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NEW YORK (US): The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution for the peoples' right to self-determination, ignoring India's strong objections. The resolution was passed by an 88-3 vote on Thursdays.

The three countries objecting to the resolution in which Pakistan had taken a lead role were India, Mauritius and Bhutan. It is being seen as a victory for the 'freedom fighters' in Palestine and Jammu & Kashmir.

In-depth

In all, 30 countries sponsored the resolution. By adopting the resolution, the UN General Assembly declared its firm opposition to the acts of foreign military intervention, aggression and occupation, since those acts have resulted in the suppression of the right of self-determination.

The assembly also called upon states to cease their military intervention in, and occupation of foreign countries and territories and all acts of repression, discrimination and maltreatment.

Pakistan Reax

Addressing the Assembly, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Munir Akram observed, a vote for this principle was not a vote in favour of any issue. It was a vote for the principle involved, a principle central to the United Nations' Charter and the basis for the existence of the UN.

It was not Pakistan's intention to introduce polemics or controversy with India in the context of the resolution. Pakistan had introduced this resolution for almost 12 years.

Ambassador Akram said that it was a matter of record that over the years, Pakistan had mentioned Palestine, Namibia and also Kashmir in its statements related to the resolution. What happened this year was that the context had been changed, and polemics was introduced by India.

What changed was that India felt it could bully the United Nations and bully Pakistan into halting its advocacy of the cause of Kashmir. Pakistan would continue to support Kashmir, whether other delegations supported it or not, he said.

India launched a massive diplomatic campaign to oppose the resolution, immediately after it was sponsored some two weeks ago. It lobbied member states to vote against it.

US Zest

The US delegate explained that Washington believed that the best solution would be a mutual resolution of issues between India and Pakistan.

It reminds that the United Nations and the world community, including the United States, more than fifty five years ago had said the same thing. "Now yet again the UN and the world community re-affirms its belief that we must allow people to determine their own future."

Letter to Congressmen

The letter requests the U.S. Congressmen to "act swiftly and decisively" towards urging the United States to help with immediate implementation of the cited Security Council Resolutions and the establishment of meaningful sustained dialogue between Pakistan and India on the core and central issue of Kashmir.

It calls upon the U.S. legislators to use their influence to allow free and updated information of the world press, and human rights organizations to evaluate the existing human rights violations against the people of Kashmir being committed on a ! daily basis by Indian authorities.

"International media is not being allowed in the areas where many people are being killed on a daily basis."

Monitoring of LoC

The draft resolution calls for allowing the UN to become the monitor of the line of cease fire between the two countries thus allowing the world to see first hand the claims that have been made about the so-called cross border infiltration.

In the voting on the draft resolution in the UNGA on universal realization of the right to self-determination (document A/C.3/58/L.31) approval was given by a record votes of 88 in favour, 3 against -- with India atop.