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Birmingham, March 17 (KMS): The Amnesty International has expressed concern over the demolition of houses in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and other human right violations by Indian troops.
The AI officials, including Ms Astrid Laich, Ian N Simth, Bridget Caddel, along with Fahim Kiyani, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir, UK, addressing a news conference in Birmingham demanded that the demolitions going on in Srinagar, Budgam, Islamabad and Baramulla must halt.
They said the ongoing demolitions appear to be an extension of the brutal human rights violations the Jammu and Kashmir, the Muslim majority territory, has historically witnessed. These demolitions could amount to forced evictions which constitute a gross violation of human rights, they added.
The AI officials said the Indian authorities must immediately halt the demolition drive and ensure that safeguards against forced evictions as outlined in international human rights standards are put in place before any evictions are carried out.
They said under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which India is a state party, everyone has the right to adequate housing which includes a prohibition on forced evictions.
Addressing on the occasion, John Dolan of Bournville Amnesty UK, referred the use of JCB to illegally bulldoze homes and other infrastructure in IIOJK, wondered how the JCB owner, a member of British House of Lords, “was silent” on his machinery which was being used to bulldoze houses in IIOJK.”
“JCB is owned by Lord Bamford… he is there to represent interests of people… he is a public figure… The point is he is providing the machinery,” Dolan said.
“This is horrible to have your home demolished against your will, without warning,” Dolan said, urging 10 million members of Amnesty around the world to speak up against India’s high handedness in IIOJK.
The special media briefing on illegal and inhuman demotion of houses and other infrastructure by India in IIOJK was hosted by Fahim Kayani, President of Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK.
Other rights defenders and Amnesty representatives, including Martin Bate, Malcolm Bruce. Ian McGarr and Bri dget McGarr attended the media briefing.
Fahim Kayani, Tehreek-e-Kashmir UK leader, thanked Amnesty for its efforts and releasing the report on illegal demolition of houses in IIOJK.
According to media reports, several residents say that they did not receive any prior notices from the administration. Many of them also say that they had documents proving ownership of their properties, but the authorities did not give them an opportunity to present their claims before running bulldozers over their homes.
During last month, massive bulldozer action across the occupied territory triggered protests at several places, as the administration declared land cultivated and inhabited by people for generations as illegal encroachment. Even some arrests have been made by the authorities in Jammu in connection with protests against the authorities’ drive.
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