STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: SOS International, an organisation for PoK Displaced Persons, today organized candle march on World Refugee Day at Maheshpura Chowk Jammu in which thousands of PoK Displaced Persons participated.
Each year on June 20th the United Nations and countless civic groups around the world host World Refugee Day events in order to draw the public’s attention to the millions of refugees and internally displaced persons worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to war, conflict and persecution.
Speaking on the occasion, SOS International Chairman, Rajiv Chuni said that soon after the formation of United Nations, Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) residents who are now known as PoK Displaced Persons were subjected to genocide from their native places in 1947 and their plight is still continue for the last 68 years.
Chuni stated that Government brought up the issue of PoK in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and a resolution was made there but it was not obeyed by Pakistan.
“Refugee and Internally Displaced Persons are treated with same yardstick 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.
Chuni further said that “Refugees” and “Internally Displaced Persons” are the terms that fall within the legal definition of international refugee law but Government labelled PoK DPs with only “Displaced Persons” term which do not fall in the legal classification of refugees or Internally Displaced Persons which is unfortunate due to which PoK DPs have been living under miserable conditions since long.
“Displaced status is given for a maximum of 10 years but it has been more than 68 years, PoK DPs are still living with “Displaced” status. None has come forward till now to lessen our plight, misery but hope is still there that we will get our rights” Chuni added.
“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,” Chuni added.
Prominent among others who attended candle march are J.S Mangal, Lalit Kumar, Roshan Lal, Virinder Khajuria, Sanjay Kohli, Subash Suri, O.P Khajuria, Tarvinder Singh, Sanjiv Suri, Gurmeet Singh, Rajesh Sharma, J.P Singh, Raghunandan Singh Bali.
