APDP press release: APDP welcomes EP resolution on Kashmir

Srinagar, July 28: Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) on behalf of the relatives of disappeared of Jammu and Kashmir welcomes the European Parliament’s resolution on the issues of nameless graves, enforced disappearances and against the attack on Adv. Parvez Imroz by the state agencies. The European parliament’s resolution is a commitment of the international community in support of the human rights advocacy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Enforced Disappearances is a human issue and needs a humanitarian response. APDP is against politicizing the issue, which is evident from the demands and modus operandi of the Association since its inception in 1994. APDP has been consistently demanding impartial investigation into all the allegations of disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir. Since 1998, APDP has demanded the appointment of the Commission under the Commission on Inquiries Act but the government hasn’t bothered to respond till date. On the one hand government of India is introducing new laws like Right to Information Act and on the other hand the family members of the disappeared have been denied any information regarding the whereabouts of their disappeared family members who have been subjected to the cruel phenomenon of enforced disappearance.  

In Punjab, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had confirmed that police disappeared and then illegally cremated 2097 victims of fake encounters in Amritsar district alone. Though the 16 districts of Punjab were not investigated. When investigations against the enforced disappearances can take place in Punjab why not in Jammu and Kashmir.  

Enforced Disappearances is a global issue, but in democratic countries the governments respond by carrying out thorough investigations. In Jammu and Kashmir government has done nothing to probe the enforced disappearances, ofcourse except for the statements of deniability and branding the demands of relatives of disappeared as propaganda. The failure of government and all its institutions whether executive or judiciary in delivering the justice has paved way for the international humanitarian intervention. European Parliament’s resolution or any international concern is the result of Indian indifference and not just the advocacy of human rights groups. Government of India by its indifferent and colloquial response is internationalizing the issue of enforced disappearance.  

Instead of holding probes and commission to enquire the cases of enforced disappearances, which will enhance government’s credibility, they are resorting to threats and intimidations to neutralize the voices of dissent. The threats and intimidation neither have worked in past nor will in future. The struggle against the phenomenon of enforced disappearances shall continue.