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Human rights trampled in S Asia: HRW
Human Rights Watch sees India as a bright spot in its bleak assessment of the human rights situation in South Asia.
Human Rights Watch sees India as a bright spot in its generally bleak assessment of the human rights situation in South Asia.
The group's report for 2005 praised India for playing a "constructive role in opposing" King Gyanendra's seizure of absolute power last February in neighboring Nepal. Gyanendra had argued that previous administrations had failed to curb the growing communist insurgency and clean up corruption.
The report, issued on Wednesday, also praised India's government for setting up a committee to review the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which gives the army and paramilitary sweeping powers to battle militants, including the right to shoot or arrest people suspected of being rebels.
Human Rights Watch also criticised India for creating legislation that the rights groups said shields security forces from accountability and for allowing police to torture suspects during interrogations.
"Indian military, paramilitary and police forces have engaged in serious human rights abuses in conflict zones, and yet there have been no attempts at transparent investigations or prosecutions of those responsible," the report said.
The report also faulted India for failing to protect its citizens from discrimination based on caste and religion.
Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf, the report said, has done little since he seized power in a military coup in 1999 to alleviate human rights problems.
The report said women and religious minorities are discriminated against, political opponents are detained arbitrarily, and news media are intimidated and harassed.
In Bangladesh, an already strained human rights record worsened last year, the report said, in the aftermath of a bombing campaign by extremists that began on August 17, when more than 400 almost simultaneous small explosions went off across the country.
"Bangladesh's security forces continue to commit numerous abuses, including extrajudicial killings, excessive use of force and custodial torture," the report said.
In Sri Lanka, human rights worsened after thousands died during the December 2004 tsunami.
The report said "sectarian interests hijacked aid distribution mechanisms, compromising the modest successes of the post-tsunami recovery and rehabilitation effort."
Tamil Tiger rebels, the report said, recruited child soldiers, killed Tamil opposition and allegedly assassinated former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar in August. Sri Lankan police were accused of torturing suspects.
