A protest outside the Indian High Commission in London on 10 December 2012 on the occasion of World Human Rights Day by JKLF UK, highlighted the continued Human Rights Violations in Kashmir by Indian Armed forces. Members and supporters of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), 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 life sentences given to Kashmiri youth in Indian Held Kashmir.

The protesters called on the Indian government to immediately release all political. 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 last over two decades.

On 3rd December, 2012, a kangaroo court in Jammu awarded life sentences to two Kashmiris Sheikh Nazir Ahmed and Shoukat Ahmed, who had both spent nearly 15 years in Indian jails without trial after being arrested in 1990s. They were released on bail over 7 years ago but rearrested recently and awarded life imprisonment. Two weeks ago, another Kashmiri, Dr Qasim Faktoo was sentenced to life imprisonment under similar circumstance.

A memorandum was also presented to Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh. 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

The protest was well attended by functionaries of JKLF from all major cities of UK including  Mahmood Hussain, Zafar Khan, Syed Tahseen Gilani, Khan Farooq Khan, Tariq Sharif, Mahmood Faiz; Sanawar Hussain, Kaman Afsar, Sabir Gul, Malik Latif, Khawaja Latif, Ahsan Ansari, Zafran Mirza, Chaudry Liaqat, Tanveer Malik, Raja Ayub and many representatives of other political organisations in UK.

  

Secretary Information,

JKLF UK

Info@jklf.co.uk

(London) Members of the pro-independence Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), will hold a protest demonstration at the Indian High Commission in London against widespread human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir on the occasion of World Human Rights Day on 10^th December. It is to coincide with a shutter-down call by JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik, in Kashmir to protest against the recent cases of awarding life sentences to several Kashmiris under the notorious TADA law which was repealed in India as far back as 1995 but still used in Kashmir to suppress the Kashmiri  independence movement..

On 3^rd December, 2012, a kangaroo court in Jammu awarded life sentences to two Kashmiris Sheikh Nazir Ahmed and Shoukat Ahmed, who had both spent nearly 15 years in Indian jails without trial after being arrested in 1990s. They were released on bail over 7 years ago but rearrested recently and awarded life imprisonment. Two weeks ago, another Kashmiri, Dr Qasim Faktoo was sentenced to life imprisonment under similar circumstance.

A JKLF spokesman in London said that “these are serious and worrying cases and point to Indian government intention to hoodwink the world opinion about what it has been doing in J&K for last 3 decades. It makes a mockery of empty gestures of ‘peace process’ and ‘political dialogue’.

“We have taken serious notice of the latest developments and have approached the Amnesty International, All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir and other international human rights organizations to take up the issue with the Indian government.”

Protest Venue:         Indian High Commission, Aldych, London. WC2B 4NA

Nearest Tube Station:        Holborn (Central Line)

Date:              Monday 10^th December 2012

Time:              2-4pm (A protest memorandum will be presented to the Indian High Commission at 3 pm)

Background Information:

On Thursday, 5^th December, 2012 the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons and the International Peoples’ Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir published an investigatory report accusing 500 serving Army, paramilitary and police personnel in Jammu-Kashmir of allegations of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir. The report entitled “stories of impunity in Jammu and Kashmir” sights 215 cases and named 235 army, 123 paramilitary, 111 police and 31 counter-insurgency personnel of  rights abuses such as extra-judicial  killings, enforced disappearances, torture of prisoners and raping Kashmiri women since 1990. Among the accused, there are 2 Major Generals and 3 Brigadiers, 9 Colonels, 3 Lieutenant Colonels, 78 Majors, 25 Captains belonging to the Indian Army and 37 senior officials of the paramilitary forces as well as a retired and current director general of the Jammu-Kashmir Police.

The 354-page report, which was compiled using information obtained through the Right to Information Act, includes witness testimonies as well as court cases and cases registered with the police, which have not been investigated.  The cases documented in the report reveal Indian government’s policy not to investigation or prosecution cases against the armed forces in Jammu-Kashmir.

On the other hand, Indian government has started to prosecute and punish pro-independence activists under the ‘lawless laws’ for agitating against Indian occupation of Jammu-Kashmir.

The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA); which was condemned by Indian judiciary at the highest level in 1995 and repealed, under which a person could be detained without formal charge or trial for up to one year and which allowed court hearings to be conducted in secret with keeping the identity of any witness secret and where confessions by torture were permissible on simple police assurance that it was obtained voluntarily. 

In 2008, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions ruled that 10 individuals detained under the PSA in J&K had been arbitrarily detained in violation of articles 7, 9, 10 and 11(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Articles 9 and 14 of the ICCPR.  It called on the Government of India to bring its laws in conformity with its international human rights obligations.

‘The Working Group is aware of the political  sensitivities regarding the state of Jammu and Kashmir and the complex law and order situation ensuing in that part of the country.  As a part of its crisis management system, the Government is using laws of preventive detention, including the PSA …. Be that as it may, any legal, administrative or other mechanism employed, must conform to international human rights standards and obligations undertaken by the Government of India.’   

          UN WGAD opinion on 10 PSA cases from J&K, 26 November 2008

Hundreds of lawyers have sought to challenge these detentions under the PSA through habeas corpus petitions. According to the High Court registry in Srinagar, 367 habeas corpus petitions were filed in 2008, 272 in 2009 and 159 up to 19 May 2010.  It is estimated that about 70% of these refer to cases of administrative detention under the PSA law.

“The PSA violates international human rights law and standards by providing for detention without trial while denying the possibility of judicial review and other safeguards for those in detention required under international human rights law. It also violates the principle of legality by defining offences so broadly as to allow security officials to detain individuals on extremely vague grounds including for exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.” A ‘Lawless Law’, Detentions under the J&K Public Safety Act  - Amnesty International, March 2011

Out of the over 600 cases studied by AI, approximately 290 detainees were found to be booked under the Arms Act offences. In approximately 160 cases, detainees were alleged to be in possession of fire arms or other such weapons when arrested but only 3 out of the 290 detainees were eventually convicted for possession of weapons. In Jammu-Kashmir the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, facilitates impunity for abuses and violations. It empowers Indian Security Forces to search homes and make arrests without warrants and provides them the right to shoot-to-kill with total immunity from prosecution. The Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act (JKPSA) empowers Indian forces to detain persons without trial for up to 4 for a broad range of activities that would be considered political and civil rights elsewhere in the world. 

Publicity Secretary,

JKLF UK Zone

Email: Secretary@JKLF.co.uk

Mobile: (+44)             0787 748 7696

JKLF President, Azmat A Khan, addressing a public meeting organized by the Birmingham branch has said that JKLF was set to change the history of Kashmir and the map of Indian sub-continent just as JKLF struggle has changed the history of independence movement in Jammu Kashmir. He urged the UK Kashmiris to unite on one platform and strengthen the JKLF movement. He said that a number of major projects are underway by  JKLF at diplomatic level and for that his organisation was in dire need of funds and asked his members to donate generously as they had been doing for nearly 3 decades. He said that JKLF leaders will not allow the Kashmiri martyrs blood waste in vain. He further said that both India and Pakistan are intendeing to declare LOC as a international border which will not be acceptable to Kashmiris on both sides and if their voice was not heard their movement would take a dangerous turn and all responsibility will lie with those who are not listening to our peaceful protests. 

European MP, Phil Bennion, who was a Chief Guest at the JKLF’s annual gathering said that Kashmir issue needed to be resolved for the better relations and peace between India and Pakistan and that a sustainable solution was to give Kashmiri people in all occupied areas a chance to decide their future through a internationally supervised referendum.

Other speakers who spoke for UK Kashmiris  included JKLF general secretary Tehseen Gillani, Sabir Gull, Professor Zafar khan, Choudhary Ashraf khan, Masoom Ansari, Najib Afsar, Mumtaz Mirza and Councillor Ansar ali. Their main focus  was the demand that international community should come forward and help the Kashmiris to achieve their right of self determination. Many speakers condemned the Act 74 of AJK government, which they said was an instrument of slavery for the nation and stated that  Gilgit baltistan was integral part of Jammu Kashmir so Pakistan should not try to unitlaterally declare it as its province, which would not only violate the United Nation resolutions on Kashmir but also give India an execuse to do the same for Ladakh and Jammu  They speakers urged  Pakistan government not to back stab the Kashmiri movement.  They warned that  Pakistani attempts to declare provincial status for Gilgit Baltistan would backfire and , JKLF and allies will launch a worldwide movement across the world against pakistan.

Before this Public meeting JKLF Birmingham Branch election was held and Choudhry Ashraf khan was elected as President and Javid Iqbal as General Secretary. Other office bearers are Raja Tika Khan, Adnan Ali Butt, Qayum Ansari, Waseem Ansari, Nazakat Bhatti, Younis Ansari, Aurangzaib Mirza, Shoiab Janjua. All the newly elected members took oath and said that they will carry on working for the Independence of Kashmir and betterment of Kashmiris.

The JKLF event promoted Kashmiri Culture and folk music was presented by British born young Kashmiris. Women and children also participated in the event.   

Press Release

Information office

London (1 November, 2012):

Kashmir’s premier pro-independence party, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) today launched a parliamentary petition to be signed by members of Commons and Lords during an All Party Parliamentary Group on Kashmir meeting in London last night. At a meeting chaired by Lord Ahmed, who himself originates from Kashmir, many Kashmir related issues including the issue of Kashmir’s unmarked mass graves, forced disappearances and extra-judicial killings and imprisonment of minors as well as the constitutional issue of Azad Kashmir including Pakistan’s annexation of Gilgit-Baltistan territories were debated. It was decide that the APPG would support the move to launch a parliamentary petition to be sent to the President of India to ask for the return of mortal remains of Kashmiri independence leader, Maqbool Butt, who was hanged in Tihar jail in 1984 and buried inside the jail premises. Indian government has been refusing to return his mortal remains for burial in Kashmir for all these years. A JKLF delegation led by its president in UK, Azmat A Khan, gave a briefing at the high level meeting of members of parliament on several issues and asked for the group to take up action points. The members of the All Party Parliamentary Kashmir group who signed the petition during the meeting include, Lord Ahmed, Lord Qurban Hussain (a former leader of JKLF), Sir Gerald Kaufman MP (Manchester Gorton), David Ward MP (Bradford), Debbie Abrahams MP (Oldham), Gavin Shuker MP (Luton), Lady Sarah Ludworth (MEP). Another 6 MPs added their names to the petition later overnight.

A JKLF briefing paper was presented at the meeting, where members of two international NGOs and other official observers and researchers were present and took part in discussions as to how to move forward with the conflict resolution in Kashmir and bring about international political pressure on both India and Pakistan to honor their pledged for self-determination in Jammu-Kashmir, which has been pending for 65 years. JKLF president Azmat Khan and vice president London Cllr Mehmood Husssain stressed to the group that appropriate action in both houses of UK parliament and with relevant UK ministers was pertinent on the issues of human rights. The APP group decided to re-double its efforts in seeking permission to take a fact-finding mission to Kashmir. The JKLF briefing paper quoted several international reports which highlighted the mass scale abuses of human rights in Indian Held Kashmir and urged UK government to ban Indian security personnel from entering UK who were accused of involvement in atrocities in Jammu Kashmir.

JKLF delegation also raised concerns with constitutional issues in Azad Kashmir assembly elections where pro-independence candidates are barred from contesting elections and also demanded that Pakistani government should halt its program of illegally annexing Gilgit-Baltistan. The issue of Kashmiri ethnic identity in United Kingdom was also raised in the meeting.

Secretary Information

JKLF UK & Europe

Mobile: 0787 748 7696   &   0791 265 3054

Web: www.JKLF.co.uk

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) London Branch held a special meeting in Walthamstow, London to discuss the current situation of Kashmir freedom movement and role of JKLF UK zone to internationalise this long standing unresolved issue. Various suggestions were discussed in the meeting including chalking out the activities for the next six months to highlight the Kashmir issue from Kashmir perspective.

The statement issued after the meeting, said that JKLF condemns the plans of Pakistani authororities to annex Gilgit Baltistan and make it a fifth province. Any such illegal move by Pakistan Government will be resisted by the people of Jammu Kashmir with full force. The statement further said that JKLF has always been of the opinion that the most practicable, democratic and honourable solution of Jammu Kashmir issue is to allow the people of divided regions a free and fair referendum to determine their future according to their own free will.

Speaking on this occation, Senior Vice President of JKLF in UK, Cllr Mahmood Hussain said that although JKLF advocates a free Sovereign Independent Country of Jammu Kashmir, but being a democratic movement, we believe that the people of Kashmir be given the right to exercise their own right to determine their future. He further said that if Kashmir issue remains unresolved, uncertainty, instability, clouds of war will remain in the region. The international community is duty bound to mediate and involve itself in order to halt the injustice done to the people of Jammu Kashmir. Cllr Hussain further said that Indian government must stop all human rights abuses in disputed area of Kashmir. India has oppressed Kashmiris from last over 65 years and Kashmiris are virtually been imprisoned in their own homes.

The meeting was well attended by all office bearers of JKLF London branch including Cllr. Mahmmod Hussain, Javaid Rashid, Mahmood Faiz, Mohammad Farooq, Tariq Sharif, Sanawar Hussain, Tasalat Hussain, Mohammad Naveed and Mohammad Saleem.