UN Human Rights Day: Crisis Deepens in Indian-Occupied Kashmir

On this Human Rights Day, Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner on Human rights said, “Critical voices are under attack. The backlash against human rights is growing. Legitimate protests are curbed, repression is rising, and public space is shrinking. Human rights defenders stand up for what is right, often at great personal risk. We must protect them.”

In recognition of United Nations Human Rights Day, the World Kashmir Awareness Forum (WKAF) is calling attention to the 77 year-long human rights crisis in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. With over 100,000 civilian deaths, over 10,000 missing and civic, political and economic life critically suppressed, the people of Kashmir are facing erasure from history. WKAF, while realizing the importance of the Day, rented digital advertising trucks in New York City to make UN machinery, the officials of the various UN Missions and representatives of major NOG’s aware about the political and human rights situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

The electronic screens on the digital trucks carried messages such as: “Indian Atrocities at its Peak: Kashmiris Want World to Speak; “Election in Kashmir is Ruse: India Committing Human Rights Abuse”; Indian Forces on Killing Spree: Kashmir Needs to be Set Free”; “Kashmiris Reject Indian Occupation: UN Resolution only Solution”; “Indian Brutality in Kashmir Galore: World Community Cannot Ignore”; “Kashmir Facing Existential Threat: United Nations Needs to Act”; "Hold India accountable for war crimes in Kashmir"; “Land Grab Operation in Kashmir is Economic Terrorism”; “Freedom for all: Freedom for Kashmir.” ” India: Stop Demographic Terrorism in Kashmir.”

The digital advertising trucks went round and round the United Nations headquarters, Indian Mission; Freedom Tower; Times Square; Indian Consulate; various UN Missions, among other locations between 10.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Dr. Ghulam N. Mir, President , World Kashmir Awareness Forum and Chairman, Kashmir Diaspora Coalition said that the adoption and proclamation of Human Rights Day by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, was celebrated as a major achievement of the newly established United Nations organization. Unfortunately, quite a few of the UN General Assembly members have continued to violate the rights of its citizens ever since the creation of the new nation states.

Dr. Mir explained that lamentably, the UN has shown dismal performance in protecting the basic minimum rights of the indigenous people of the occupied States of Kashmir and Palestine. World is drifting inexorably towards total dehumanization of Kashmiri and Palestinian people, and there are no signs of their plight changing for the better.”

“The darkness left behind by the Western colonialists in their formal colonies is not only deepening, but also spreading rapidly to the formal colonialist powers. It is time to realize that fact and do something to stem this human made pernicious pandemic, Dr. Mir warned.

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, World Forum for Peace & Justice said that the lesson of history -- both old and new -- is that peace is impossible if a people or nation is treated as a negotiable pawn by big powers. The most harrowing example is the appeasement of Hitler at the expense of the Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia. Self‑determination, despite big power politics, has blossomed into a pivotal element in international relations in recent times. It has proven the key to resolving long-festering disputes and unforgiving conflicts.

“Exemplary has been Dr. Fai added, Namibia, East Timor, Eritrea. Kosovo, Montenegro, Southern Sudan, etc. In each case, self‑determination was fueled by oppressive rule, whether foreign or otherwise. They also derived strength from international law and resolutions of the UN Security Council. Let us hope that the stage is set to put the Kashmir conflict on a road to a durable and permanent settlement.”

"Too often," Dr. Fai regretted, "the international community closes its eyes to the brutal reality of Kashmir because of India's hegemony in South Asia and its potentially attractive consumer market. It has crowned India with a veto power over outside intervention. A shocking affront to the Security Council itself. Yet, India has the temerity to seek a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. It cannot be put more plainly: Kashmiris are facing an existential crisis.”

Professor (Dr.) Imtiaz Khan, Kashmiri American scholar said that “On Human Rights Day, the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and the need for accountability in the region. It underscores the importance of respecting the basic human rights of all individuals, including the right to life, liberty, freedom of expression, and protection from arbitrary detention.”

Dt. Imtiaz Khan added that, “The observance of Human Rights Day can be an opportunity to amplify the voices of Kashmiri civilians, human rights defenders, and activists who continue to call for the protection of their rights and for international attention to the ongoing crisis. It also serves as a call to the Indian government to uphold its commitments to human rights, both in Kashmir and beyond.”

Raja Mukhtar, senior leader of JKLF, North America said that the scars of the people of Kashmir are deep, and it will take decades for them to heal. But a beginning can be made to repair the damage done to Kashmir by releasing all political prisoner, including the most recognizable leader of political resistance, Mohammad Yasin Malik who is facing the situation of life and death in the notorious Tihar Jail of New Delhi, India.

Advocate Sardar Imtiaz Khan Garalvi emphasized that the unresolved conflict over Kashmir threatens the international peace and security of the world. It is far past time for the UN, Imtiaz Garalvi added to take forceful action in order to restore the faith of common people that it is an agency that can live up to its bold charter and mission of bringing peace and stability to the world.”

Sardar Taj Khan, Vice Chairman, Kashmir Mission, USA said, "On one hand, we cannot ignore Muslims and minorities of India, and at the same time, we cannot afford to ignore the crimes being committed against our brethren in occupied Kashmir". Sardar Taj added that fear, oppression and deprivation determine the life of every Kashmiri. Their right to life is violated every day through wanton killings. We cannot remain silent.”

Sardar Sawar Khan, former Advisor to the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir warned that the silence of international community over this long-standing issue was heartbreaking. It appears that India is being given a free hand to inflict atrocities on the people of Kashmir.” Sardar Sawar Khan added that it is high time that India is made to understand the consequences of reneging on her promise in terms of sanctions and censure by the world community."

Sardar Zarif Khan, Advisor to the President of Azad Kashmir called upon the UN Secretary General to impress upon the parties concerned to create an atmosphere for a free and impartial plebiscite in Kashmir that will guarantee peace and prosperity in the whole region of South Asia. Sardar Zarif added that RSS extremist ideology has become a huge problem not only for the Muslims of India but also for other minorities, including Christians, Sikhs and Dalits.

Sardar Shoaib Irshad, General Secretary, Kashmir American Welfare Association (KAWA) said that India has made Kashmir the largest militarized zone in the world. It has already sparked two wars between the two nations, and a third would be a global catastrophe. Sardar Shoaib added that the deplorable situation in Kashmir is unacceptable.”