BENGALURU: Amnesty International India stated on Friday the Union executive is treating human rights organisations like prison enterprises within the wake of searches by means of the Enforcement Directorate at its premises.
The ED on Thursday carried out searches at two locations of the rights watchdog in reference to a foreign currency echange contravention case.
"Government authorities are increasingly treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises," Amnesty International India executive director Aakar Patel stated in a observation right here.
The searches have been in reference to alleged violation of overseas direct funding norms this is related to an earlier case of revocation of FCRA licence of the NGO by means of the Union Home Ministry in 2010.
"As an organisation committed to the rule of law, our operations in India have always conformed with our national regulations. The principles of transparency and accountability are at the heart of our work," Patel stated.
The focus of ED's wondering was once the connection between two entities — Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd and Amnesty International India Foundation, it stated.
Most of the paperwork requested for all the way through the hunt have been to be had within the public domain or have been already filed with the relevant authorities, the watchdog stated.
Details of Amnesty India's present construction, which was once the focus of much of the wondering, were to be had on its site since 2014, the observation stated.
However, ahead of the raids, the Indian authorities leaked a cache in their inner paperwork marked "secret" that seem to solid Amnesty India's operations as a gloomy web of intrigue, the observation stated.
"Our work in India, as elsewhere, is to uphold and fight for universal human rights. These are the same values that are enshrined in the Indian Constitution and flow from a long and rich Indian tradition of pluralism, tolerance and dissent," Patel stated.
"We could now not agree extra with the Prime Minister when he says that periods of repression, like all the way through the Emergency, have left a stain on India's historical past. Sadly, the ones dark days at the moment are casting a shadow over India again.
"Instead of defending human rights, because it vowed to do, the government is now focused on the people who battle for them," Patel stated.
Over 40 lakh Indians have supported Amnesty India's work over the last six years and around one lakh Indians have made a financial contribution, he stated.
Amnesty India stated its financial institution accounts were frozen by means of the Enforcement Directorate, effectively stopping its work and it's the latest target of the governments assault on civil society within the nation.
The accounts of Greenpeace India have been frozen earlier this month, it added.
Around 1.30 pm on October 25, a group of officials from ED entered the premises and locked the gates at the back of them, the observation stated, adding that they ordered Amnesty India team of workers to remain in place of business, shut their laptops, and now not use their cellphones.
Earlier, in a chain of tweets, Amnesty India stated its construction is compliant with Indian laws and ED raid confirmed a nerve-racking pattern of government silencing organisations that query energy and in addition desires to instill concern amongst civil society organisations.
"...We reiterate, our construction is compliant with Indian laws," Amnesty India stated in a tweet.
"ED raid on Amnesty India shows a nerve-racking pattern of the government silencing organisations that query energy and it's transparent that the government desires to instill concern amongst Civil Society Organisations," it stated.
The watchdog additionally stated the 10-hour long raid carried out at its place of business ended midnight and the team of workers had absolutely cooperated with officials.
The ED, in a observation, had additionally stated, "After Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) was once denied the permission/registration below FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) by means of the MHA (ministry of house affairs) they resorted to circumvent the FCRA by means of floating commercial entity within the title of Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL).
"This entity has received foreign funds through commercial route to the extent of Rs 36 crore till date," it had stated.
Out of the overall quantity of Rs 36 crore, it stated, Rs 10 crore was once received as long run loans.
"This quantity was once immediately placed in FDs (fixed deposits) and some other Indian entity Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT) had established an over draft facility for Rs 14.25 crore maintaining the stated 10 crore FD as collateral which means that the receipt of FDI by means of believe most effective.
"The ultimate Rs 26 crore was once received in two different financial institution accounts of AIIPL as consultancy services. The inwards remittances received by means of the AIIPL from in another country is in violation of FDI tips," it had stated.
In this background, searches have been carried out at Bengaluru place of business of the NGO and extra probe is in growth, it had stated.
The ED on Thursday carried out searches at two locations of the rights watchdog in reference to a foreign currency echange contravention case.
"Government authorities are increasingly treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises," Amnesty International India executive director Aakar Patel stated in a observation right here.
The searches have been in reference to alleged violation of overseas direct funding norms this is related to an earlier case of revocation of FCRA licence of the NGO by means of the Union Home Ministry in 2010.
"As an organisation committed to the rule of law, our operations in India have always conformed with our national regulations. The principles of transparency and accountability are at the heart of our work," Patel stated.
The focus of ED's wondering was once the connection between two entities — Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd and Amnesty International India Foundation, it stated.
Most of the paperwork requested for all the way through the hunt have been to be had within the public domain or have been already filed with the relevant authorities, the watchdog stated.
Details of Amnesty India's present construction, which was once the focus of much of the wondering, were to be had on its site since 2014, the observation stated.
However, ahead of the raids, the Indian authorities leaked a cache in their inner paperwork marked "secret" that seem to solid Amnesty India's operations as a gloomy web of intrigue, the observation stated.
"Our work in India, as elsewhere, is to uphold and fight for universal human rights. These are the same values that are enshrined in the Indian Constitution and flow from a long and rich Indian tradition of pluralism, tolerance and dissent," Patel stated.
"We could now not agree extra with the Prime Minister when he says that periods of repression, like all the way through the Emergency, have left a stain on India's historical past. Sadly, the ones dark days at the moment are casting a shadow over India again.
"Instead of defending human rights, because it vowed to do, the government is now focused on the people who battle for them," Patel stated.
Over 40 lakh Indians have supported Amnesty India's work over the last six years and around one lakh Indians have made a financial contribution, he stated.
Amnesty India stated its financial institution accounts were frozen by means of the Enforcement Directorate, effectively stopping its work and it's the latest target of the governments assault on civil society within the nation.
The accounts of Greenpeace India have been frozen earlier this month, it added.
Around 1.30 pm on October 25, a group of officials from ED entered the premises and locked the gates at the back of them, the observation stated, adding that they ordered Amnesty India team of workers to remain in place of business, shut their laptops, and now not use their cellphones.
Earlier, in a chain of tweets, Amnesty India stated its construction is compliant with Indian laws and ED raid confirmed a nerve-racking pattern of government silencing organisations that query energy and in addition desires to instill concern amongst civil society organisations.
"...We reiterate, our construction is compliant with Indian laws," Amnesty India stated in a tweet.
"ED raid on Amnesty India shows a nerve-racking pattern of the government silencing organisations that query energy and it's transparent that the government desires to instill concern amongst Civil Society Organisations," it stated.
The watchdog additionally stated the 10-hour long raid carried out at its place of business ended midnight and the team of workers had absolutely cooperated with officials.
The ED, in a observation, had additionally stated, "After Amnesty International India Foundation Trust (AIIFT) was once denied the permission/registration below FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) by means of the MHA (ministry of house affairs) they resorted to circumvent the FCRA by means of floating commercial entity within the title of Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd (AIIPL).
"This entity has received foreign funds through commercial route to the extent of Rs 36 crore till date," it had stated.
Out of the overall quantity of Rs 36 crore, it stated, Rs 10 crore was once received as long run loans.
"This quantity was once immediately placed in FDs (fixed deposits) and some other Indian entity Indians for Amnesty International Trust (IAIT) had established an over draft facility for Rs 14.25 crore maintaining the stated 10 crore FD as collateral which means that the receipt of FDI by means of believe most effective.
"The ultimate Rs 26 crore was once received in two different financial institution accounts of AIIPL as consultancy services. The inwards remittances received by means of the AIIPL from in another country is in violation of FDI tips," it had stated.
In this background, searches have been carried out at Bengaluru place of business of the NGO and extra probe is in growth, it had stated.
Govt treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises: Amnesty
![Govt treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises: Amnesty]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
October 26, 2018
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