Date : 2005-05-27
HRW asks Clinton to call for creation of strong HR protection in Tsunami hit Indian coastal villages
By M Rama Rao - Reporting from New Delhi for Asian Tribune
New Delhi, 27 May, (Asiantribune.com): Human Rights Watch (HRW) wants former U.S. President Bill Clinton, now visiting Asia as the United Nations� special envoy on tsunami recovery, should speak out against reconstruction efforts that foster discrimination against vulnerable groups, in particular women and lower-caste people in Indian coastal villages.
Clinton is in India this week to survey post-tsunami reconstruction efforts in southeastern coastal areas, particularly the hard-hit state of Tamil Nadu, where more than 2.7 million people were affected. More than 10,000 were killed and nearly 65,000 others were displaced.
In a 47-page report released in Mumbai on Thursday, Human Rights Watch examined the Indian government�s response to the tsunami. It documents several systemic and potentially enduring failures. While applauding the Indian government�s overall response to the tsunami, it opines that the governmental recovery efforts did not adequately take into account the needs of different vulnerable segments of the affected population, particularly women, children, the disabled, Dalits (untouchables) and tribal groups.
�The slogan of tsunami recovery efforts throughout Asia has been �Build back better,�� said Brad Adams, Asia director for Human Rights Watch. �Bill Clinton should urge the Indian government to build in human rights protections that are better than what existed before.�
In India, the tsunami most seriously affected coastal communities of fishermen, who suffered the most casualties and the greatest loss of livelihood. But hundreds of thousands of others, such as farmers who lost their crops, also suffered serious loss. Craftsmen, labourers, traders and others who provide commercial services to the fishing communities were also indirectly, but greatly, affected.
In a May 10 letter to Clinton, Human Rights Watch explained its concerns about the reconstruction effort in tsunami-affected areas in three countries on his itinerary: India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. In addition to country-specific issues, the letter set forth two general problems observed HRW researchers during recovery and reconstruction efforts: Historically marginalized groups suffered discrimination, and government relief efforts failed to adequately consult with local communities about relocation and compensation for loss of livelihood and property.
�Whether it�s higher-caste groups and developers in India, or the military and armed groups in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, the powerful have tried to take advantage of the scramble for rebuilding and recovery at the expense of the basic rights of vulnerable groups,� said Adams.
In India Human Rights Watch documented discrimination against Dalits by other victims of the tsunami, who belonged to a higher caste. In many instances, the Indian government failed to enforce its existing legislation and policy to protect vulnerable groups. Human Rights Watch urged the Indian government to undertake effective training and education-both for officials and the affected communities-part of its disaster management strategy.
Human Rights Watch also urged the Indian government to take steps to ensure that its proposed compensation and relocation schemes do not overlook tens of thousands of people who cannot easily document their economic and property claims. In particular, the most marginalized communities-those without effective local or political clout-are at risk of being ignored.
�India did not need international assistance for immediate relief but, in fact, dispatched help to its neighbours,� Adams recalled but said �to be an effective model for other countries, India has to demonstrate greater protection of the human rights of its own citizens�.
HRW has a recipe to improve the situation. It is: �improve public education and law enforcement efforts to better combat caste-based discriminatory practices and fully implement the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995; Seek to restore a sustainable livelihood for all communities of fishermen by ensuring that fishermen have adequate access to the coastline, and have proper boats and implements necessary to resume their trade; Seek to restore a sustainable livelihood for communities indirectly affected by the tsunami; such measures include creating compensation mechanisms that account for non-tangible assets, and providing alternate employment for daily wage labourers in local reconstruction efforts; Provide equitable distribution of resources without caste, gender, or religious prejudice; provide adequate measures to meet the protection
needs of women, children and the disabled; engage in consultations with local communities to prevent arbitrary or discriminatory relocation or any unreasonable denial of the option to return home; and encourage cooperation among government officials, nongovernmental organizations and donor agencies to prevent uneven or inefficient distribution of resources.
- Asian Tribune -
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