Agenda item

Kashmir (1)

5.1

RESOLVED: On the motion of Councillor Peter Rippon and seconded by Councillor Olivia Blake, that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9.1, the order of business as published on the Council Summons be altered, as Notice of Motion 13 had generated significantly increased attendance by members of the public and it was therefore deemed appropriate to take this motion as the next item of business.

5.2

It was moved by Councillor Mohammad Maroof, and seconded by Councillor Jackie Drayton, that this Council:-

a)         is conscious about the current serious situation in Kashmir and deeply concerned about the welfare and safety of the families and friends of many Sheffielders living in the region;

(b)       is disturbed by the recent violence where use of pellet guns, tear gas shells, rubber bullets, as well as assault rifles, resulted in the deaths of more than 110 civilians, with over 7,000 civilians injured;

(c)        recognises Amnesty International's criticism of Indian security forces for the use of arbitrary and excessive force to deal with the protests in Kashmir and they also criticised the use of pellet guns, stating they had been used 100 times in Kashmir during the first week of September 2016;

(d)       believes in a diplomatic solution to this issue to bring peace and stability to the region;

(e)       calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to the High Commissioners of India and Pakistan calling for:-

(i)         the immediate cessation of violence, including the use of pellet guns on civilians;

(ii)        the immediate lifting of the curfew and restrictions on free speech;

(iii)       the investigation of human rights abuses in the region;

(iv)       the restarting of diplomatic talks to resolve the situation peacefully; and

(v)        immediate help and support for those who have been injured; and

(f)        requests that a copy of this motion be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

5.3

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Talib Hussain, and seconded by Councillor Mary Lea, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the addition of new paragraphs (e) and (f) as follows, and the relettering of original paragraphs (e) and (f) as new paragraphs (g) and (h):-

(e)       acknowledges the strong ties between Sheffield and Kashmir and that many people in the city have Kashmiri heritage and ties to the region;

(f)        welcomes the work of the delegation from Sheffield to Parliament last week, to raise awareness of the human rights abuses on a national level;

5.4

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

5.5

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED: That this Council:-

(a)       is conscious about the current serious situation in Kashmir and deeply concerned about the welfare and safety of the families and friends of many Sheffielders living in the region;

(b)       is disturbed by the recent violence where use of pellet guns, tear gas shells, rubber bullets, as well as assault rifles, resulted in the deaths of more than 110 civilians, with over 7,000 civilians injured;

(c)        recognises Amnesty International's criticism of Indian security forces for the use of arbitrary and excessive force to deal with the protests in Kashmir and they also criticised the use of pellet guns, stating they had been used 100 times in Kashmir during the first week of September 2016;

(d)       believes in a diplomatic solution to this issue to bring peace and stability to the region;

(e)       acknowledges the strong ties between Sheffield and Kashmir and that many people in the city have Kashmiri heritage and ties to the region;

(f)        welcomes the work of the delegation from Sheffield to Parliament last week, to raise awareness of the human rights abuses on a national level;

(g)       calls upon the Leader of the Council to write to the High Commissioners of India and Pakistan calling for:-

(i)         the immediate cessation of violence, including the use of pellet guns on civilians;

(ii)        the immediate lifting of the curfew and restrictions on free speech;

(iii)       the investigation of human rights abuses in the region;

(iv)       the restarting of diplomatic talks to resolve the situation peacefully; and

(v)        immediate help and support for those who have been injured; and

(h)       requests that a copy of this motion be forwarded to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.