Kashmiris Worldwide Endorse Peaceful Protest on July 13: Dr. Fai

Washington, D.C.- July 12, 2008: In glorious recognition of all those who have laid down their lives so that Kashmiri’s may live with their heads held high, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director, Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center joins the worldwide Kashmiri community in solemn recognition of July 13th - ‘Martyrs Day’. This somber day commemorates the ultimate sacrifice made by 22 unarmed Kashmiris who were ruthlessly slaughtered by the illegitimate Dogra regime on July 13, 1931. Now, ‘Martyrs Day’ memorializes all those innocent victims, nearly 100,000, who have been forcibly silenced by the Indian atrocities that erupted two decades ago. Dr. Fai believes, quoting Abraham Lincoln, that those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. The Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center is committed to finding a just and lasting peace to the disputed territory of Kashmir through a tripartite negotiations between Governments of India & Pakistan and the accreditedleadership of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It fully endorses the call given by Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for a peaceful protest towards the Martyrs Graveyard on Sunday, July 13th, 2008 that will include Kashmiri men, women and children of all racial, cultural and religious persuasions.Dr. Fai said that the monumental peaceful protests throughout Kashmir, bringing together hundreds of thousands of people from all religious, racial and cultural backgrounds, was in response to the Indian Government’s attempt at confiscating 100 acres of Kashmiri territory and was overwhelmingly successful. The resounding victory, ‘is a magnificent symbol of Kashmiri commitment to their cause of self-determination by peaceful protests, in the face of brutal oppression, and the ever-increasing unity of the Kashmiri leadership.” Moreover, Dr. Fai reiterated that ‘these protests are the largest demonstrations in recent years.’ The Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center strongly condemns the unforgiving and brutal repression of the Kashmiri people and expresses its deepest condolences to the hundreds injured, tortured and killed.Furthermore, Dr. Fai emphasized that the Kashmiri people’s resolve and continued commitment to peaceful protest is principled on the ongoing massive violations of their human rights, the recent gruesome discovery of over 1,000 unidentified graves and the Indian Government’s atrocious dismissal of their aspirations for self-determination. In that regard, the unanimous resolution passed by the European Parliament requesting India to allow international impartial observers to investigate the continuous unearthing of unidentified graves, is congratulatory. The Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center welcomes this European Parliament resolution.Dr. Fai clearly and unequivocally calls for all Kashmiris to continue to increase their solidarity at this critical juncture. He urged the Indian government to recognize that any peace initiatives without the inclusion of the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Mohammad Yasin Malik and Shabbir Shah would not produce any results. Moreover, he emphasized, ‘India trembles at any attempt to resolve the Kashmir crisis, frightened by its outcome, and prudence dictates the international community recognize this and apply diplomatic persuasion to initiate a peace process, with the Kashmiri leadership.’ Also, Dr. Fai stated that Indian impotence, willful ignorance and desperation to avoid a meaningful peace process and initiate wimpy attempts to pacify Kashmiri passion will fail miserably.