On the eve of World Human Rights Day, the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), Saturday held a silent protest against what it termed state and central governments’ “disingenuous approach” in tracing out their family members, subjected to enforced disappearance since 1989 across Jammu and Kashmir.The family members of disappeared persons castigated the successive governments for being indifferent towards their pain and agony. “Neither National Conference nor PdP did anything for them to trace their missing loved ones,” said an elderly woman to CNS whose son according to her was picked up by Indian Border Security Forces during a crackdown 16 years ago and since then she doesn’t know where he is.Wearing white head bands with names of disappeared people written in black letters, the relatives participated in APDP’s sit-in program to draw attention of the government and the media to seek information about their loved ones, who have vanished, presumed dead or imprisoned without trial or record.The protesters mostly the mothers of the missing people alleged that their dear ones have been subjected to enforced disappearances by the Indian forces and their related agencies from their homes, streets and roads.
The protesting women vowed to continue their struggle for truth, justice and accountability till both the state and central governments accept their demand of impartial probe into the enforced disappearances and custodial killings.APDP Chairperson Parveena Ahangar said that the main aim of their protest is to make the world community aware of the plight of people of Kashmir. “We want to draw the attention of international rights groups for intervening and mounting pressure on India to provide whereabouts of our missing family members,” she said.She said that despite being a signatory to the international conventions against human rights violations, India seems less bothered to deliver justice to those families whose loved ones were arrested and then subjected to enforced disappearances by security agencies here. She said the state must consider the recommendations of Universal Periodic Review-2 (UPR-2) and ratify the International Convention for Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance, besides repealing Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Meanwhile, the activists from Hurriyat G and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front held demonstration in Kashmir capital Srinagar.The protestors who were detained by police demanded protection of human rights and punishment to those involved in human right violations. Protests were held by various pro-freedom groups and social organizations. Kashmir Tehreek-e-Khawateen led by its Chairperson Zamrooda Habib held protest demonstrations at Press Enclave here on Saturday morning.Protestors said that the protest is to impress upon International community about the worst human rights situation in Kashmir.“Mass killings, forced disappearances, rapes, fake encounter killings, torture, using of deadly pellet gun and pepper gas and other black laws are day to day Human Right issues in Kashmir,” Zamrooda Habib told media persons here.The display of dictatorial tactics under the garb of democracy and usurping of the rights of people by dint of military force by the state authorities should serve as an eye opener for the international community and human rights organizations,” she added. (CNS)