Qaid-e-Inquilaab Dares Omar ‘Let Us Be Free To Fight Politically’

A day after chief minister Omar Abdullah challenged separatists to “fight politically” mainstream parties, the chairman Hurriyat conference (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, today challenged him to let the separatist leaders be free and allow their political activities to see who is favoured in the society.

Omar Abdullah yesterday lashed out at separatists, accusing them of indulging in “hooliganism, highhandedness and muscle power”. He challenged them to “fight politically”. “If you want to fight, you should fight politically and not by means of hooliganism, highhandedness and muscle power,” he told the separatists, adding that “lies cannot live long and people cannot be hoodwinked by slogans and fear.” In his strong worded response, Geelani said the CM was ruling the state with army’s help and that without the latter’s support his government “will lose its address within a day.”

“We challenge Omar Abdullah to come out of the security cover and then fight us politically. We challenge him that the Azadi slogans will echo from every inch of Kashmir,” he said in a press statement issued here. “Let Omar Abdullah give up the security cover and also withdraw the restrictions on our political activities, the whole world will see who is favored here. The world will see what people of Kashmir want,” he challenged.

Omar, Geelani challenged, should allow the separatists to hold a rally at Lal Chowk to know the reality. “We will hold a rally at Lal Chowk and let the government not restrict it, the reality will be revealed to everyone. The rally will be a referendum,” he said. The veteran separatist also accused the ruling national conference and other mainstream parties of “hooliganism.”

“Was not killing of around 150 civilians hooliganism? Is not arresting of innocent youths hooliganism? Is not restricting the activities of separatists not hooliganism?” he questioned.

He, however, said Tariq Ahmad was killed due to personal differences, not for strike. “He was killed by some goons with malicious track record. Hartal was made just an excuse. The incident should not be linked to the pro freedom movement,” he said.

Kashmiries Take Initiative On Kashmir Issue!

Guest Post By: Shafiq Mir

This is perhaps for the first time that any organization based in the state of Jammu and Kashmir has taken a serious initiative to search an amicable way to get out from the problem state has been facing for the past six decades . Though, there are scores of political and social organizations in the state of Jammu and Kashmir which have been crying for Kashmir issue for the past sixty three years , but each organization has always projected its own point of view on the issue without caring about their acceptability among those who have entirely an opposite view on the issue.

Indus Research Foundation (IRF) a Jammu based non governmental organisation which came in to being only few months back has tied up with some more organisations across the sea, particularly a London based non governmental organisation namely Conciliation Resources headed by a globally known social activist , Tahir Aziz on the principals of common minimum programme (CMP). The aim an objective of IRF has been told only to facilitate the interactions between all stake holders of Kashmir issue residing both the sides of LOC. The IRF has no personal view about the resolution of Kashmir issue but it believes that if the people to people contact across the regions and LOC is established at broader level and common people are allowed to sit together and debate their interests freely , there is large scope of bringing the people on an amicable solution of the problem due to which both India and Pakistan have always been on war front in the past 63 years . Honorary director of IRF, Zafar Choudhary says that none of the governments of India and Pakistan can ever take any unilateral decision on Kashmir issue with out taking their part of Kashmiries in to confidence . Choudhary says, “ the national level politics of the both the countries has always been seen connected with the Kashmir policy of the parties . Therefore, none of the national party of any of the country can afford to show any flexibility on Kashmir, because it goes against their political interests in their respective countries . This is the only reason that Kashmir issue remained tangled and was kept boiling for the past sixty three years by the politicians of both the countries”, says Zafar Chudhary . “ Leaving aside the political views and compulsions of different political parties on both the sides of LOC in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, we have noticed an unavoidable bindings between the people of both the sides .If in some parts they differ in religion but at the same time they have similarity and commonality in culture and language . If in some parts, they have linguistic difference , they have similarity in religion and customs . And we have seen the people only want to meet each other and want to recapture and establish their pre 47 social relations. Keeping in view this urge of the people we have taken an initiative to work like a bridge between the people of both the sides of LOC and facilitate interactions between them”, added Zaffar Choudhary . For this, he says, his organisation Indus Research Foundation(IRF) has tied up with some more organisations based in Mirpur and UK. The effort of the Chudhary’s group and friendly organisations seems to have been bearing fruit which is evident from the recent Istanbul (Turky) agreement signed between trade and industry organisations operating from both the sides of the LOC. Facilitated by these civil groups, an agreement was signed between trade organisations of both the sides of LOC on 28th November 2011 at Turky in which a joint chamber of trade organisation was announced with its first president from Kashmir valley . As per agreement , the second term after one year will be given to other side of LOC . And on rotational basis, in the third year the president will be elected from Jammu . This can be described as biggest development of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in the past sixty three years when the common people came to close each other at their own with out the involvement of government at any level .

Moving ahead with the same mission, second such interaction between the different shades of the society was organised by IRF at Jammu on 11th of December . In this interaction cum one day seminar, the people belonging to different professions participated and discussed the internal dimensions of Jammu and Kashmir with special focus on the mutual interests of the various regions of the state . Interestingly, no politician of any belief was allowed or invited in this interaction which was sufficient proof that the organisers were strict to their principal of keeping their organisation away from the political motto and intentions . During the day long interaction, various angles and aspects of mutual interest were discussed and it was agreed by all participants that an unnecessary mistrust has been created among the various sections of society and regions . This is perhaps for the first time when a Kashmir based organisation has taken an initiative to resolve the problems being faced by them . Earlier, we have been witnessing only Delhi based and other out side organisations doing such efforts on behalf of Kashmiries . This is a well come step and must be encouraged at all levels .

Mass Graves In Occupied Kashmir : A Matter Of Concern

The confirmation of unnamed mass graves by the Human Rights Commission in occupied Kashmir has sent shock waves across the globe. A report released after a probe by the investigation wing of the Commission revealed that it is beyond doubt that there are as many as 2156 unidentified bodies buried in unmarked graves at 38 sites in Baramulla, Bandipore, Handwara and Kupwara areas of North Kashmir. The report said that all these bodies with bullet injuries were handed over by the police to the local population for burial and were classified as unidentified militants (Mujahideen).

This is for the first time that any official body has made such disclosures. Earlier in 2008, the International Peoples' Tribunal on Kashmir in its report had disclosed the presence of such over 2700 graves across the occupied territory.

Subsequently, the European Parliament had passed a resolution on July 10, 2008, demanding of India to conduct an impartial and thorough probe into the matter to ascertain the identity of those buried in these graves but New Delhi is yet to respond to the demand.

All these graves are believed to contain the bodies of those who have been killed by Indian police and troops in fake encounters and in custody over the years. The disclosures have raised concern among the family members and relatives of those over ten thousand innocent Kashmiris who have been subjected to custodial disappearance by the occupation forces during the past 22 years about their safety.

As this report of the Commission is based on the verified findings of its own team of investigators there is nothing to question its authenticity but unfortunately, and to nobody's surprise, the first reaction of the puppet administration of the occupied territory was that the report was 'yet to be seen' by the concerned authorities. This kind of attitude speaks volumes about the seriousness of the authorities towards bringing the truth to fore.

Unfortunately, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have been facing the worst kind of Indian state terrorism for the past over sixty-four years just for challenging its illegal occupation of their soil. Indian troops under the protection of draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Public Safety Act and Disturbed Area Act had been committing gross human rights violations in the occupied territory to suppress the Kashmiris' just struggle for securing their inalienable right to self-determination. During the last two decades alone more than one hundred thousand Kashmiris have been killed, thousands have been disappeared in custody and hundreds of others continue to remain behind the bars for demanding this right.

The Hurriyet leadership and the human rights activists of the occupied territory in their reaction to the revelations have maintained that the discovery of the mass graves have vindicated their stand that the occupation forces are engaged in the genocide of the Kashmiris. The world rights bodies like the Amnesty International have also expressed concern over the matter demanding its impartial probe.

The civilized world cannot afford to ignore these shocking revelations. India should come forward and bring forth the facts by identification of the dead bodies. For this purpose it should start DNA testing without any delay as this method is used and acknowledged across the world and give exemplary punishment to the erring personnel. Moreover, it is also responsibility of the international community to impress upon New Delhi to fulfill its obligations towards the issue. It should also hold India accountable for committing war crimes in the occupied territory if any foul play is proved. If it is done, it will help in stopping the occurrence of such incidents in the territory in future.

Two New Indian Army Camps In The Offing In Occupied Kashmir

In occupied Kashmir, in contravention to the growing demand of troops withdrawal, the Indian army is planning to set up two more camps at over 800 kanals of land in the Islamabad district.

The residents of the district said that the Indian army camps would be established at 896 kanals of land, transferred to Indian army by the authorities in 1980s. One such camp will be set up near Nowshehra village of the district, they added.

Residents of Mahind, Nowshehra and Hatigam in Bijbehara areas said that the puppet regime had transferred more than 800 kanals of land to the Indian army, which was in the process of setting up a huge cantonment there.

“Army could be seen carrying out different exercises onthe land including digging underground bunkers and erecting signage”, they maintained.

The administration is allowing the Indian army to set up new camps in rural areas that too at the cost of fragile forest land,” said a local. “We own the orchards and the agricultural land in the area where the camp is being set up. So if the camp is established we will not be able to move to our orchards and that will be rendered useless,” said the locals.

The Indian army is also trying to occupy even the proprietary land for setting up of a camp in the area.

Confirming the transfer of 896 kanals of land to the Indian army in the area a top revenue official posted in the area said, “Yes the army is setting up a big camp in the area”.

The state of affairs in Kashmir University; Perspective of a student activist.

With despair I compose this message to express the real state of affairs in Kashmir University as far as student activism is concerned. The activities of Congress backed NSUI & the statements made by the officials of KU are a matter of great concern to the stake holders of the varsity. I would like to convey my displeasure by the following points:

1. The recent press release of NSUI which was published in local dailies communicate that their membership drive was a success by recruiting 475 voters in KU. If you have a look at the official website of NSUI, you can find the member list of J&K and KU in particular, wherein the complete list of the students involved in this heinous affair is available even mentioning the department & the batch they belong to. It comes as a surprise to see that the total no. of students out of the 6000 plus students of KU is only 110. Out of the 110, only 37 votes have been polled. And out of these 37, 80% belong to a particular batch of Dept. of Law.

2. It is but obvious from the list that NSUI has published on their website that they have managed to rope in only one or two pro-active workers who belong to the particular batch of L.LB. Logical instinct leads me to believe that these pro-active workers either have a pro-Indian family background or have some support from a faculty member of the department.

3. The PRO of Kashmir University recently issued a press release wherein he mentioned that NSUI does not exist in varsity, based on the information found on the website either the PRO’s statement Is blatant lie or KU administration is not doing their job well.

4. Authorities in KU had banned every sort of student activism as they say it does pertain to academics. I would like to question what according to them comprises the domain of academic activism. Is it the unfair recruitments (an example being a student of home science being appointed as PRO), Is it the sponsored meeting of selected few with Indian ministers of the rank of Kapil Sibal & Rahul Gandhi or Is it the cases of alleged sexual harassment by officials of University (Zafar scandal) or is it the Christian conversion controversy with some professors being allegedly involved in it.

5. Talking of political activism which the authorities fear & over which the KUSU office was demolished, I want the authorities to make their stand clear whether they think protesting against the Shopian Double rape & murder case and killings of innocent school going youth amounts to politics.

6. According to my information the election of this 35 member voter list was held at the residence of a lady who calls herself Rabia Baji & claims to be a revert . She runs an NGO which facilitates social programs for CRPF & Indian Army. The recent Shehar-e-Khaas U-14 cricket tournament played at the Kashmir University grounds where General Hasnain & IG of Indian police SM Sahai were chief guests was also facilitated by her. I would like to question this “Baji” how in the world does she fit in, to facilitate NSUI elections.

7. Taking into consideration the volatile environment in Kashmir majority of the students cannot afford to put their careers & lives at stake by aligning themselves with the real representatives (HURRIYAT-G) of the people, for they have no desire to become a resident of another unmarked grave. So, I wonder what the KU administration is really afraid of. It’s but obvious the suppression of genuine student voice is a pretext to inhibit us from speaking on behalf of the people of Kashmir.

8. I honestly believe that even this voter list is fake & these 110 students in the list of NSUI have been fold into something they have no idea of. They should come out in public as far as their stand over this matter is concerned or else their silence will be taken as admission to the guilt they are involved in.

9. Some students pursuing MBBS in GMC & JVC are also a part of the voter list. It should be of no surprise that out of these students majority of them with their names like Rahul & Akash are from Jammu.

10. All these activities & the silence of local pro-Indian political parties compelled me to believe that it all is a part of big conspiracy which has been hatched to strengthen the roots of Indian military occupation in Kashmir & to show to the outside world that Indian sentiment is prevalent amongst the youth of Kashmir, with some important officials of KU being a part of this conspiracy.

It is my appeal to the pro-people intellectuals of Kashmir to speak & question the KU administration on my behalf, for their silence will amount to acceptance of defeat.

Martyrs Charged By Police

Five persons killed in police and security forces firing during protest demonstrations at Tangmarg last year against the desecration of holy Quran in USA have been charge sheeted by police along with 15 others.

A police spokesman said the 20 persons including five deceased persons have been charge sheeted for the crimes punishable under section 307, 436, 147,148, 149 RPC.

He added that they charge sheet was presented before a court today in a court for setting ablaze government property worth crores of rupees at Tangmarg.

The incident had occured on September 13 following reports of desecration of holy Quran in USA. Police had opened fire on the protestors killing a number of persons. Curfew was imposed in the affected area for several days.

Police spokesman said the mob had burnt down different government buildings including tehsil office complex, animal husbandry department building, social welfare office building, Tyndale Biscoe school building.

A case FIR number 91/2010 under section 307, 436, 147,148, 149 RPC was registered in police station Tangmarg.

The spokesman added that during the investigation, police identified the accused persons who were leading the mob and orchestrated the arson, through photographs, video-clips and eyewitnesses.