http://www.app.com.pk/news/n14.htm

EU Committee blasts India on HR violations in IHK

STRASBURG (Brussels), Aug 23, (APP): Human Rights abuses by the Indian
troops in Occupied Kashmir continue to feed cycle of violence and the
average of custodial killings of innocent Kashmiris, struggling for
their just right of attaining self-determination, stands at 17
a day.

This was disclosed at a Press briefing here by members of an adhoc
delegation of the European Union Parliament Committee on Foreign
Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy which was
sent to both parts of Kashmir with a view to formulating inputs to the
future EU policy on the region and the Jammu and Kashmir.

The delegation, which was headed by John Cushnahan, presented its
report at a Press briefing in the presence of representatives of the
brussels - based Kashmir Centre for Human Rights US Embassy and Charge
d' Affaires of Pakistan Embassy. No one from the Indian side attended.

Gahrton, a member of the delegation, told newsmen that he was at bay
to understand visible antagonism on the part of Indian officials
towards holding of plebiscite in Kashmir and said that such a negative
approach was not understandable as the plebiscite was the part of the
firm commitment given by the UN as well as late Indian Prime Minister
Jawahar Lal Nehru.

David Bowe, another member of the delegation who toured IHK, was
amazed at the concentration of Indian troops in the valley, which, he
said, he had not seen anywhere else in the world. He also said that
'Kashmir has been turned into the most beautiful prison in the world'.

The delegation, in its report to the EU Parliament Committee,
recommended that a ) three parties are involved in Kashmir and all
must be fully associated to
find out its resolution; b) Human Rights abuses by the Indian Security
Forces must be stopped which continue feed the cycle of violence in
IHK; c) Ceasefire
violations by Indian must stop as there have been at least 1,000
deaths since early 2004; d) Kashmiris' struggle is indigenous and must
be respected; e)
Draconian POTA law must be scrapped; and f) UN be permitted entry into
IHK through United Nations Observers Group in Indian and Pakistan.

The delegation members were of the firm conviction that process of
dialogue must continue, as it can be meaningful in the long run. They
also proposed that a conference involving experts from both sides of
Kashmir, India, Pakistan and European Union be held to examine options
for resolution of the issue.

They also expressed their dismay that the international community had
not shown any enduring commitment to the problem of Kashmir whose
early
resolution was vital for peace in the South Asian Region.