Srinagar, July 10: Welcoming its recent report on Kashmir, Association of the Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) on Tuesday appealed United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) to continue exerting pressure on the government of India to stop “unending rights abuses” in the Valley.
APDP, during its monthly sit-in against enforced disappearances, here at the Pratap Park today said India must be held accountable for crimes perpetuated by its forces in Kashmir since 1989.
The protest sit-in was joined by those families whose relatives have been the victims of enforced disappearances, or were killed extra-judiciously.
Protesters, who gather at the Pratap Park on 10th of every month for seeking whereabouts of their loved ones, appealed the United Nations to play a positive role in pressurizing India to come up with facts vis-à-vis the victims of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings of civilians in Kashmir.
They pledged to continue their struggle until the Government of India and the state government provides them details about their relatives, whether dead or alive.
Speaking on the occasion, APDP chairperson, Parveena Ahangar while lauding UN report on Kashmir said India instead of being reluctant to accept bitter realties should endorse UN report on gross human rights violations in Kashmir.
“I lost my son, so did other hapless mothers who join me here every month. Our struggle is based on facts that India has been reluctant to digest being egoistic. We don’t seek monetary benefits or government jobs, we demand whereabouts of our missing sons,” she added.
The APDP chairperson also said her struggle to get justice will continue till the Government of India accepts crimes committed by its forces in Kashmir since 1989.
“I welcome UN report on Kashmir and want to extend my hearty gratitude to the worthy Commissioner of UN Human Rights Commission, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, for report on Kashmir, which exposes India before the international community,” said Ahangar.
She appealed UNHRC Commissioner to take firm steps with regards to the human rights abuses by in Kashmir and exert pressure on India to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Ahangar also condemned civilian killings and vandalizing of properties by the government forces in south Kashmir saying “the government forces under the cover of impunity cross all limits of oppression with government giving free access to them to unleash hell upon the civilian population here.”
