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LONDON, UK, August 9, 2004: A Kashmiri pandits exhibition held recently in London by Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT), which through the film “Terrorism Unleashed” and exhibits highlighted the plight of Kashmiri pandits, has led to a fierce controversy. Francois Gautier, a journalist who lives in India, lamented the lack of response and interest in the Indian community and the British media. It was indeed surprising that despite a good location, near Trafalgar Square, and a high-profile inauguration, the turn-out of the Indian community or journalists was pitiable. Pyara S. Khabra, MP, inaugurated the exhibition. He highlighted the forced exile of Kashmiri Hindus from their homeland due to continued threat of terrorism. He said the Indian government must create a safe haven in Kashmir for the return of Kashmiri Hindus. “I even saw an Indian man turn his heels as soon as he saw that it was something on terrorism,” said Gautier.



Gautier added: “We also witnessed hostility of Amnesty International to the plight of the Kashmiri pandits. Sunil Bakshi (the organizer) had repeatedly sent invitations to them three weeks before the exhibition. I personally called several times the head of Kashmir at Amnesty International and the Director Asia & Pacific Program of Amnesty. She said they only reported on first-hand facts. I replied that these were photos and statistics which nobody could dispute. Finally, after 10 phone calls, she said that ‘she had too many files on her desk and that she had no time to come,’ although the exhibition was a few blocks from her office. So much for Amnesty’s sense of justice.”



“I personally had a lot of hope in the British Press,” Gautier said. “I thought they would be moved if they saw the photos showing innocent Kashmiri pandits’ children being mercilessly butchered and the film made by renowned filmmaker Ashok Pandit on the tragic story of a harmless community, who because of terror became refugees in their own land. But I was sadly mistaken. One of the few journalists who cared to come to the exhibition was Michael Binyon, Lead Writer of the prestigious London Times. Michael saw the exhibition and sat during the film without saying a word, and at the end he said: ‘It is very crude, it is not made for the British public, and it sounds too much like propaganda.’ ”

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