Rare Earth Metals

Rare Earth Metals

Introduction

A rare-earth element (REE) or rare-earth metal (REM), as defined by IUPAC, is one of a set of seventeen chemical elements in the periodic table, specifically the fifteen lanthanides, as well as scandium and yttrium. Scandium and yttrium are considered rare-earth elements because they tend to occur in the same ore deposits as the lanthanides and exhibit similar chemical properties. For the same set of mineralogical, chemical, physical (especially electron shell configuration), and related reasons, a broader definition of rare earth elements including the actinides is encountered in some cases. Thorium is a significant component of monazite and other important rare earth minerals, and uranium and decay products are found in others. Both series of elements begin on the periodic table in group 3 under yttrium and scandium.

The 17 rare-earth elements are cerium (Ce), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), holmium (Ho), lanthanum(La), lutetium (Lu), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), scandium (Sc), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and yttrium (Y).

Despite their name, rare-earth elements are – with the exception of the radioactive promethium – relatively plentiful in Earth's crust, with cerium being the 25^th most abundant element at 68 parts per million, more abundant than copper. They are not especially rare, but they tend to occur together in nature and are difficult to separate from one another. However, because of their geochemical properties, rare-earth elements are typically dispersed and not often found concentrated as rare-earth minerals in economically exploitable ore deposits. The first such mineral discovered (1787) was gadolinite, a mineral composed of cerium, yttrium, iron, silicon, and other elements. This mineral was extracted from a mine in the village of Ytterby in Sweden; four of the rare-earth elements bear names derived from this single location.

Utilization and Uses  

Rare earths are a series of chemical elements found in the Earth’s crust that are vital to many modern technologies, including consumer electronics, computers and networks, communications, clean energy, advanced transportation, health care, environmental mitigation, national defense, and many others.

Because of their unique magnetic, luminescent, and electrochemical properties, these elements help make many technologies perform with reduced weight, reduced emissions, and energy consumption; or give them greater efficiency, performance, miniaturization, speed, durability, and thermal stability. Rare earth-enabled products and technologies help fuel global economic growth, maintain high standards of living, and even save lives.

There are 17 elements that are considered to be rare earth elements—15 elements in the lanthanide series and two additional elements that share similar chemical properties. They are listed below in order of atomic number (Z):

The uses, applications, and demand for rare-earth elements have expanded over the years. This is particularly due to the uses of rare-earth elements in low-carbon technologies. Some important uses of rare-earth elements are applicable to the production of high-performance magnets, catalysts, alloys, glasses, and electronics. Nd is important in magnet production. Rare-earth elements in this category are used in the electric motors of hybrid vehicles, wind turbines, hard disc drives, portable electronics, microphones, speakers. Ce and La are important as catalysts, and are used for petroleum refining and as diesel additives. Ce, La and Nd are important in alloy making, and in the production of fuel cells and Nickel-metal hydride batteries. Ce, Ga and Nd are important in electronics and are used in the production of LCD and plasma screens, fiber optics, lasers, as well as in medical imaging. Additional uses for earth elements are as tracers in medical applications, fertilizers, and in water treatment. REEs have been used in agriculture to increase plant growth, productivity, and stress resistance seemingly without negative effects for human and animal consumption. REEs are used in agriculture through REE-enriched fertilizers which is a widely used practice in China.In addition; REEs are feed additives for livestock which has resulted in increased production such as larger animals and a higher production of eggs and dairy products. However, this practice has resulted in REE bio-accumulation within livestock and has impacted vegetation and algae growth in this agricultural area. Additionally while no ill effects have been observed at current low concentrations the effects over the long term and with accumulation over time are unknown prompting some calls for more research into their possible effects.

Geology and rare earth metals

The application of rare-earth elements to geology is important to understanding the petrological processes of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rock formation. In geochemistry, rare-earth elements can be used to infer the petrological mechanisms that have affected a rock due to the subtle atomic size differences between the elements, which causes preferential fractionation of some rare earths relative to others depending on the processes at work.

In geochemistry, rare-earth elements are typically presented in normalized "spider" diagrams, in which concentration of rare-earth elements are normalized to a reference standard and are then expressed as the logarithm to the base 10 of the value. Commonly, the rare-earth elements are normalized to chondritic meteorites, as these are believed to be the closest representation of unfractionated solar system material. However, other normalizing standards can be applied depending on the purpose of the study. Normalization to a standard reference value, especially of a material believed to be unfractionated, allows the observed abundances to be compared to initial abundances of the element. Normalization also removes the pronounced ‘zig-zag’ pattern caused by the differences in abundance between even and odd atomic numbers. The trends that are observed in "spider" diagrams are typically referred to as "patterns", which may be diagnostic of petrological processes that have affected the material of interest.

The rare-earth elements patterns observed in igneous rocks are primarily a function of the chemistry of the source where the rock came from, as well as the fractionation history the rock has undergone.Fractionation is in turn a function of the partition coefficients of each element. Partition coefficients are responsible for the fractionation of a trace elements (including rare-earth elements) into the liquid phase (the melt/magma) into the solid phase (the mineral). If an element preferentially remains in the solid phase it is termed ‘compatible’, and it preferentially partitions into the melt phase it is described as ‘incompatible’.Each element has a different partition coefficient, and therefore fractionates into solid and liquid phases distinctly. These concepts are also applicable to metamorphic and sedimentary petrology.

In igneous rocks, particularly in felsic melts, the following observations apply: anomalies in europium are dominated by the crystallization of feldspars. Hornblende, controls the enrichment of MREE compared to LREE and HREE. Depletion of LREE relative to HREE may be due to the crystallization of olivine, orthopyroxene, and clinopyroxene. On the other hand, depletion of HREE relative to LREE may be due to the presence of garnet, as garnet preferentially incorporates HREE into its crystal structure. The presence of zircon may also cause a similar effect

In sedimentary rocks, rare-earth elements in clastic sediments are a representation provenance. The rare-earth element concentrations are not typically affected by sea and river waters, as rare-earth elements are insoluble and thus have very low concentrations in these fluids. As a result, when a sediment is transported, rare-earth element concentrations are unaffected by the fluid and instead the rock retains the rare-earth element concentration from its source.

Sea and river waters typically have low rare-earth element concentrations. However, aqueous geochemistry is still very important. In oceans, rare-earth elements reflect input from rivers, hydrothermal vents, and aeolian sources; this is important in the investigation of ocean mixing and circulation.

Rare-earth elements are also useful for dating rocks, as some radioactive isotopes display long half-lives. Of particular interest are the ¹³⁸La-¹³⁸Ce, ¹⁴⁷Sm-¹⁴³Nd, and¹⁷⁶Lu-¹⁷⁶Hf systems.

Scandium or Sc (21)

Scandium, a silvery-white metal, is a non-lanthanide rare earth. It is used in many popular consumer products, such as televisions and fluorescent or energy-saving lamps. In industry, the primary use of scandium is to strengthen metal compounds. The only concentrated sources of scandium currently known are in rare minerals such as thortveitite, euxenite, and gadolinite from Scandinavia and Madagascar.

Yttrium or Y (39)

Yttrium is a non-lanthanide rare earth element used in many vital applications, such as superconductors, powerful pulsed lasers, cancer treatment drugs, rheumatoid arthritis medicines, and surgical supplies. A silvery metal, it is also used in many popular consumer products, such as color televisions and camera lenses.

Lanthanum or La (57)

This silver-white metal is one of the most reactive rare earth elements. It is used to make special optical glasses, including infrared absorbing glass, camera and telescope lenses, and can also be used to make steel more malleable. Other applications for lanthanum include wastewater treatment and petroleum refining.

Cerium or Ce (58)

Named for the Roman goddess of agriculture, Ceres, cerium is a silvery-white metal that easily oxidizes in the air. It is the most abundant of the rare earth elements and has many uses. For instance, cerium oxide is used as a catalyst in catalytic converters in automotive exhaust systems to reduce emissions, and is highly desirable for precision glass polishing. Cerium can also be used in iron, magnesium and aluminum alloys, magnets, certain types of electrodes, and carbon-arc lighting.

Praseodymium or Pr (59)

This soft, silvery metal was first used to create a yellow-orange stain for ceramics. Although still used to color certain types of glasses and gemstones, praseodymium is primarily used in rare earth magnets. It can also be found in applications as diverse as creating high-strength metals found in aircraft engines and in flint for starting fires.

Neodymium or Nd (60)

Another soft, silvery metal, neodymium is used with praseodymium to create some of the strongest permanent magnets available. Such magnets are found in most modern vehicles and aircraft, as well as popular consumer electronics such as headphones, microphones and computer discs. Neodymium is also used to make high-powered, infrared lasers for industrial and defense applications.

Promethium or Pm (61)

Although the search for the element with atomic number 61 began in 1902, it was not until 1947 that scientists conclusively produced and characterized promethium, which is named for a character in Greek mythology. It is the only naturally radioactive rare earth element, and virtually all promethium in the earth’s crust has long ago decayed into other elements. Today, it is largely artificially created, and used in watches, pacemakers, and in scientific research.

Samarium or Sm (62)

This silvery metal can be used in several vital ways. First, it is part of very powerful magnets used in many transportation, defense, and commercial technologies. Second, in conjunction with other compounds for intravenous radiation treatment it can kill cancer cells and is used to treat lung, prostate, breast and some forms of bone cancer. Because it is a stable neutron absorber, samarium is used to control rods of nuclear reactors, contributing to their safe use.

Europium or Eu (63)

Named for the continent of Europe, europium is a hard metal used to create visible light in compact fluorescent bulbs and in color displays. Europium phosphors help bring bright red to color displays and helped to drive the popularity of early generations of color television sets. Fittingly, it is used to make the special phosphors marks on Euro notes that prevent counterfeiting.

Gadolinium or Gd (64)

Gadolinium has particular properties that make it especially suited for important functions, such as shielding in nuclear reactors and neutron radiography. It can target tumors in neuron therapy and can enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), assisting in both the treatment and diagnosis of cancer. X-rays and bone density tests can also use gadolinium, making this rare earth element a major contributor to modern health care solutions.

Terbium or Tb (65)

This silvery rare earth metal is so soft it can be cut with a knife. Terbium is often used in compact fluorescent lighting, color displays, and as an additive to permanent rare earth magnets to allow them to function better under higher temperatures. It can be found in fuel cells designed to operate at elevated temperatures, in some electronic devices and in naval sonar systems. Discovered in 1843, terbium in its alloy form has the highest magnetostriction of any such substance, meaning it changes its shape due to magnetization more than any other alloy. This property makes terbium a vital component of Terfenol-D, which has many important uses in defense and commercial technologies.

Dysprosium or Dy (66)

Another soft, silver metal, dysprosium has one of the highest magnetic strengths of the elements, matched only by holmium. Dysprosium is often added to permanent rare earth magnets to help them operate more efficiently at higher temperatures. Lasers and commercial lighting can use dysprosium, which may also be used to create hard computer disks and other electronics that require certain magnetic properties. Dysprosium may also be used in nuclear reactors and modern, energy-efficient vehicles.

Holmium or Ho (67)

Holmium was discovered in 1878 and named for the city of Stockholm. Along with dysprosium, holmium has incredible magnetic properties. In fact, some of the strongest artificially created magnetic fields are the result of magnetic flux concentrators made with holmium alloys. In addition to providing coloring to cubic zirconia and glass, holmium can be used in nuclear control rods and microwave equipment.

Erbium or Er (68)

Another rare earth with nuclear applications, erbium can be found in neutron-absorbing control rods. It is a key component of high-performance fiber optic communications systems, and can also be used to give glass and other materials a pink color, which has both aesthetic and industrial purposes. Erbium can also help create lasers, including some used for medical purposes.

Thulium or Tm (69)

A silvery-gray metal, thulium is one of the least abundant rare earths. Its isotopes are widely used as the radiation device in portable X-rays, making thulium a highly useful material. Thulium is also a component of highly efficient lasers with various uses in defense, medicine and meteorology.

Ytterbium or Yb (70)

This element, named for a village in Sweden associated with its discovery, has several important uses in health care, including in certain cancer treatments. Ytterbium can also enhance stainless steel and be used to monitor the effects of earthquakes and explosions on the ground.

Lutetium or Lu (71)         

The last of the rare earth elements (in order of their atomic number) has several interesting uses. For instance, lutetium isotopes can help reveal the age of ancient items, like meteorites. It also has applications related to petroleum refining and positron emission tomography. Experimentally, lutetium isotopes have been used to target certain types of tumors.

Collectively, the rare earth elements contribute to vital technologies we rely on today for safety, health and comfort. All of the rare earth elements contribute to the advancement of modern technologies and to promising discoveries yet to come.

Market demand for rare earth metals and Renewable energy  

By most accounts, the green technology revolution is imminent and will be massive. We’re already seeing the early days of a shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewables with the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles and wind turbines increasingly popping up across the landscape.  These technologies are poised to take over quickly. At the center of this revolution are the raw materials needed to make these technologies function and this means incredible opportunity for companies producing the rare earth metals neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr).

At the 2017 International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) assembly, the organization’s Director-General Adnan Z. Amin highlighted the “phenomenal” pace at which renewable energies are gaining ground, highlighting the falling costs and rising capacity for renewable energy generation. The number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road is steadily rising from 3.7 million in 2017 to a projected 13 million by 2020 according the International Energy Agency (IEA). Vehicle manufacturers are scrambling to prepare for this shift, with most major manufacturers now offering at least one electric model with plans underway for more expansive offerings.

Leading the way for this transition is China. Under intense pressure to address the massive pollution problem causing the ubiquitous smog problem that has plagued the nations largest cities, the Chinese government has put significant focus on investment into renewables. Today, more than half of the EVs on the road are driving the streets of the most populous nation on Earth and China is home to the vast majority of electric automakers. China also has a wind power capacity of 2,380 gigawatts, the largest of any nation on the planet.

Rare earths and high power magnets

The technology behind the renewable energy revolution would not be possible without neodymium, the rare earth element used to make the most powerful industrial magnets available. Within just about any electric motor a neodymium magnet can be found, made from an alloy of neodymium, iron and boron.

The very specific tetragonal crystalline structure of these magnets ensures that they magnetize exclusively along a particular crystal axis and will not magnetize in any other direction. This makes neodymium magnets highly resistant to demagnetization. There’s a range of magnetic material that can be used in electric motors and other technologies like wind turbines, but due to its resistance to demagnetization, neodymium is greatly preferred.

Electricity generated by turbines using NdPr magnets transforms the energy that will drive the future. And that future will be driven by NdPr-powered electric motors. At this point, there’s very little doubt about that. Market momentum is quickly shifting towards these renewable technologies, a phenomenon that is being helped along by tightening global emission standards and government policies around the world designed to encourage investment in renewables. The bottom line: we’re going to need a lot of NdPr.

Supply and market demand for rare earth metals

The momentum of the renewable energy sector has led to concerns of a supply deficit, as automakers and other manufacturers scramble to get a hold of the materials needed to build green technologies  automakers are now currently looking to ensure that they have long term supply agreements for the rare earth magnet metals. Even if they are not producing EVs today, they are now designing their models three or four years in advance of actual assembly and these long lead times mean they need to ensure they have all the component parts locked down well in advance.

China is the world’s largest producer of rare earth resources, as well as the global leader in renewable technologies. As the producer of 85 percent of global rare earth production, one might assume that China would take this opportunity to further establish itself as the primary global rare earth supplier. However, going forward, China may have little interest in exporting its rare earths. Rather, the populous country is focusing its rare earth dominance on aiding the domestic EV market, keeping their own product within its borders as well as encouraging foreign firms to move production to China. This is in hopes of cementing the country’s global dominance in the EV market as EVs become the standard worldwide. This further exacerbates rare earth supply concerns outside of China. The resulting deficit for China’s insatiable market demand for rare earth metals could create an extremely favorable environment for rare earth producers in China as well as those serving the market beyond its borders.

Rare-earth element cerium is actually the 25th most abundant element in Earth's crust, having 68 parts per million (about as common as copper). Only the highly unstable and radioactive promethium “rare earth" is quite scarce.

The rare-earth elements are often found together. The longest-lived isotope of promethium has a half-life of 17.7 years, so the element exists in nature in only negligible amounts (approximately 572 g in the entire Earth's crust). Promethium is one of the two elements that do not have stable (non-radioactive) isotopes and are followed by (i.e. with higher atomic number) stable elements (the other being technetium).

During the sequential accretion of the Earth, the dense rare-earth elements were incorporated into the deeper portions of the planet. Early differentiation of molten material largely incorporated the rare-earths into Mantle rocks.The high field strength and large ionic radii of rare-earths make them incompatible with the crystal lattices of most rock-forming minerals, so REE will undergo strong partitioning into a melt phase if one is present. REE are chemically very similar and have always been difficult to separate, but a gradual decrease in ionic radius from LREE to HREE, called lanthanide contraction, can produce a broad separation between light and heavy REE. The larger ionic radii of LREE make them generally more incompatible than HREE in rock-forming minerals, and will partition more strongly into a melt phase, while HREE may prefer to remain in the crystalline residue, particularly if it contains HREE-compatible minerals like garnet.The result is that all magma formed from partial melting will always have greater concentrations of LREE than HREE, and individual minerals may be dominated by either HREE or LREE, depending on which range of ionic radii best fits the crystal lattice.

Among the anhydrous rare-earth phosphates, it is the tetragonal mineral xenotime that incorporates yttrium and the HREE, whereas the monoclinic monazitephase incorporates cerium and the LREE preferentially. The smaller size of the HREE allows greater solid solubility in the rock-forming minerals that make up Earth's mantle, and thus yttrium and the HREE show less enrichment in Earth's crust relative to chondritic abundance than does cerium and the LREE. This has economic consequences: large ore bodies of LREE are known around the world and are being exploited. Ore bodies for HREE are more rare, smaller, and less concentrated. Most of the current supply of HREE originates in the "ion-absorption clay" ores of Southern China. Some versions provide concentrates containing about 65% yttrium oxide, with the HREE being present in ratios reflecting the Oddo–Harkins rule: even-numbered REE at abundances of about 5% each, and odd-numbered REE at abundances of about 1% each. Similar compositions are found in xenotime or gadolinite.

Well-known minerals containing yttrium, and other HREE, include gadolinite, xenotime, samarskite, euxenite, fergusonite, yttrotantalite, yttrotungstite, yttrofluorite (a variety of fluorite), thalenite, yttrialite. Small amounts occur in zircon, which derives its typical yellow fluorescence from some of the accompanying HREE. The zirconium mineral eudialyte, such as is found in southern Greenland, contains small but potentially useful amounts of yttrium. Of the above yttrium minerals, most played a part in providing research quantities of lanthanides during the discovery days. Xenotime is occasionally recovered as a byproduct of heavy-sand processing, but is not as abundant as the similarly recovered monazite (which typically contains a few percent of yttrium). Uranium ores from Ontario have occasionally yielded yttrium as a byproduct.

Well-known minerals containing cerium, and other LREE, include bastnäsite, monazite, allanite, loparite, ancylite, parisite, lanthanite, chevkinite, cerite, stillwellite, britholite, fluocerite, and cerianite. Monazite (marine sands from Brazil, India, or Australia; rock from South Africa), bastnäsite (from Mountain Pass, California, or several localities in China), and loparite (Kola Peninsula, Russia) have been the principal ores of cerium and the light lanthanides.

Enriched deposits of rare-earth elements at the surface of the Earth, carbonatites and pegmatites, are related to alkaline plutonism, an uncommon kind of magmatism that occurs in tectonic settings where there is rifting or that are near subduction zones.In a rift setting, the alkaline magma is produced by very small degrees of partial melting (<1 garnet="" in="" of="" peridotite="" span="" the="" upper="">mantle (200 to 600 km depth).This melt becomes enriched in incompatible elements, like the rare-earth elements, by leaching them out of the crystalline residue. The resultant magma rises as a diapir, or diatreme, along pre-existing fractures, and can be emplaced deep in the crust, or erupted at the surface. Typical REE enriched deposits types forming in rift settings are carbonatites, and A- and M-Type granitoids. Near subduction zones, partial melting of the subducting plate within the asthenosphere (80 to 200 km depth) produces a volatile-rich magma (high concentrations of CO₂ and water), with high concentrations of alkaline elements, and high element mobility that the rare-earths are strongly partitioned into.This melt may also rise along pre-existing fractures, and be emplaced in the crust above the subducting slab or erupted at the surface. REE enriched deposits forming from these melts are typically S-Type granitoids.

Alkaline magmas enriched with rare-earth elements include carbonatites, peralkaline granites (pegmatites), and nepheline syenite.Carbonatites crystallize from CO₂-rich fluids, which can be produced by partial melting of hydrous-carbonated lherzolite to produce a CO₂-rich primary magma, by fractional crystallization of an alkaline primary magma, or by separation of a CO₂-rich immiscible liquid from.These liquids are most commonly forming in association with very deep Precambrian Cratons, like the ones found in Africa and the Canadian Shield. Ferrocarbonatites are the most common type of carbonatite to be enriched in REE, and are often emplaced as late-stage, brecciated pipes at the core of igneous complexes; they consist of fine-grained calcite and hematite, sometimes with significant concentrations of ankerite and minor concentrations of siderite. Large carbonatite deposits enriched in rare-earth elements include Mount Weld in Australia, Thor Lake in Canada, Zandkopsdrift in South Africa, and Mountain Pass in the USA. Peralkaline granites (A-Type granitoids) have very high concentrations of alkaline elements and very low concentrations of phosphorus; they are deposited at moderate depths in extensional zones, often as igneous ring complexes, or as pipes, massive bodies, and lenses.These fluids have very low viscosities and high element mobility, which allows for crystallization of large grains, despite a relatively short crystallization time upon emplacement; their large grain size is why these deposits are commonly referred to as pegmatites. Economically viable pegmatites are divided into Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum (LCT) and Niobium-Yttrium-Fluorine (NYF) types; NYF types are enriched in rare-earth minerals. Examples of rare-earth pegmatite deposits include Strange Lake in Canada, and Khaladean-Buregtey in Mongolia. Nepheline syenite (M-Type granitoids) deposits are 90% feldspar and feldspathoid minerals, and are deposited in small, circular massifs. They contain high concentrations of rare-earth-bearing accessory minerals For the most part these deposits are small but important examples include Illimaussaq-Kvanefeld in Greenland, and Lovozera in Russia.

Rare earths players

Medallion Resources is one of the companies looking to help fill the rare earth supply void in North America. The company is focused on acquiring discarded or stockpiled monazite via long-term supply agreements with mineral sands mines and shipping these materials to a North American processing plant to extract a rare earth chemical concentrate product. Medallion has developed a unique method for turning that waste product into useful rare earth material at low cost. The company hopes this will put them on the path to becoming a major player in the nascent rare earths market.

In China, the industry is dominated by a mix of private firms, local state owned firms and national state firms. Major Chinese rare earth companies include Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare-Earth Hi-Tech Company, China Minmetals Corporation, Aluminum Corporation of China Limited and China Non-Ferrous Metal Mining.

Coming in at a very distant second, the largest rare earth producing nation after China is Australia. Production in the land down under has been rising steadily over the past few years, reaching 20,000 MT in 2017. Australian company Lynas (ASX:LYC) operates Australia’s Mount Weld mine, one of the largest rare earth producers on the planet. Australian company Northern Minerals (ASX:NTU) added to the country’s production in 2017 when they opened Australia’s first heavy rare earths mine.   

Rare-earth elements can also be enriched in deposits by secondary alteration either by interactions with hydrothermal fluids or meteoric water or by erosion and transport of resistate REE-bearing minerals. Argillization of primary minerals enriches insoluble elements by leaching out silica and other soluble elements, recrystallizing feldspar into clay minerals such kaolinite, halloysite and montmorillonite. In tropical regions where precipitation is high, weathering forms a thick argillized regolith, this process is called supergene enrichment and produces laterite deposits; heavy rare-earth elements are incorporated into the residual clay by absorption. This kind of deposit is only mined for REE in Southern China, where the majority of global heavy rare-earth element production occurs. REE-laterites do form elsewhere, including over the carbonatite at Mount Weld in Australia. REE may also by extracted from placer deposits if the sedimentary parent lithology contained REE-bearing, heavy resistate minerals.

In 2011, Yasuhiro Kato, a geologist at the University of Tokyo who led a study of Pacific Ocean seabed mud, published results indicating the mud could hold rich concentrations of rare-earth minerals. The deposits, studied at 78 sites, came from "[h]ot plumes from hydrothermal vents pull[ing] these materials out of seawater and deposit[ing] them on the seafloor, bit by bit, over tens of millions of years. One square patch of metal-rich mud 2.3 kilometers wide might contain enough rare earths to meet most of the global demand for a year, Japanese geologists report July 3 in Nature Geoscience." "I believe that rare  earth resources undersea are much more promising than on-land resources," said Kato. "Concentrations of rare earths were comparable to those found in clays mined in China. Some deposits contained twice as much heavy rare earths such as dysprosium, a component of magnets in hybrid car motors.

Global rare-earth production

Until 1948, most of the world's rare earths were sourced from placer sand deposits in India and Brazil. Through the 1950s, South Africa was the world's rare-earth source, from a monazite-rich reef at the Steenkampskraal mine in Western Cape Province. Through the 1960s until the 1980s, the Mountain Pass rare earth mine in California was the leading producer. Today, the Indian and South African deposits still produce some rare-earth concentrates, but they are dwarfed by the scale of Chinese production. In 2017, China produced 81% of the world's rare-earth supply, mostly in Mongolia, although it had only 36.7% of reserves. Australia was the second and only other major producer with 15% of world production. All of the world's heavy rare earths (such as dysprosium) come from Chinese rare-earth sources such as the polymetallic Bayan Obo deposit. The Browns Range mine, located 160 km south east of Halls Creek in northern Western Australia, is currently under development and is positioned to become the first significant dysprosium producer outside of China.

Increased demand has strained supply, and there is growing concern that the world may soon face a shortage of the rare earths. In several years from 2009 worldwide demand for rare-earth elements is expected to exceed supply by 40,000 tonnes annually unless major new sources are developed. In 2013, it was stated that the demand for REEs would increase due to the dependence of the EU on these elements, the fact that rare earth elements cannot be substituted by other elements and that REEs have a low recycling rate. Furthermore, due to the increased demand and low supply, future prices are expected to increase and there is a chance that countries other than China will open REE mines.REE is increasing in demand due to the fact that they are essential for new and innovative technology that is being created. These new products that need REEs to be produced are high technology equipment such as smart phones, digital cameras, computer parts, etc. In addition, these elements are more prevalent is production in the renewable energy technology industry, military equipment industry, glass making and metallurgy

Conclusions

The world-wide shift to renewable technology is well underway and the effects will be seen more and more across global commerce as the revolution gains steam. In the global resource industry this means a huge boom for the market demand for rare earth metals that are absolutely vital to the adoption of these technologies. As the world’s largest rare earth producing country keeps a tight grasp on its own production, the rest of the world will provide a rare and massive opportunity for non-Chinese rare earth companies.

Rare Earth Metals Ban : May, 29, 2019:

  Beijing is "seriously considering" restricting exports to the United States of rare earths, 17 chemical elements used in high-tech consumer electronics and military equipment, the editor in chief of China's Global Times said on Tuesday. Rising trade tensions have led to concerns that Beijing will use its dominant position as a supplier of rare earths for leverage in the trade war between the United States and China. A senior official from China's National Development and Reform Commission told the Xinhua news agency on Tuesday that Beijing will give domestic demand for rare earths priority, but will meet reasonable demand from other countries  

How Can Pakistanis help the Kashmiri People

How Can Pakistanis help the Kashmiri People

Introduction

The real tragedy that has happened with the current Kashmir struggle and its dejected youth is this age in which struggles are no more struggles but acts of terrorism. Over the past three decades, state apparatuses from around the globe and national security machines have played with the pedigree of protests. Jihad got redefined repeatedly to take the form it eventually did. It is now interpreted as nothing but terrorism. The Indian government exercised each and every measure to suppress the unarmed freedom-seeking people, but, ironically, neither did the international community appeared upset over the atrocities nor the world powers tried to rein in the oppressor.

Non State Actors

Within Pakistan, the jihadi groups and all those trying to gain public attention are very critical of the government not taking action. Notwithstanding that the current political dispensation is eager to improve links, there is not a lot it can do militarily. The last option was exhausted during the Kargil war. When asked during a DCC if the military could push further to capture the valley, General (retd) Musharraf had responded in the negative. Given the current international scenario, most of Pakistan’s international friends, including the Chinese or an older infatuation such as the US, would not recommend upping the ante in Kashmir through regular forces or non-state actors. Musharraf did close down Pakistani infrastructure to help the Kashmir war, camps were closed and people engaged were let go . Pakistan, however, did refuse to act against private groups who were assisting the Kashmir militants.

Bilateral and International Institutions

The Pakistani government must take up the matter bilaterally or even through institutional mechanisms such as the OIC, SARAC and the UN. For this, it must work on building its reliability. No matter what the government says about Islamabad not being isolated, international forums reverberate with echoes of Pakistan’s dual approach in fighting terrorism. Additionally, states, since they organise around their permanent interests and not ethics, seem to pay little attention to the Kashmir struggle . Since a large issue with the Kashmir movement is the environment it is taking place in, Islamabad’s primary contribution should be to remind people about the exact nature of the movement; this being about people’s woes rather than terrorism, and to build pressure on the international community regarding its moral responsibility to protect humanity

Lack of Intensity in Pakistan’s response

Pakistan’s response to the Kashmir issue has been lukewarm. The group comprising parliamentarians set-up to rally international support ( a year or so ago) were found half-prepared to garner the needed assistance. However, with the initiation of CPEC, which is bound to change the dynamic of this region, Pakistan should seek the involvement of China and Russia into the Kashmir issue just as they are involved in solving the Afghan cause. The dynamics of the insurgency in Afghanistan and Kashmir could be different but the danger of the Kashmir struggle morphing into terrorism under the assistance of other regional terrorist network cannot be ruled out. After all, both Afghanistan and Kashmir are fighting for their right to have an independent state without the influence of foreign or rogue state forces. In this context, it is imperative that Kashmir should also stop bleeding, and Pakistan has to take a more robust lead in seeing this happen.

Indian ban on news related to Kashmir

India has banned the newspapers, TV and internet. International community is unaware of the prevailing conditions in Kashmir because of this ban. Pakistan must provide authentic news related to the plight of the Kashmiri people

Burhan Wani

After the death of Burhan Wani, Pakistan has been trying to win the case it lost long ago; Kashmir’s annexation with Pakistan. One example of these double standards is Maqbool Butt. A Kashmiri separatist and co-founder of  Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front who was hanged on February 11, 1984 by the Indian government on the charges of killing an Indian intelligence officer. He posed serious threats to Indian administration and apparently confirmed with Pakistan’s official anti-India rhetoric.

But why we never glorified him? We don’t even hear about him. The reason is that he did not uphold the Pakistani official narrative on Kashmir. Maqbool was against the ‘Occupation’ of both the states. He claimed to have represented the majority of Kashmiri population and he also succeeded in gaining significant popularity and support. Maqbool butt was also an ambigious personality, not deemed as useful tool, both Pakistan and India declared him agent and spy of their rivalries. In India he was declared a Pakistani agent and in Pakistan he was arrested. His words in court Pakistani court were:“Freedom and independence is the fate and destination of Jammu Kashmir. Indian rulers or Pakistani generals and bureaucrats cannot enslave Jammu Kashmir for a long time.”

Pakistani Direct Support

Pakistan funded and trained militants in Kashmir, it gave an almost parallel power to its non-state Islamist actors. Former president and retired General, Pervez Musharaf had admitted this to German magazine Der Spiegel. “They (underground militant groups to fight against India in Kashmir) were indeed formed,” he said.

Arif Jamal in his book Shadow War::The Untold Story of Jihad in Kashmir has revealed this in extensive details. He outlines the military adventure of President Musharraf, the infamous Kargil war, as a logical corollary to Pakistan’s policy of using jihadis as a strategic tool in the war against India. As Musharraf claimed it in his biography, it was waged to internationalise the Kashmir issue but it ended up isolating Pakistan internationally instead and for which Pakistan bore an enormous human cost. The financial cost of the war, met through Pakistani taxpayer’s money, excluding the compensation rose to $700 million. Jamal analyses how the role of jihadis was overstated by the military and the sacrifices of Northern Light Infantry (NLI) drawn from Gilgit Baltistan/Norther Areas were ignored by the media.

Arif Jamal outlined the formative phase of the Kashmir conflict and the evolution of the policy of using cross border Islamic militancy as an instrument of foreign policy, by focusing on Pakistan’s first jihad under direct military command. It led to partition of Kashmir into Pakistani and Indian occupied Kashmirs within a year of independence in 1947.

He discusses how CIA money, destined for the Afghan mujahideen in the 80s, was passed to Kashmiri jihadis under Zia, creating a vital nexus of power and patronage of Islamic militants by the Pakistani military. Jamat-i-Islami (JI), provided ideological strength and human resource, in addition to coordinating jihadi network with various brands of Islamic militants across the world, fuelling a more than twenty-five year insurgency.

Demystifying the notion of jihad as a selfless struggle for the glory of Islam, the author, exposed the vicious competitions among various militant organisations fighting for share in the spoils of holy war. With the ascent of secular mission of JKLF, the Kashmiri nationalist militants in the 80s, JI fought back to take a lead role in the Kashmir Jihad with the help of ISI in post-Zia period.

The book describes the factional struggle within the jihadi network and the hegemony of Hizbul Mujahideen and its allied organisations on the reign of terror that they unleashed in Indian-held Kashmir. They looted shops, bombed cinemas, targeted unveiled Muslim women and kidnapped, tortured and murdered Hindu businessmen and officials. In the process of conflict, Kashmiri society, which largely avoided communal riots at the time of partition, was convulsed into brutal violence, rising fundamentalism and communalism, and the flight of nearly the entire Hindu population from the Valley.

Trade Relations with India

Trade relations with India should be broken up. All Muslim countries should be tempted for this boycott under the OIC resolution of April 1993. Indian goods that are exported to Middle East are 50% of its total exports. If a successful campaign is launched against it then this economic pressure can also force India to accept the rights of Kashmiris. Then economic sanctions can also be demanded on international level. Resolutions should be approved in Security Council, General Assembly and on other platforms. The world is boycotting the goods of Israel because of the Palestinian issue. Firstly it seemed impossible but after some years it will be successful. Now Israel is furious at this.

Indian policy

India’s policy of using brute force to quell any small or large insurgencies in the region, political mismanagement, and repression of Kashmiris has undoubtedly deeply alienated the people in the valley, which puts serious doubt on the sustainability of any solution that ignores their aspirations. A large proportion of the people in the territory do not want it to be governed by India. They prefer instead either independence or union with Pakistan.

It is a complicated matter, given the population of the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir is more than 60 per cent Muslim. This makes it the only state within India where Muslims are in the majority. The Muslim majority provinces had prompted the division of Punjab, Bengal and eventually the division of India.

 Steps Pakistan Government needs to take

 Many are exasperated at Pakistan's lack of actual action in the Kashmir issue. Kashmir is in an “Emergency state" and Pakistan continues to behave as though it's just another day of human rights violations  The high number of civilian casualties. India seems to get away with it all. 

The closest Pakistan has got is to finally put forward a conflict resolution model. Here it is. We read it in the paper but where is the actual document? 

https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/384997-shireen-mazari-presents-potential-strategic-conflict-resolution-model-for-kashmir

Was this presented to the Secretary General of the UN? How exactly will this model be implemented? Has Pakistan addressed the fact that “dialogue" is never going to be successful with a fascist government like India. If so what is the alternative for Kashmir? There is no point screaming dialogue if India's left the building. 

Imran Khan has made a fantastic speech https://timesofislamabad.com/27-Oct-2018/pm-imran-khan-s-strong-message-on-kashmir-black-day but speeches aren't enough anymore. The following needs to be done.

1. Where is the emergencyfollowing needs ti UNSC meeting for Kashmir? Palestine seems to have them but Kashmir does not .See https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/05/15/561836/Israel-Gaza-UN

2. Where is the resolution for the full Inquiry for Kashmir at the UNHRC? Countries can't vote without a resolution. The international community can't take action without a resolution at the Human Rights Council. Yemen got it's resolution and vote despite it being a relatively new conflict. Kashmir is a 70+ year conflict. 

3. Where is the ICJ application for self determination? If Pakistan is dithering on this application, have Kashmiris sought legal advice from an international lawyer

4. Critics of the Indian fascist state have been taken down directly and indirectly. The latest casualty is Kashmir supporter and campaigner Bea. India clearly finds her Twitter account a threat and has banned it. India is exerting its pressure on governments to get many critics and campaigners shut down. Where is Pakistan's support for us all? It's nowhere to be seen. India's powerhouse propaganda is allowed uncontrollably to destroy Kashmir. It's also destroying Pakistan and its reputation. 

5. India has slithered its way into the Human Rights Council? Where was the rabid objection from Pakistan? Nowhere again!

6. It is commonly known that mass complaints to the UNHRC triggers inquiries and investigation. It's well known that campaigning to the UNHRC achieved results. Certainly the African countries manage it. Even though India has banned a UNHRC visit, there are still calls by various people in Pakistan for the UNHRC to arrange a fact finding mission. Well, one can't do that if one is blocked from entering. The information must therefore reach the UNHRC. Is Pakistan doing this? Is anyone in Kashmir doing this? 

https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/complaintprocedure/pages/hrccomplaintprocedureindex.aspx 

Is there an ambush of complaints from Kashmir? Well, no there isn't. Why isn't there? 

We have an Emergency situation in Kashmir with no Emergency Response. While the Pakistani Military does it's best to raise Kashmir, 

https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/463754-Pakistan-Army-chief-General-Qamar-Bajwa-visits-LoC-troops-Kashmir

Conclusions

Pakistan needs to understand that it has already lost the war on both moral and political grounds. Pakistan keeps lambasting Indian atrocity and crackdown over Kashmiri rebels, but at the same time stands on the opposite extreme. This fails to validate Pakistan’s claims of being an advocate of Human rights and a right to self-determination and ultimately fails to gain the wider popularity from Kashmiris and international community alike.

This policy undermines the Kashmir’s real political struggle and is the real reason why Kashmiris don’t see Pakistan as their saviour. Pakistan needs to construct a moral ground on which it can justify its claims, which unfortunately seems very unlikely in the current context of Pakistan’s foreign policy based on anti-India rhetoric.

But beyond the Indian polemic about Pakistan’s overinflated role in Kashmir, there is a distraught relationship Kashmiris do in fact have with Pakistan. For Kashmiris, Pakistan’s support is both welcome and a cause for anxiety, especially when it shifts gears: at one moment offering unconditional support to the Kashmiri right to self-determination, at another, backing only those formations that support “merger with Pakistan” over the overwhelming view that favors Kashmir’s independence. Kashmiri Tehreek is not about the plebiscite with its two choices, but a historical struggle for dignity of Kashmiris as a people. The source of humiliation which Kashmiris experience is not from having been denied the choice between India and Pakistan, but precisely because of the imperial claims that the two postcolonial states have made on Kashmir’s land. I don’t want to suggest India and Pakistan have been equally culpable, nor is it accurate to suggest their relationship to Kashmiris can be deemed as equivalent. For Indian nationalists, Kashmiris are akin to squatters on a sacred land that belongs to India. For Pakistani nationalists, on the other hand, Kashmiris are like “brothers and sisters.” Yet, this kinship claim has not driven many Pakistani nationalists to lift themselves out of a cultivated ignorance about Kashmir’s history and Kashmiri aspirations. Pakistani society, from university teachers and students to progressive movements and activists, must rebuild Pakistan’s view of Kashmiris, not as a people who need patronage or who are knocking on the gates to become part of Pakistan, but as friendly neighbors under assault from a violent occupier state and who want to live in a free country of their own. This can happen through a free, open and respectful mutual engagement between Pakistanis and Kashmiris, through serious scholarly collaboration, cultural and political exchanges, and through linking of progressive struggles in Pakistan with the struggle for freedom in Kashmir.

The Indian government promises attention to Kashmiri concerns, but there’s no sign of genuine political initiative. Delhi seems to have decided it can simply contain the insurgency and ride out any political turbulence. The Kashmir issue does not sway many votes in Indian elections, and the level of international concern is low – meaning there’s no great pressure on India to resolve a problem which has festered ever since independence seven decades ago.

  . The male population is dwindling. It seems as though no one cares enough to stop this bloodshed. Not the UN and not the Pakistani diplomats. It's time they all did. It's time to make liberty a priority. 

UPDATE

21 DEC 2018 — 

In the last 24 hours, Twitter has been asked by the Indian government to suspend the accounts of a number of human rights defenders for Kashmir. This includes Jasmine DM. Apparently,  circulating the evidence on human rights violations isn't acceptable to India.

This is not the first time Jasmine has been trolled and attacked by cybercell India. Clearly RAW has nothing much to do these days. 

1. These are the documents given to me by the UN  on Kashmir. As the publicity has been shut off by India, please circulate these 

16 Aug 2017: 

https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=23283
9 May 2017: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=23116
28 July 2016: https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=3282

10 December 2018
https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/Opinion/Legislation/OL_OTH_70_2018.pdf

2. Imran Khan has spoken to the Secretary General and outlined the importance of the concerns raised in Kashmir https://www.dawn.com/news/1452602

There is a rumour of further development at the UN. I will post updates here 

Regards 

Dr Rita Pal

1.      Dr. Rita Pal: Jan., 21, 2019: We have noted the report by the UNHRC following our complaint detailed here www.kashmirhumanrights.com It was a good report but with no further action. You will agree that the idea of reports is to solve the Kashmir problem. In this case, the emergency remains unsolved and left to escalate with more civilian casualties. There has been no resolution so the HRC is able to vote for a full inquiry ( as was done in the case of Yemen). There has been no UNSC review despite the high death rate of civilians. There has been no consideration of a referral to the ICC or a decision by the ICJ. These options have been concealed by yourselves and not publicised. The people of Kashmir have not been informed of the fact that the UN can do more. No help or advice has been given to the people of Kashmir on how to raise concerns of complain to the UN safely. The UN/UNHRC has left Kashmir to slowly die. It's a conflict zone with a high rate of PTSD, disability, injuries, high numbers of arrests, mass graves, bereavement, torture centres you've turned a blind eye to, sexual exploitation by the military, hybrid warfare inflicted on its people by India and the destructive consequences of India's ineffectual ill thought-out  counter terrorism policies. The place is becoming more dysfunctional and dangerous with each vague, ineffective impractical UN statement made by you. It is possible to allocate a individual similar to Owen Dixon in the past. They could mediate an agreement between India and Pakistan. Kashmir is entitled to its own rights of self determination and accountability yet you insist on neglecting their civil rights. You give no reason why this cannot be done for Kashmir The UN has accepted donations from India and given it accolades despite the UNHRC Report on Kashmir, it's potential war crimes and it's neglect of the civil rights of Kashmiri individuals.The UN has failed to hold India accountable in any way or form. It's inaction resulting in lack of hope has increased militancy and made Kashmir volatile and vulnerable to exploitation. You once said you did not tolerate fascism yet you allow the Indian government to execute innocent civilians, use human shields, create mass graves and walk away without any accountability. Kashmiris have been censored and so have foreign activists like us. Prof Kaye has simply written letters and there doesn't seem to be any accountability for India's lack of concern for the UN's view. The net result is a complete silencing of civilians in Kashmir. In conclusion, the UN is seen as a toothless organisation since it's been unable to protect civilians in Kashmir for the last 71 years. Is this what you wish its reputation to be? We therefore conclude that the UN/UNHRC has not done their job yet. There is a lack of confidence in its ability to hold fascist countries to account. We are the complainants to the UNHRC and we are disappointed in the total lack of immediate action for Kashmiris. They deserve better. They deserve an organisation that works for their civil rights. Instead, the UN appears to us to be working to protect its donations from India. This is an insult to the Kashmiris who have suffered terribly at the hands of the cruel inhumane Indian forces

1.      Government in Exile: Feb., 6, 2019: Mr Baloch(of JI) urged the world community to shun its silence on the Kashmir issue and play its role in motivating the UN for the grant of right to self-determination to the Kashmiris. He also stressed upon the Pakistan government to present a roadmap for the liberation of Kashmir, saying that there could be no talks with India till it stopped considering Kashmir its integral part. Mr Azeem called upon the government to set up a `government in exile` of the Kashmiris under the leadership of veteran leader Syed Ali Geelani. Islamabad should not only recognize such a government, but also establish Kashmir desks at every embassy so that Kashmiri leaders could present their case to the world.

Update: Feb., 10, 2109: To begin with, Pakistan needs to comprehend duly that religious diplomacy has a great potential to catch India off guard and bring about a qualitative change in the enduring struggle of Kashmiris for their right to self-determination. Building on the Sikhs-specific Kartarpur initiative, it should now open up Shardah Valley in Azad Kashmir and allow all Hindus, especially those living in Kashmir, to visit the area, freely. Home to Shardah Devi and a centuries-old civilisation, the area is among the holiest places for Hindus who desperately long for visiting it in their lifetime.

As the Sikh community strongly reacted to the lukewarm response by Delhi to Pakistan’s Kartarpur initiative, lack of enthusiasm on Shardah Valley would again pit India against its own people — this time around the fundamentalist Hindus. Apart from dispelling cross-border terrorism charges against Pakistan, the decision would eventually compel India to open Chirar Sharif shrine on its side in Srinagar for pilgrims of Azad Kashmir. Needless mentioning that it would be a gigantic leap towards turning the barriers between two parts of Kashmir irrelevant, a prerequisite in the eyes of many for a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Furthermore, barring Azad Kashmir to international visitors and rights organizations has historically served Pakistan no purpose at all. Of late, in fact it provided an excuse to the UN Human Rights Office to censure Pakistan in its special report for violation of human rights in Azad Kashmir. Notwithstanding ubiquitous militarization and imposition of draconian laws, India on the contrary has always projected Kashmir under its control as the ultimate destination of tourists and a symbol of its federalism. Removal of iron clad on Azad Kashmir is, therefore, essentially important to let the world make a fair and square comparison between the degree of human rights and civil liberties enjoyed by the Kashmiris living across the divide, respectively.

Similarly, violation of child rights by India in Kashmir also needs to be specifically highlighted at different forums attaching great significance to this issue. According to a report by Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), children in the occupied valley are the direct target of Indian forces who, with complete impunity, have exterminated 318 of them in the last 15 years.

One could hardly disagree that ghastly incidents such as abduction, rape and murder of eight-year-old Asifa Bano and blinding of 18-month-old Hiba Nisar through pellet guns by Indian troops could not have gone almost unnoticed, were they highlighted effectively under various international child rights conventions and protocols. Pakistan should not allow India to go unscathed on such issues.

Legal experts in Pakistan should also look into the question of filing law suits in the International Criminal Court against Indian officials and men in uniform for crimes against humanity in Kashmir. Discovery of 2,080 unmarked mass graves in Kashmir by civil society organisations, for instance, makes it a perfect case to approach the court to try India on that count. Irrespective of the outcome of such moves, the very decision would bring the world’s attention back to the Kashmir situation and mount pressure on India to pay heed to the clamours of Kashmiris for an amicable settlement of the issue.

Last but not the least, Pakistan should now shun ill-advised procrastination on inclusion of Azad Kashmir cricket team in the PSL list. Besides transmitting a softer image of Kashmiris and their struggle for right to self-determination across the globe, the decision would make Kashmir a household name in the cricketing world and open up new vistas of opportunities for its inhabitants to seek moral and diplomatic support on the issue.

Can the United Nations do anything to stop the Carnage in Kashmir?

 

Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai

Kashmir is in turmoil. The government has imposed curfew, banned all public meetings, arrested more than 20,000 youth and placed the Kashmiri leadership under house arrest. Internet services have been snapped and all university examinations postponed. Barricades have been erected everywhere in the Srinagar (Capitol city) and other towns. More than 8.5 million people of Kashmir Valley are under siege since August 5, 2019.

 

Therefore, on behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir –and a territory whose status is yet to be determined under the resolutions of the United Nations – we approach the United Nations Secretary General with the appeal that he exerts his personal influence to help arrest immediately the campaign of mass slaughter and indiscriminate destruction in which the Indian occupation forces have been remorselessly engaged in Kashmir since January 1990 in general and August 5, 2019 in particular. In this context, we would like the Secretary General to bear the following points in mind:

 

The acts of indiscriminate killing of unarmed civilians and assaults on innocent women and children have not been fully reported in the world press because the Indian occupation authorities barred the entry of the world media into the territory and the restriction have been imposed even on the local media on reporting any incident that takes place in the Valley of Kashmir.

 

Nevertheless, even the occasional reports that have appeared do afford a glimpse into the reign of terror, established by India inside the occupied territory.

 

Amnesty International on September 5, 2019 initiated a campaign, which says, “Nearly 8 million people in Kashmir have been living through a communication shut down since August 5. The world needs to know what’s happening. Take action and demand that the government let Kashmir speak.”

 

Arundhati Roy, Booker Prize winner wrote in The New York Times on August 15, 2019, “Today Kashmir is one of the most or perhaps the most densely militarized zone in the world. More than a half-million soldiers have been deployed to counter what the army itself admits is now just a handful of ‘terrorists.’ If there were any doubt earlier it should be abundantly clear by now that their real enemy is the Kashmiri people. What India has done in Kashmir over the last 30 years is unforgivable.”

 

The New York Times headlines on August 10, 2019 reads: “Inside Kashmir, Cut Off From the World: ‘A Living Hell of Anger and Fear.”

 

HUFFINGON POST wrote on August 5, 2019 that “As Kashmir Is Erased, Indian Democracy Dies In Silence.”

 

Michael De Dora & Aliya Iftikhar described the situation in Kashmir in CNN – Opinion on August 15, 2019: “Kashmiris have displayed admirable courage in the face of this crisis, and their voices should be heard.”

 

Ramachandra Guha, an Indian writer wrote in The Washington post  on August 14, 2019, “India was a miracle democracy. But it’s time to downgrade its credentials.”

 

We must mention here that even in today’s violent world, the behavior of the Indian occupation regime in Kashmir is singular in as much as it has enjoyed total impunity.  Nor a word of condemnation has been uttered by world powers; not even a call on India to cease  and desist from its near-genocidal campaign. This is not merely a case of passivity and inaction; in practical effect, it amounts to an abetment and encouragement of murderous tyranny. The matter becomes even more baffling in view of the fact that Kashmir, being the subject of an international dispute, cannot even remotely be regarded as falling within India’s domestic jurisdiction. If tyranny is not condoned inside the territory of a Member State of the United Nations, is there not greater reason for the United Nations to intervene when the territory is one whose disposition is to be determined through a fair vote under the impartial auspices of the world organization?

 

We are mindful of the fact that the established procedures of the United Nations will not facilitate the speedy intervention that both the humanitarian and the political aspects of the situation in Kashmir call for urgently. However, the minimum that can be done to help bring relief and redress to the people of Kashmir is to dispatch a fact-finding mission headed by a statesman or diplomatist of high international standing to report expeditiously on the situation in Kashmir. Such a mission could visit all parts of Jammu & Kashmir as well as the capitols of both India and Pakistan and verify the truth of allegations from either side. The matter is much too urgent to be relegated to the routine mechanism of the Human Rights Council and the various bodies established to monitor various conventions.

 

An authoritative pronouncement of Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations (contained in the press briefing on August 8, 2019) is pertinent in this context: “The position of the United Nations on this region (Jammu & Kashmir) is governed by the Charter of the United Nations and applicable Security Council resolutions.”

 

Additionally, we should beg to stress the following:

 

Many nations have been very firm and leading supporters of peacekeeping by the United Nations. The proposition is now generally accepted that mere peace keeping – which in the case of Kashmir has meant only the stationing of a military observer Group – doesn’t serve a long-term goal unless it is accompanied by a tangible peace process. No effort to negotiate a solution of a dispute which could take into account the rights of the people of Kashmir itself is being undertaken or has been undertaken for the last three decades.

 

The people of Kashmir are dismayed by this total apathy on the part of the United Nations when Governments, otherwise sympathetic to human rights situations make statements to the effect that India and Pakistan must resolve the issue on the basis of the Simla Agreement, they disregard the rights and aspirations of the people of Kashmir itself. We recognize that such disregard is not deliberate. Nevertheless, it tells and encourages India to sideline the United Nations and perpetuate its occupation of Kashmir by force.

 

We trust that the United Nations Secretary General brings his influence to bear on both India and Pakistan to initiate a peace process with which the United Nations and as well as the leadership of the people of Jammu & Kashmir will be associated so as to ensure that the settlement arrived at will be based on the principles of justice.

 

Dr. Fai is the Secretary General of World Kashmir Awareness Forum and can be reached at: 1-202-607-6435  or gnfai2003@yahoo.com     www.kashmirawareness.org