Lee Rhiannon, former member of Australian Senate, has said that both India and Israel are committing crimes against humanity with impunity for the last 76 years. Lee Rhiannon addressing an event in Sydney, Australia, said for government officials and Indian soldiers, there are no consequences as no one has been held accountable for war crimes and genocide. She said Modi is using tactics to discredit and kill not only Kashmiris but also their supporters, in particular Muslims and Sikhs not only in other parts of India but also beyond. She said last year, an Indian official was found responsible for killing a Sikh activist in Canada. The United States Justice Department says that an official of the Indian government has been charged with conspiracy to assassinate a Sikh activist in the United States. The Washington Post reported that the man charged was an officer working in the Spy agency of India, she added. Lee Rhiannon said, "We must maintain pressure on western governments to persuade the government of India to stop colonial projects in occupied Kashmir before it is too late.

We should work together globally to help the people of Kashmir achieve their long awaited right of self-determination." Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of World Forum for Peace & Justice, said that it was on August 5, 2019, when the Modi Government abrogated Article 370 and 35A that guaranteed the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The move has been rejected by the United Nations which unambiguously declared on August 8, 2019, that “the position of the United Nations on this region is governed by the Charter of the United Nations and applicable Security Council resolutions,” he maintained. Dr Fai said India has unleashed a well-designed imperialist plan that seeks to forever change the political nature of the Kashmir dispute through demographic changes, political maneuverings, and administrative machinations. He said these alterations to Kashmir’s disputed nature were capped by new domicile laws that entitled people from outside Kashmir to obtain domicile certificates as a first step toward granting them the right to buy land and compete for local jobs.

He appealed to all peoples of conscience and the international community to raise their voices against the brutal oppression the people of Jammu and Kashmiri are suffering under the occupying forces of the Government of India. Rab Nawaz, Chairman of Australian Forum for Kashmir, welcomed the participants for taking time to be a part of this very important occasion. He emphasized that Kashmiri Australians along with the friends of Kashmir stand with the oppressed Kashmiri brothers and sisters till they achieve their right to self-determination. Rab Nawaz added that India by abrogating Article 370 & 35 A tried to break the spirit of Kashmiris, arrested the whole leadership of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, spilled the blood of tens of thousands of innocent Kashmiris but India could not kill the aspiration of the people of Kashmir for Aazadi and self-determination. Qamar Zaman, Consul General, said Kashmiris are the real leaders of the movement against Indian occupation and Pakistan will stand with them and provide all diplomatic and political support.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan