LAST Sunday, two coaches from High Wycombe took members of the Pakistani and Kashmiri community to London to join thousands of others from around Britain in support of the cause of self determination for Kashmir.

The land-locked Himalayan Muslim majority state of more than ten million people, is split between Indian and Pakistani control.

The rally was addressed by the Prime Minister of Azad (Free) Kashmir, Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, Mohammed Sarwar, Labour MP for Govan in Glasgow, and Ghulam Mohammed Safi, general secretary of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the umbrella organisation of the Muslims of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The main speakers referred to the historical role of Britain in the subcontinent and the need for the British Government to play its part in bringing about the self-determination of the Kashmiri people. Speakers also asked the Labour Government to honour the pledges it gave before the last election, to be pro-active in finding a peaceful solution. The APHC general secretary asked British Kashmiris to use their voting power to seek support from British politicians. He advised the rally that the Kashmiri vote should not be taken for granted by any party and that freedom for Kashmir should be the priority of all peace loving and democratic forces in the world.

The rally ended with a delegation led by the Azad Kashmir Prime Minister to 10 Downing Street, where a petition was presented to the British Government. The petition, signed by 100,000 British Pakistani and Kashmiri people, calls for the peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.

The petition also condemns what are called the continuing human rights violations of the people of Indian-held Kashmir and calls for their immediate cessation, but above all it seeks the support of the free world to broker a negotiated settlement in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The petition also calls upon the innate fairness of the British people and their consistent and principled support of freedom struggles around the world to play their part in helping the Kashmiri people to realise their human and political rights through the democratic process, for which the free world has gone to war a number of times in the last century.

THIS year's summer play scheme at Green Street School will run from Monday, July 31 to August 11. The last day will take the children on an outing to Thorpe Park, with a family barbecue the day before, when a number of personnel from the funding authorities will be invited. The two-week play scheme will cater for children from eight to 12-years. The play leaders are in the process of being selected and trained, and it is hoped that it will again be a success.

For further information and application forms, contact Wycombe Race Equality Council, (01494) 527616