[Reader-list] Civil Society groups condemn state violence in Kashmir

[Khurram Parvez]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
17th August 2008
Today, 17th of August 2008, on the initiative of Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society the second meeting of civil society organizations and individuals was convened to discuss the present scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and the way forward. The meeting besides the members of JKCCS was attended by representatives of Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti, Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee, Sikh Coordination Committee, Trade Union Centre, Chamber of Commerce and Industries Kashmir, Valley Citizens Council, People’s Development Trust, Ehsaas, Firdous Education Trust for Orphans, Himayat, and a galaxy of intellectuals, social activists, journalists including Dr. Altaf Hussain, Dr. Mubarik Ahmed, Arjimand Hussain Talib, Dr. Abdul Ahad, Dr. Zaffar Mehdi and others.  
The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution upholding the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir as enshrined in article 1 of ICCPR and article 1 of ECOSOC.  
The salient features of the resolution are as follows:  

The participants condemned brute state force used against the peaceful and unarmed protesters, which claimed 34 lives and left more than 600 wounded in the last 7 days. The participants paid homage to the unarmed protesters killed by the Indian armed forces who are equipped with the impunity laws like AFSPA, Disturbed Areas Act etc. 
The participants unanimously emphasized that no vested interests shall be allowed to harm the traditions of communal harmony, and the majority community in Kashmir shall continue to work together with the minorities during these testing times. 
The participants stressed an immediate restoration of all the historical routes to ensure the political, psychological, economic, physical security of the besieged people of Jammu and Kashmir. 
As reported by Indian Express that more than 40 ambulances which were attacked by the Indian armed forces that even beat up the patients, with serious bullet wounds, across Kashmir in last 7 days, the participants condemned the phenomenon as it is in contravention to the Geneva Conventions. 
The participants condemned the unwarranted attacks on journalists, preventing them from performing their professional duties by both the protesters and the Indian armed forces and appealed that the media be allowed to work unhindered.
The meeting also took the following decisions:  

For ensuring a constant contact with the political leadership spearheading this movement to keep them abreast with the civil society initiatives and concerns, a committee was formed. 
A committee for apprising the international organizations, fellow civil society groups, and the diplomatic corps about the real contours of the people’s protest. 
A committee of medical professionals was set up to keep this forum informed about a medical emergency, depleting stocks of medicines and surgical disposables and other related issues, so that appropriate arrangements could be made.