Press Statement - 9 January 2004 - For Immediate Release
We, the victim families of enforced disappearances and arbitrary executions in Punjab, have formed ourselves into an association known as Association of Families of the Disappeared in Punjab or AFDP. Only Punjab families whose members have been disappeared or killed by State forces or their agents may become members of AFDP.[1] AFDP is dedicated to the protection, promotion and enforcement of human rights, principally the rights to the end of impunity and reparation of victim families of enforced disappearances and arbitrary executions in Punjab. AFDP is guided and motivated by the principles of truth, justice and accountability.
The necessity for forming AFDP has arisen because the State has failed to protect and ensure fundamental rights guaranteed by Part III of the Indian Constitution and by international law, especially the rights to life and liberty. In fact, the State has systematically violated these rights on a mass scale. We believe that active participation of the families whose rights have been violated is essential if justice is to be realized. AFDP shall take the lead to challenge the State's attempt to deny these abuses and negate the victim families' legitimate demands for justice.
During the coming months and year, AFDP will organize victim families throughout Punjab. It will work for an end to the state of impunity enjoyed by members of the police, security forces and public servants; to obtain a public accounting and acknowledgment of the abuses committed by the State and for guarantees of non-repetition; to ensure that families of the disappeared and arbitrarily executed are provided just compensation, restitution and rehabilitation; and, for an effective judicial system, including national human rights institutions, capable of enforcing fundamental human rights. It will join the ongoing struggle for justice for victims of disappearances and extra-judicial killings in Punjab before the National Human Rights Commission and endeavour to assist it in bringing the matter to a just and meaningful conclusion.
AFDP will pursue these objectives of justice, acknowledgement, reparation and the end of impunity until they are realized. It will generate solidarity on the issues of disappearances and extra-judicial executions with all other organizations with similar aims and objectives within India and abroad. AFDP is committed to the non-violent and a-political pursuit of these rights and objectives.
Today, AFDP makes a public call to all victim families of enforced disappearances and arbitrary executions in Punjab and India to join in its struggle and urges the State to heed the imperative which has given birth to AFDP: justice delayed is justice denied.