CWU pledges solidarity to people of Kashmir

Union Matters September 18 2019

“With so much going on within our own union and in our domestic politics at the moment, it’s important not to lose sight of our international solidarity work and suffering of people in other parts of the world,” says our general secretary Dave Ward, as he explains why he has written to branches this week about the Kashmir crisis.

Last month, India’s Government removed the special status for Indian-administered Kashmir – a status that had given the region significant autonomy – and cut off telephone lines and the internet, while sending in tens of thousands of troops and imposing a curfew and a media blackout.

“The issue was debated at our September NEC,” says Dave “and we are aware that a number of members feel strongly about it and may have friends and relatives affected.

“This union has a strong record of international work and in particular we are concerned about reports from Amnesty International of food and medical shortages, together with gross human rights abuses by security forces.”

Following the NEC discussion, a decision was made to raise awareness of the situation among CWU members and work with like-minded organisations and MPs to put pressure on the UK and Indian governments to alleviate the suffering of those affected.

“As an affiliate of Amnesty International,” our general secretary continues, “we’re urging members to sign the petition on the organisation’s website, which calls on the Indian government to lift the communications blackout and allow unconditional media access to the region.

“And we’re also asking members to lobby their local MP asking them to raise the Kashmir crisis with our own Government in order to highlight the ongoing crisis in Indian-administered Kashmir and the plight of people there who are currently subject to a communication blackout, while a number of political leaders have been imprisoned.”