Demonstration in London against “Human Rights Violations in Kashmir”

A protest outside the Indian High Commission in London on 31 July 2010, by JKLF UK Zone, highlighted the continued Human Rights Violations in Kashmir by Indian Armed forces. Members and supporters of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), including women and children along with the supporters of the Kashmiri cause gathered in front of Indian High Commission in London where they shouted slogans against Human Rights abuses by Indian troops in Kashmir. The demonstrators were holding play cards and banners highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation in Kashmir. The objective of the protest was to draw world attention towards the recent killings of Kashmiri youth, forced disappearances and custodial killings of innocent Kashmiris in Indian occupied territory.

The protesters called on the Indian government to immediately release all political prisoners that have been arrested in order to stop the massive public demonstrations and peaceful processions after killings of Kashmiri children by Indian army. They also called on the international community the check the excesses that the Indian occupation forces have unleashed on the people of Kashmir over the past month.

Addressing to the protestors on this occasion, President of JKLF UK Zone Mahmood Hussain said that Indian army is killings innocent and unarmed youth of Kashmir on daily basis. He said that yesterday on 30th July 4 Kashmiri youth were martyred who were peacefully protesting. He further said that India have a substantial military presence in Kashmir, and has deployed as many as 800,000 military soldiers.   He said that utter disregard and abuse of human rights has been a feature of military operations by Indian forces in Kashmir with deaths, rapes, collective punishment and disappearances of innocent young men. Mahmood Hussain said that it is very unfortunate that due to so-called current ‘war on terrorism’, Indian authorities have literally got away with murder of Kashmiri youth in occupied territory.

JKLF UK Zone President also denounced the British Premier David Cameron for not highlighting the Kashmir Issue with Indian leadership. He said that Britain has a primary duty to engage with India and Pakistan for the lasting peace in South Asia. He also appealed the international community to play its role in order to stop these atrocities immediately and help resolve this outstanding issue, according to the will and aspirations of the people. He said that the international human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Red Cross should come forward and raise this issue and launch an impartial probe.  He also demanded that India should come clear on the whereabouts of the missing persons and political prisoners lodged in Indian Jails without fair trails.

Mahmood Hussain called on Kashmiri pro-freedom parties to fight unanimously for the Kashmiri people’s right of self determination. He said that lesser levels of oppressions in the world have changed political maps elsewhere, while Kashmiris continue to suffer in their struggle for justice, human dignity, freedom, democracy and the inherent and inalienable right of self-determination. He further said that JKLF along with other Kashmiri parties will lobby on international forums to muster up the popular political and diplomatic support in favour of the people of Kashmir for their inherent, inalienable and internationally recognised and pledged right to complete independence. He reiterated that peaceful struggle for right of self determination will continue despite nefarious and violent methods of suppression by the Indian state against the people of Kashmir.

General Secretary JKLF UK Zone Syed Tehseen Gilani on this occasion condemned India government’s decision to curb newspapers and local news channels in Indian controlled Kashmir. Terming it a desperate act by India to hide the raising calls for a plebiscite in Kashmir, he said that the move to bar the channels has raised serious concerns about the freedom of expression in Kashmir. He said that Kashmir is the only place on this planet where 1000 unmarked graves were found last year and no enquiry had taken place. He termed it as black spot on Indian so called democracy. He said that the grave sites are believed to contain the remains of victims of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other abuses by the occupying forces in Indian Held Kashmir. He further said that more than 10,000 people have disappeared in custody of Indian forces in Kashmir and the revelation of mass graves has increased the fear of their whereabouts.

A memorandum was also presented to Indian official. The memorandum highlighted that the iron fisted policy of Indian administration along with draconian laws continued to increase the possibility of blatant and unbridled violations of human rights. Saying that repression is not the answer to the popular sentiments of the people, the Kashmiri community representatives urged Indian government to pay heed to the saner voices with in India that were recognizing

Others who also spoke were Chuadry Mohammad Iqbal, Ali Asghar, Chaudry Yousuf, Malik Mushtaq; Prof. Shahid Iqbal, Kaman Afsar, Khawaja Kabeer Ahmed, Mahmood Faiz, Sanawar Hussain, and representatives of other political organisations in UK.

  

Khawaja Kabeer Ahmed

Secretary Information,

JKLF (UK) Zone