DELHI DIARY, JULY 26-AUGUST 3

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 003529 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PINR KIRF KCRM ELTN BM IN SUBJECT: DELHI DIARY, JULY 26-AUGUST 3 Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (U) Below is a compilation of political highlights from Embassy New Delhi for July 26-August 3, 2007 that did not feature in our other reporting, including: -- India "Looks East" and Discusses Bus Links with Burma -- NHCR Releases Guidelines for Child Rape Cases -- Five Arrested in Child Laborer Rescue -- Vijay Singh Replaces Shekhar Dutt as Defence Secretary India "Looks East" and Discusses Bus Links with Burma -------------- ¶2. (U) Media contacts report that the Governments of India and Burma are discussing a possible bus service between the Indian border town of Moreh and Mandalay, Burma's second largest city, in conjunction with the proposed Trans-Asia Highway and Trans-Asian Rail links. Although agreed upon in principle in 2006, the Burmese side failed to respond to specific Indian proposals until now. An Indian Ministerial team will reportedly visit Burma next month to assess the Moreh-Mandalay highway's general condition and the security situation along the route. Amidst an allegedly cool Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) response to the proposal due to security concerns, a joint meeting of Indian Tourism Department officials, traders, transportation companies and police met in Imphal, Manipur on 23 July to compile a final draft report for submission to the concerned ministries in Delhi. If approved, the bus service will afford Burmese Buddhist pilgrims access to Bodh Gaya, the Bihar town in which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. NHCR Releases Guidelines for Child Rape Cases -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On July 17, the Indian Express reported that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued guidelines to process India,s child rape cases. The guidelines are based largely on input from all State and Union Territory home secretaries (the highest ranking civil servants in the SIPDIS Ministry of Home Affairs) and Director Generals of Police (the highest ranking police officials). Recommendations include prompt processing of cases - which can be filed by the victim, eyewitness or an NGO - and that investigations be carried out (preferably) by a female police officer. Medical examinations are to be conducted within twenty-four hours, gynecologists should record details about the incident, and the investigating officer should take possession of clothing from both the victim and accused for forensic analysis and DNA profiling. The guidelines also recommend that investigations be completed within three months of the case,s registration and the identity of the victim and victim,s family be protected. NHRC recommended in-camera trials by fast track courts, and, whenever possible, by video conferencing, so that the victim is not in close proximity to the accused. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: This is another positive step in the right direction. However, NHRC,s guidelines are not binding and proper implementation of the recommendations will be incumbent upon the individuals that are processing the cases. End comment. Five Arrested in Child Laborer Rescue -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On July 24, five persons were arrested and 22 child laborers were rescued from bag and blanket factories in Central Delhi,s Nabi Karim area. Most of the children hailed from Bihar and were sent to Shramik Referral Center, a transit center in Kalkaji for HIV patients and displaced laborers. The rescue was conducted by the NGO Lok Swabhiman. The referral Center,s chairperson, Ms. Shirupa Mitra Choudhury, stated that the children will be returned to their families and identified through the help of the district administration in Bihar. However, most of the kids claimed NEW DELHI 00003529 002 OF 002 that they were over eighteen years old and uninterested in returning home, as they had migrated to Delhi to earn money. Some of the rescued children were also afraid that their employers may harass their families back home. Vijay Singh Replaces Shekhar Dutt as Defence Secretary -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Vijay Singh, a senior member of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS),has taken over as Defence Secretary. Singh replaces Shekhar Dutt, who is moving on to SIPDIS be Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic and Defense-related subjects in the National Security Council Secretariat. SIPDIS ¶7. (SBU) BIODATA -- Singh, who was born on July 13, 1948, holds a Master's degree in History from Delhi University. He joined the IAS in 1970 as a Madhya Pradesh Cadre officer. Prior to his current assignment, Singh was the Secretary for Road Transport and Highways in the Ministry of Shipping. Before that, he served as Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh from 2004-2006 and briefly as Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare from February-July 2006. Singh is reportedly close to Defense Minister A.K. Antony. WHITE