07 January 2005	Friday	25 Ziqa'ad 1425

MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 6: Ieuan Wyn Jones, Leader of the Opposition in Wales (UK), has said that the settlement of Kashmir dispute can ensure a better future for Kashmiri children.

He was speaking at a function organized at a school set up by Sawera Foundation for children of Kashmiri martyrs, refugees and AJK residents displaced from areas along the Line of Control.

"The purpose of my visit is to learn about Kashmir and I will return with a message for my people so that there is a settlement of Kashmir dispute and a better future of yours," he told the children, who earlier presented him a memorandum.

In the memorandum, the children said that they were the worst victims of Indian repression as it had deprived most of them of parental benevolence and better educational facilities.

"Children are symbol of love, sincerity, goodness and also they are future of humanity, but unfortunately the Kashmiri children are living under the boom of guns and have long missed the calm sleep in the laps of their mothers," they said.

They called upon the visiting leader to raise their plight back home and persuade the British community to come forward and pool its efforts to resolve the lingering Kashmir issue and thus bring them the long cherished peace and prosperity.

Mr Jones promised them that he would do whatever within his reach to alleviate their sufferings. Earlier, Sawera Foundation's secretary-general Tanveerul Islam informed Mr Jones that there were thousands of children in the divided parts of Kashmir whose parents had been killed by the Indian troops. The primary objective of the Foundation, he said, was to provide quality education free, apart from a monthly subsistence allowance.