Kashmir's missing kin threaten self immmolation

Srinagar
Feb 09, 2007:

The Association of the Parents of Disappeared Persons Kashmir, (APDP) have threatened to go for mass self immolation, if the government fails to take action in locating their kin within the next month.

Scores of APDP members gathered at the gates of High Court in Srinagar, summer capital of Indian administered Kashmir led by Chairwoman Parveena Ahanger, demanding the wherabouts of their kin.

"If the government fails to take steps up to March 20, we will have no option but to go for self immolation," Ahanger told reporters, adding that the date would be announced on 20th.

The statement comes days after five bodies of civilians killed in set up encounters by the state were exhumed. Eleven policemen including a Superindentednt of Police were arrested for thier alleged invlovement in abducting and killing civilians in staged encounters.

"For years they denied they have five disappeared our children. Now God has exposed them," Ahanger said.

The five civilians who bodies were exhumed were missing over the last one year. APDP says around 10000 people have been subjected to enforced disappearances by various security agencies in Kashmir since 1989. The government contests the figure and claims many of the missing have crossed the Line of Control.

"They picked our children in front of our eyes, from our houses. How do they say they have crossed the Line of Control," a grieving mother said holding the picture of her son missing since 1993.

The APDP demands wherabouts of their disappaeared kin, many of whom they fear to 'have been killed'.

"If they are alive, let us know where they are, if they are dead tell us, give us their bodies, show us their graves," the APDP members said in unison.

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