This is the first time India has publicly spoken about the need to ensure that the rights of China’s Uighur population are not violated. The remarks are intended to forestall any possible criticism by western countries that India had been soft on China by abstaining. India was among the 11 countries that abstained from voting on the proposal. It, however, had the option of voting against, which it did not use.
“India remains committed to upholding all human rights. India’s vote is in line with its long held position that country specific resolutions are never helpful. India favours a dialogue to deal with such issues,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi.
India had earlier too taken note of the OHCHR (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) report but refrained from publicly expressing solidarity with the Uighurs. The China-specific draft resolution was brought at a time India’s ties with China remain strained because of the ongoing border strife and also Beijing’s refusal to allow a UN ban on Pakistan-based terrorists.
China has been facing serious criticism over its treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province. Human rights groups believe China has arbitrarily detained close to a million Uighurs in camps in the name of combating religious extremism.
In its report, OHCHR said serious human rights violations have been committed in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR) in the context of the Chinese government’s application of counter-terrorism and counter-extremism strategies.
