Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF),a separatist group from Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday exploited the 2012 Olympic Games venue in London to push its separatist agenda by displaying banners, highlighting alleged human rights abuses in Kashmir, around the venue.
"The campaign will help the world to understand the Kashmir issue in its right perspective and also highlight the importance of respecting the peaceful and democratic struggle of Kashmiris," said JKLF chief Yasin Malik, spearheading the campaign, in Srinagar.
The separatist group has termed the campaign 'Torch of Peace'.
The JKLF plans to run the campaign for one month to attract the attention of hundreds of media outlets that has gathered at the venue to cover the games.
As part of its campaign, JKLF activists on Thursday drove vans with banners on them around the Olympic venues and the streets of London.
The vehicles were flashing hoardings, banners and photographs depicting alleged human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The statistics about the martyred and disappeared person will travel throughout the Olympic valley highlighting the Kashmir issue and human rights violations being committed on the Kashmiri people by the Indian army and forces," said Malik, who seeks Jammu and Kashmir's independence from both India and Pakistan.
Accusing India of ignoring transition of people of Kashmir from violent to non-violent means, Mailk said, "It was after persuasion of the world that Kashmiris transformed their struggle from violence to non-violence. In 2008 and 2010, our people started this positive change but India and the world failed to acknowledge and respect this positive change."
{{/usCountry}}Accusing India of ignoring transition of people of Kashmir from violent to non-violent means, Mailk said, "It was after persuasion of the world that Kashmiris transformed their struggle from violence to non-violence. In 2008 and 2010, our people started this positive change but India and the world failed to acknowledge and respect this positive change."
{{/usCountry}}The JKLF chief claimed the Olympic campaign has been launched to highlight the importance of peaceful struggle in Kashmir.
"The world community should support their cause for a peaceful resolution of this long lasting dispute, which continues to remain a threat to the pace, stability and welfare of the sub-continent and the rest of the world," he said.
This is a rare move by separatists to start a public campaign at foreign shores to attract global attention.