Jun 6, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2002
Contact:
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240, ext. 27
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent government agency advising the Administration and Congress, will hold a hearing on Monday, June 10 in Washington, D.C., on "Recent Communal Violence in Gujarat, India, and the U.S. Response." The hearing is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Longworth House Office Building, Room 1302.
Background
Recent communal violence in the Indian state of Gujarat has killed at least 1,000 people, the majority of them Muslims. The Commission is holding a hearing to examine evidence suggesting that the violence was carefully planned and involved the state government's officials and police. The information gathered from witnesses at this hearing will assist the Commission in developing further recommendations for U.S. policy.
To date, the confirmed witnesses and schedule are as follows:
9:00-9:15 Welcome and Introductory Remarks by Felice D. Gaer, Commissioner
Panel I:
9:15-10:20 Events on the Ground in Gujarat
Najid Hussain, University of Delaware
Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
10:20-10:25 Break
Panel II:
10:25-11:30 The Future of Communal Relations in India and the U.S Policy Response
Sumit Ganguly, University of Texas
Robert Hathaway, Woodrow Wilson International Center
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress."
Michael K. Young,Chair