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| S. O. S. International observes World Refugee Day | |
Jammu, June 20, (Scoop News)- S. O. S. International - An Organization for PoK Displaced Person today observed World Refugee-Day at its headquarters at Bakshi Nagar, Jammu. S. O. S. International Chairman, Rajiv Chuni along with other office bearers and Hundreds of PoK Displaced Persons gathered to observe the day.
While talking on the occasion, S. O. S. International Chairman, Rajiv Chuni said that in a little while after the formation of United Nations in 1945, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) populace who are now known as PoK Displaced Persons were thrown out from their native places in 1947 and their quandary is still continue for the last 7 decades. Mr. Chuni stated
It must be recalled that each year on June 20th, the United Nations and incalculable civic groups around the world host World Refugee Day events in order to draw the public's consideration to the millions of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, conflict and discrimination. “Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons are treated with same benchmark as it is the principle of International Refugee Law in which Internally Displaced Persons are given the same facilities as given to refugees. But the tragedy with India is although, India is a member of UN but it is not a signatory to UN Refugee Law because SAARC countries opposed it”, he added.
Mr. Chuni further said that “Refugees” and “Internal Displaced Persons” are the terms that fall within the legal definition of international refugee law but Government labeled us with only “Displaced Persons” term which do not fall in the legal categorization of refugees or Internal Displaced Persons which is unfortunate due to which PoK DPs have been living under miserable conditions since long. Moreover, PoK DPs lack official status because PoK is not a foreign soil and are yet to be settled and have been deprived of all the benefits given to refugees according to national and international law”, he said.
“Displaced status is given for a maximum of 10 years but it has been more than 7 decades, PoK DPs are still living with “Displaced” status. No one has come forward till now to diminish our predicament, misery but hope is still there that we will get our rights”’ Mr. Chuni added. Chuni further said that a refugee is a person who is outside their domicile country because they have suffered harassment on account of race, religion, nationality or political opinion where an internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders but we are not provided with any of these status which restricts PoK DPs to avail the benefits as per International Refugee Law. He stated that India considers PoK an integral part of India and PoK DPs will be restored there but nothing has been witnessed so far which adds fuel to fire. “In the year 1994, Parliament of India unanimously passed a resolution to bring back the territory i.e. Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to India from the clutches of Pakistan as it is an integral part of India but the resolution was made to bring only land. Nothing was stated about the victims of PoK who left their everything during that massacre powered by Pakistani army along with Tribal (Kabalies). “International refugee law is not applicable here as India is not a signatory in UN but it should have made its own commission or law which looks into the affair of PoK DPs to rehabilitate them. PoK DPs have tolerated a lot since 1947 and it’s their third generation that is still witnessing the plight of poverty, discrimination, apathy on the part of Government. Human Rights of PoK DPs have been violated in repeated manner and no one noticed. He further said that all the rights have been snatched from PoK DPs and to get back their rights they have been battling in a democratic way for the last 70 years.
S. O. S. International Chairman further said that PoK DPs have lost their all and moreover they are fallen prey of Government’s biased policies. “PoK DPs have borne severe pain due to discriminative approach of successive Governments and moreover, they were persecuted for their patriotism but on the other hand, those who keep anti-nation stand are given all sorts of benefits, affection and treatment which are really a matter of concern. He further said that various Displaced Persons are living in India and it is very unfortunate that every community is treated with different yard sticks. Displaced Persons from PoK are the most unfortunate section of the society and keeping different eye adds more woes to their plight”, Mr. Chuni added. “Our message is very clear that PoK DPs will not sit still until their demands are met and they must be given their due rights for which they have been struggling since long”, Mr. Chuni reiterated.
Mr. Chuni said that PoK DPs have gone through very tough times and the same is still continued which needs to be given full standstill and UN with its powers must help PoK DPs on humanitarian grounds and they must be given conveniences as per International Refugee Law. “UN can help PoK DPs keeping them within the legal status of Refugee or Internal Displaced Persons so that PoK DPs can also live their life with standard and dignity. PoK DPs Community is scattered across the country and it should bring them closer by including them in the domain of international law for refugees and internally displaced persons”, he stated.
V. K. Datta conducted stage proceedings. Others who also spoke were Prof. JS Mangal, Prof. N. N. Sharma, Bhai Gurdev Singh, Tarvinder Singh, Parmod Ghai, Tilak Raj Sethi, Virinder Khajuria and Vijay Gupta.
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