Lankans urge immediate resolution of Kashmir issue
Posted On July 21, 2016
The Kashmir Study Forum Sri Lanka along with Pakistani and Sri Lankan community organized a peaceful demonstration in front of United Nation Office at Baudaloka Mawatha in Sri Lanka to highlight the recent upsurge in extrajudicial killing and human rights violation in Indian Occupied Kashmir by the Indian forces.
The participants of the assembly expressed their grave concern about the ongoing killings of civilians by Indian security forces in the towns and villages of Kashmir.
Since 8th July, 2016, Indian forces have` killed more than 50 innocent Kashmiris, injured over 3500, imposed ban on print and electronic media, all forms of communication, food embargo and a curfew imposed following the assassination of youth leader Burhan Wani. Most of the injured have lost eyesight due to pellet guns used by Indian army and police officials.
Kashmir is still reeling from the violence as skirmish between angry protesters and huge contingents of Indian army go unabated. Burhan Wani is the second young leader for Kashmiris after Ashfaq Majeed whose assassination triggered one of the worst uprisings in Indian Occupied Kashmir in the early 90s.
The peaceful assembly was attended by a large number of people from all walks of life. The participants urged the Secretary General of the United Nations to encourage, facilitate and support efforts leading to a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions to ensure resolution of this longstanding unresolved issue.
The Kashmir dispute has emerged as one of the greatest and oldest human crises in history which is marked by extra judicial killings, rape, detention, and kidnapping of Kashmiris.
Since 1989, more than 94,000 Kashmiris have been killed, out of which over 7000 were custodial killings at the hands of Indian occupation forces. More than 106,000 structures have been destroyed, more than 22000 women have been widowed, over 107,000 children have been orphaned and more than 10,000 women have been raped and molested by Indian military and paramilitary troops in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK).
The participants also urge the United Nations for immediate end of Indian laws such as Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (TADA), Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978, The Armed Forces (Jammu & Kashmir) Special Power Act 1990, Jammu & Kashmir Disturbed Area Act 1990, Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) 2002 and Article 370.
A memorandum with thousands of signatures urging UN to play its role to resolve the oldest unresolved dispute on UN agenda since 1947 was also handed over to the UN office.
A signature campaign was also launched to raise awareness, encourage advocacy and to emphasize the centrality of the resolution of Kashmir Issue to the lasting peace and prosperity of South Asia across the Island nation.
