United Nations Human Rights Commission expresses concern over the arrest of Fr.Stan Swamy

Geneva: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday expressed concern over the arrest of activist Fr. Stan Swamy and the restrictions on foreign funding for the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in India.

She appealed to the Indian Government to “safeguard the rights of human rights defenders and NGOs, and their ability to carry out their crucial work” on behalf of the many groups they represent.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had said in Parliament that the legislation was not against any NGO and was an effort to maintain transparency. This amendment is in the interest of good NGOs which want to do good work in the country, he had said.

Fr.Stan has been working for the welfare and rights of Adivasis and Dalits for more than four decades. The Christian community is shocked to see the central government justifying the arrest of the priest, even as the case against Stan Swamy is being repeated internationally, despite the fact that it is a forgery.