APD | US State Dept to hold hearing on South Asian human rights cases

By APD writer Alice

The US State Department recently announced that next month it’s South Asia subcommittee will hear cases on "Human Rights in South Asia".

The acting Assistant Secretary Alice Wells, informed through twitter, "Consultation with Congress is essential. Today I had the opportunity to brief Members of House and the India Caucus on US-India relations and look forward to an open hearing on human rights in South Asia in October."

Earlier in July a similar hearing was held for Southeast Asia by the State Department. According to reports, a hearing on human rights cases in China will also be held next month which would focus on the protests in Hong Kong and the issue of the Chinese minority Uighur.

In a statement Congress member Brad Sherman said, "The hearing on 'Human Rights in South Asia' will focus on a number of subjects. The Subcommittee will review the treatment of the Rohingya by the government of Burma (Myanmar) and credible accusations that this minority is subject to ethnic cleansing and genocide.”

“The Subcommittee had the opportunity to review this situation in July as the plight of the Rohingya affects both the South and Southeast Asia regions," in a statement posted on his personal blog,” he added.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)