London, August 08, 2021 (PPI-OT):Organisation of Kashmir Coalition (OKC) together with its partners commemorated 5 August 2019 brutal assault by the Indian government on Kashmiris’ identity, land and employment in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to Kashmir Media Service, as the international community declared 5 August being “International Day of Lockdown Territories”, an event titled “IOJ and K Question Time”, was held which was attended by prominent jurists, scholars, journalists, politicians and human rights defenders across the globe.
The distinguished panellists included Dr Ishtiaq Ahmad (Islamabad), Claire Bidwell (Glasgow), Lee Rhiannon (Sydny), Frank Schwalba-Hoth (Brussels), Prof Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Shamin Shawl, Graham Williamson and Zubair Awan (London) and Prof Joseph Wronka (Washington) and the interveners who asked the leading questions Latif Bhatt, Marit Fosse, Cecilia Maho, Waqar Malik, Sajid Yousaf and Karen Rodman. Barrister A Majid Tramboo moderated the “IOJ and K QUESTION TIME”.
Prof Shawl in his opening remarks stated “The latest constitutional aggression by India is arbitrary, unconstitutional and in contravention to obligation under the UN resolutions. Hindutva warlords have toxified the environment for their political expediency and paving the way for demographic re-engineering. Any dispensation concerning the state of Jammu and Kashmir is subject to ratification by the people of the state through an impartial plebiscite. Any roadmap which deviates from the UNSC resolutions on IOJ and K is bound to be arbitrary in conception and failure in effect”.
On a series of questions from the interveners to the panellists, commonality is found in their answers in the following terms: On the issue of taking the Indian governments’ unlawful 5 August 2019 intervention and the genocide itself to an international justice fora i.e. International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court; there was absolute unanimity that this must be explored and the stakeholders must take it as a priority.
On the question of international diplomatic, it was emphasised that the Kashmiri diaspora, particularly those who have access to the power corridors, need to pursue proactive result oriented diplomacy at all levels. On the matter of Kashmiris right to self-determination, it was robustly affirmed that nothing will ever compromise that right of the people of entire state of Jammu and Kashmir.
With regard to the Indian unilateralism, the crucial world capitals need to be approached and briefed by the diaspora and seek their intervention. There was consensus that the Kashmiri diaspora need to unite, and that the situation demands to form an international platform, perhaps in the shape of Mission Kashmir for high diplomacy, media exposure and advancing promotion and protection of human rights. In concluding the interactive dialogue.
Barrister Tramboo believed that convergence of opinions will help to build and international atmosphere and heed to a unified narrative that may usher in a just and dignified solution to brutal situation in the occupied territory.
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