OIC Contact Group on Kashmir demands India rescind its unilateral actions

NEW YORK (92 News) – The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir has expressed grave concern over Indian actions aim at changing the identity and demographic composition of the Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and to transform it from Muslim-majority state into Hindu-majority territory. In a declaration after a meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir on the sidelines of the 74th session of UN General Assembly on Wednesday, it reaffirmed the OIC position and resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. The OIC Contact Group expressed deep concern over the worsening human rights and humanitarian situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) as a result of India’s actions of August 5, 2019. It noted the statement by Pakistan of August 5 rejecting these illegal and unilateral actions. The group welcomed the statement issued by the UN Secretary General of August 8, affirming that the position of the United Nations on the issue of Jammu & Kashmir region is governed by the UN Charter, applicable UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. It welcomed the UN Security Council meeting held on August 16 in response to Pakistan’s request to consider the situation arising from India’s actions. The Contact Group affirmed that Indian actions are inconsistent with international law, applicable UN Security Council resolutions and India’s own solemn commitments to implement UNSC resolutions. It welcomed the two reports issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in June 2018 and July 2019 comprehensively documenting the gross and systematic violations of human rights in Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir. The group deplored the extended and months-long lockdown of the Kashmiri people, round-the-clock curfew and complete communications blackout in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and suppression of Kashmiris protestors who demand freedom from Indian occupation. It expressed serious concerns over the arbitrary detention and arrest of thousands of people including Kashmiri leadership, professionals and peaceful demonstrators and their transportation to prisons and detention centres outside Jammu and Kashmir. The OIC Group deplored the indiscriminate use of force, live ammunition and use of pellet guns against unarmed protestors. The forum noted with deep concern that the suffering of the Kashmiri people has been exacerbated by lack of access to hospitals, medicines including lifesaving drugs and food supplies. It expressed deep concern at reports of abduction of young boys and their subjection to torture, inhuman and degrading treatment. It regretted that India has not allowed the OIC, IPHRC and United Nations Fact Finding Missions to visit Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The OIC Contact Group also denounced attempts to equate the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for liberation from foreign occupation and their right of self-determination, with terrorism. The Ministerial Meeting demanded that India: 1) Rescind its unilateral illegal actions and reiterate its commitment to abide by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. 2) Provide solemn assurances that it will not change the occupied territory’s demographic composition and not allow non-Kashmiris to acquire property or residency in Jammu and Kashmir 3) Halt its human rights violations in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, including the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, especially the use of pellet guns, lift the curfew, allow peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, release all political prisoners, activists and abducted youth; 4) Repeal its draconian emergency laws, and withdraw its heavy military presence from Kashmiri cities, towns and villages; and 5) Provide unhindered access to occupied Jammu and Kashmir to human rights organizations and international media to ascertain and report on the situation in the occupied territory. The Ministerial Meeting directed their respective Permanent Representatives in New York and Geneva to periodically brief the UN Secretary General, Presidents of the UN General Assembly and UN Security Council, President of the Human Rights Council and High Commissioner for Human Rights on the evolving developments in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. It also requested the OIC Secretary General to send a copy of this Communiqué to the UN Secretary General and present a report on the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir to the Annual Coordination Meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers being held on the sidelines of the 74th session of UNGA in New York on September 27.