Wednesday, February 11, 2009

‘Establish Truth and Reconciliation Commission’APDP Reminds Omar

Courtesy: Daily Greater Kashmir dt. Feb. 11th, 2009 by ZULFIKAR MAJID
Srinagar, Feb 10: The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons on Tuesday reminded the chief minister, Omar Abdullah, of his promise of constituting a truth and reconciliation commission to probe the human right abuses and the enforced disappearances in the state in past 19 years. The relatives of the disappeared persons, who met at Pratap Park here, said that Omar during election campaign had on numerous occasions promised to set up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on the pattern of South Africa and Ireland. “We want to remind him of his promise. If Omar is sincere then he should establish an independent and credible commission to probe the enforced disappearances,” they said.
The APDP members said that if state government fails to keep up its promise of tracing the disappeared persons they would seek assistance of international community. “Before elections, individually and collectively every leader and party promised that they would do their level best to ascertain the whereabouts of our kin who have disappeared in troops custody in past 19-years. We want them to keep up their promise,” they added. The APDP chairperson Parveena Ahangar said, “Recently Omar Abdullah had stated that the families of the victims would be provided Rs four lakh as compensation. Several family members of the victims told me that they don’t need money and just want to know whether their loved ones are dead or alive.” The members of APDP stage a silent protest in Srinagar on 10th of every month to remind the authorities about their kin.

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