Simon Hughes MP, President of the Liberal Democrats visits Hodge Hill

2.01.00pm GMT Sat 19th Mar 2005

Simon Hughes and Nicola Davies

Simon Hughes MP, President of the Liberal Democrats, visited Hodge Hill constituency over the weekend. Simon Hughes recently led a top-level delegation from the British Liberal Democrat party to Pakistan and the disputed province of Kashmir. He met with community leaders to talk about his visit at a meeting held at Saltley Leisure Centre.

Nicola Davies, Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Hodge Hill said "It was great to have Simon Hughes back in Hodge Hill and to share his experiences of his recent visit to Pakistan and Kashmir. It is vital that the battle against terrorism is maintained, but we must also speak out against human rights abuses. What is needed in Kashmir is a broad based peace process, in which all the communities of the province feel they have a part to play and have their voices heard."

Simon Hughes MP said "I enjoyed meeting with community leaders in Hodge Hill. There is a tendency in some circles to dismiss Kashmir as a conflict between an Indian democracy and a Pakistan dictatorship. But this is completely wrong, especially as Pakistan is now so far on the road to rebuilding democracy."

Mr. Hughes further said "Britain and the international community need to encourage a continued peace process. There must be patience on all sides, as movement may not come as quickly as people want. Looking around the world at places such as Cyprus, Northern Ireland and the Balkans, there are lessons, which can be learned. What is needed in Kashmir is a broad based peace process which all the communities of the province feel they have a part to play and have their voices heard."

The delegation, led by Liberal Democrat Party President Simon Hughes MP, visited Pakistan and the disputed province of Kashmir in February. The delegation flew to Chakorthi and visited the front line trenches in a valley that was until recently subject to frequent shelling. But the site will soon be the route of a pioneering bus service link between Muzaffarabad and Srinagar, the provincial capital in Indian occupied Kashmir.

The delegation then were flown by army helicopter to Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan administered Kashmir, to meet refugees at Ambor, one of the many camps where tens of thousands of displaced families now live.

The delegation spoke with refugees and saw the cramped and difficult conditions they have to live in. The camp was well run, but the people were desperate for a just peace settlement, which would allow them to return to their homes.