Brussels, July 17 (KMS): In Brussels, the hearing of the motion regarding the discovery of unnamed mass graves in occupied Kashmir was held before the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights.
The hearing matter was lobbied by the Kashmir Centre EU through all the political groups in the European Parliament and the Greens group initiated the affair.
Opening the hearing the Chairwomen of the Subcommittee, Helen Flautre said that the urgency resolution makes it absolutely clear that an independent investigation must be undertaken and the evidence preserved. She maintained that following the adoption of the resolution the European Parliament on 10 July 2008, regarding the unnamed mass graves in occupied Kashmir, the Subcommittee conducted the hearing to exchange views on Kashmir, follow-up to EP resolution of 24 May 2007 and to reports from massacres on the region. Flautre stated that the Subcommittee will monitor the resolution with the European Commission and hoped that the human rights defenders in Srinagar will be safe and able to continue their good work.
Dr Angana P Chatterji, Co-Convener of the International People’s Tribunal gave breathtaking account of the gross human rights violations taking place in occupied Kashmir. He showed a video footage on the mass graves, which alarmed the members of the committee.
The Executive Director of Kashmir Centre EU, Barrister Abdul Majeed Tramboo said that this is yet another accomplishment and good day for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in terms that the European Parliament is taking the plight of Kashmiris and mass graves issue seriously.
Mrs Rensje Teerink, Deputy Head of Unit, Relex, Unit India, Bhutan, Nepal said that the Commission is seeking cooperation with India on this issue. She described the mass graves as a worrying issue and declared that India’s silence does not befit its democratic norms. She further said that the Commission delegation in New Delhi is further investigating the matter in close cooperation with French Presidency and the Member States’ embassies in Indian Capital. The Presidency has contacted the resident Commissioner of occupied Kashmir in New Delhi and expressed the EU’s concerns over the situation.
A number of MEPs intervened including Marjan Lucas, Elizabeth Lynne, Dr. Charles Tannock and Sarah Ludford. Pervez Imroz of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons was on the video link from Srinagar but unfortunately audio system did not work. Consequently, his written statement was distributed to the Subcommittee.
It is pertinent to mention here that over 1000 unnamed graves have been discovered since 2006 in Jammu & Kashmir in 18 villages in Uri district alone. There are more then 8000 persons missing since 1989 and it is feared that the grave sites contain the remains of victims of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other abuses perpetrated by the Indian occupying forces upon innocent Kashmiris.
Earlier, on July 10, 2008, the EU resolution strongly condemned the unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture, rape and other human rights abuses, which have occurred in the occupied territory since in 1989. It called on the Indian government to investigate enforced disappearances urging it to assign a civilian prosecutor's office with the jurisdiction for all cases in which Indian troops, police and agents are involved. The resolution asked New Delhi to create a single public database of all persons who have gone missing and of all bodies who have been recovered. It also appealed to the EU to facilitate and support all possible cooperation in relation to this investigation.