Bangalore: Last minute efforts at Geneva saved India’s Black Untouchables’ efforts to bring the centuries-old burning issue of “casteism is racism” at the forthcoming UN World Conference Against Racism at Durban. A day earlier on Aug.10, the Dalits suffered a defeat when the country’s brahminical racist rulers frustrated our efforts.
China support: What came as a shock was China supporting the Indian Govt. stand. That means -the NGOs who spearheaded the campaign did not do enough homework. The issue did not come up in the Indian Parliament though Prakash being Ambedkar, MP, despite a prominent campaigner for the cause, did not carry the battle inside Parliament.
White nations scared: But the brahminical representatives of the Indian Govt. moved heaven and earth and used the contradictions to scare the European countries. Sources said the Indian Govt. threatened the European countries that if they supported the Dalit stand, India would support the African countries’ demand for reparations from White countries for the slavery inflicted upon the Blacks.
That is how despite consistent efforts by Human Rights Watch and several NGOs, the issue of caste–based discrimination failed to get the support of the member-countries at the meeting of the UN- sub commission of human rights. Countries such as Britain were inclined to have a debate on the issue. But Mauritius misguided by India praised Indian Govt. for taking measures to safeguard the rights of Dalits. [t also referred to safeguards provided by the Indian Constitution which enabled a person from the lower caste to hold the highest ‘constitutional post in the country.
India’s permanent representative to the UN office, Ms. Savitri Kunadi, bluffed before the sub commission that the Indian Govt. had taken several steps and provided constitutional safeguards to the Dalits and weaker sections.
The debate was initiated by Rajendra Kalidas Wimala Goonsekere, who said the caste system and practice of untouchability must be taken seriously by India and the international community and administrative bodies.
NGOs brought immense pressure to see the issue find a place on the agenda to the Durban conference. But the Indian Govt. urged the NGOs not to insist on dragging the issue. The Indian upper caste officials ‘also worked hard to explain the govt. stand on the issue to the other delegates. But the Indian racist Govt. suffered a defeat at the last minute on Aug.10 night when the preparatory meeting at Geneva decided to include the much-di no.109 in the discussion. ‘
During the closing minutes of the Ill-preparatory committee meeting, discussing the agenda for the conference, the chair on the Working Group on Programme of Action ruled that the much-disputed para should be on the agenda. It ensures that no discrimination is shown on the basis of descent and occupation. sputed para
Goonsekere report: This is the only para pertaining to caste discrimination and had been lobbied for by Dalit groups from Asia as well as other rights organisations. The Indian Govt. had campaigned hard to keep it out of the agenda and the declaration and programme of action.
The report of Goonsekere (of Sri Lanka) gave a detailed picture of the discrimination based on descent and occupation and helped the committee reconsider its decision.
