| ASSOCIATION OF PARENTS |
OF DISAPPEARED PERSONS
The Bund Amira Kadal, Srinagar – 190001, Jammu and Kashmir
Date: March 28-2011
Press Release
The government continues to demonstrate deniability on the phenomenon of enforced disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the government agencies we the family members of those who have been subjected to enforced disappearances are maligning the state agencies. The government wants the people to believe that most of the disappeared persons have actually crossed over to Pakistan administered Kashmir for arms training or have left for some other places. The government refers to these persons as missing people.
The government authorities have been speaking in contradictory terms every time about the statistics on enforced disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir . Here are some of the contradictory statements by various Jammu and Kashmir government representatives:
Ø On 21st June 2003, the then Jammu and Kashmir Home Minister, Mr. A.R. Veeri said, 3931 persons are missing from 1989 to June 2003.
Ø In March 2006, the then Chief Minister, Mr. G. N. Azad said, 693 cases of disappearances have been registered.
Ø On 4th August 2006, Mr. G. N. Azad said, 33 custodial disappearance cases took place from 1990 to 1996.
Ø On 28th October 2006, Mangat Ram Sharma, the then Health Minister of Jammu and Kashmir said, 108 cases of custodial disappearances cases have been registered since 1990.
Ø On 22nd January 2007 the state government admitted that 1017 youths are missing according to the survey conducted by state government.
Ø On 23rd March 2010, the National Conference led government admitted that 1105 persons have disappeared during the turmoil in the state since 1989.
The contradiction in statements exists because successive governments so far seem not interested in providing justice to the family members of the disappeared. Every statement by government belies the earlier statements made by the government representatives. APDP is only interested in knowing the truth about those who have been subjected to enforced disappearances. We demand that the government publicize the list of those who according to them are 'missing'. Also with this list we urge the government to inform us about the action it has taken on these cases.
Neither the ruling legislatures, nor the opposition elected representatives so far have bothered themselves to be of any assistance to the family members of the disappeared. APDP believes that it is not only the responsibility of the present government to provide information on the cases of disappearances but all the members of the state legislative assembly should help in seeking truth regarding the disappeared persons, as they have all in the past claimed during their election pledges that they would help in constituting an inquiry commission to establish the truth about the cases of enforced disappearances. By remaining silent on the crimes perpetrated on the people they claim to represent, the elected representatives are becoming an accomplice in the crime. It is their moral and political responsibility to confront the perpetrators, instead of competing each other to be in the good books of perpetrators.
Spokesperson
Ghulam Nabi Mir
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