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Amnesty Shutdown in India Receives US Government’s Attention

After the Indian government shuts down Amnesty international operations in India and freezes its bank accounts, India has received attention at the highest levels in the US government, according to a senior State Department official.

About the Indian government’s action against Amnesty International, the official said on Wednesday, “We’ve been focused, we’ve been very, very closely following this issue, not just in the administration, but I know that our members of Congress have as well. It has received attention at the highest levels of our government.

“We look forward to a response, and a resolution to a situation that’s consistent with international principles and the rule of law.”

Accusing the Indian government of running a “witch hunt”, the international human rights organization announced on Tuesday that it was closing down its operations in India because its work ground to a halt after the Indian government froze its bank accounts last month.

Calling Amnesty’s allegations against it “far from the truth”, the Indian government accused it of illegally funneling funds to India.

The official who spoke on condition of not being identified said, “The US is committed to the health and vibrancy of civil society, in all countries but also especially India.”

“We believe that the strength of civil society and the openness of society is the strength of India, and it’s something that is part of what powers our cooperation, our bilateral cooperation, and therefore we’re concerned about obstacles to the work of civil society, whether in India or anywhere else in the world”.

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