European Parliament members write to PM Modi over HR violations in Kashmir

Agencies

Srinagar : The European Parliament members have written to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi over what they said ongoing human rights violations against people of Kashmir.
At least 50 members of European Parliament have expressed concerned over HR violations in Kashmir, as reported in a recent OHCHR report.
They also demanded an immediate end to the use of pellet shotguns and repealing of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).

Here is the full text of letter

Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of India

South Block, Raisina Hill
New Delhi-110011
India
Brussels, 25th March 2019

Dear Prime Minister Modi,
We, the undersigned, in our capacity as elected Members of the European Parliament, are writing to you to express our grave concern about the past and ongoing human rights violations against people in Kashmir, as reported in a recent OHCHR1 report.

We are particularly concerned about the usage of pellet shotguns, responsible for blinding, killing and traumatizing hundreds of people in Kashmir. We particularly note the tragic case of 19-month old child who was gravely injured by a pellet gun (BBC report). We are concerned that The Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act 1990 (AFSPA) and the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act 1978 (PSA) give security forces virtual immunity against prosecution for any human rights violation.

Therefore, we, the undersigned MEPs, urge the Indian government to: Immediately end the use of pellet-firing shotguns in Jammu and Kashmir and bring all relevant Indian laws into compliance with international human rights standards; Urgently repeal the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 and amend the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978 to ensure its compliance with international human rights law; provide full and effective reparation and rehabilitation to those who have been injured by pellet-firing shotguns, and to the families of those killed; establish independent and impartial investigations into all accidents where the use of pellet-firing shotguns led to deaths or serious injuries.

Yours sincerely

Wajid Khan MEP, Alex Mayer MEP, Amjad Bashir MEP, Sajjad Karim MEP, Julie Ward, MEP, Jonathan Arnott MEP, Theresa Griffin MEP, Helga Stevens MEP, Jean Lambert MEP, John Howarth MEP, Derek Vaughan MEP, David Martin MEP, Margrete Auken MEP, Baroness Nosheena Mobarik MEP, Liliana Rodrigues MEP, Rory Palmer MEP, Anthea McIntyre MEP, Maria Arena MEP, Arndt Kohn MEP, Ana Gomes MEP, Siôn Simon MEP, Bart Staes MEP, Soraya Post MEP, Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP, Elena Valenciano MEP, Julie Girling MEP, Tunne Kelam MEP, Jose Inacio Faria MEP, Lucy Anderson MEP, Richard Corbett MEP, Jude Kirton-Darling MEP, Maria Gabriela Zoana MEP, Barbara Lochbihler MEP, Mary Honeyball MEP, Csaba Sógor MEP, Momchil Nekov MEP, Linda McAvan MEP, Jakop Dalunde MEP, Klaus Buchner MEP, Edouard Martin MEP, Josef Weidenholzer MEP, Eva Kaili MEP, Eugen Freund MEP, Brando Benifei MEP, Paul Brannen MEP, Fabio Massimo Castaldo MEP, Jordi Solé MEP, Andrejs Mamikins MEP, Claude Moraes MEP and Caroline Nagtegaal ME. (KNS)