50 MEPs call for ban on Indian use of pellet guns

[ahlam1399]

LONDON: An enormous cross-party group of Members of the European Parliament have called for a ban on the use of pellet guns on civilians in Indian occupied Kashmir.Wajid Khan, a Labour Member of the European Parliament representing the North West of England, has authored the letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Khan has been championing the Kashmir cause in parliament since his appointment two years ago. He secured the historic Kashmir hearing in the human rights committee in February.Speaking to The News, Khan said the letter demands the end of one of the many human rights abuses in Indian occupied Kashmir — the use of pellet guns against civilians — by Indian occupation forces. The letter particularly points out that using pellet guns is against international human rights law and that the immunity that the Indian military currently enjoy is untenable and cannot continue.Khan commented: “I am delighted that so many of my colleagues from different countries, different backgrounds and different political opinions have come together to condemn human rights abuses in Kashmir. The use of pellet guns on innocent women, men and children is completely barbaric and for too long it has been ignored by the international community. I sincerely hope that Mr Modi ensures that this terrible procedure ends soon.”On the prospect of a better future for Kashmir, Khan commented: “A new future is dawning for Kashmir. I sincerely hope that everyone can work together to build a free and prosperous Kashmir. At one point, peace in Northern Ireland seemed a distant dream. We can do this if we work together. I really hope Mr Modi takes our letter into account and acts to ban pellet gun usage, as a first step.”The letter reads: “We, the undersigned, in our capacity as elected Members of the European Parliament, are writing to you to express our grave concern about the past and ongoing human rights violations against people in Kashmir, as reported in a recent OHCHR1 report. We are particularly concerned about the usage of pellet shotguns, responsible for blinding, killing and traumatizing hundreds of people in Kashmir. We particularly note the tragic case of 19-month old child who was gravely injured by a pellet gun (BBC report).“We are concerned that The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act 1990 (AFSPA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978 (PSA) give security forces virtual immunity against prosecution for any human rights violation. Therefore, we, the undersigned MEPs, urge the Indian government to: immediately end the use of pellet-firing shotguns in Jammu and Kashmir and bring all relevant Indian laws into compliance with international human rights standards; urgently repeal the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 and amend the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 to ensure its compliance with international human rights law; provide full and effective reparation and rehabilitation to those who have been injured by pellet-firing shotguns, and to the families of those killed; establish independent and impartial investigations into all accidents where the use of pellet-firing shotguns led to deaths or serious injuries.”http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/com/cwEr/~4/t6PR9lxLlTY

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