Kashmiris yet to get right to self-determination: Sardar Amjad Yousaf

Srinagar, September 19, 2013 (PPI-OT): Kashmiri representative, Sardar Amjad Yousaf Khan said that the people of Kashmir, who were promised their right to self-determination by the United Nations had been denied for the last six decades which had led to a regime of human rights violations in occupied Kashmir.

Sardar Amjad Yousaf, talking part in general debate item 4 in 24th session of United Nations Human rights Council, said that extra-judicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances and rape had become a routine in the occupied territory.

He added: “Peaceful assemblies and unarmed protestors were subjected to bullets, pellets and tear-gas shells. Arbitrary detention of political leaders and human rights activist and juveniles under Public Safety Act termed as “lawless law” by Christopher Hynes is rampant.”Some of the most glaring human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir are:

On 18th of July 2013 troops of 76th Battalion of Border Security Force (BSF) barged into a Mosque, at Gool Ramban in IOK, thrashed Imam, and desecrated Holy Quran. People of the area demanded action against the BSF officials involved in this crime. Instead of listening to them, the troops in the presence of civil administration opened fire on peaceful and unarmed protestors without any provocation killing 4 people and causing serious injuries to more than 40 people.

On 18th of June 2013 a 12th grade student, Irfan Ahmed Ganie was killed without any provocation by the troops of 17 Rashtriya Rifles at Markandal district Baramullah. The troopers opened indiscriminate fire on peaceful protectors killing a 24 years old Tariq Ahmed Laway too.

On 7th of Sept, 2013 Central reserve police personals killed innocent Four youth at Shopian and one in Srinagar. Village Defence Committee members fuelled communal violence in Kistwar, resulting in loss of life and property.

Kashmir valley is under strict curfew grid and life has come to halt. Political leaders , Syed Ali Gailani , Mirwaiz Umer Farooq , Shabir Ahmed Shah , Nayeem Ahmed Khan and Muhammad Yasin Malik have been placed Under House arrest . Other leaders are detained in police stations arbitrarily

The profligate of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions and other human rights abuses stem from the culture of impunity that pervades in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) have been responsible for killings and enforced disappearances of a large number of people.

The special Rapporteur on Extra-Judicial killing Christophe Haynes and Special Rapporteur on situation of Human Rights Defenders, Margart Sakayya in their reports presented to this Council during 23rd and 19th sessions respectively described this law as draconian and recommended its repeal.

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