5th January, Day of Right to Self Determination … Ghulam Mohiuddin Dar,

Every Year the 5th of January is observed as the Day of Right to Self-Determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. On this day in 1949, the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP) adopted a resolution that guarantees a free and fair plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir. The day marks a significant chapter in Kashmir’s history as on this Day the Birth Right of the people of Kashmir was accepted Internationally and it was made clear to all parties including India and Pakistan that Kashmiris are the basic party of the dispute and without their consent and choice; their future cannot be ascertained so it was essential for all concerned quarters to respect the internationally recognized resolutions passed by United Nations Security Council.
As per the resolution of January 5, 1949, “The question of accession of the State of Jammu & Kashmir to India or Pakistan will be decided through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite”.
It is pertinent to mention here that as per the international law the exercise of the right of people to self-determination is their basic right to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development and it is also primary principle in the creation of states.
The people of State of Jammu and Kashmir are demanding the implementation of United Nations Resolutions for more than seven decades but India not only denied the Kashmiris Right of plebiscite but also unleashed the reign of terror to break their will and terrorize them. In fact, the people of Kashmir are being subjected to systematic and widespread human rights abuses. India is committing war crimes and is carrying out genocide of Kashmiris.
The last 77 years of India’s subjugation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir are a sad story of repression and tyranny for the people of Kashmir. India has unbridled her ruthless troops to terrorize and kill the inhabitants of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), and convey the fear among the oppressed Kashmiris about Hindutva Ideology and unlimited powers of Indian armed forces so that they could never dare to demand their inalienable right to self-determination.
Indian forces of occupation have been awarded unrestrained powers to crush the popular freedom struggle of Kashmiris under the cover of draconian laws like Jammu & Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978; Jammu & Kashmir Disturbed Areas Act, 1990; Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act 1990; The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1990; Prevention of Terrorism Act 2002, Unlawful Activities (prevention) Amendment Ordinance 2004.
These laws provide the license to kill Kashmiris with impunity. India brutal forces have carried out numerous heinous crimes during last seven decades. Since 1989 India has martyred 96,388 Kashmiris, among whom 7,375 were martyred in Indian forces custody,1,72,530 innocent Kashmiris were arrested,22,980 women were widowed,11,265women were molested, 1,07,974 Children were orphaned while as 110,521 structures were gutted.
While crushing the huge demonstration against Indian state terrorisms, brute troops use lethal weapons, pepper and pellet guns and resulted in thousands of martyrs, pellet victims and handicapped Kashmiris. Kashmir’s valor and determination resulted in Indian frustration and these frustrated and savage forces with atrocious mission carry out the satanic Chankian plans to crush the popular demand of plebiscite.
Genocide of Kashmiris in specific areas have been carried out by brutal forces, resulting in thousands of mass graves in hamlet areas of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Unmarked Graves have been reported by various International and local Human Rights activists and Organization. The activists of Institute of voice of victims have also reported numerous unmarked graves in various localities of District Budgam and Bandipora. Some other human rights groups working in Kashmir have discovered nearly 3,000 unnamed graves in the Baramulla and Kupwara districts and it was proved that buried dead bodies after exhumation were of those civilians who were kidnapped in broad day light from various localities of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Indian savage and terrorist troops have carried out many massacres like Gaw Kadal 1990, Zakoora and Tengpora massacres 1990, Bijbehara 1993, Sopore massacre 1993, Kupwara Massacre 1994, Chattisinghpora Massacre 2000, Nadimarag Massacre 2003, Teli Katha 2004, and Doda massacres 2006 but could not bent down the people of Kashmir from their demand of implementation of 5th January United Nations Resolutions.
Freedom of speech and act was suppressed and oppressed by enforced disappearance, torture, killings, rape and sexual abuses in Indian Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Indian forces also staged fake encounters to kill the freedom loving people of Kashmir. After Investigations carried out by Independent Sources it was reported the concerned army officers orchestrate the Fake encounters to get promotions and awards from higher authorities. Fake Encounters like Pathrebal Srinagar in 2000, Machill fake encounter in 2010 and numerous others were reported. It was proved that Indian officers were involved in these dreaded fake encounters. Officers of 4 Rajput Riffles Regiment Col Danish Pathania, Captain Upender Singh and Havildar Devinder, Lance Naik Lakhmi, Lance Naik Arun Kumar were found involved in Michill encounter and convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment through court martial.
Rape was used as a weapon of war to crush the freedom struggle and stop Kashmiris from agitating, protesting and demanding right to self-determination. Numerous incidents of rape that took place in Kashmir were reported by the Human Rights Organizations but the culprits were never brought to justice as they were the soldiers and officers of Indian armed forces. Systematic mass rape in Kunan Poshpora on 23rd February 1991 was reported and heard in every nook and corner of the World but the victims are still waiting for justice and criminals and arbitrators of this incident were given promotions and awards in Indian armed forces. Alas! There are many such incidents, some concealed and a few published but the suffers were never addressed by occupying authorities. Rape cases like Nelofer and Asiya Jan from Bongam Shopian raped in 2009 by Indian soldiers, are the black stigma on the face of flag bearers of Justice through out the World.
Kashmiris are shedding their blood for the achievement of their goal that is freedom from cruel clutches of India. Indian could not stop Kashmiris from demanding their freedom by using force; so they decided to engineer demographic and political changes in Kashmir by taking the illegal action of repealing article 370 and 35 A of her constitution with the aim to convert the Muslim majority into minority in their birth land. Sons of Chankian and Hindutva Philosophy are engaged in a vicious exercise of altering the demographic structure of IIOJK to settle the non-Kashmiri migrants in the disputed territory. Even the retired military men from India and released Hindu criminals from Indian jails are given the state subject certificates to create an environment of fear and change the demography of the region. So, it is very important for international community to take cognizance of this grim situation of deliberate ratio change in population by issuance of fake domicile of the State of Jammu and Kashmir by State officials to Indian Hindus with the aim to interfere the process of plebiscite, if forced to conduct at any stage in future.
It is time for the international community, especially the United Nations, to realize their promises and take practical measures to exercise the right of self-determination for the people of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir as enshrined in UNSC resolutions.
Pakistan remains determined to play its role to support the right of self-determination of Kashmiris through a free and impartial plebiscite in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Pakistan continues to extend its moral, political and diplomatic support to the right of self-determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The people of Kashmir appeal the United Nations to implement its resolutions on Kashmir without further delay so as to restore her lost credibility in the suffering nations of the World.
5th January is observed as the Day of right to self-determination and the main purpose behind the observance of this day is to remind the international community, especially the United Nations to resolve the long-standing Kashmir issue as per the wishes and aspirations of its inhabitants.
 The writer is the Director at the Institute of Voice of Victims,