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The fundamental human rights are universal: Dr. Fai

Articles, Uncategorised
Washington, D.C. December 10, 2012. “The fundamental human rights are universal. That is the tacit assumption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which needs to be applauded. Even if all of its lofty provisions safeguarding fundamental human freedoms and liberties remain dishonored in many parts of the globe, it stands as a moral reproach to wrong doing nations that may facilitate reform,” said Dr. Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai from Cumber Prison Camp in Maryland, USA.

 
Fai said that it was heartening to know that Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations has put forth the vision of the United Nations when he said in April 2011, “From Southern Sudan to Timore – Leste, from Tunesia to Krygstan, we have seen people longing for democratic accountability, freedom and human rights. The United Nations will continue to articulate and stand up for universal values and work through its system to embed them in the fabric of national and international life.” Yet the seeming conspiracy of slience, Fai added, over gross affronts of the vision of the Secretary General in Indian-Occupied Kashmir — an occupation which itself violates still binding United Nations Security Council resolutions dictating a self-determination there under an international and impartial supervision — is worrisome. And the United Nations has remained largely passive and crowned India with veto power over outside intervention.
 
“Who can defend torture, disappearances or summary executions in this day and age, Fai asked? The genuine test of how much we care about such abuses is what we do about them, not just what we say about them. And the United Nations, despite all its shortcomings still seems an ideal place to begin with a serious plan of action.
 
Fai emphasized that real credit for the success, if any, should go to the people of Kashmir, who, against all odds, continue to struggle in a peaceful and non-violent manner for their inalienable rights that were gauranteed to them by both India and Pakistan and endorsed by the United Nations.
 
Fai appealed to the world powers that for comprehensive and lasting peace in South Asia; and a politically secure and democratic future, the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu & Kashmir be recognized and respected. He added that there must be an early, just and durable resolution to the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the international agreements and the wishes and the aspirations of the people of the State.
 
Fai reminded the American policy makers that according to President Obama, the United States holds urgent national security and foreign policy interests in a negotiated solution to the 65 year old Kashmir conflict. President Obama said on November 8, 2010 that the resolution of Kashmir issue is, “in the interests of the region, it is in the interest of the two countries involved and it is in the interest of the United States of America.” Therefore, we appeal to President Obama and the world powers that an appointment of a special envoy on Kashmir will hasten the process of peace and prosperity in the whole region of South Asia — home to one-fifth of total human race.
 
Dr. Fai can be reached on:
 
Syed Fai
78764-083
FCI- Cumberland Prison Camp
P. O. Box 1000
Cumberland, Maryland – 21501, USA

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    March 17, 2014

    Sir Nigel Rodley
    Chairperson
    UN Human Rights Committee
    Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights
    United Nations Office at Geneva
    CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
    Fax: (41 22) 917 90 11
    E-mail: CP@ohchr.org

    Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:

    I am grateful for the opportunity to submit this testimony on the state of human rights in Kashmir to the 110th session of the United Nations Human Rights Committee being held in Geneva, Switzerland, this week until March 28, 2014. Much to my chagrin in light of the warming of diplomacy between India and Pakistan and incipient dialogue between India and Kashmiri leaders, the state of human rights in the disputed territory is chilling. Indeed, it shocks the conscience.

    Indiscriminate killings:

    The best estimate of extrajudicial killings in Kashmir since 1989 approaches a staggering 100,000. That number dwarfs the killings in Northern Ireland, Palestine, Bosnia, Kosovo and Southern Sudan which have brought the world to tears and revulsion. The 100,000 corpses also tops the death toll for United States forces in Vietnam over 10 years.

    Arundhati Roy, an Indian novelist, essayist, the Booker Prize and Sydney Peace Prize winner said that “Caught in the middle are the people of Kashmir. More than 100,000 people, mostly innocent civilians, have died in the 20-year conflict.”