Flags of Honour Foundation, Dr NK Kalia and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP, petition UN Human Rights Council seeking independent investigations on the torture and death of Capt Saurabh Kalia.
New Delhi, 11 Dec 2012; The fight to seek justice for Capt Saurabh Kalia and 5 jawans of the 4 JAT, reached the UN with the petition filed in United Nation Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by Flags of Honour Foundation, Dr NK Kalia and Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament, against war crimes and torture inflicted on Capt Saurabh Kalia and 5 Jawans during the Kargil war in 1999. The petition was filed on December 07th, 2012, with Mr Juan E Mendez, Special Rapporteur on Torture, Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights, UN Office Geneva on 07th December 2012.
The petitioners urged the UNHRC to ensure a full and independent investigation is opened immediately, justice is achieved and also to conduct enquiries into this matter and takes appropriate steps to urge the Government of Pakistan to conduct an enquiry into the matter and ascertain those responsible for the torture and death of Captain Kalia.
Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament said "I am supporting this petition to UNHRC filed by Flags of Honour Foundation and Dr NK Kalia to seek justice for the family of Capt Saurabh Kalia who was tortured and shot dead performing his duty - a clear case of war crime and violations of Geneva conventions. This is about principles of natural justice and laws being violated against Indians anywhere in the world and about men and women in uniform who serve the nation and expect the nation to back them and take care of their families."
Thanking Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar for his efforts in pursuing the case of Capt Saurabh Kalia in the Parliament and now in the UNHRC, Dr Narinder Kumar Kalia, father of Capt Saurabh Kalia said "this matter is about dignity and honour of Capt Saurabh Kalia and five soldiers and a national issue where country's prestige was slighted due to such heinous crimes which go unchallenged."
Issue raised in Parliament
Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar had first raised the issue in Parliament which confirmed government's apathy towards the martyr's case. He then followed this with a letter to Mr SM Krishna, the then Minister of External Affairs on 23rd August, 2012 and urged him to take up the case with UNHRC to declare this heinous act as a war crime and move the International Court of Justice to expose and pressurize Pakistan too identify and punish all the perpetrators of this brutal crime. Mr Krishna responded saying "the matter has been raised in the past with Pakistan Pakistani authorities and in the appropriate international for a. It is indeed unfortunate that our efforts have not borne fruits. This does not in any way imply that we are giving up our efforts justice that the guilty are brought to justice".
Background
On 15th May, 1999 that when Capt Saurabh Kalia along with five Jawans - Arjun Ram, Bhanwar Lal Bagaria, Bhika Ram, Moola Ram and Naresh Singh had gone for a routine patrol of the Bajrang Post in the Kaksar sector when they were fired up by Pakistan Army. They fought but ran out of ammunition and consequently captured alive by enemies. They were subjected to inhuman torture (as evident from their bodies and post mortem report) in captivity and killed. Pakistan Govt then returned their mutilated dead bodies 09th June 1999. Recently, a petition in Supreme Court was also filed by Dr Kalia to seek justice for his martyr son and five soldiers.
About United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)
The UNHRC monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - to which India and Pakistan are parties to. It is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System and based in Geneva. The UNHRC is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly. The council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and engages the United Nations' Special procedures.
About Flags of Honour Foundation
Founded by Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament, The Flags of Honour Foundation is an endeavour to be a platform and a bridge between the citizens who seek to help, and the martyr's families. Flags of Honour Foundation efforts are directed to ensure the families of the martyrs never endure alone, and attempt to be the beacon of hope and inspiration for all citizens to join hands in saluting our heroes through their family.
For any clarifications, please call Anand V @ 095388 12914
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