New York:With deep reverence for the courageous and fearless souls who laid down their lives so the people of Kashmir could live with dignity and honor, Washington-based ‘World Kashmir Awareness Forum’ arranged a digital truck campaign throughout New York City to observe the 94th Kashmir ‘Martyrs’ Day.
The digital trucks displaced the messages: “Blood of martyrs will not go in vain: Freedom from India Kashmiris will attain;” “Voices from martyr’s graveyard are clear and loud: Indian occupation of Kashmir will not be allowed;” “In occupied Kashmir women being raped and children blinded: International community needs to be reminded;” “Voices of freedom in occupied Kashmir being throttled: Freedom of press completely stifled;” “Occupation of Kashmir travesty of justice: United Nations should take the notice;” “United Nations pay the heed: India has turned Kashmir into a killing field;” “Martyrs of Kashmir paid ultimate price: Kashmir beseeches world to rise.”
Dr. Ghulam N. Mir, President, World Kashmir Awareness Forum said that Kashmiris have continuously given immense sacrifices under the post- independence India. Massacre after massacre have continued to take place under Indian occupation, ethnic cleansing and colonization. The Indian state under Modi’s Hindutva has abolished even the celebration of Martyrdom from the Kashmiri calendar since annexation of Kashmir on August 5, 2019, but the people of Kashmir have vowed to resist, no matter at what cost.
Dr. Mir added that freedom is not offered on a platter. The Martyrs Graveyard in Srinagar will always remind us of the sanctity of those who sacrificed their lives for truth, justice and for freedom.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman, ‘World Forum for Peace & Justice’, reflecting on the tragic day, stated, “It was on July 13, 1931, that foreign occupying Dogra forces cold-bloodedly shot dead 22 Kashmiris in front of Srinagar Central Jail. July 13th remains etched in the collective memory of the Kashmiri people as the day when their call for freedom and justice was met with bullets. Today, ‘Martyrs’ Day’ honors not only those 22 lives lost in 1931, but also the countless innocent victims who have been forcibly silenced by Indian military and paramilitary forces since 1989. ”
Dr. Fai stressed that the desire for self-determination is an important factor India should take seriously — yet it continues to present a façade to the world community, pretending it does not exist. Regardless of how long India chooses to ignore the truth, the decades-old movement in Kashmir will not simply fade away.”
Kashmiris are asking, Dr. Fai pointed out: “Is the lesson of Kashmir to be that a nuclear-armed state, like India with an appealing economic market can defy international law, human rights, and moral accountability with impunity? What message does that send about the global commitment to non-proliferation? What does it mean for the cause of humanity? And what does it say about our collective will to uphold international norms, universal values, and—above all—the authority of United Nations Security Council resolutions?”
Dr. Imtiaz Khan, Kashmiri American scholar said that the government of India is living in fool’s paradise by believing that Kashmir can be usurped by brute force. Notwithstanding the fact their forces have unleashed reign of terror, massacred more then 100,000 civilians, gangraped women, blinded youth by pellet guns and buried the bodies in mass graves the voices of freedom have not died down.
Dr. Khan added that the generations of Kashmiris have promised themselves that they will leave no stone unturned unless Kashmir is freed from Indian occupation. The important question is what price will be paid by the world for Indian hubris and disrespect of international laws.
Dr. Khan warned that the region being sandwiched between three nuclear states is a powder keg that can explode without prior warning. This was recognized by former USA president Bill Clinton and has also been acknowledged by President Donald Trump. Minor skirmishes between India and Pakistan can lead to nuclear conflagration that will engulf half of the world population. It will be a major disservice to the human race if the international community leaves this protracted problem unattended and allows the continuation of blatant Indian atrocities on the freedom loving people of Kashmir.
Raja Mukhtar, Spokesperson, JKLF North America and organizer of the event stated that “Kashmiris are demanding to exercise their right to self-determination as mandated by the UN and international community. They ask the world powers to stand up and speak up for the freedom of Kashmir.
Raja Mukhtar appealed to the Trump Administration to seriously engage India, Pakistan and legitimate representatives of Kashmir, like incarcerated the most popular leader of Jammu & Kashmir, Mohammad Yasin Malik in a result-oriented peaceful resolution of this most serious conflict of the world.”
Raja Mukhtar explained that while India, initially, explicitly accepted the Security Council resolutions mandating a free and impartial plebiscite in Kashmir under the auspices of the United Nations, it soon reneged on its own obligation realizing that the people of Kashmir would vote against India in an unfettered plebiscite.
Sardar Taj Khan, Senior Vice Chairman, Kashmir Mission, USA co-organizer of the evert said that the only solution to all major problems in the region lies in the peaceful resolution of Kashmir. And that bilateral talks between India and Pakistan have never taken off and direct involvement of President Donald Trump is needed if we are serious to achieve tangible results.
Sardar Taj added that we all should ‘hang together’ rather than being hanged separately. Right of Self- Determination is ‘The Only Solution’ for our survival. Freedom of Kashmir is imperative & inevitable.
Sardar Sawar Khan, former Advisor to the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir said that it was the duty of the global Kashmiri diaspora to support the people of Kashmir who are struggling for the right to self-determination. Our objective is to draw the attention of the world powers to the situation in Kashmir and to exert pressure on the government of India and to resolve disputes over Kashmir and help stop human rights violations there.
Sardar Zarif Khan, Advisor to the President of Azad Kashmir said that the people of Kashmir have suffered long and needlessly because of this brutal conflict. The people of Kashmir deserve peace. Peace in the region of South Asia would remain elusive until the Kashmir dispute is resolved.
Sardar Zarif emphasized that the brutalities of the Indian government cannot and should not go unnoticed. It is the responsibility of the Kashmiri diaspora to be the voice of voiceless people in the corridors of powers all over the world.
Sardar Shoaib Irshad, General Secretary, Kashmir American Welfare Association (KAWA) said that despite claiming to be the largest democracy, India’s policy towards Kashmir has been uniformly colonial, brutal, deceitful and undemocratic. The people of Kashmir will never rest until they achieve their ultimate objective which is the right of self-determination.
Sardar Zubair Khan, Director, ‘Voices of Justice in Kashmir’ made an urgent plea to the world powers, including US government and Congressional leaders to heed the unbearable plight of hundreds of senior Kashmiri political leaders who are suffering from serious health issues.
Sardar Zubair Khan added that senior political leaders, like Mohammad Yasin Malik, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Masarat Aalam, Aasia Andrabi and internationally known human rights activist, Khurram Parvez must be released unconditionally to create an atmosphere for dialogue and negotiations.
Raja Liaqat Kiyani, President, Kashmir House Washington said that the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir will undoubtedly lead the Kashmiri freedom struggle to its logical conclusion, that is freedom from the occupation and alien subjugation.
