London , 15th August, 2000

A high level JKLF-UK delegation lead by president Shabir Choudhry and secretary general Azmat A Khan, which took part in the 3-day international conference on human rights in Geneva organised by IHRAAM arrived back in the UK today and said that they were satisfied with the IHRAAM efforts and hoped that the conference would hold a long-term impact on the question of self-determination for Kashmir.

The JKLF delegation including Sagir Ahmed, Abbas Butt and Asim Mirza was joined by councilor Mohammed Shoaib from Glasgow in his capacity as president of the ICHR and the London based human rights activist Nazir Gelani and British parliamentarian Gerald Kaufman, MP. Six members of the Kashmiri APHC delegation based in Rawalpindi and a 5-member official Azad Kashmir government delegation including two women also played a significant part in drafting resolutions for the conference on Kashmir (resolutions available from IHRAAM Website)

JKLF secretary general Azmat Khan, today spoke of the disappointment that Kashmiri leaders from IHK were not allowed to participate. He said that it is difficult to understand why on one hand India claims to be interested in talks but on the other hand does not allow Kashmiri leaders to talk freely. He hoped that the recent developments both in Srinagar and in New Delhi would lead government of Indian to reconsider its position and see sense in facilitating the Kashmiri leaders - who can play a significant role in taking the 'process of dialogue' forward - to play their role internationally.

Indian government refusal to allow Kashmiri independence leader, chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Executive members of the APHC, Yasin Malik, to travel to Geneva as a guest of honor to the First International Conference on the Right to Self-Determination & the United Nations over the weekend was challenged by world NGOs attending the 52nd session of the UN sub-commision for human rights in Geneva. Mr Malik addressed the conference by telephone for 30 minutes.

During the 3-day moot, where the question of Kashmiri self-determination attained prime position, over 60 delegates from international NGOs condemned the Indian government attempts to suppress rights of Kashmiri people and the restriction of movement for Kashmiri leaders such as Yasin Malik for breach of fundamental human right. A strongly worded petition addressed to His Excellency Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, and Her Excellency Mary Robinson, United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights was signed by delegates of the Non-governmental Organisations, which urged the UN human rights commission to take steps. The petition declared a deep regret that the Indian authorities failed to provide Mr Malik with the relevant travel documents in blatant violation of right of free movement and right of association, and called upon the Indian government to lift restrictions on Mr Malik

The JKLF activists and Executive Director of IRHAAM, Barrister Majeed Tramboo from London played a significant role in highlighting the plight of the Kashmiris and the role of the armed forces in suppressing the Kashmiri movement at the conference, which was lauded by the Kashmiri and non-Kashmiri participants from all corners of the world. ENDS