Fernand De Varennes (UN special rapporteur on minority issues)
Fernand De Varennes is dean of the Faculté de Droit at the Université de Moncton in Canada and extraordinary professor at the Centre for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He has been special rapporteur on minority issues for the UN Human Rights Council since August 2017. He is one of the three members who presented the report on NRC to the Council, criticizing the manner in which the Indian government has handled the NRC process. In a telephonic interaction with THE WEEK, he spoke about the international legal concerns regarding the NRC and his expectations from the Indian government. Excerpts:
What are your concerns regarding NRC?
The prime concern is that the people will become non-residents if the NRC process is executed as it is being promised. We have not made any determination or conclusion, just an observation. We have raised some issues and sought clarifications from the Indian government through the country’s mission in Geneva. We have told them that such an exercise is discriminatory to a particular religious group.
You said you got no response from the Indian government.
We repeatedly sought clarifications from the Indian government. The most unfortunate thing is that it refused to give any clarification. As a result, we have not made any conclusions. If we do not get any response, we may have to look at the allegations and take steps accordingly.
What are the allegations?
The allegations have dimensions related to violation of human rights of religious minorities. We are seeking clarifications on the accuracy of those allegations. We sought clarification because it raised serious concerns for us and can potentially damage the situation in Assam. There could be a denial of services for millions who may end up stateless and lead to serious human rights violations.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 04, 2019-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 04, 2019-Ausgabe von THE WEEK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Will Modi 3.0 Run Its Full Term?
The Narendra Modi government has a wafer-thin majority. Either of Modi’s partners, the JD(U) with 12 seats or the TDP with 16, can upset the apple cart. That was the condition of V.P. Singh’s government. It lasted 11 months. That too was the condition of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s first government in 1996. That lasted 13 days. The plug can be pulled at any time.
Two missing from the house
We heard Narendra Modi during the poll campaign say, he had missed an opposition during his 10-year rule, and “it pains my heart”. The agony would have abated now. Janata-Janardan has granted him an opposition.
Stories from the Himalayas
I first heard of Looms of Ladakh when the pandemic hit in 2020. We were looking for artisans and artisanal cooperatives to raise funds for and someone had suggested their name. Fortunately they were well looked after by their founders, but I continued to follow their extraordinary work since then.
The feminist Souza
Janeita Singh's essays will soak you in F.N. Souza's art
Controversies minus commotion
Beyond the Hype lifts the lid on medical cases where overheated rhetoric alarms the uninformed
Who is the bigger heroine?
Suspended woman constable of the CISF Kulwinder Kaur suddenly became heroine no.1 in the eyes of millions. It was alleged that she had slapped controversial real life heroine Kangana Ranaut, the newly minted Lok Sabha MP from Mandi, at the security-check area inside Chandigarh airport. The video of the incident went viral as divided opinions jammed social media, with supporters of both women pitching in.
Animal charm
How stories from the Panchatantra, which recently got UNESCO recognition, became timeless tales with universal appeal
BIG IS BEAUTIFUL
The transformation of a young woman to one of the heaviest woman powerlifters in the world
Strong men do cry
Let's go home,\" Sunil whispered in my ears after playing his last international match and crying his heart out at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata. Perhaps he knew that I, and all others in the family, wanted him to continue, but what would make us happier is to see him spend more time at home.
Farewell, legend
Sunil Chhetri's determination to be counted among the best was rewarded by a stellar international career, evoking comparisons with all-time greats like Messi and Ronaldo