RIGHT OF THE KASHMIRI PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION

Early day motion 227, tabled 9 July 1997 by Roger Godsiff (Labour). Signed by 50 members.

That this House welcomes the initiative taken by the new governments of both India and Pakistan to engage in dialogue over the future of Kashmir and hopes that this will lead to progress in resolving this long standing dispute; believes that no resolution of the dispute can take place without the involvement of representatives of the Kashmiri people and that any proposals made must, in the final analysis, be endorsed by the people of Kashmir on both sides of the line-of-control; notes that reports of human rights violations continue unabated and that the sense of alienation experienced by the Kashmiri people grows ever deeper and believes that this issue must be addressed as a precursor to the possible success of any discussions; and calls on Her Majesty's Government, as the 50th anniversary of the Indian occupation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir approaches, to vigorously support the UN Resolutions of 1948, 1949 and 1957, which upheld the rights of the Kashmiri people of self-determination.

Signatures by party: Labour 42, Liberal Democrat 4, Conservative 2, Labour/Co-operative 2.