On World Human Rights Day, APDP terms Modi supporters as ‘traitors’

Chairperson of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) Parveena Ahangar Wednesday said accused supporters of rightwing Bhartiya Janta Party as “traitors,” alleging they have “betrayed” the sacrifices of youth who were killed over the years across Kashmir.
“Those are insane people who support Modi and attended  his rally here. It was Modi who killed Ishrat Jahan in a fake encounter in Gujarat. He massacred thousands of Muslims in the riots. He (Modi) will do nothing for us,” said Ahangar.
Observing International Human Rights Day as a “Black Day”, distraught family members and relatives of disappeared persons staged a silent sit-in protest in Partap Park here. The sit-in, which was organized by APDP, was also attended by people from all walks of life.
The members were carrying placards and displaying photos of the disappeared youth.
Ahangar said BJP is desperate to make inroads in valley. “Today they are promising so much to people but in reality they won’t do anything. They are just fooling people like other political parties,” said   Ahangar.
APDP is a collective of relatives of victims of enforced and involuntary disappearances in Kashmir. Disappearances often end in extra-judicial killings or death by torture in valley by the hands of Indian forces without any accountability.
APDP chairperson said it has been 25 years but no government has been able to help them in finding their disappeared family members taken by the paramilitary forces over the years.
“Today, BJP is beating drums of booking the culprits of Machil fake encounter and convicting army in Chattergam killings. What about the rape cases of Kunanposhpora and Shopian. What about the innocent killings of Wamiq Farooq, Tufail Matto, Zahid Farooq and others in 2010 unrest,” Ahangar questioned.
The APDP was formed in 1994 to organize efforts to seek justice and get information on the whereabouts of missing family members.
Reiterating its demand, Ahangar said, “International Human rights community should intervene to impress upon the Indian government to provide details of our missing people.”
Unofficial estimates put of disappeared persons between 1989 and 2006 at anywhere between 8000-10,000. However, Ahangar said “the report  is yet to be finalized”.
Taking a dig at mainstream political parties, Ahangar said National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party are the two sides of the same coin.
“What have they done for us over the years. Be it Omar Abdullah or Mehbooba Mufti they are all alike. They come and plead in front us for votes to secure their seats. We don’t aspect anything from them,” said Ahangar.
Ahangar said these were the same politicians who facilitated  “mass murderers” like Muhammad Mir alias Muma Kanna and Abdul Rashid Khan, alias Rashid Billa  and “later recommended Kanna for Padma Shri award while Billa is roaming free”.
Terming elections irrelevant, Ahangar said instead of emphasizing on elections State government should resolve the cases of disappearance persons without any further delay.
“Elections won’t heal us. If State government is sincere of healing the people of Kashmir, they should tell us whereabouts of our beloved ones,” said Ahangar.
On the occasion APDP expressed solidarity to those who spent years struggling for justice. It reiterated that India must comply with its obligations under international human rights law.
“The state should institute an independent commission of inquiry into the complaints of human rights abuses. It must consider the recommendations of universal periodic review-2(UPR-2) and ratify the international convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance besides repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act,” said Ahangar.