Kashmir (Hansard, 12 March 1992)

§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)

I am pleased to present a petition about an important area of conflict— Kashmir. It has been signed by nearly 2,000 people, mostly from my constituency but also from elsewhere in Bradford and west Yorkshire. It calls for United Nations intervention in an area of serious conflict. That is important. I have supported the United Nations for many years, particularly, unlike the Government, the United Nations non-proliferation treaty. I have great pleasure in presenting this important petition.

The petition says: To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. 1082 The Humble Petition of former Kashmiris and friends of Kashmir Sheweth That whereas the United Nations Security Council passed resolutions declaring that the final disposition of the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations; and whereas both Lord Mountbatten of Burma, first Viceroy, and Mr. Nehru, first Prime Minister of India, solemnly promised a referendum would be held; and whereas the Indian security forces now occupying Kashmir have perpetuated gross and persistent violations of the human rights of the people of Kashmir. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House will condemn the systematic mass murders, torture, arson and rape by the Indian forces of occupation in Kashmir; promote international efforts to help refugees fleeing Kashmir and to relieve the hardship and suffering of the people who remain in the territory; demand that India permit Amnesty International and other independent human rights agencies to enter Kashmir, with a view to investigating and reporting on human rights violations, and calls for the withdrawal of India's armed forces and security forces from the state of Jammu and Kashmir and their replacement by an interim United Nations administration with a task of restoring law and order and as soon as practicable conducting the said plebiscite. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.