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PANUN KASHMIR MOVEMENT (PKM)
& HUMAN
RIGHTS
A BRIEF
- Panun Kashmir
Movement (PKM) submitted its first
memorandum to National Human Rights Commission
(NHRC) at New Delhi on March 7th, 1994. The
memorandum was submitted to the Commission by
a delegation comprising of S/Shri Ashwani
Kumar, Convener, PKM, D.N Munshi, H.N Nehru,
Utpal Koul, Vijay Handoo, Dr.M.K Teng, Late
D.N Raina, Bansi Lal Koul and Shri C.L Gadoo.
The delegation was accompanied by hundreds of
Kashmiri Pandits who courted arrest at New
Delhi police station followed by a press
conference on the same day. The Secretary
General of the Commission assured the
delegation to put the memorandum before the
full Commission at an earliest. The delegation
also urged upon the commission to visit Jammu
to have an on the spot assessment of the
situation regarding the community.
- In June 1994,the full
Commission made a visit to the J&K State
and PKM was invited to meet the Commission at
Jammu on 7th June, 1994. This time PKM
submitted a detailed memorandum to the NHRC
and in its discussion with the Commission
cited a number o f examples to prove its
point. On its return to New Delhi, the NHRC
remained in constant touch with Panun Kashmir
Movement and sent an invitation to it for a
meeting on 5th Oct'95 at New Delhi. The
meeting discussed mainly the issues that would
come up for the meeting, slated for the next
month with the full Commission. The full
Commission in its meeting on 16th Nov, 1995
with the representatives of the Panun Kashmir
Movement urged upon the PKM to provide the
Commission the details regarding the human
rights violations in Kashmir and also decided
to sit for another meeting on 20th Dec, 1995
at New Delhi.
- This time Panun
Kashmir Movement (PKM) submitted a detailed
documentation of various human rights
violations to the Commission and also sought
more time to submit its volume II in the next
meeting which was fixed for 16th Jan'96. On
16th Jan'96, volume II of the documentation
was also submitted to the Commission at New
Delhi. Consequent upon a number of reasons,
PKM decided to release the whole documentation
done with the NHRC. The published voluminous
documentation titled "REPORT (on human
rights violations in Kashmir)" was
released in a programme at Constitution Club,
New Delhi on 23rd Jan'96 by Shri S.L Shakdhar,
ex-CEC of India. The other important
dignitaries who were present on this occasion
included S/Shri P.N Lekhi, Arun Shourie, D.N
Munshi, K. N Sahni, M.L Koul and L.C Koul
besides Shri Ashwani Kumar, Convener, PKM and
other activists of the organisation. Due to
public pressure the REPORT was again released
at Jammu in a function on 5th Feb, 1996. This
time it was released by Sh. M.M Khajuria, ex-DGP
of the J&K State. The other dignitaries
present on the occasion included Dr. Jitender
Singh, Tilak Raj Sharma, Dr. V.D Sharma and
other activists of Panun Kashmir Movement.
- The REPORT received
wide attention of press at both national and
international level and was editorially
commented upon by the media both print and
electronic throughout the length and breadth
of the country. In an atmosphere of
appreciation, National Human Rights Commission
again invited PKM for one more meeting on 16th
Feb.'96 at New Delhi. This time NHRC Chairman
urged upon the delegation to give the
Commission a list of priorities which could be
considered upon by the Commission. On our
reluctance to do so, the Chairman assured that
the list of priorities would not in any way
dilute or jeopardise the original submission
put by PKM which clearly stated that the
Commission may :-
- In pursuance of the
power vested in the Commission vide proviso
(a) of sub-section (i) of section 17 of the
Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 initiate
a suo-motto enquiry into the :-
- Genocide,
- Exodus and
- Apartheid of the
Kashmiri Hindu Community.
- Consider to fix a
time-frame for finalisation of its
findings/report.
- Fix up the
responsibility in regard to human rights
violations committed against us and review
the factors that inhibit to enjoy the human
rights and
- recommend
appropriate remedial measures to redress the
wrongs and humiliations suffered by the
Kashmiri Hindu Community.
Following an unambiguous & clear assurance
by the Chairman, NHRC, our delegation sought one
weeks time to finalise an "interim
package" that we would submit for
consideration to NHRC on priority. On our
return, at Jammu and after having several rounds
of meetings with different members of various
foras and organisations of the community, a
seven point 'interim package' was faxed to the
Commission from Jammu. The package included
relief measures for traders, employees,
students, non-camp dwellers, orchardists,
agriculturists, fire sufferers and relief
takers.
- As a follow-up action
NHRC invited the PKM and the State Govt. for a
meeting at New-Delhi on 13th March 1996. The
meeting was attended by the full Commission,
PKM delegation and four representatives of
J&K Govt which included the Chief
Secretary, Resident Commissioner -Delhi,
Education Secretary and Relief Commissioner.
The meeting had hectic discussion and lasted
for more than three hours. On 30th March,
1996, NHRC, acting on the complaint of Panun
Kashmir Movement (PKM) recommended various
relief measures for Kashmiri Pandit displaced
community.
- In continuation of
earlier action, a review meeting was organised
at Commission's New Delhi Office on 1st July
1996. Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM) as usual
received formal letter form NHRC through its
F.NO.9/56/94-LD dated June 5th, 1996, vide
which the Registrar (Law) invited the PKM
delegation to meet the Commission at the
Commission's office at Sardar Patel Bhawan,
Sansad Marg, New Delhi, on the 1st July 1996.
The Panun Kashmir Movement (PKM) participated
in the meeting accordingly. The meeting was
followed by one more meeting at Jammu on 11th
July, 1996 which was attended by the Secretary
General & Registrar (Law) of the
Commission, PKM and the Chief Secretary,
Revenue Secretary and Relief Commissioner of
J&K Govt. The Commission invited PKM
formally for a meeting fixed for 6th Jan 1997
consequent upon the new Chairman of NHRC
taking over the reigns of the Commission on
29th Nov, 1996.
The press coverage
provided to the human rights activity of PKM has
proved quite beneficial. We feel grateful to the
positive attitude of the media in this regard. A
few brilliant pieces of independent reporting
and editorial comments are reproduced here to
encourage all those activists in our society who
are devoted to the cause of protection and
promotion of human rights.
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