Stike against Custodial Killing

Syed Ali Shah Geelani

Via: Qaid-e-inquilab Syed Ali Geelani

Chairman Hurriyat Conference, Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a complete shut down in Kashmir on August 3 against the killing of Sopore youth in police custody. In a statement issued, Geelani described Nazim Rashid’s custodial killing as the worst form of state terrorism.
The killing of innocents in Sopore at the hands of unidentified gunmen, he said, has become a daily affair.
Mr. Geelani said that New Delhi and its stooges in Kashmir have created a martial law like situation. Pro-freedom youth are being hunted down and booked under PSA, enforcing silence of graveyard with the help of police and armed forces, which they term as peace. Mr. Geelani said that the pro freedom youth are being target arrested and subject o inhumane torture by police and armed forces.
Time and again it is coming into observation that unidentified gunman kill people and it appears that these are handiworks of agencies who want to instill fear among the people.
In that matter of Nazim Rashid Shala, the statement of his father Abdul Rashed Shala is of significance in which he had said that Nazim was present at the spot talking to Muhhamad Ashraf Dar about some business when unidentified gunmen had shot at Dar. Thus it is evident that the agencies arrested Nazim to wipe off the eyewitness of their crime.
He further said that oppression and tyranny is ruling the roost in other areas of valley and Muslim belt of Jammu region as well.
Army camps have been installed at various places and the honour of our mothers and sisters is not safe with Damhall Hanji Pora and Pattan episodes being the latest examples.
Mr. Geelani said that the leadership is being confined to their homes and is not allowed to meet people. Frontline leadership is being held under the draconian law of PSA and these so called democratic leaders are misleading the world opinion about Kashmir
Mr. Geelani said that thus we are not left with any other option but to observe a complete strike to express our sentiments to the world .
Mr. Geelani said that strike is the last weapon with our oppressed nation and is a method to express our grief and anger. We are not being allowed to hold peaceful protest rallies therefore we have no option left with us other than strike.
Mr Geelani made a fervent appeal to all sections of the society to observe complete strike on 3rd august Wednesday at all costs..

Kashmiri Pandits, Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian hypocrisy

Aditya Sinha 

In two recent books on Kashmir (Until My Freedom Has Come: The New Intifada In Kashmir and A Tangled Web: Jammu & Kashmir; a full review will appear on the Books page in a coming issue), one repeatedly comes across an argument that has lingered during the past 20 years, an argument that is bothersome simply because Indian conservatives use it to hold to ransom any meaningful discussion of the main issue in Kashmir, which is the people’s desire for freedom. This issue is of Kashmiri Pandits and their exile from their homeland.

While it is sad that Kashmiri Hindus are internal refugees in India, some living in deplorable conditions in Jammu, Delhi and elsewhere, it is hypocritical to lament their fate while ignoring that of a larger exiled community: the Sri Lankan Tamils. One can’t help but think that the conservative lament over the “ethnic cleansing” of Kashmiri Hindus is nothing but a cynical tactic to derail the longer-lasting and deeper grievances of Kashmiri Muslims. It sadly means that the Kashmiri Hindu plight is exploited; and that implies a lack of sincere empathy.

In articles by conservatives (though few of such writers have visited Mishriwala camp in Jammu or Lajpat Nagar in Delhi), the statistics on Kashmiri Hindus often take on a life of their own. One Chennai reader (of my previous newspaper) once wrote in asking “What about the ethnic cleansing of seven lakh Kashmiri Pandits?” This number suspiciously mirrored the numbers of Indian soldiers that Pakistan inflates and claims we use in the Valley (the Pakistanis conveniently tack on the soldiers deployed in Siachen, along Aksai Chin, and at Udhampur, all technically a part of J&K).

The J&K relief commissioner, however, says there are 38,119 families comprising 1.42 lakh persons registered as migrants. Another 21,684 Pandit families are registered outside the state, most of them in Delhi; that’s another 80,000 persons. The government also says 219 Kashmiri Pandits were killed since 1989; an NGO, the Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti puts the figure not much higher at 399. It is no argument to say these numbers do not give the real picture, because by the same token you would then have to accept the claim that the government’s figures on killed or missing Kashmiri Muslims is vastly underestimated. Needless to say, 399 killed does not equate to genocide, another term used loosely by conservatives when describing the Kashmiri Hindu plight.

Though ethnic violence in Sri Lanka began 28 years ago, the numbers of Tamils who died during the war’s final phase (2008-2010, during the Sri Lankan army’s final offensive against the LTTE), according to a United Nations panel set up by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, number as many as 40,000.

And since 1983, three lakh Sri Lankan Tamil refugees have come to India. Many more migrated to the West, two lakh refugees to Canada alone. The Sri Lankan government itself identifies 9.75 lakh stateless people on the emerald isle.

With these numbers, you’d think Indians (and not just conservatives) would be agitated, especially since Tamil Nadu is one of our largest and most affluent states. Yet this was not the case the past few years; empathy was put aside for strategic reasons. India is made anxious by the eagerness with which the Lankans invite the Chinese to their island. Pakistan also finds a warm welcome there. The national interest dictated India’s silence though the “collateral damage” included M Karunanidhi’s massive electoral defeat. (Notably, the political and Constitutional reconciliation of Tamils that Sri Lanka had assured India appears forgotten.)

Ethnic cleansing is when one ethnic or religious group uses violence or terror to drive out another; it is not synonymous with genocide. You could argue this fits in northern Lanka; it does not in Kashmir. Ethnic cleansing was never a policy of Kashmiri Muslims. In fact, the separatist All Parties Hurriyat Conference is officially in favour of the return and rehabilitation of Pandits.

In the Kashmiri exodus, however, all communities have suffered. The Pandit refugees live in ramshackle houses lacking amenities and suffer psychological disorders; with the saturation of paramilitary bunkers and soldiers in the Valley, and the endless curfews, Muslims live in ramshackle conditions and suffer psychological disorders.

Only the Kashmiri Muslim professional class has gained. Take journalism: before 1990, the national papers were represented by Pandits; now they are represented by Muslims. Similarly in local administration and in healthcare; Pandits used to dominate despite their tiny proportion in population. They had it a lot better in their homeland than the Sri Lankan Tamils had in theirs.

It is hypocrisy to ignore the Tamils but harp on the Pandits. The latter are peripheral to the central issue of Kashmir: its political relationship with India. The Pandit refugee issue is more of a secondary one; it ought to be taken up later. At the moment, though, the Pandits’ exile is exploited to prevent the political discussion from happening. In holding the political problem hostage to an emotional yet secondary problem, many Indians undoubtedly do a great disservice to the Pandits in the ultimate analysis.

The writer is the Editor-in-Chief, DNA, based in Mumbai

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Accept Kashmir as dispute, we will talk: Salah-ud-Din

Source : Kashmir Dispatch

Rejecting any possibility of unilateral ceasefire during Ramdhan, stating that they were ready for dialogue if India accepts Kashmir as a dispute, United Jihad Council chairman and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen supermo, Syed Salah-ud-Din, Sunday said that gun was not in favor of Kashmiris.

“Whether bullet is fired by mujahideen or Indian troops, it is Kashmiri who is getting killed. I will be the happiest person if Kashmir dispute can be solved peacefully,” Salah-ud-Din told KNS in a telephonic interview.

Asked what the conditions of the UJC for dialogue were, he said, “Revocation of draconian laws like AFSPA and PSA, release of all political prisoners, withdrawal of troops from villages and towns and India’s acceptance that Kashmir is a dispute can become basis for any dialogue process.”

“Our leadership (Hurriyat) will be ready to talk if these conditions are fulfilled and we will support them,” he assured.

The Hizb supermo said that they were neither against dialogue in the past nor will we be in future. “But it (dialogue) should be meaningful, Kashmir centric and tripartite.”

However, the UJC supermo said that New Delhi was never sincere in dialogue on Kashmir. “History of last six decades is witness that India never sincerely wanted to solve the Kashmir dispute. India is neither sincere not serious, but wants to continue with status quo,” he said.

“In the name of CBMs some steps are being taken. We aren’t against trade and travel across LoC. But if some one thinks it is the solution, he is wrong. India is trying to hide atrocities of its seven lakh troops in Kashmir in the garb of talks,” he alleged.

Asked whether UJC would announce unilateral ceasefire during month of Ramdhan, he categorically refused. “Ramdhan is the month of jihad. It is month of jihad against oppressors. There is no question of ceasefire in this month. In past we announced unilateral ceasefire (August 2000). But the experiment failed as it only benefited India and harmed our cause,” he said.

On the recent talks between Indian Foreign Minister S M Krishna and his Pakistani counterpart, Hina Rabbani Khar, Salah-ud-Din said, “Kashmir isn’t an internal security problem that Hina and Krishna can solve it bilaterally. This type of dialogue is harmful for Pakistan and Kashmiris and it only benefits India.”

On Krishna’s mention of K-issue in his statement, the UJC chairman said, “Krishna sahib isn’t the first one to say so. In the past many Indian leaders have said so. It is compulsion of both governments of India and Pakistan to say that they want to settle Kashmir issue. But on ground we have to see whether India accepts that Kashmir as dispute.”

“It (dialogue) is to make international community believe that talks on Kashmir are on. But on ground India isn’t ready to solve the dispute,” he added.

On Pakistan’s flexible approach towards Kashmir, he said, “Despite their (Pakistan’s) own problems, it can’t make any compromise on Kashmir. It is question of their own defence. There might be some changes in Pakistan’s diplomatic, political and morale support to Kashmir cause, but Pakistan Army can’t make a compromise as it is question of their country’s defence.”

He rejected rumors that US was in touch with UJC leadership. “No one had ever contacted us ever. And if some one approaches us, our stand is clear.”

On recent civilian killings in north Kashmir, he said, “There is a network of renegades and STF in Kashmir and it is their handiwork. We condemned such killings always and say it no mujahid is involved in it.”

On Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai’s arrest in US, he said, “It shows double standards of US towards Kashmir. US sympathies are more with India on Kashmir.”

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Youths interrupt J-K puppet minister''s speech for his Kashmir remark

Srinagar, Jul 30 (PTI) A group of youth interrupted senior J-K puppet minister Ghulam Hassan Mir's speech today after he observed that Kashmiris should stop blaming the Centre for everything happening in the state."If the government here has not allowed Geelani to come here, why should we blame Delhi for it," Mir said in a seminar here, drawing a hostile reaction from the audience.The group, including school students shouted slogans, interrupted Mir's speech for several minutes at the seminar organised by New Delhi-based Centre for Policy Analysis.They also shouted slogans in favour of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who was earlier placed under house arrest."We all have a vested interest in peace and have to be united for finding a roadmap to resolution of the issue," Mir said as the sloganeering subsided. Geelani, who was later allowed to leave his residence for addressing the seminar, blamed New Delhi for its inconsistent approach towards Kashmir.Earlier, independent legislator Abdul Rashid accused the Centre of not being clear in its stand on Kashmir issue.Parliamentarians Arjun Roy from JD(U), Mohammad Saleem (CPI-M), Aziz Pasha (CPI) and RLD's Shahid Sidiqui also spoke at the seminar."We are here to understand each other, to feel your pain. We understand what you have gone through in the last 63 tears," Sidiqui said."We cannot have peace in the subcontinent, we cannot have development in India, Pakistan or in Bangladesh until we do not have peace in Kashmir," the RLD leader said.Saleem said sincere efforts were required to bridge the gap between Kashmiris and the rest of the people.The Parliamentarians were constantly interrupted by the slogan-shouting youth.

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Rapes increase in Indian Occupied Kashmir

FRONTLINE KASHMIR : It is unfortunate that trouble should rock Indian-Held Kashmir shortly before the Pakistan and Indian foreign ministers meet in New Delhi after an agonising one-year wait. Once again, Indian army personnel have dishonoured a Kashmiri woman, leading to anti-India demonstrations by thousands of people, mostly youth, in the Manzagam village on Friday. And while the protests are in progress, there comes another molestation attempt by an Indian Soldier in Hyderbeg area of Pattan in North of Held Kashmir.

The long struggle of Kashmiris against occupational violence is an everyday reality in the valley. Violence has served as a tool to affirm power and increasingly, women have become a medium through which the Indian armed forces assert their authority and inflict human rights abuses.

Rape in Held Kashmir is not merely a matter of chance nor is it a question of sex. It is also not a casual act by some erring soldier. It is rather a question of power and control which is `structured by male soldiers’ notions of their masculine privilege. Being cheaper, more destructive and easier to get away with than other methods of warfare, it has assumed an instrument of State policy to punish, intimidate, coerce, humiliate and degrade the local population with the sole purpose of forcing them into submission.
Dr Maiti, a professor of political science at Rurdwa University, West Bengal, explains, “Rape continues to be a major instrument of Indian oppression against the Kashmiri people while the majority of victims are civilians. This concept stands fortified by a report of International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) dated March 6, 2001, where it has been mentioned that women are raped in order to humiliate, frighten and defeat the ‘enemy group’ to which they belong. While addressing a seminar at the UN in Geneva, entitled, “Defending the Democratic Processes”, British parliamentarian, George Galloway, has also confirmed that India is using rape as a weapon of occupation in Kashmir.

A study done by “Doctors without Borders” reveals that Kashmiri women are among the worst sufferers of sexual violence in the world. It further mentions that since the beginning of the armed struggle in Held Kashmir in 1989, sexual violence has been routinely perpetrated on Kashmiri women, with 11.6 per cent of respondents saying they were victims of sexual abuse. Interestingly, the figure is much higher than that of Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Chechnya.

While the state home department has no specific data in this regard for the last 20 years, the number of reported rapes is estimated at around ten thousand during the last twenty years. (According to data maintained by a media portal of United Kingdom on reported cases of rape and molestation in which security forces were involved, nearly 500 women were raped in various parts of Indian-Held Kashmir between1990-1994. Media portal maintains that it has compiled the reports from what was reported by state media. The portal maintains that non-governmental organisations hardly took interest in documenting the plight of these silent sufferers of Held Kashmir).

In other words around three rapes of Kashmiri women are committed after every two days. This serves as a telling comment on the plight of women and on the indifferent attitude of the state towards addressing the issue. Cases of rape and molestation abound in Held Kashmir and many go unreported because of the fear of social stigma, and of reprisal by state agencies. This has even been admitted by UN Special Representative Margot Wallstrom when she said recently. “It has become such a way of life in some conflict zones like Held Kashmir that many victims are simply too afraid to report it and you can understand that,” And even in those cases, where the victims manage to transcend these fears and report the matter to police, they achieve little or no justice.

And look at the response of the local authorities to such crimes. Kunanposhpora, Pazipora, Budsgam, Bandipora & shopion are well ingrained in our memories. The scene of present crime, Manzgam has been virtually made “Out-Of- Bounds” for everyone, except security forces & persons belonging to administration. No protests are allowed even in adjoining areas. Even Women Parliamentary delegation from Mainland India has not been allowed to step in the area. It stands to reason that by adopting such tactics, the local authorities want to coerce the victims to revise their version by whatever means possible.

The fact that rape has been systematically committed against Kashmiri women and that justice has not been delivered in these cases. This in spite of the fact that the Supreme Court of India has ruled in a case that rape is a graver crime than murder as murder kills a person only once, while rape kills a woman again and again. This makes rapes in Held Kashmir eligible for an appropriate legal response at the international level. The state has to be held accountable for breach of its obligations under various relevant treaties and customary international law.
The prosecution of individuals alleged to have committed rape should be done by the international criminal tribunal on the precedent of Nuremberg as the domestic courts and military court-martials have failed to deliver justice in these matters and are motivated by a state centric approach.

The focus of the tribunal should be to punish the wrongdoers and not on providing compensation and support to the victim. If the international community remains a mute spectator to the war crimes in Indian-Held Kashmir, the people will loose trust in international law because of the strong developing perception that it applies only to the poor and weak - the Milosevics and Kim Jong Ils or whoever - and not to the strong and powerful? If you want global security, there are a lot of things to do, but the first thing is to have values or standards that are equal and fair. –Countercurrents