PANJIM: The National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO), Goa Unit, has demanded that the Article 370 be restored and that the “will” of the people of Kashmir Valley be paramount in making any decisions on the fate of their State.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, NCHRO Goa Chairman Fr Savio Fernandes said that the Goa unit has been monitoring the situation and has read with anxiety reports that trickle in.
“We realise that even though distance separates us from Kashmir, we need to be part of a national discourse that seeks a peace with justice in Kashmir. Ultimately it is the Indian state, elected by Indian people, which is taking these decisions on the fate of Kashmiris under the garb of our validation for the same,” he said.
“As concerned citizens, we find it necessary to reject such decisions (abolition of Article 370) and atrocities committed by our elected representatives. There is no immediate approach to peace that is possible. Peace can best emerge from incremental steps based on confidence building measures,” Fernandes said as they suggest various measures to ease the situation in the Indian State.
NACHRO Goa has urged Government of India to restore Article 370 and 35A and the statehood Jammu and Kashmir, immediately.
Fernandes has said that India must view Kashmir as a political question that requires a comprehensive dialogue and that needs a tripartite agreement that would include Kashmiri leaders and separatists.
“Most importantly political rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be protected and the will of the people must be paramount in making any decisions on the fate of their State,” Fernandes said.
Fernandes said that India must repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and the Public Safety Act in its current form, replacing it with a version that recognizes and protects the human rights of Kashmiris.
“India must pre-empt terror through comprehensive talks as applying out-of-the-box solutions thus delegitimizing militant groups and non-state actors based in Pakistan,” he said.
NACHRO has demanded release all political leaders, social activists, youth, and children, who are house-arrest or in detention and also withdraw all cases that have no legal substance and are merely vindictive.
The human right group has further demanded to resume facilities like landlines, mobile, internet, broadband services with immediate effect.
“India must allow for exchanges between people on issues of trade, medicine, cultural, educational, and sports must be actively pursued so as to create the grounds for forging a sense of being from countries with a common heritage and, hence, a common destiny,” he said.
“India must restore tourism and all other livelihood activities and ensure that the gains of such activities bring gains to the Kashmiri people,” Fernandes said.
