Canada-wide call to candidates to speak out about Indian Human Rights Violations in Kashmir
September 15th, 2021
With the federal election less than a week away, people from across Canada have been in touch with candidates from all parties in about 100 ridings across the country about the grave situation in Kashmir.
These constituents are asking what their candidates will do if elected, in order to ensure that Canada holds India accountable for its settler-colonization happening in Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory
On March 31, 2020, the Indian government introduced the new domicile law. This law was aimed at a demographic change that takes the land and resources from the Indigenous population of Jammu and Kashmir. India’s domicile law is counter to the United Nations Security Council resolutions 47 (1948), including subsequent resolutions that call for a plebiscite to determine the future of the disputed territory.
A coalition of advocacy groups has contacted federal party leaders and candidates to ask questions about Canada’s role in supporting the self-determination rights of Kashmir’s people. These coalition efforts have resulted in several NDP and GPC candidates, as well as the Bloc Québécois (BQ) party indicating that Canada must take action to support the legitimate right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Yavar Hameed, the NDP candidate for Ottawa West-Nepean indicated “Domicile and settlement colonization has caused immense hardship to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. India’s Domicile Law reverses many of the withdrawal efforts included under UN Resolution 47. I plan to leverage Canada’s relationship with India to uphold the Rule of Law and the fundamental human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Hameed responded that “the NDP stands in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and intends to use all available political platforms permissible under the Rule of Law and diplomatic means and ways to facilitate a peaceful resolution to this issue. We will support efforts by Canada to:
Responses from several other NDP candidates included support for the self-determination and justice for the people of Kashmir. Avneet Johal candidate from Surrey-Newton office indicated that he has “spoken many times about the problematic and dangerous nature of the Domicile Law.”
Green Party candidate, Felix Kongyuy for Surrey Centre indicated that if elected he would work with other parties in the parliament to ensure the UN Resolution 47 (1948) is implemented.
Over the last year, the overall situation has dangerously worsened as India continues to move its population into occupied Kashmir, confiscate land and resources, oppose the rights of Kashmiris and silence any resistance through repressive means.
“It is important that the Canadian government is held accountable in its compliance with international legal obligations, as part of Canada’s ongoing relationship with India, especially in trade, defense, and counterterrorism,” said Karen Rodman of Just Peace Advocates.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states, “the occupying power shall not transfer its own civilian population into the territory it occupies;” and under Article 1 all High Contracting Parties, which includes Canada, are required to take action to ensure respect for the Convention “in all circumstances.”
Taha Ghayyur from Justice for All said "As UNHRC's Michelle Bachelet said during this week's Human Rights Council session, mass detention and restrictions on free speech continue to threaten the safety and security of Kashmiris. The government's concerning use of legal instruments to control the population is alarming and impossible to ignore."
A spokesperson from Canadians for Peace and Justice in Kashmir (CPJK) said “we hope other parties and individual candidates on the other federal parties to indicate how they would work proactively to make Canada take leadership in its relations with India, and at the UN, to implement self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
This Press Release has been published in collaboration with Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste.
Contacts:
Taha Ghayyur, Justice for All Canada, taha@justiceforall.org
Karen Rodman, Just Peace Advocates, karen.rodman@justpeaceadvocates.ca
Learn more about #VoteKashmir
With the federal election less than a week away, people from across Canada have been in touch with candidates from all parties in about 100 ridings across the country about the grave situation in Kashmir.
These constituents are asking what their candidates will do if elected, in order to ensure that Canada holds India accountable for its settler-colonization happening in Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory
On March 31, 2020, the Indian government introduced the new domicile law. This law was aimed at a demographic change that takes the land and resources from the Indigenous population of Jammu and Kashmir. India’s domicile law is counter to the United Nations Security Council resolutions 47 (1948), including subsequent resolutions that call for a plebiscite to determine the future of the disputed territory.
A coalition of advocacy groups has contacted federal party leaders and candidates to ask questions about Canada’s role in supporting the self-determination rights of Kashmir’s people. These coalition efforts have resulted in several NDP and GPC candidates, as well as the Bloc Québécois (BQ) party indicating that Canada must take action to support the legitimate right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Yavar Hameed, the NDP candidate for Ottawa West-Nepean indicated “Domicile and settlement colonization has caused immense hardship to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. India’s Domicile Law reverses many of the withdrawal efforts included under UN Resolution 47. I plan to leverage Canada’s relationship with India to uphold the Rule of Law and the fundamental human rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Hameed responded that “the NDP stands in solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and intends to use all available political platforms permissible under the Rule of Law and diplomatic means and ways to facilitate a peaceful resolution to this issue. We will support efforts by Canada to:
- lead diplomatic efforts at the U.N. to de-escalate the situation in accordance with all relevant U.N. resolutions;
- mobilize the international community to bring relief to the victims of this humanitarian crisis;
- call upon the parties to enter into peace talks concerning Kashmir; and,
- establish a Special Parliamentary Committee to examine all aspects of the India-Pakistan relationship concerning Kashmir and Jammu, including but not limited to, consular, economic, legal, security and diplomatic relations.
Responses from several other NDP candidates included support for the self-determination and justice for the people of Kashmir. Avneet Johal candidate from Surrey-Newton office indicated that he has “spoken many times about the problematic and dangerous nature of the Domicile Law.”
Green Party candidate, Felix Kongyuy for Surrey Centre indicated that if elected he would work with other parties in the parliament to ensure the UN Resolution 47 (1948) is implemented.
Over the last year, the overall situation has dangerously worsened as India continues to move its population into occupied Kashmir, confiscate land and resources, oppose the rights of Kashmiris and silence any resistance through repressive means.
“It is important that the Canadian government is held accountable in its compliance with international legal obligations, as part of Canada’s ongoing relationship with India, especially in trade, defense, and counterterrorism,” said Karen Rodman of Just Peace Advocates.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states, “the occupying power shall not transfer its own civilian population into the territory it occupies;” and under Article 1 all High Contracting Parties, which includes Canada, are required to take action to ensure respect for the Convention “in all circumstances.”
Taha Ghayyur from Justice for All said "As UNHRC's Michelle Bachelet said during this week's Human Rights Council session, mass detention and restrictions on free speech continue to threaten the safety and security of Kashmiris. The government's concerning use of legal instruments to control the population is alarming and impossible to ignore."
A spokesperson from Canadians for Peace and Justice in Kashmir (CPJK) said “we hope other parties and individual candidates on the other federal parties to indicate how they would work proactively to make Canada take leadership in its relations with India, and at the UN, to implement self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
This Press Release has been published in collaboration with Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste.
Contacts:
Taha Ghayyur, Justice for All Canada, taha@justiceforall.org
Karen Rodman, Just Peace Advocates, karen.rodman@justpeaceadvocates.ca
Learn more about #VoteKashmir