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Briefing the Media

Dear friends, 


I welcome you and thank you all for giving us a positive response to our request of receiving your attention to our humble deliberations. In fact, the sole purpose behind this press briefing is to inform Pakistani nation about our efforts towards attaining international attention and support for the cause of right to self determination for Kashmiris of IJK. We have no big claims. But we can proudly say that our banner, International Council for Human Development (ICHD) and Kashmir Council-EU is today the face of the Kashmiris just struggle in Europe.   


Needless to say, the European Union is so full of lobbyists from all across the world that it is very difficult to attain the attention from parliamentarians, policy and opinion makers, think tanks, civil society institutions, and above all, the general masses and media. This daunting task is possible only through transparency, honesty, spotless integrity and undeniable justness of the cause. I am extremely contented to say that above-mentioned virtues constitute the values of our organization. We are a self-financed group of human rights activists and peace lovers. We are struggling only with the confidence in the justness of our cause.  
I can count many of our events during last three years that became the milestones of our struggle but here, considering the limited time that we have, I will mentioned only few of our recent activities that symbolize the nature and pattern of our past and future journey. In fact, we are lobbying at the highest levels of the European Union, we are pleading at the highest levels of the international human rights organizations and we are building awareness at the highest level of European academia. And through local media, we are making inroads into the general masses as well. This multi-layered approach is reflected through are activities.   
For example, we started an unprecedented and unique campaign; One-Million Signature Campaign in 2011. As evident from the title, this campaign has set the target of receiving one million signatures of the European citizens for bringing the Kashmir at the agenda of EU. I feel immense pride to tell that we have already received around half of the targeted signatures. This happened only through the relentless efforts from our volunteers and friends especially of Kashmiri and Pakistani origins. We took our camps of numerous big cities of Europe. We contacted human rights organizations, social forums, trade associations, lawyer’s bodies, students, teachers, commuters and general masses. And in all this, we received immense support from the local European human rights activists and local European media. Today, this campaign resounds in every heart and mind of Kashmiri and Pakistani Diaspora.  


Our recent Kashmir-EU week in the European Parliament was fourth event of its kind. This event is an example of our consistent advocacy and lobbying in the highest levels of the decision making forums of the EU. The Kashmir-EU week included high-level debates and dialogues including an exhibition, in EU parliament, of arts, crafts and intellectual resources from and about Kashmir. For painting exhibition, Ms. Jamila Saghri sent her works from Pakistan. Intellectuals, writers and researchers like Laura Schuurman came from Beijing University to attend the seminar. The acclaimed activists including Farooq Siddiqui came from Canada, well known passionate researcher and activist, Marjan Lucas came from Holland and policy analyst Sadia Mir came from UK. And amongst parliamentarians, there were Jean Lambert, MEP, Ivo Vajgl, MEP, 
Tunne Kelam, MEP Timothy Kirkophe MEP and members of the committee of foreign affairs, Human Rights sub committee and Sajjad Haider Karim MEP, the host of the event. In fact, I must say that, it was astonishing even for us to see how passionately and clearheadedly those influential personalities spoke in favor of Kashmiris. I am in no mood to claim that these events shall give freedom to Kashmir but I will certainly claims that these are very important steps towards the achievement of our goal. We have a long journey ahead but every journey is consists of small steps and these steps constitute the real story of any struggle.  
The third layer of our awareness building efforts is at the level of European academia that had been ignored by all of us for many decades. In fact, the real fight for the international influence is fought in the academia. Last month, we organized first ever symposium in the great university of Leuven, on the topic of Kashmir languishing under the brutal forces of India. I will not narrate here the story of how powerful Indian lobby did its best to get this event canceled or failed. But I will tell with my head high that we succeeded in doing one of the best organized symposium attended by a large number of students and media from different countries. The symposium was organized by the ICHD, Pakistani Students Forum and Politika International. Again, our friends Marjan Lucas, Sadia Mir, Gie Goris, the scholar on South Asia affairs and editor of the MO magazine and myself addressed the students. In the future, we shall definitely organize such events in other major universities of the Europe.  
Even under duress, the IJK media gives huge coverage to our activities, which reflect how the look towards us to carry their aspirations, demands and dreams to the international agenda. The AJK media is always our strength as we are wielded in one single passion for truth and justice. But my real thanks go to the Pakistani electronic and print media. I must say that in the short time span of just three years, the Pakistani media has fought our war more than us. In fact, ICHD cannot exaggerate its gratitude to the Pakistani media. On behalf of our volunteers, supporters and fellow workers, I thank you all for magnifying our voice at unprecedented levels.  


In the end, I have a little request to the present government. Being peace activists, we plead for the peace in South Asia and we make it the corner stone for our argument for the Kashmiri’s right to self determination. We are very happy that India and Pakistan are again coming closer and trying to sort out their conflicts on the table. We request you that in this fervor of friendship, please don’t forget the cornerstone of your struggle of last seven decades. Please don’t forget thousands of martyrs, thousands of rapes, murders and disappearances. And please don’t forget that Pakistan is the great support of hope for us, Kashmiris. I hope that the present government shall realize what I am saying on behalf of millions of my fellow Kashmiris at the both sides of the borders. I must say that we should not lose hope and trust in the justness of our cause and we should not abandon our historic struggle for this. Today, if Scottish people can achieve their goals, then Kashmiris also have the same rights as equal human beings.         

Kashmir issue confronts the human conscience

Kashmir issue confronts the human conscience

By: Ali Raza Syed 

Distinguished speakers and guests,

I am delighted to welcome you on behalf of organisers and volunteers event, which, in my opinion, has many unparalleled and unprecedented features for a peace initiative directed towards seeking the resolution of a conflict that has all the potential to develop into a threat to the existence of entire South Asia. This way, we are gathered here as an effort to safe the collective future of the planet earth and human race as many leading think tanks and peace organisations have termed the Kashmir as the nuclear flashpoint of South Asia. 

I apologise to you for starting my deliberations, and this event, by a negative image of extremely horrendous and unacceptable implications. But then, for me, this is the point where all the arguments for the peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue converge themselves. Yes, the misery and injustice in Kashmir is not only the problem of a secluded community. The Kashmir issue is not only a conflict amongst many disputed borders existing on the face of the planet earth. The disappeared persons or raped women or brutalised children of Kashmir are not more important than unfortunate victims of the conflicts in Africa, Asia, Middle East or other parts of the world. Indeed, we can see so many parallels of the nature, dynamics, claims and counter claims, state repressions and victimisations in Occupied Kashmir. 

But Kashmir is not only a conflict. It relates to the collective future of human kind and it relates to every peace lover of the world. This is an issue that put questions on the collective human conscience; the question of power and justice. We believe that the justice should prevail upon the power. We believe that the fair play and honesty should prevail upon the petty political interests and we believe that the positive human values should supersede the power of greed, chauvinism, religious extremism and outright repression. 

I am not going to narrate here the history of the Kashmir nor will I refer to the numerous calls from the UN or international human rights organisation during last six decades. Rather I will only say that every human life lost in this conflict, every respectable woman raped or every injustice is the injustice done to more than one and half billion people of India, Pakistan and entire South Asia. This is the unfortunate region that is made hostage of this conflict for almost seven decades. This is the region that is lurking under extreme poverty, decease, illiteracy, bad governance, corruption. This is the region whose states are compelled to spend their meagre resources in building large armies and its lethal armaments including missile and nuclear programs. I will say that people of this region deserve totally opposite to it. 

I will not delve in details in the horrible issue of the mass graves. I don’t need to do this as the facts speak for themselves. More than 10,000 innocent people have been disappeared. I want to raise a simple point of common sense. And this relates to Indian government’s refusal to conduct DNA tests. At one level, they claim that everybody killed by Security Forces was a militant or an outsider. Well, proving their identity, by DNA tests, shall only strengthen their claim beyond doubt. However, it is intriguing to see that Indians are not interested in proving their asserting. Perhaps they know that this assertion is as baseless as their claim on Kashmir.    

I will emphasise again that the peace in South Asia is the primary emotional force behind some of us who founded this organisation literarily without any financial resources. We had only passion on which we could count on as our asset. We were few individuals without any provision of having an office or equipments or luxury as official transport. Yet, we had some strength. We knew that the highest guardian of human rights, the UN has unambiguous support for the hapless Kashmiri people.

We knew that numerous international human rights organisations have recorded their testimonies in the favour of Kashmiri people. We knew that all the humanist forums and individuals are always ready to support any transparent initiative for achieving justice to any hapless community or nation of the world. After short period of three years, the ICHD is seen as a success story and your presence here is the biggest proof of this. No other pride is bigger than this for the little group of ICHD founders, present here. 

However, it is only a start for us. We have a long journey ahead. I believe that we shall continue marching towards the destiny if we continue having trust of the true humanists and transparent international forums, which are represented here. I believe that we shall achieve the one million signature campaign and bring this conflict to the agenda of EU parliament. I believe that we shall wield the human rights advocates, peace promoters and activists of the world around us. Our trust in human conscience is unshakable. 

More than anybody else, my thanks are due to Mr. Sajjad Haider Karim who is the host of this event. In fact, he is the first example of the reality that honestly done efforts automatically bring honest people towards you. I must say that M    arjan Lucas and Sadia Mir are the founder strengths of ICHD. I am grateful to them and I am thankful to innumerable MEPs, friends, colleagues, journalists and scholars who are supporting us. I thank you all for coming here and filling us with great excitement, contentment and happiness.        

Briefing at Norwegian Parliament

While addressing a seminar at Norwegian parliament on 9th February 2012, the chairperson of ICHD, Ali Raza Syed explained the plight of the Kashmiri people in the face of huge army deployment equipped with heavy armament and protected by various black laws. He said that they had a positive hope especially in the capacity of the Kashmiri people to relentlessly struggle for their rights. He said that his organisation and fellow comrades believed in the good sense of the major powers of the South Asia and international community that they would prefer justice and peace over war between two nuclear armed rivals. He said that it was a worrisome fact for every peace loving person that South Asia is increasingly being seen as nuclear flashpoint and a hub of the extremism. 

The event was organised jointly by Kashmir-European Alliance and the member of Norwegian parliament, Peter Skovhold Gitmark. Pakistan Ambassador to Norway, Ishtiaq H.Andrabi, Peter Skovholt Gitmark (MP), President Kashmir EU Alliance Pervez Ahmad, Chief Coordinator Ch.Mukhtar Ahmad and deputy speaker of Norwegian Parliament Akhtar Chaudhry also spoke on the occasion. Mr. Peter Gitmark said that Norwegians will try to help the people of Kashmir. He proposed to send a fact finding Mission to Indian Held Kashmir about unnamed mass graves, in particular, and Human rights situation, in general. 

Ali Raza Syed added that the collective human conscience of the peace loving nations like Norway had always been the great strength of their struggle for justice and peace. He said that the Kashmiri peace activists were always grateful to all the nations, individuals, institutions, organizations and forums that have consistently condemned the human rights abuses in Kashmir and have supported our call for the right to self determination. “I can clearly see that the commitment of this nation has enriched the peace movements of the entire world. I know that you shall always stand with us for our positive struggles”, he further said.
 
He said, “We have great hope to see that European Union is swiftly letting Indians to integrate in the different areas of cooperation. We wish them very best of it while saying that your persistent support for Kashmiris at all the prestigious forums of European Union should never go waste. Rather, it will succeed in giving light of hope to the other parts of the world. Let us believe that our collective struggle shall free South Asia from bigotry, hatred, suppression, torture and despotism. Let us believe that our children shall see a secure and dignified future, sooner rather than later”. 
 
Comparing natural beauty of Europe especially Norway with Kashmir, he said, “I cannot resist comparing the natural beauty of this part of the world with my region; Kashmir, which is called the paradise on earth. Unfortunately, the comparison ends here. We proudly see the prosperity, dignity, sense of security and a healthy relationship of citizens with their states and governments in Europe. We proudly see that kids are going to schools with dreams in their eyes and trust in their hearts. We proudly see that the institutions do provide maximum opportunity to an individual to grow and realize his or her potential. And we wish that this could happen to our unfortunate region as well. At the moment, for last seven decades, Kashmiris are living a life squarely opposite to this. Needless to say, however, we are not hopeless. In fact, this is the hope that is carrying us forward and giving us the strength to bear the hardships and insults imposed upon us. And this is the hope that enables us to carry on our struggle in Kashmir or in the other parts of the world”. 
 
Ali Raza Syed highlighted the efforts of ICHD while saying that it was committed to promote the cause of achieving an honourable life for the Kashmiris. He said they strongly believed in pronouncing their faith in collective human conscience and that the little steps towards enhancing the awareness about the plight of the Kashmiri nation lied at the base of their struggle for right to self determination. 

Emphasizing upon the positive approach to the issue, he said that they demanded the right to self determination for Kashmiris but that was not directed towards denouncing or damaging  the great people and great civilization of India. Yet, they denounced the high handedness of Indian state and its oppressive institutions. He denounced the fact that more than seven hundred thousands army men were breathing on the necks of the defenceless people. “We denounce the fact that our generations are growing under the fear and depression with no hope for a bright future. We denounce the fact that our great nation does not enjoy the right to choice, the right to assemble, the right to develop and above all, the right to life. We denounce the fact that we find thousands of dead bodies in the mass graves killed by the Indian forces. We denounce the fact that torture and rape has become a daily routine. We do all this in a positive hope for justice and peace. We believe that while doing this, the Indian state is doing a great injustice to the people and civilisation of India itself. We know that no nation can really grow out of guilt while committing such horrendous crimes towards humanity”, said Ali Raza Syed. 

Briefing to AJK President, Raja Zulqurnain Khan

The chairperson ICHD, Ali Raza Syed met Azad Kashmir President, Raja Zulqurnain Khan at Kashmir House Islamabad on 8th of April 2011. Ali Raza Syed briefed the president about the activities of the ICHD in Europe. He presented a report as well to the president.

President AJK appreciated the services of ICHD for highlighting Kashmir issue at European levels. Especially, he appreciated One-Million Signature Campaign launched in Europe. He also insisted on unity among the forces struggling for Kashmir issue abroad. He said that the unity was the most pressing need of time and that the positive forces should be united and well coordinated to raise the issue of Jammu and Kashmir at the international level. 


Ali Raza Syed briefed him of the ICHD efforts to launch a large scale struggle to set up a grand alliance at international level on Kashmir issue. He said that they wanted a united and effective voice for Kashmiris. Briefing about the activities of ICHD, he said the Council was trying to bridge the cultural and social gaps of the Kashmiri Diaspora while bringing the Kashmiri community closer to the mainstream European society and its highly spiritual and humanist values of justice, peace, freedom, democracy, human equality, gender equality and interfaith harmony. He explained the efforts of the council in raising the Kashmir issue at different forums through meetings, seminars, conferences at the different places including EU parliament and assemblies of the different countries including federal legislative body of Belgium.


“The Council started lobbying with the European Parliamentarians on the gross human rights violations unearthed by the reports of the leading international human rights organizations and parliamentary groups visiting Indian Occupied Kashmir”, he further said.
Giving detail about current movement, Ali Raza Syed said that recent campaign of ICHD for collection of ‘One Million Signatures’ from European citizens attracted large numbers of the people in Belgium, Holland and France. He said ICHD shall take the campaign in every country and big city of Europe. 

Briefing to EU Official on situation in IHK

The ICHD gave a briefing to the EU official on the situation of Kashmir on October 27, 2010. The chairman of ICHD, Ali Raza Syed and the Dutch NGO IKV Pax Christi Representative Ms.Marjan Lucas spoke to Mrs.Jean Lambert, the Chairperson of South Asia Delegation at EU parliament. Ali Raza Syed briefed her about the current situation in Indian Held Kashmir and urged the EU to play a role in stopping the killings, release of prisoners, finding the disappeared persons and helping the people of Kashmir in getting their right to self determination.  IKV Pax Christi Representative Ms.Marjan Lucas also informed her about the un-named mass graves in the Indian Held Kashmir. She expressed her disappointment over the fact that there was no international response despite the issuance of detailed report in that context. 


Mrs Lambert told that she and her group was trying to organise a full plenary session of EU parliament on Kashmir. The meeting was considered as an important step to motivate the EU for taking serious notice of the situation in the Indian Held Kashmir especially recent killings of youth by the Indian forces. 

Briefing to Norwegian politicians

A meeting between Norwegian parliamentarian, Ms. Rannvei Kvifte Andresen and chairperson ICHD, Ali Raza Syed was held in Oslo on Februrary 23, 2010. She assured the ICHD leader that the issue of unnamed graves in Indian Held Kashmir shall be brought in the notice of the Norwegian parliamentary committee on Foreign Affairs. An acting member of the joint committee, she said that it was a just cause to be discussed in the committee.  

The meeting took place at the parliament house here on Monday and Ali Raza Syed presented a comprehensive report on the unknown mass graves in IHK. The 110 pages report was prepared by Dutch Peace Organisation, IPC (www.ikvpaxchristi.nl) in last three years.
He said, Kashmir is long standing dispute and UN resolutions on the conflict are yet to be implemented. He said the massive atrocities against the innocent people in the IHK were going on and India was avoiding talking about Kashmir with other countries. He expressed his disappointment on the silence of the international community on the Kashmir conflict.
The Norwegian Parliamentarian said, She understands the situation of Human rights in IHK and assured that the issue of unnamed mass graves in IHK to be brought in the notice of other members of the committee, so they could discussed the issue during their upcoming session next month.

Ali Raza Syed said, about 10,000 people are disappeared in IHK and most of them are seemingly killed by the Indian forces.  He said, we started the movement to raise the issue before the different nations of world. The noted Kashmir figure said, solution of Kashmir issue is essential for the peace in region and even peace could not be restored in Afghanistan with out solution of Kashmir problem.

The lady parliamentarian said, that Norway had important role to play for the peace in different regions. She believed that Kashmir was the key issue in the region of South Asia. She informed that Kashmir Group of all parties in the parliament had also been reconstituted under the chairmanship of Mr.Knut, the former central cabinet minister. 

Briefing to Norwegian politicians

A meeting between Norwegian parliamentarian, Ms. Rannvei Kvifte Andresen and chairperson ICHD, Ali Raza Syed was held in Oslo on Februrary 23, 2010. She assured the ICHD leader that the issue of unnamed graves in Indian Held Kashmir shall be brought in the notice of the Norwegian parliamentary committee on Foreign Affairs. An acting member of the joint committee, she said that it was a just cause to be discussed in the committee.  

The meeting took place at the parliament house here on Monday and Ali Raza Syed presented a comprehensive report on the unknown mass graves in IHK. The 110 pages report was prepared by Dutch Peace Organisation, IPC (www.ikvpaxchristi.nl) in last three years.
He said, Kashmir is long standing dispute and UN resolutions on the conflict are yet to be implemented. He said the massive atrocities against the innocent people in the IHK were going on and India was avoiding talking about Kashmir with other countries. He expressed his disappointment on the silence of the international community on the Kashmir conflict.
The Norwegian Parliamentarian said, She understands the situation of Human rights in IHK and assured that the issue of unnamed mass graves in IHK to be brought in the notice of other members of the committee, so they could discussed the issue during their upcoming session next month.

Ali Raza Syed said, about 10,000 people are disappeared in IHK and most of them are seemingly killed by the Indian forces.  He said, we started the movement to raise the issue before the different nations of world. The noted Kashmir figure said, solution of Kashmir issue is essential for the peace in region and even peace could not be restored in Afghanistan with out solution of Kashmir problem.

The lady parliamentarian said, that Norway had important role to play for the peace in different regions. She believed that Kashmir was the key issue in the region of South Asia. She informed that Kashmir Group of all parties in the parliament had also been reconstituted under the chairmanship of Mr.Knut, the former central cabinet minister. 

Briefing to the dignitaries from Pakistan

The ICHD hosted a reception in honour of the visiting parliamentary delegation of Pakistan in Brussels on January 27, 2010. The delegation included Chairman Senate, Mr.Farooq H. Naik, Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood, Senator Kazim Khan, Senator Mir Muhammad Ali Rind, Senator Gulsham Saeed and Senator Khatu Mal Jeevan.
 
On the occasion, Chairman ICHD, Mr.Ali Raza Syed briefed the delegation about the activities of ICHD for promoting the cause of Kashmir and bringing peace in the South Asian region. He said that International Council for Human Development (ICHD) was actively working for awareness building and lobbying for the resolution of Kashmir issue. He said that they were struggling to highlight the plight of the people of Jammu and Kashmir who had been deprived of their right to self-determination for 62 years. He emphasised that it was the moral duty of international community to support the innocent and deserving people of Kashmir.
 
The Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Mr.Farooq Naik said that Pakistan had always supported the people of Jammu and Kashmir in political and diplomatic fronts and shall continue to do so in all of its moral, political and diplomatic capacities. He expressed hope that the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan would be helpful in order to facilitate peace in South Asia especially in the context of the Kashmir conflict. He also praised the efforts of Mr.Ali Raza Syed and his team to defend rights of the people of Kashmir and highlight the Kashmir conflict in Europe. Ali Shahnawaz Khan, the executive director of Kashmir Scandianvian Council was also present on the occasion.

Briefing to the dignitaries from Pakistan

The ICHD hosted a reception in honour of the visiting parliamentary delegation of Pakistan in Brussels on January 27, 2010. The delegation included Chairman Senate, Mr.Farooq H. Naik, Senator Muhammad Talha Mahmood, Senator Kazim Khan, Senator Mir Muhammad Ali Rind, Senator Gulsham Saeed and Senator Khatu Mal Jeevan.
 
On the occasion, Chairman ICHD, Mr.Ali Raza Syed briefed the delegation about the activities of ICHD for promoting the cause of Kashmir and bringing peace in the South Asian region. He said that International Council for Human Development (ICHD) was actively working for awareness building and lobbying for the resolution of Kashmir issue. He said that they were struggling to highlight the plight of the people of Jammu and Kashmir who had been deprived of their right to self-determination for 62 years. He emphasised that it was the moral duty of international community to support the innocent and deserving people of Kashmir.
 
The Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Mr.Farooq Naik said that Pakistan had always supported the people of Jammu and Kashmir in political and diplomatic fronts and shall continue to do so in all of its moral, political and diplomatic capacities. He expressed hope that the resumption of talks between India and Pakistan would be helpful in order to facilitate peace in South Asia especially in the context of the Kashmir conflict. He also praised the efforts of Mr.Ali Raza Syed and his team to defend rights of the people of Kashmir and highlight the Kashmir conflict in Europe. Ali Shahnawaz Khan, the executive director of Kashmir Scandianvian Council was also present on the occasion.

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