Joint Hurriyat writes to UN Secy Gen

Srinagar, Oct 22: Joint Hurriyat on Monday sent a petition to the Secretary-General of United Nations, Antonio Guterres, urging for playing his role in ending “the killing spree, abuse of Human Rights abuse and resolution of Kashmir issue.”

In a statement, the amalgam asked the United Nations to “stop for being a mute spectator towards the extreme repression over the people of Kashmir by Indian state.”

“Umpteen resolutions have been passed on the dispute of Kashmir in UN. So, it is their binding responsibility to resolve this dispute as soon as possible in the light of these resolutions. UN can in the meantime ensure that human rights are protected in Kashmir and end the grave repression,” it said.

Mentioning recent incidents of killings in Kashmir, the joint Hurriyat  in the petition informed the UN that, “On 21 October 2018, seven unarmed civilians were ruthlessly killed and hundreds injured by pellets, bullets and bombs at Laroo area of Kulgam district.  October 19, a five months pregnant woman was killed by the government forces in Pulwama.”

It said that these incidents followed “the destruction of residential houses by planting explosives or by burning them down, devastation to vehicles and house hold goods.”  “Even women are ruthlessly beaten and harassed.”

The joint Hurriyat alleged that the “repression by Indian authorities was a vendetta against the people for staying away from recently held Urban Local Bodies elections.”

“The overwhelming boycott of 95% by the people of Kashmir in the recently held Urban Local Bodies Elections in Kashmir has further frustrated the Indian authorities who have stepped up their vendetta against the people,” it said.

“The state is run by a New-Delhi appointed Governor with military, paramilitary and police-force at his command who are hell-bent to crush the popular political movement of self-determination of Kashmiri’s by bullets and batons,” the statement added.

The joint Hurriyat in the letter said that “incidents like Kunan-Poshpora mass rape, Shopian, Machil, Chattisinghpora fake-encounters, killing of youth in 2008, 2010, and 2016 mass uprisings, fake encounters, forced disappearances have inflicted deep wounds on the collective existence of people.”

The joint Hurriyat through the petition has appealed to the UN Secretary General and other members “to intervene effectively to stop Government of India from committing crimes against humanity in Jammu & Kashmir”

“Take all possible measures to address the festering wound- Kashmir dispute- which is essential for establishing permanent peace and stability in the region.”

As per the statement the petition is published online and can be accessed at http://ipt.io/O22MA. “All the justice loving people across the globe in particularly the people across LOC and Kashmiris living in Diaspora are requested to sign the petition.”

The copies of the petition as per the statement have been sent to the representatives of permanent members of United Nations Security Council US, UK, Russia, France and China in New-York and to the ambassadors of these countries in New-Delhi also to High Commissioner for United Nations Human Rights Council (OHCHR) and Secretary General OIC.