Rohingya crisis: India tells UN rights body, Enforcing laws shouldn’t be mistaken for lack of compassion

A day after the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights castigated the Indian government’s plan to deport Rohingya refugees, Syed Akbaruddin, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that “enforcing laws should not be mistaken for lack of compassion” and expressed regret that the UN body had overlooked the “central role of terrorism”.

Akbaruddin also insisted that India was concerned about illegal migrants, in particular, with the possibility that they could pose security challenges.

“Assessments of human rights should not be a matter of political convenience. We believe achieving human rights goals calls for objective consideration, balanced judgements, and verification of facts,” Akbaruddin was quoted as saying by ANI.

Addressing UN Human Rights Council’s 36th session in Geneva on Monday, UN official Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein had criticised India’s recent actions and said, India “cannot carry out collective expulsions” and return people to a place where they face persecution.

He specifically mentioned a statement by the Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, in his speech.

UCJ, UNILORIN.