India: Briefing. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) Review Committee takes one step forward and two backwards

India: Briefing. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) Review Committee takes one step forward and two backwards

In October 2006, the human rights community in India was surprised at the disclosure by The Hindu newspaper in which it reported that it had managed to secure a copy of report by the Committee to review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, (the Committee). The Committee presented its report to the Government in June 2005. Since then the human rights community had tirelessly called for its findings to be released. This briefing is a summary of Amnesty International's observations and concerns on the implications for human rights in India of implementing the Committee's recommendations.