Protest outside UN office in Geneva seeks early resolution of K-dispute, end to HR violations in IoK

Geneva: A peaceful protest was held here in front of the UN office to divert world attention towards the fast deteriorating political and human rights situation in the Indian occupied territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The event organized jointly by visiting Kashmiri delegation, World Muslim Congress and Friends of Kashmir France was attended by members of Kashmiri and Pakistani diaspora, journalists and rights activists hailing from different parts of the world. Whereas the event was addressed by PPP president Ch. Muhammad Yasin, Altaf Hussain Wani, Mirza Asif Jarral, Sardar Amjad Yousaf
Syed Faiz Naqashbandi, Hassan ul Bana, Advocate Parvez, Dr. Waleed and others

Expressing their deep concern over the worsening political and human rights situation in the Indian occupied territory, the speakers said that in the aftermath of 5th August 2019 the situation in the region has snowballed into a crisis of an immense magnitude.

Terming the BJP led apartheid regime’s decision as a flagrant violation of the UNSC resolutions they said that the unlawful move has pushed the region deeper into a quagmire of unending violence, lawlessness, chaos and uncertainty.

The miseries of the people of the occupied Jammu and Kashmir, they said have further intensified since the revocation of its special status in 2019. They pointed out that journalists and human rights defenders have been increasingly targeted for raising their voice against India’s belligerent and anti-Kashmir policies.

Arbitrary detention of political activists, they said has become a new norm in Kashmir. “Public assembly is still prohibited and thousands, including minors along with hundreds of political leaders remain under preventive detention”, they said.

Referring to Special Powers Act (SPA), the Armed Forces Special Protection Act (AFSPA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) enforced in Kashmir, the speakers said that the Modi government has been misusing draconian laws against the Kashmiri population.

Terming the long-standing dispute as a serious threat to peace and stability in the region, they said an early and amicable settlement of the lingering conflict was imperative to ensure lasting peace in South Asia.

Denouncing India’s state terrorism in IoK, the speakers called for holding Indian army accountable for the war-crimes they have been committing against Kashmiris.

They also deplored the Indian attempts to delegitimize the Kashmiris’ legitimate struggle for right to self-determination, stepped-up state-terrorism, genocide of Kashmiri youth and use of excessive force against civilians by Indian occupation forces.

Voicing their serious concerns over the continued detention of Kashmiri leaders, they urged the international human rights organizations to mount pressure on India to secure early release of the Kashmiri prisoners who have been arrested before and after 5th August 2019.

They also denounced the Modi government’s attempts to change the demography of Occupied Kashmir by granting citizenship rights to non-state subjects.

They called on international community particularly the UN to pressurize India to reverse the constitutional changes brought by the government of India since 2019, repeal all black laws granting sweeping impunity to occupation forces and release all political leaders and activists who were arrested before and after August 5, 2019.

They also demanded the influential world governments to play their proactive role to help resolve the Kashmir dispute, which they said has been main cause and consequence of bloodshed and violence in the region.