Agenda item

Kashmir (2)

19.1

It was formally moved by Councillor Penny Baker, and formally seconded by Councillor Adam Hanrahan, that this Council:-

(a)       notes that the Kashmir issue has been ongoing for over 69 years;

(b)       acknowledges that Sheffield has strong ties with Kashmir as thousands of Sheffielders have a Kashmiri heritage and links to the region;

(c)        is shocked and deeply concerned by the killing of over 150 people and hundreds of civilians, including children, being blinded by the use of pellet guns by the Indian security forces since July 2016;

(d)       also believes in a diplomatic solution to this issue and once resolved it will bring peace and stability to the region;

(e)       calls upon the Administration to write to the High Commissioners of both India and Pakistan demanding:-

(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)        directs the Administration to write to all Sheffield MPs, to raise this matter with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to do all they can for the implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir and to push for a diplomatic solution.

19.2

Whereupon, it was formally moved by Councillor Mohammad Maroof, and formally seconded by Councillor Talib Hussain, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the addition of the following words:-

(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.

19.3

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

19.4

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.