Conference

2020 National Black Members' Conference

Date

17 September 2019

Decision

Carried

This conference opposes the law enacted to revoke the special status of Kashmir by the right wing Indian Prime Minister N. Modi. This legislation was followed by the imposition of a curfew, the right to detain prisoners without trial for up to 6 months, the shut down of mobile communications networks and the internet. These measures have been imposed to remove Kashmiri’s democratic rights including the right to protest. They are also causing considerable hardship.

We reject the Indian prime minister’s assertion that these measures have been taken to reduce terrorist attacks in India. Of the measures taken, one of them is to remove the law that means only Kashmiri’s can own land in Kashmir. This is aimed specifically at opening up the wealth and resources of Kashmir to big business.

We are further concerned that there are reports of atrocities against civilians by the army. We note that the removal of the special status of Kashmir is opposed by many political parties in India, particularly those opposing the forcing of Hindi as a state language.

This conference opposes any intervention by Pakistan state forces. Such an intervention would only be on the basis of asserting the rights of Pakistani big business and landlords over the workers and poor peasants in Kashmir (to divert from IMF led privatisation). This could potentially lead to a military conflict between India and Pakistan, two nuclear powered states. We also oppose the right-wing terror campaigns, some of which are linked to elements in the Pakistani military.

This conference further notes that the impact of these measures amongst settled populations from the �Indian Sub�continent’ in the UK could be to increase the activities of right�wing nationalist and communal forces and raise tensions between different religious communities.

This conference believes the only genuine solution to the crisis in Kashmir is based on the aspirations of workers and poor peasants through their democratic organisations such as the trade unions. We further agree that full democratic rights must be restored including the right to protest and the right to strike, the right to democratic access to all methods of communication particularly to workers organisations, and the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people up to and including cessation from India if they so wish.

Conference instructs the National Black Members Committee to:

1)Work with the National Executive Committee (NEC) to establish links with trade unions in all parts of Kashmir to develop an understanding of the situation on the ground and to assist with solidarity,

2)Work with the NEC to oppose any violation of democratic rights of the people of Kashmir including supporting the campaign to stop the revocation of Article 370 and 35A

3)Ensure that in our work with local communities we make clear that we do not support the position taken by the Indian Government (Prime Minister) nor any intervention by the Pakistan government (regime).

Conference

2020 National Black Members' Conference

Date

17 September 2019

Decision

Carried

This conference opposes the law enacted to revoke the special status of Kashmir by the right wing Indian Prime Minister N. Modi. This legislation was followed by the imposition of a curfew, the right to detain prisoners without trial for up to 6 months, the shut down of mobile communications networks and the internet. These measures have been imposed to remove Kashmiri’s democratic rights including the right to protest. They are also causing considerable hardship.

We reject the Indian prime minister’s assertion that these measures have been taken to reduce terrorist attacks in India. Of the measures taken, one of them is to remove the law that means only Kashmiri’s can own land in Kashmir. This is aimed specifically at opening up the wealth and resources of Kashmir to big business.

We are further concerned that there are reports of atrocities against civilians by the army. We note that the removal of the special status of Kashmir is opposed by many political parties in India, particularly those opposing the forcing of Hindi as a state language.

This conference opposes any intervention by Pakistan state forces. Such an intervention would only be on the basis of asserting the rights of Pakistani big business and landlords over the workers and poor peasants in Kashmir (to divert from IMF led privatisation). This could potentially lead to a military conflict between India and Pakistan, two nuclear powered states. We also oppose the right-wing terror campaigns, some of which are linked to elements in the Pakistani military.

This conference further notes that the impact of these measures amongst settled populations from the �Indian Sub�continent’ in the UK could be to increase the activities of right�wing nationalist and communal forces and raise tensions between different religious communities.

This conference believes the only genuine solution to the crisis in Kashmir is based on the aspirations of workers and poor peasants through their democratic organisations such as the trade unions. We further agree that full democratic rights must be restored including the right to protest and the right to strike, the right to democratic access to all methods of communication particularly to workers organisations, and the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people up to and including cessation from India if they so wish.

Conference instructs the National Black Members Committee to:

1)Work with the National Executive Committee (NEC) to establish links with trade unions in all parts of Kashmir to develop an understanding of the situation on the ground and to assist with solidarity,

2)Work with the NEC to oppose any violation of democratic rights of the people of Kashmir including supporting the campaign to stop the revocation of Article 370 and 35A

3)Ensure that in our work with local communities we make clear that we do not support the position taken by the Indian Government (Prime Minister) nor any intervention by the Pakistan government (regime).