Geneva (March 26, 2014): At a sideline event at the UN in Geneva, the UN’s Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, Professor Alfred de Zsyas expressed his personal support for the revitalization of the role of self determination as a principal means of settling international disputes. He called for UN reform to bring about this change and also called for greater involvement of the International Court of Justice to adjudicate disputes.
He responded to a question on the rejection by some states of the right off self-determination to peoples within their own borders (citing India as an example) Prof de Zayas said such practices were unacceptable as they offended against the purpose and object of international law. He said civil society and the media need to expose such practices so that states acted in accordance with the fundamental, collective human right of self-determination.
Professor Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Deputy Leader of the World Muslim Conference referred to the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir and said the denial of self-determination in the region – despite UN Resolutions calling for a plebiscite – has led to a traumatic situation where the people, through no fault of their own, have been subjected to oppression and the forcible denial of freedom. He called for the UN to set up locally-based civil society institutions to redress the democratic deficit and restore human rights and the rule of law. He presented the Independent Expert with his latest book entitled ‘Kashmir – Tormented Past and Bruised Present’ and thanked him for his impressive efforts to raise the profile of self-determination once again at the UN.
Leon Kaulahao, Minister of Froeign Affairs of the Kingdom of Hawaii, spoke of recent positive developments in bringing forward self-determination claims by indigenous peoples. His own nation has submitted a claim to the International Court of Justice to review the annexation of Hawaii’s territory by the USA and he said that he is hopeful that the wrongs of colonization across the world would be righted by an increasingly aware international community.
Leading campaigner for Palestinian self-determination, Issa Amro, addressed the gathering by video link and spoke of the denial of freedom being suffered by his people. He said the daily humiliations of being evicted from their lands and partitioned by an illegal security barrier had left his people devastated; it was imperative that the world intervened in this glaring breach of international law. His contribution was supported by Daniela Donges of the Geneva International Centre for Justice.
Ranjit Singh Srai, of ‘Parliamentarians for National Self-determination’ called on the UN to take firm steps to end the ‘impunity’ of states failing to respect the right of self-determination. India’s position had directly led to massive conflicts in Kashmir, Sikh Punjab, Nagaland, Manipur and Assam – the forcible denial of self-determination in those regions has cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
Ambassoador Ronald Barnes of the Alaskan nation moderated the Q & A session which followed these contributions and thanked the participants. The event was hosted by the World Muslim Council, Indian Council of South America and many other NGOs.