SANA

ISLAMABAD (SANA) Kashmiris the world over including occupied Kashmir and Pakistan observed the Kashmir Martyrs Day on Monday to pay homage to the Kashmiri martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the just struggle for the birth right of self-determination of the Kashmiri people.

In occupied Kashmir, the puppet authorities have imposed undeclared curfew in Srinagar and barricaded all the roads leading towards Lal Chowk to prevent the Lal Chowk March.

The Chairman All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq had urged the people to massively participate in Lal Chowk March in Srinagar to pay homage to the Kashmiri martyrs particularly who laid down their lives on the 13th July 1931.

The APHC Chairman who was kept under house arrest by Indian ahead of the rally, in a statement said that the Kashmir Martyrs Day will also be observed as Yaum-e-Istaqlal to reaffirm Kashmiris resolve to continue their struggle against all odds.

Indian police have arrested scores of people across the occupied territory and raided the houses of Hurriyet leaders and activists to thwart the March. The APHC spokesman denouncing the police action said that the march would be held despite all restrictions.

In Pakistan, different functions, seminars, rallies and symposiums were held to observe the Kashmir Martyrs Day in a befitting manner. The Kashmir Martyrs Day is observed every year to commemorate the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris martyrs on June 13, 1931 when the Dogra troops shot dead 22 Kashmiris in front of the Srinagar Central Jail, when a large number of people had gathered outside the jail to protest against the trial of a young man, Mujahid Abdul Qadeer, who had been charged with high treason.

Different functions were held in Muzaffarabad, during speakers paid glowing tributes to the sacrifices rendered by the Kashmiri martyrs. They vowed to realize the mission of the martyrs and to continue the struggle for the liberation of Kashmiris from Indian yoke till its logical conclusion.

The rally was held in Islamabad that led to the UN observer mission in the capital. Participants of the rally presented a memorandum at the UN office in which the Secretary General of the United Nations has been asked to play his role in brining an end to human rights violations and restrictions on people free movement in occupied Kashmir. Ban ki Moon has also been urged to play his role for implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.

Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center joined the worldwide friends and sympathizers of cause of Kashmir in solemn recognition of July 13th - ‘Martyrs Day’. It fully endorses the call given by the All Parties Hurriyet Conference for a peaceful protest all over the world on July 13th, 2009 to express the support and solidarity with the oppressed people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director, Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center said while addressing a gathering at noon at East West Grill in Washington and a gathering in the evening at Brooklyn Community Center, Brooklyn, New York that ‘July 13th is forever scarred in the collective minds of the Kashmiri people as the day when the freedom movement was greeted with bullets.”  He said that ‘Martyrs Day’ memorializes all those innocent victims, nearly 100,000, who have been forcibly silenced by the Indian atrocities that erupted two decades ago.  

Dr. Fai reminded that Amnesty International (AI) asked India on June 11, 2009 to conduct “fair and impartial investigations” into the alleged rape and murder of a teenage girl and her sister-in-law involving troops (In Shopian). “These protests are about the ongoing failure of the Indian government to bring members of the security forces to justice for serious human rights violations. Until the Indian government provides accountability for the conduct of the armed forces in Kashmir, it will continue to face discontent from the residents,” AI said. “Authorities should ensure that security forces comply with international human rights standards on law enforcement, in particular those relating to the use of force to deal with protestors. Any instance of excessive use of force should be impartially investigated,” AI added.  

Furthermore, Dr. Fai emphasized that the Kashmiri people’s resolve and continued commitment to peaceful protest is principled on the ongoing massive violations of their human rights, the recent abduction, rape and killing of two young girls in Shopian and the Indian Government’s atrocious dismissal of their aspirations for self-determination.

Dr. Fai quoted President Obama who said on July 10, 2009 at L’Aquila, Italy,  “We don’t want stronger nations bullying weaker nations.  On the other hand, where you have nations that are oppressing their people, isn’t there an international responsibility to intervene?

Dr. Fai mentioned that India and the United States should listen to one of India’s prominent journalists, Vir Sanghvi who wrote in Hindustan Times, “If you believe in democracy, then giving Kashmiris the right to self-determination is the correct thing to do.”

Dr. Fai referred to a noted academics, Prof. Angana Chatterji who said “the premise and structure of impunity connected to military rule and corresponding human rights abuses bear witness to the absence of accountability inherent to the continued occupation of  Kashmir by the Indian state.”

Dr. Fai expressed concern because all available evidence testifies that human rights violations in Kashmir are systematic, deliberate, and officially sanctioned.  Far from seeking to rectify its atrocious human rights record, India has legalized its state-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir.  It has given its occupation forces powers to shoot to kill and the license to abuse the people of Kashmir in whatever ways they like in order to suppress the popular movement for basic human rights and human dignity.    

Moreover, Dr. Fai emphasized that prudence dictates the United States recognize this grave human rights situation and apply diplomatic persuasion by appointing a special envoy on Kashmir which would go a long way to hasten the progress of peace and reconciliation in the region of South Asia, particularly India, Pakistan & Afghanistan.