By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Kashmiris all over the world observed Kashmir Martyr Day on Monday to pay homage to the Kashmiri martyrs who sacrificed their lives for Kashmir’s struggle for self-determination.

In occupied Kashmir, the present authorities have imposed curfews in places such as Srinagar and have barricaded all roads leading to Lal Chowk; home to the Lal Chowk March. The Chairman of the All Parties Huriyet Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, despite being kept under house arrest by the India, urged all people to massively partake in the Lal Chowk March to remember Kashmir’s martyrs. Indian police have arrested scores of people in occupied Kashmir, and raided the homes of several APHC leaders.

Different functions are being held in other parts of Kashmir that include speakers who have been paying tribute to those who lost their lives on June 13, 1931 when the Dogra troops shot dead 22 protesting Kashmiris in front of Srinagar Central Jail.

In Islamabad a rally was held where participants presented a memorandum at the UN office in which they asked the UN Secretary General to put an end to human rights violations and restrictions on movement and press. They further urged the Secretary General to play an active role in the Security Council to bring about a final resolution on the Kashmir dispute issue.

Here in the US, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, executive director of the Kashmiri American Council, spoke to representatives of Amnesty International and urged them to put an end to the atrocious violations being committed in Kashmir. In particular, Dr. Fai spoke about the recent abduction, rape, and murder of two young girls in Shopian by the military. Kashmiri territory has been in dispute ever since the Partition between India and Pakistan in 1947. Since then, there has been civil and international unrest surrounding the issue. Kashmir has been home to human rights violations, and breeding ground for acts of violence.

Dr. Fai ended her speech by quoting President Obama from his L’Aquila, Italy speech saying, “We don’t want stronger nations bullying weaker nations. On the other hand, where you have nations that are oppressing their people, isn’t there an international responsibility to intervene?”

 For more information, please see:

South Asian News Agency – Kashmir’s Martyr Day Observed World Over – July 13, 2009

Kashmir Watch – The Kashmir Tragedy: Kashmir Martyrs’ Day –  July 13, 2009

Greater Kashmir – Martys’ Day Observed in Pakistan – July 13, 2009