LONDON/BRUSSELS: The Organisation of Kashmir Coalition (OKC) has urged upon the United Nations to intervene in the critical situation of Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IoJK) in the wake of rapid spread of pandemic Covid-19, and ensure access of International Red Cross and WHO in the held valley as well as the Indian prisons where Kashmiris had been detained.
According to the OKC spokesperson, the organisation’s executive members Barrister A Majid Tramboo and Prof Nazir A Shawl dispatched a communication to UN Secretary General António Guterres, apprising him of the Indian government’s continued unlawful actions in IoJK.
“Despite the live threat of Covid-19, thousands of Kashmiri men, women and children are huddled in jails in very appalling conditions,” they said, adding there exists no access to WHO and Red Cross either to IoJK or any prisons in India,” they said.
They added: “The Kashmiri leadership continues to be imprisoned either in various jails of India or IoJK including the infamous Tihar Jail in New Delhi or in their homes.
“The Indian government has announced to commence trumped criminal trials against some of the Kashmiri leaders — including Mohammad Yasin Malik, Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front; Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference; Mian Abdul Qayoom, President Kashmir Bar Association; Shabir Ahmed Shah, President Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party; Farooq Ahmed Dar, Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front; and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
“Unbelievably, the Indian government has commenced the process of bringing demographic change in IoJK by issuing a gazetted notification under Section 3A of the J&K Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order 2020.”
Barrister Tramboo and Prof Shawl termed the above actions of the Indian government absolutely contrary to and in breach of international laws and humanitarian laws as well as the treaties and conventions to which India is signatory.
They urged the UN secretary general to ensure access of the International Red Cross to IoJK and to all the prisons where Kashmiris had been detained.
The communication was also forwarded to Madam Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights; Madam Elisabeth Tichy-Fisslberger, President Human Rights Council, Madam Ursula von der Leyen, President European Commission; and Yousef bin Ahmad bin Abdul Rahman Al-Othaimeen, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The spokesperson expressed the OKC leadership’s resolve to continue to lobby the Kashmir cause seeking Justice for Kashmiris at all levels without any interruption even during the pandemic Covid-19.