New Delhi, May 25th, 2012
The National Human Rights Commission has asked its Myanmar counter part to look into the issue of refugees from their country to India and take up the matter with their government. The issue was raised by the NHRC during its meeting with the visiting delegation of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission headed by its Chairman, Mr. Win Mra in New Delhi. Mr. Win Mra said that he would take up the matter with his government for consideration of action on the issue.
The Myanmar NHRC delegation was on a three day visit to NHRC, India w.e.f. 22nd -24th May, 2012 to interact with its Indian counter part and understand its structure, jurisdiction, functioning and complaint management system. The NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, Members and senior officers interacted with the visiting delegates.
There have been media reports on several refugees from Myanmar in India who allegedly due to fear of wide spread and systematic persecution at the hands of ruling junta had escaped to India.
It may be recalled that the instances of National Human Rights Institutions taking up the cause of human rights issues in each other's country are not new. During the visit of NHRC Chairperson, Mr. Justice K.G. Balakrishnan to Dhaka in the year 2010, his Bangladeshi counter part had drawn his attention to the issue of several Indian prisoners languishing in Bangladesh prisons even after completion of their sentence. Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, Justice Balakrishnan had asked the Ministry of External Affairs to intervene in the matter following which 59 prisoners were released.
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