[Reader-list] A petition for Kashmir - please sign and forward

[Shivam Vij शिवम् विज्]

Let me clarify Sonia that I haven't taken out the petition. I don't
know who has. You have the right not to sign it. I forwarded it FYI
and, as you may have noticed, did not add a note urging others to sign
it. On my part I have signed it and I don't feel the need to explain
anyone why I have signed it.
best
shivam

On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 6:36 PM, S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com> wrote:
> Interesting, Shivam. But why on earth is this addressed to the British
> government, the ones who've bloodied their hands in Afghanistan & Iraq? Not
> enough that they were once our colonial masters, surely?
>
> And after the history of the UN, and the role of the UK and the US, you want
> them to enter Kashmir?  Not bad enough that they have their bases in
> Afghanistan and are swarming Pakistan?
>
> Sorry. Can't sign this.
>
>
>
> On 8/29/08 6:22 PM, "Shivam Vij शिवम् विज्" <mail at shivamvij.com> wrote:
>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> Please sign this petition
>> for the sake of the suffering Kashmiri
>> people:
>
> http://www.petitiononline.com/jk2008/petition.html
>
> Please also send
>> this email to as many people (Kashmiris and
> non-Kashmiris alike) as you can,
>> together with a request to sign the
> petition.
>
> Regards
>
>> ______________________________________________
> To:
>
> Gordon Brown
> Prime
>> Minister
> United Kingdom
>
> David Miliband
> Foreign Secretary
> United Kingdom
>
> Ban
>> Ki-moon
> Secretary-General
> United Nations
>
> José Manuel
>> Barroso
> President
> European Commission
>
>
> We are writing to bring to your
>> attention the increasingly
> deteriorating situation in the Indian-controlled
>> part of the disputed
> region of Jammu and Kashmir. Over the last two months,
>> the people of
> Kashmir have held mass public processions protesting against
>> an
> economic blockade imposed against the valley of Kashmir by
>> extremist
> elements in the southern region of Jammu.
>
> These peaceful protests
>> have now escalated into a demand for the right
> to self-determination
>> guaranteed to the people of Kashmir by various
> United Nations Resolutions
>> (including nos. 57/1948, 51/1948, 80/1950,
> and 122/1957). These rallies have
>> drawn widespread support from
> hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris across the
>> length and breadth of
> the Kashmir valley.
>
> The Indian authorities have
>> responded to these non-violent protests by
> using excessive lethal force
>> including firing live rounds on unarmed
> protestors. So far, more than 25
>> unarmed civilians have been killed in
> firing by Indian soldiers. There are now
>> more than 600,000 Indian
> soldiers and paramilitaries on active duty in Kashmir
>> (which
> translates to approximately one soldier for every eight
>> Kashmiris).
>
> Initially the Indian government allowed the protests to
>> proceed
> without much opposition. However, it has recently changed its
>> approach
> and begun to adopt repressive measures. The Indian government
>> has
> banned local television channels and placed restrictions on media
> freedom.
>> Pro-freedom politicians have been arrested without charge and
> prevented from
>> attending processions and giving speeches. Indefinite
> curfew has been imposed
>> across the ten districts of the Kashmir valley
> and soldiers have been given
>> shoot-at-sight orders in some places.
>
> We are deeply disturbed by the absence
>> of any comment by the British
> government, the European Union or the United
>> Nations on the recent
> spate of violence in Kashmir. When protests broke out in
>> Tibet in
> March earlier this year, only a few thousand people took to
>> the
> streets in Lhasa and other towns. Yet, there was a flurry of
> condemnation
>> of the Chinese authorities by Western governments and
> international
>> organisations. China was urged to refrain from using
> excessive force and to
>> initiate meaningful talks with the Tibetans. In
> stark contrast to this vocal
>> stance on Tibet, the international
> community has maintained complete silence
>> on Kashmir.
>
> We call upon the British government, as the former colonial power
>> in
> South Asia, to discharge the moral responsibility it has to speak
>> out
> against human rights violations in Kashmir and to urge all parties
>> to
> exercise restraint and initiate peaceful negotiations for solving
> disputes.
>> India is a member of the Commonwealth just like Zimbabwe and
> the Indian
>> government deserves to be reminded of its obligations just
> as much as Mr
>> Mugabe. In today's world, the British government simply
> cannot afford to be
>> seen as being selective in its criticism of other
> countries and exposure of
>> state excesses when it comes to maintaining
> ethical and humanitarian
>> high-grounds.
>
> We, therefore, call upon you to urge the Indian government
>> to:
>
> • exercise restraint in dealing with protests in Kashmir,
>
> • ensure human
>> rights are not violated and bring perpetrators of human
> rights to justice,
>> and
>
> • initiate peaceful and meaningful negotiations to address the
> underlying
>> causes of unrest in Kashmir, including the fundamental
> question of Kashmir's
>> future status.
>
> Sincerely,
> The
>> Undersigned
> _________________________________________
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>
>



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