Washington, July 13, 2023 (PPI-OT): The Secretary General of World Kashmir Awareness Forum, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, has appealed to the world powers to recognize the long-pending wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people as they observe Kashmir Martyrs Day, today (July 13). It was on July 13, 1931, that the Dogra troops shot dead 22 Kashmiris, in cold blood, in front of the Srinagar Central Jail. Since that ominous day, Kashmiris have organized peaceful protests, seminars, and conferences throughout the world.

“In the annals of history, ordinary people make extraordinary contributions by inspiring people for well-defined objectives and high moral ground. Those unsung persons are our heroes. The people of Kashmir will never forget the selfless contribution and the tireless efforts of these martyrs. Their efforts will remain forever a milestone in the history of the freedom struggle of Kashmir,” he reiterated. Dr Fai stressed that the people of Kashmir clearly had little faith in or respect for the so-called Indian democracy, and India hadn’t the slightest idea how to earn it. The New York Times wrote an editorial on August 24, 2022, that ‘Modi’s India Is Where Global Democracy Dies.’ And Huffington Post wrote on August 5, 2019, ‘As Kashmir Is Erased, Indian Democracy Dies in Silence.’

The desire for self-determination is the one very big “element” India should be concerned about yet continues to pretend to the world that it does not exist. However long India refuses to acknowledge it, the decades-old movement in Kashmir will not simply die out. Even the 47-pages report issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recommends to the Government of India to, “Fully respect the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir as protected under international law,” he added.

Nevertheless, Dr Fai said, the people of Kashmir have sent a loud and clear message to the world community that the Kashmir dispute is not about governance or economic packages, or financial incentives as proclaimed by Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, when he abrogated Articles 370 and 35-An on August 5, 2019. They want the world to know that the youth of Kashmir are dying on the streets, not asking for jobs and roads, but asking for the people’s right – the right to self-determination.” As the slogan that has now become talk of the town declares, “We want Aazadi (Freedom) and nothing else but Aazadi.”

Dr Fai emphasized that the brutalities of the Indian government could not and should not go unnoticed. The studied unconcern by the United Nations has given a sense of total impunity to India, he said, adding it has also created the impression that the United Nations is invidiously selective about the application of the principles of human rights and democracy. He said it is the responsibility of the Kashmiri Diaspora to be the voice of voiceless people in the corridors of powers all over the world. Meanwhile the US, the sole superpower in the world which must bear the responsibility for setting the moral tone through disciplined and rightful leadership, sits back and does nothing.

Dr Fai said the people of Kashmir ask the people of the world to stand up and speak up for the freedom of Kashmir. “Our appeal to the Biden Administration is to seriously engage India, Pakistan and legitimate representatives of Kashmir in a result-oriented peaceful resolution of this most serious conflict of the world,” he added.

He demanded immediate and complete restoration of all basic human rights, including freedom of movement, assembly and speech, and access to all forms of communication, and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Masarrat Aalam, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Mohammad Yasin Malik, Aasiya Andrabi and internationally known human rights defender, Khurram Parvez who was put by Time Magazine among the 100 most influential people of 2022 and about whom, Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on Human rights Defenders said, ‘Khurram Parvez is not a terrorist. He is a human rights defender.’

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