'India should sign convention on refugees'

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 13. The former Supreme Court Judge, Mr. V.R. Krishna Iyer, today underlined the need for India signing international conventions on humanitarian laws.

Inaugurating a seminar on ``International Humanitarian Law and Refugee Law'', here today, the eminent jurist wondered whether humanity had a future. He said ``we are taking pride in possessing nuclear weapons but we are all refugees on this planet''.

He pointed out that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was made way back in 1948 but until now India had not signed the Refugee Convention and the Landmine Convention. He said ``we should pressurise the Government to ratify these conventions''.

The former Chief Justice of India, Mr. A.H. Ahmadi, said out of 30 human rights principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 28 found place in the Indian Constitution either to be implemented forthwith or implemented over a period of time.

He emphasised on the question of implementation of different human rights conventions.

Mr. Augustine Mahiga, Chief of Mission, U.N. High Commission for Refugees said that since 1945 there had been more than 160 wars and armed conflicts around the world.Mr. Ram Niwas Mirdha and Ms. Cassandra Vartell, Head of the delegation, International Committee of the Red Cross were among those who spoke.

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