Amnesty Asks India to Observe Restraint During Kashmir Elections

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Nov 13: Four days ahead of the first phase of elections in Kashmir, human rights watch dog, Amnesty International has asked India to observe restraint during the elections in restive Kashmir.

In a statement, Amnesty International has said that at least 40 persons were killed in Kashmir in June-August this year when the Indian forces and police used force against protestors defying curfew restrictions. The protests in Kashmir and Jammu region of Kashmir have made the tasks of policing and ensuring safety of civilians wishing to exercise their right to vote even more critical.

"Amnesty International is unaware of findings of any inquiry into the August 11 firing in North Kashmir in which senior Kashmiri separatist leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz and four civilians were killed during the peaceful procession," the statement said.

Amnesty further said that Indian forces used unwarranted amounts of force in North Kashmir and a few other places during the unrest.

"Two other issues highlighted by Amnesty International earlier this year - the discovery of unmarked graves brought to light by the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in March and the subsequent attack, by suspected Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, on human rights defender Pervez Imroz of the APDP in June - are yet to be fully investigated," the Amnesty statement said.

Amnesty also urges the authorities in India to address the culture of impunity prevalent in Kashmir including during the recent unrest through a prompt, independent and impartial investigation by a competent authority into any injury or death caused by the use of force or firearms; arbitrary or abusive use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials.

According to the statement, Amnesty International appeals to all organizations including political parties and armed groups in the state of Jammu & Kashmir not to commit or condone acts of violence against political opponents, or make statements or undertake actions that would constitute incitement to such violence.

Amnesty International also called on armed groups to respect minimum standards of humanity set out in international law, reflected in Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions which sets out standards to be observed in armed conflict with regard to persons taking no active part in hostilities, including the prohibition on "violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds".

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.

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