Kashmir Council Europe (KC EU) organized a protest demonstration to mark the “Black Day” today, 15th August 2018 (Wednesday) in front of Indian Embassy in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium.
It is important to mention that Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and across the world observe the Indian Independence Day as “Black Day’’ on Aug 15 every year.
A large number of people from all walks of life including representatives of different organisations based in Belgium and other EU countries attended the demonstration. Participants of the demonstration raised slogan against Indian occupation of Kashmir and brutalities committed by the occupation forces in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK). It was a unique scene that at the same Indians were inside the embassy in order to celebrate their independence day while at the same time, Kashmiris and their sympathizers were protesting against Indian brutalities in front of the embassy.
During the protest, a memorandum addressing the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also presented to Indian embassy in Brussels.
The 16-point memorandum called upon the Prime Minister of India to fulfil the promise of his great predecessor Jahwaharial NEHRU to give a voice to the people of Jammu & Kashmir and to allow them to determine their own political future. The memorandum also called that return of Indian Security Forces from Jammu and Kashmir to their barrack, removal of ‘draconian laws, ban on use of pellet guns, implement the United Nations Security Council resolutions, investigation of allegations of murder, rape, and torture, end to its state terrorism, genocidal repression, ethnic cleansing, rape, gang-rape, torture, degrading treatment of Kashmiri men, women, and children, and fake encounters, immediate cease of all military and paramilitary actions, allow major foreign human rights NGOs to travel the occupied territory and allow Kashmiris to travel abroad and as well as take part in negotiations on Kashmir issue.
On the occasion, chairman Kashmir Council EU Mr Ali Raza Syed said, we gathered against human rights violations committed by New Delhi in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK). Expressing solidarity with the people of IHK, Mr. Ali Raza Syed determined that the peaceful struggle for liberation of Kashmir would be continued.
Showing serious concerns on the current situation in IHK, Chairman Kashmir Council EU said, people specially youth are being killed in extra judicial operations in IHK but they are even deprived of peaceful demonstrations against the brutalities. He added, even journalists in IHK are not safe and a fresh example of this kind of terror is assassination of famous media person Syed Shujaat Bukhari.
He further, though rights under Indian rule is not real destination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir but the BJP-led Indian government is now attempting to repeal Article 35-A of the Indian Constitution which guarantees special privileges and rights of the permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.
Ali Raza Syed declared that Kashmir Council EU would continue peace full struggle for rights of the people of Kashmir. He added, we shall continue to hold black day on Indian independence day till liberation of Kashmir from Indian occupation.
Other speakers of the gathering also condemned recent killings by Indian forces in Indian Held Kashmir. They called for repeal of draconian laws including the so-called Public Safety Act (PSA) in the held territory. They said that today Kashmiris are closer to the logic fruition of their aspirations to determine their fate as assured by the UN Resolutions.
The demonstrators called for immediate international attention on the existing situation in Indian Held Kashmir. They specially urged that UN should take its responsibility on the issue of Kashmir by taking serious action against Indian atrocities.
