on stage at any point during the event. Seema Mustafa is a senior journalist. She moderated a discussion with affected families at the event. Neither of them sang any songs or raised any slogans at any point. The only musical performance was a song by Roushan Illahi (also known as MC Kash) at the end of the event, about growing up amid violence in Kashmir. Video footage of the event which was recorded by Amnesty International India has been shared with the police.
Allegation: “Sindhujaa Iyengar, Seema Mustafa and Roushan Illahi...delivered anti-national speeches against soldiers.”
AII: The only speech delivered at the event was by AII’s Programmes Director, Tara Rao, which referred to allegations of human rights violations by security force personnel. These allegations are laid out in detail in AII’s 2015 report, and have been widely reported and discussed. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which is part of the current ruling coalition in Jammu and Kashmir, had welcomed the recommendations of the report when it was published.
The families who attended the event spoke of their own personal stories of loss, as per the programme of the event. One of the families who attended the event was that of Shahzad Ahmad Khan, one of the men killed in the Machil extra-judicial execution, for which five security force personnel were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
AII also invited R.K. Mattoo, a representative of the Kashmiri Pandit community in Bengaluru, to speak about the human rights violations faced by members of the community.
Allegation: “Slogans were raised that Indian Kashmir should be part of Pakistan.”
AII: No AII employee shouted any slogans at any point.
Allegation: “The event indirectly supported terrorists.”
AII: The only discussion at the event was about allegations of human rights violations and the denial of justice to families in Kashmir. These are issues that have regularly been discussed in the media. They have been written about at length by members of Parliament, politicians, judges and civil society. In July 2016, the Supreme Court, in a ruling relevant to the issues discussed at the event, stated that the armed forces do not enjoy impunity for human rights violations.
Allegation: “The event...indirectly supported Pakistan and the ISI.”
AII: The focus of the event was squarely on allegations of human rights violations and the denial of justice in Jammu and Kashmir. AII has worked extensively on human rights violations in Pakistan, including the enforced disappearances and unlawful killings of political activists in Balochistan, violations by security forces in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and violence against journalists by groups including the ISI.
Allegation: “When ABVP activists tried stopping the attack, people tried to assault them.”
AII: No AII employee was involved in any form of assault against anyone.
How events unfolded
Saturday - Amnesty International India organises an event, 'Broken Families' to facilitate Kashmiri families to share their experiences and the alleged human rights violation in Jammu & Kashmir. Towards the end of the event, some participants allegedly shout anti-India and anti-Indian Army slogans, and seek separation of Kashmir from India. Members of a few right wing groups raise objection and stage a flash protest. A complaint is filed by an ABVP activist the same day seeking action against the organisers, participants and United Theological College.
Sunday - ABVP activists stage protest in front of the United Theological College on Miller's Road, demanding the immediate arrest of the organisers and participants. Police do not register an FIR and consult legal experts
Monday - An FIR is registered by the JC Nagar police. Representatives of Amnesty International India are made accused number one, while others (not known) are made accused number two. The accused are booked for sedition and other offences
Tuesday - ABVP activists intensify protest and demand immediate arrest of the organisers and participants. Police question representatives of the NGO.
