Today marks a year since the unilateral revocation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution, meaning it has been a year since Indian-administered Kashmir had its special status taken away.
It’s been a year where people in Oldham have been constantly worried about the safety of their friends and family members in the region, we’ve seen massive clampdowns on important freedoms that we take for granted – although some have been lifted now, and then with the pandemic that has affected us all so much the people of Kashmir have in effect been subject to a double lockdown.
I think in the last year we have seen good cross-party progress on this issue, and that has to be crucial in everything we do. We have to work together to highlight and prevent any and all human rights abuses in the region.
The human rights violations are well documented, and the international community should do more, as should the UK government, to uphold the standards and protect people from harm. The UK government has shown a disregard for those affected.
We all recognise that progress will not be made until Indian and Pakistan come together and show a willingness to cooperate to resolve issues of tension between the two nations.
Our responsibility is both a moral one, that we call out human rights abuses where we see them, and an historic one, recognising that the current dispute is a legacy of the British rule.
I know just how important a cause this is to many people here in Oldham, I will always remember the solidarity shown here in Oldham at the event we held when the original lockdown came into place last year. It wasn’t just a conflict taking place in a foreign country, this was touching people right here in Oldham in their hearts and homes.
I will continue to work with my colleagues on the APPG for Kashmir to build support across parliament to finally end the human rights abuses, and though it currently feels a distant ambition; to support self-determination by Kashmir people.
Jim McMahon OBE MP 