British Kashmiris Protested in 10 Downing Street against Human Rights Violations in Kashmir

LONDON – Expatriate Kashmiris and supporters of Kashmiri cause hailing from various parts of the United Kingdom staged a demonstration in front of 10 Downing Street on Sunday 26th September 2010 to protest against Human Rights violations in Kashmir and British Governments silence over the recent killings of over 100 innocent Kashmiri people by Indian forces. 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. 

Organized by British chapter of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), hundreds of protesters called on the British Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg to check the excesses that the Indian occupation forces have unleashed on the people of Kashmir over the past few months. The protesters also reminded the British Government that Britain being one of the largest arms suppliers to India, these same arms are being used against innocent civilians in Kashmir; therefore British Government should review its arms pact with India.

Speaking on this occasion, Zonal President of JKLF in UK, Mr. Mahmood Hussain said that international community including Britain and other major nations have a moral obligation to play a pivotal role for a peaceful and lasting solution based on the democratic will of the people of Jammu Kashmir. He said that Kashmiri community in Britain want an honourable solution of the Kashmir issue based on the true aspiration of its people.

Addressing the demonstrators, Head of JKLF’s Diplomatic wing Prof. Zafar Khan said that since two decades Indian forces have killed over a hundred thousand people, overwhelming majority of who have been civilians, and many thousands of young men have simply disappeared without trace over these years while many thousands languish in Indian Jails. He urged British Prime Minister to take concrete steps in order to involve Indian Government for a meaningful dialogue with Kashmris over the future status of Kashmir. He reminded the Prime Minister that there are about 1.5 million Kashmiris living in Britain and they expect his Government to intervene in order to save precious lives in Kashmir.

A memorandum to British Prime Minister David Cameron was also handed over to officials at 10 Downing Street, London. The memorandum asked the UK Governments to play a pivotal role over future status of Jammu Kashmir. The memorandum stated that “In view of the ongoing state oppression in Indian held part of Jammu Kashmir, we wish to remind Her Majesty’s Government of its international obligations as a major world power over the current situation and the future political and constitutional status of Jammu Kashmir”.

Memorandum further stated that “We strongly urge your government to take serious steps in bringing the concerned parties namely, India, Pakistan and representatives of the Kashmiri people for a negotiated and peaceful solution to this 63 year old conflict. The UK government as permanent member of the UN Security Council, a leading member of the European Union and as Head of the Commonwealth, has a privileged position in world affairs to play a role for a peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue”

Others who also spoke were Haji Rauf Khan, Syed Tahseen Gilani, Ershad Malik, Ali Asghar, Prof. Shahid Iqbal, Khawaja Kabeer Ahmed and representatives of other political organisations in UK.

  

Khawaja Kabeer Ahmed
Secretary Information,
JKLF (UK) Zone

MEMORANDUM:

Rt. Honourable Mr. David Cameron

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

10 Downing Street, London SW

26 September 2010

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Re: Seeking UK Governments role over future status of Jammu Kashmir 

In view of the ongoing state oppression in Indian held part of Jammu Kashmir, we wish to remind Her Majesty’s Government of its international obligations as a major world power over the current situation and the future political and constitutional status of Jammu Kashmir.

For far too long, India has been responsible for unprecedented militarised violence against a defenceless populace in Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir by giving free hand to military and paramilitary forces which India has deployed in huge numbers in the territory.

The numbers of the forces including a myriad of paramilitary brigades and units are estimated to be around 700,000. This level of deployment of Indian military and paramilitary forces makes Indian occupied part of Jammu Kashmir the most militarised region anywhere in the world.

Since the late 1980s these forces have killed over a hundred thousand people, overwhelming majority of who have been civilians, and many thousands of young men have simply disappeared without trace over these years while many thousands languish in Indian Jails.

Over the past few weeks alone, scores of civilians have succumbed to the violent actions of the paramilitary forces not only in the Valley of Kashmir but also in others parts of Indian held Jammu Kashmir.

Since 2009 in particular, Indian forces have with complete impunity unleashed violence against peaceful mass demonstrators resulting in fatalities and serious injuries. The popular peaceful agitation by the Kashmiri masses is against the status quo and the forced division of their country between India and Pakistan since 1947.

Mr. Prime Minister India erroneously claims that the situation in Kashmir is an internal matter for the Indian state and that Jammu Kashmir is an ‘integral’ part of Indian Union. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jammu Kashmir is an international issue concerning the rights and aspirations of around 15 million people of Jammu Kashmir which, since 1947 has been divided, forcibly between India and Pakistan. Two thirds of the erstwhile state is under Indian occupation while the remainder is under direct and indirect administration of Pakistan.

We would like to point out that Kashmir issue is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, nor should it be considered as such. To do so would be to deny the inherent and inalienable right to self determination of 15 million people  and  such apposition  would constitute  a   denial  of over a dozen United Nation’ s Resolutions  on  the future disposition and status of Jammu Kashmir since 1948.

These U N Resolutions not only bind India and Pakistan,  to a negotiated and peaceful settlement of the dispute based on the unfettered political and constitutional rights of the Kashmiri people, but also the international community including Britain, to ensure that such a settlement of the conflict was arrived at.  

We strongly believe that the UK Government can play an important role in influencing the processes towards a just, lasting and democratic solution of the Kashmir dispute.
Mr. Prime Minister your remarks during your recent visit to India did very little unfortunately, to encourage India in particular and Pakistan to engage in a serious dialogue with the Kashmiris for a peaceful solution over the conflict. If anything your remarks caused concerns and dismay among the Kashmiri Diaspora communities in the UK as your position has been seen supporting Indian policy and violent methods of its occupation forces in Kashmir.

We are of the firm belief that good relations between India and Pakistan are a pre requisite for peace and prosperity in South Asia. The key to unleash peace in the subcontinent however, lies in a just and lasting resolution of the issue based on a democratic and people centric solution of the conflict.

We also wish to reiterate our strong belief that we wish Kashmir to be a bridge of peace and friendship between India and Pakistan rather that a bone of perpetual contention and conflict between the South Asian nuclear powers. 

We strongly urge your government to take serious steps in bringing the concerned parties namely, India, Pakistan and representatives of the Kashmiri people for a negotiated and peaceful solution to this 63 year old conflict. The UK government as permanent member of the UN Security Council, a leading member of the European Union and as Head of the Commonwealth, has a privileged position in world affairs to play a role for a peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue.

Britain as a friend of India and Pakistan with its shared history with both nations can prove to be a vital interlocutor and facilitator for instituting dialogue and processes that would lead to a negotiated and peaceful settlement of the Kashmir conflict.

On behalf of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front

Mahmud Husain (President of JKLF’s British Chapter.)