Srinagar: Urging United Nations to set up a monitoring group in Jammu and Kashmir to record and bear witnesses to the International crimes being committed by India, Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) Monday reiterated its demand that the International community must focus and condemn the phenomenon of enforced disappearances by the Indian State in Jammu and Kashmir. It demanded that ‘United Nations Working Group on Disappearance’ must be allowed to visit Jammu and Kashmir immediately.
APDP held a silent protest in Srinagar in which scores of parents and relatives of disappeared persons participated. The protestors during a sit-in were carrying different placards and banners expressing concern over the enforced disappearances in Kashmir Valley and demanded that Government should let them know about the whereabouts of their loved ones.
The Association said that India has miserably failed to initiate any serious action and investigation in Jammu and Kashmir into the crimes perpetrated by armed forces since the inception of armed conflict in 1989. “From last more than two decades not a single perpetrator has been brought to justice. The state has been unable to respond or critique our recent report that identified 500 alleged perpetrators. The victims continue to be denied their fundamental rights to truth, justice and reparations. No action has been taken on the State Human Rights commission (SHRC) recommendations for DNA and forensic examinations on unmarked and mass graves,†the Association said and added that from past 23 years more than 8,000 persons has disappeared at the hands of Indian armed forces.
APDP said that Indian state refuses to be held accountable for the crimes of enforced or involuntary disappearances and numerous other violations that it has been responsible for.
“While claiming a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council, India refuses to hold itself to any standards of International Law,†APDP said.
