Crackdown in Tibet, a human rights violation: EU leader

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 23 (UNI) Describing the crackdown in Tibet as gross violation of human rights, European Union Cabinet member Jan Jarab said violence has no place in civilised society.

Delivering a lecture on 'Human Rights' at a function organised by the Santhigiri Social Research Institute here yesterday, Dr Jarab said even the ethnic violence in Sri Lanka was in violation of the tenets of human rights. .

''Darwin's theory of 'survival of the fittest' exists only in the natural world. Human beings are set apart from other creatures because of their ability to consider their fellow beings,'' he added.

Stating that the civil rights movement in the West and some other parts of the world was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Dr Jarab said he was also motivated to turn to human rights activism by Mahatma Gandhi.

A founding member of an NGO 'Host' in the Czech Republic, Dr Jarab said he had given up medical practice to work for peace among the clashing communities in his country.

Mr Jarab is on his first visit to India along with his wife and two children.

Dr J Ramachandran Nair, head of the Santhigiri Social Research Institute, spoke of the altruism of the Indian 'guru tradition,' its humanitarianism and 'spirituality beyond religion' espoused by Santhigiri Ashram's founder Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru.

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