SRINAGAR: Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) members today resolved not to engage with and not vote in the election process in Jammu and Kashmir. According to a statement, APDP has appealed other families of the disappeared and all persons who have suffered at the hands of the Indian State must not engage with the electoral process.
It was felt that despite successive changes of government, whether in New Delhi, or in Jammu and Kashmir, there has been no change for the family members of the disappeared or for that matter for the people of Jammu and Kashmir as a whole, including victims/family members of human rights violations.
The spokesman of APDP said that the National Conference [NC], Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] and Indian National Congress have been in power at different points in Jammu and Kashmir between 1996 and the present. But, none of these Governments have taken any steps to resolve the issue of enforced disappearances. Except for comments when in opposition, these parties, and the representatives have consistently worked towards the larger Indian State policy in Jammu and Kashmir and sought to protect the perpetrators for human rights violations.
It said that no political party in their election manifesto has referred to the alarming issue of 8000 disappearances [that effect more than an estimated one lakh family members and relatives of the disappeared] in Jammu and Kashmir. While providing different and contradictory figures, all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have admitted the reality of enforced disappearances. But, they have taken no action. Except making promises like setting up truth and reconciliation commission [NC] and empowering State Human Rights Commission [PDP] nothing has been done by any of the parties.
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