Mirwaiz deplores world’s apathy towards HR abuses in IHK

Srinagar, December 11 : The Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, has deplored the apathy of international community towards continued human rights violations by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir.

The APHC Chairman, addressing a seminar in Srinagar, said that the western countries were giving preference to economic interests over the human rights and not a single statement had come from the European Union or America on Kashmir in the past two years.

The Mirwaiz said that Indian army was engaged in political activities in the occupied territory. “A drama over the revocation of AFSPA from certain areas of the territory unfolded recently. It is very surprising to see that Army is taking political decision when it comes to deal with Jammu and Kashmir,” he stated. He said, the Army is openly rejecting the policies of the puppet administration through continuous statements by its generals while no one cares about it.

“As long as black laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remain imposed here, human rights abuses will continue. This black law is giving protection to human right violations being committed by the forces. The army’s direct interference in political decision-making is indicative of the fact that they do not want AFSPA to go from here. Complete withdrawal of troops can stop human rights violations,” he said.

The Mirwaiz castigated the Indian civil society for its silence over the gross human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir. “None of them talks about the plight of Kashmir people. On one hand, they claim that they are the champions of democracy, while on the other, they maintain a criminal silence over Kashmir. This only shows their double standards,” he said.

The APHC Chairman appealed to the international and Indian Human rights organizations to take notice of the rights abuses in the territory.

He pointed out that the Government of India was unleashing cultural aggression in Jammu and Kashmir. “There is a deep rooted conspiracy on this front. Our language is being distorted, our identity is under threat...We need to counter it as well,” he added.