Washington, August 09 : Kashmir American Council-KAC, Ex Director Dr Ghualm Nabi Fai rich tributes were paid to the Shaheed-e-Azeemat, Sheikh Abdul Aziz who has scarified his life for the cause of nation. Sheikh Aziz was ascribed to be amongst the frontline Pro-freedom leaders and was one of the Executive Member of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) - which represents the aspiration of Kashmiris politically, diplomatically and socially.
On August 11, 2008, about 300,000 people from across Kashmir, along with trucks loaded with fruit, began marching toward several points on the 778-kilometer Line of Control to cross over into the Pakistani side of Kashmir, in their bid to reach Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir. Indian security forces opened fire at the marchers at several places to break up their protests, killing 10, including senior Pro-pakistani Kashmiri leader (commonly known as Baba-e-Jehad-i-Kashmir) Sheikh Abdul Aziz who was also a prominent member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and was also a member of the co-ordination committee of ethnic and religious nationalities struggling for right to self-determination under the chairmanship of Justice Ajit Singh Bains formed in Delhi on March 23, 2008. “Sheikh Aziz was a friend of Sikhs and supporter of Sikh cause for independence,” Over 1,000 people were arrested, and hundreds of wounded were hospitalized at different hospitals across the Kashmir valley. As the protests continued, over 3000 truckloads of fruit were destroyed, allegedly by Indian security forces.
Protests calling for freedom from India continued through August and September in different parts of Kashmir, with dozens killed and hundreds injured. However, a government-brokered agreement with the Hindu protesters of the Jammu region was reached, under which the land allotment to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which had been cancelled due to protests by Kashmiri Muslims, was revived in a different form.
The Jammu and Kashmir government, with the understanding of some Muslim and Hindu leaders, leased the land to the SASB for the limited pilgrimage season, giving them no proprietary or title rights. The Hindu leaders called off their stir after signing the lease agreement. The agreement said: "The Shrine Board may use the land for erecting temporary prefabricated accommodation and toilet facilities and for shopkeepers to set up shops." This second reversal by the government in its decision to allocate the land to the Hindu shrine has been rejected by the Kashmiri leaders, fuelling a continuation of anti-India protests. The demonstrations are the biggest since 11th august, 2008 when violent anti-India protests killed about 72 Kashmiri muslims.
Kashmiri Americans held a peace rally in front of the Indian Embassy to record their protest against human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and to remind Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, that his promise of zero tolerance has not seen the light of the day.
The demonstration was highly impressive and reverberating with the slogans of “Indian army go back.” Protesters were carrying placards demanding ‘Self-determination’, ‘India honour UN pledges’, ‘Stop killing of peaceful protesters’, ‘Stop state terrorism in Kashmir’, ‘President Obama appoint special envoy on Kashmir’ and ‘Kashmiris demand right to life’.
The participants also raised slogans having one singular theme that India quit Kashmir and allow the people of Kashmir to choose their political destiny. All the Diaspora political parties showed unflinching faith in their goal for freedom.
The Executive Director of Kashmir Centre Washington, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai addressing the protesters said, “We demand that Indian Government stop the killings and agree to an impartial investigation into the recent killings, and into the human rights violations going on in Kashmir for the longest time.” He said that to resolve the outstanding Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, the international community in general, the United States in particular, and the full leadership of the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be involved for lasting peace in South Asia.
Ms Sanaa Naqash said, “My heart aches and I feel grieved for the innocent kids brutally being beaten, shot and killed. I can't bear to see such acts done to my people anymore. This needs to end and we need to stand together as one, during this difficult time. Let us pray for our kids, the mothers that lost their sons, the fathers that lost their shields, the sons that lost their fathers, and all the people that have sacrificed their lives for us.”
Attorney Mumtaz Wani implored that the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people will not be allowed to go waste and the world would have to honour their determination for salvation and freedom. He said that the killings of teenagers must shake the conscience of all peace loving people.
Ehtisham Kayani pledged to support the cause of Kashmir till the people achieved their right to self-determination. He said that self-determination is non-negotiable.
Mujtaba Wani made a passionate appeal to the world community to come forward to rescue the innocent people of Kashmir.
Umaid Qureishi made fervent plea to President Obama to use his personal influence to persuade India and Pakistan to settle the dispute over Kashmir and impress upon India to bring an end to the atrocities by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir.
Zubair Khan said that the people of Azad Kashmir were united in their support to the oppressed people of Kashmir. Ms Aneela Khan appealed the audience to continue the struggle at the international level to make the world community aware that Kashmiris would not accept anything short of right to self-determination.
Noorul Amin said that the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir would not go in vain. He asked the world community to come to rescue the people of Kashmir in their hour of need. Zulfikar Khan congratulated the Kashmiri Americans for making the demonstration a grand success. This demonstration he said is a moral booster for those who have said no to Indian occupation. (Writer-South Asia)
