Kashmir Unmarked Graves: UN Mediation

Guest Post By: Huma Sheikh

In August 2011, the unmarked graves atrocity came to light in Kashmir after the Jammu & Kashmir Human Rights Commission confirmed that more than two thousand bodies were buried in those graves in several districts of the Valley. The commission said many of the dead were civilians who had disappeared over the past two decades, the time of the bloodiest violence in Kashmir. The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) —an association formed by parents and relatives of victims of enforced disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir— had in 2008 reported to the commission about the presence of unmarked graves, and about their fears that those unidentified bodies might be their missing children.

According to the commission report, 2,730 bodies were buried in thirty-eight sites in North Kashmir’s Baramulla, Bandipora, Handwara and Kupwara districts. Five hundred seventy four (574) among the 2,730 bodies were those of missing local Kashmiris.

The Jammu and Kashmir government had earlier said the bodies in unmarked graves were those of unidentified militants, most of them Pakistani insurgents who were handed over to local people for burial. After the commission report, Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said all missing persons were not buried in unmarked graves. Some of these people had been doing small businesses—either driving cabs or something else– across the Line of Control (LOC), the de facto border dividing Indian and Pakistani Kashmir. “I can say with authority that some of the persons buried in these unmarked graves were killed by militants,” Omar had told the Hindustan Times newspaper in India.

The issue of unmarked graves has become a major problem in the eight-decade-old conflict in Kashmir. People in Kashmir feel they are unsafe in the valley because of civilian disappearances by security forces and their subsequent killings in fake encounters to label them insurgents. The government, on the other hand, maintains the situation in Kashmir has improved and the Chief Minister established a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate unmarked graves. But this problem remains unresolved but can be resolved with the help of international third party mediation, or more precisely the United Nations mediation–mainly for two reasons:

1. The Kashmir conflict is a regional conflict because its resolution must include both India and Pakistan.

2. India is primarily Hindu and Pakistan is Muslim, and Kashmir, which is predominantly Muslim, is part of Hindu India. The UN was involved in the Kashmir conflict from 1948 to 1965 after India reported to the Security Council on January 1, 1948 under Article 35 (chapter VI) Pakistan’s involvement in aiding tribal invaders. Pakistan denied, however, having ever supported the tribal invaders. Several resolutions were passed by the UN during its 17-year-old active involvement in the conflict. But neither India nor Pakistan agreed to them.

The recent Kashmir conflict (1989), however, is not the same. It’s one of the most dangerous conflicts of the world having now killed over 70,000 people in Kashmir. The U.N mediation to resolve the Kashmir conflict is a necessity for the best interests of people in Kashmir, India, and Pakistan. Here’s why!

Background: Kashmir Conflict

The Kashmir conflict is principally a regional conflict dating back to 1947 when two states of Hindustan—India and Pakistan– were divided into two countries. Before 1947, Hindustan was ruled by Great Britain and Kashmir was one among 584 princely states not directly ruled by British Empire. Following Independence, the Hindu leader of the Muslim-majority Kashmir Hari Singh opted to accede to India as armed invaders from Pakistan were advancing on the Kashmir capital, Srinagar. According to the accession agreement, autonomy was promised to the people of Kashmir upon defeating the Pakistani invaders, autonomy to decide their future course of action i.e. whether to be part of India or Pakistan. This right to self-determination, has, however, always been bypassed by the Indian government. India and Pakistan have fought three wars over Kashmir since 1947. The two countries negotiated a Line of Control in 1971 dividing Indian and Pakistani Kashmir, but that border has always been restive.

The recent conflict— a secessionist movement— in Kashmir began in 1989 and has now killed over 70,000 Kashmiri Muslims, mostly civilians. The main demand of people in Kashmir is sovereignty and freedom (azadi) from India. This new wave of violence turned religious when minority Kashmiri Hindus left Kashmir in 1990. Kashmiri militants claim that Kashmiri Hindus left the state because it was the conspiracy of the Indian government so that it could without a hitch kill all Kashmiri Muslims in Kashmir. Kashmiri Hindus, on the other hand, claim that Kashmiri militants killed many of them, and they threatened them to try to move them out.

Similar Conflicts

Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995) was an ethnic conflict over the partition of Bosnia. Ethnic Muslim Croats and Bosnians wanted to secede from Yugoslavia. But most of the Serbs opposed this desire for independence. The war claimed around 100,000-110,000 lives.

In 1992, the UN mediated the conflict and established the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) to facilitate peacemaking in the region. To extend its mandate, it passed many resolutions over time such as more UN military involvement and allowing NATO air strikes against insurgent Bosnian Serbs. In October 1995, all parties agreed to a ceasefire that resulted in Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) in December, 1995.

Iran-Iraq (1980-1988) war lasted eight years over several border disputes, the most important being the Shatt al-Arab, the major waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Iranian ports of Khorramshahr and Abadan, and the Iraqi port of Basra. The war killed about one million people.

The eight-year old war between Iraqi Arabs and Iranian Persians came to an end in the summer of 1988 after UN resolution 598 was accepted by both the countries. According to the resolution, the UN supervised ceasefire was established and UN Iran-Iraq Observer Group (UNIMOG) created by the security General monitored the ceasefire. The resolution also included prisoner exchanges and pulling out of forces to internationally recognized boundaries.

Appropriateness of UN mediation in Kashmir conflict

The Kashmir conflict has essentially much in common with Iran-Iraq and Bosnian conflicts in regional and religious contexts, and it calls for the UN’s involvement in effectively resolving the issue. The continued UN involvement after 1965 would have prevented 1989 freedom movement in Kashmir. Now the unmarked graves issue may have repercussions for another bloodier war in Kashmir especially after the commission report confirmed the burial of 574 civilians in those graves.

Weaknesses and Strengths of UN Mediation

Weaknesses: The UN mediation is arbitrary. Decisions are based on agreement of conflicting parties. In other words, the problem of mediation is to get the conflicting parties to agree. In Kashmir, the UN resolution 47 on April 21, 1948 called for holding a UN-supervised plebiscite in the Valley among other things, but both India and Pakistan rejected it. India feared that Kashmiris might vote for Pakistan because of their same religious identity. Pakistan refused the resolution for fears that referendum might be rigged because the Prime Minister of then still autonomous Jammu & Kashmir– Sheikh Abdullah was an Indian ally.

Strengths: Arbitration insures a less formal setting to the mediation process. Unlike legal process, mediation compels the conflicting parties to change and see the common ground that can resolve the conflict. The UN is the most powerful international organization with 192 member countries from across the world. It can extend its mandate by passing several resolutions. For example in Bosnia & Herzegovina war, the UN passed several resolutions to extend its mandate that enabled UNPROFOR (United Nations Protection Force—to take control of Sarajevo airport in 1992 for humanitarian relief following fighting between Bosnian Croats and Bosnian Serbs over Bosnia’s referendum a month before.

The UN can also seek help from its member states, if necessary, to bring an end to the conflict. For example in 1995, UK and France—the two member states of the UN—supported NATO operations after the Sarajevo Markale market massacre and arrest of UNPROFOR forces by Bosnian Serbs.

Weaknesses and Strengths of war

Weaknesses: War results in the deaths of thousands of innocent people as well as widespread destruction of material and financial resources. Iran-Iraq war claimed lives of some five-hundred thousand to one million people and the financial cost was estimated at a minimum of $200 billion.

Strengths: War brings an end to the vexed conflict. People are willing to give in on ideological stances in order for the violence to stop because losses incurred in war are huge. In other words, war has the ability to bring about conclusion to the conflict because of casualties and costs. The winning country controls everything. There may be little negotiation. .

Weaknesses and Strengths of international law

Weaknesses: If a country is strong enough that it doesn’t care about the international law, then it doesn’t abide by the law. Example: When the US invaded Iraq the second time, it was against the UN mandate but the country could get away with it because of its superpower status.

Strengths: International law constricts countries (member states) in organizations such as the UN to abide by this law. This gives leverage to the UN because belligerents can be tried in the international criminal court. (ICC). Example: In Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict, the UN passed resolution 827 in May 1993 to create International Crimes Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY) to prosecute people responsible for serious violations of international Humanitarian law .

Weaknesses and Strengths of avoidance

Weaknesses: Avoidance is simply not addressing the problem as if it doesn’t exist. In some cases, the conflict may resolve itself with time or otherwise it may become a major problem. In case of Kashmir, avoidance is ignoring the reality of unmarked graves, human rights violations and thousands of people being killed.

Strengths: If conditions aren’t too violent or too extreme, time and changes in politics or world economy will resolve the problem peacefully without mediation, revolution, or military conflict. Any time a conflict is and will likely to continue to be violence-free, avoidance of violence might be one of the best solutions.

The Kashmir conflict is obviously too violent for the avoidance strategy. It is a major regional and religious conflict that has plagued not only people in Kashmir but also the two nuclear nations of India and Pakistan. India may be looking at the Kashmir conflict through the “strength of war” lens and assuming that Kashmiri people will eventually grow tired and give up violence. Pakistan, on the other hand, may be looking at the Kashmir conflict in the context of India’s weakness and hoping that its rival nation would finally leave Kashmir in favor of preserving its good reputation in the world as one of the fastest growing economies globally. But these assumptions are not valid and the continued large-scale violence in Kashmir proves it. The only resolution strategy for the Kashmir conflict is to develop an agreement that is mutually beneficial and will provide long lasting benefits to the people of Kashmir and India and Pakistan. This agreement should also help strengthen the ability of Kashmir as well as India and Pakistan to work together in the future. UN mediation is appropriate for the Kashmir conflict because neutrality is crucial to the UN’s record in peacemaking and peacekeeping and its final decisions are future-oriented and based on objective criteria. The UN recently expanded its peacemaking operations in regional conflicts. These services include provision of mediation services, good offices, and other forms of intermediary assistance; provision of fact-finding and observation commissions and the provision of humanitarian aid and assistance. India and Pakistan have not been able to resolve the Kashmir conflict since 1989. More importantly the conflict transformation since 1989 and its effects on the people of Kashmir and India and Pakistan—the two major nuclear powers— threaten the security of the whole world. In other words, this conflict makes it a world security problem— not just Kashmir and India-Pakistan conflict— and therefore makes it a prime candidate for UN mediation. UN mediation will enable the conflicting parties to work toward a sustainable agreement and bring about positive change in Kashmir as well as India-Pakistan and the rest of the world.

Power-Starved JK is Goldmine For NHPC

Guest Post By: Javid Malik

Power-starved JK is goldmine for NHPC, State Contributes 32% Energy To Corporation Kitty Against 68% By 27 Others

While the political leadership in Jammu and Kashmir goes around the town trumpeting about the state having potential of generating around 20,000 MW of energy from its water resources, the real beneficiary of this goldmine is not the power-starved state but the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) – a Government of India subsidiary.

Believe it! Out of its entire generation capacity of 5295 MW of energy from 14 power stations spread across India , NHPC is drawing the highest booty of 1680 MW of electricity (32 percent) from Jammu and Kashmir with rest of the 27 states contributing just 3615 MW (68 percent).

Further, out of its 14 power stations, NHPC unilaterally owns four major stations in Jammu and Kashmir – the highest number of power stations owned by the Corporation in any single state. The power projects owned by NHPC in J&K include Salal (I&II) with 690 MW generation capacity, Uri-I with 480 MW, Dulhasti with 390 MW and Sewa-II with 120 MW.

And, what J&K is getting from NHPC in return for the massive exploitation of its water resources - a meager 12 percent (210 MW) energy as royalty - with Corporation having negligible contribution under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the state as compared to other states.

Out of 3615 MW of power being generated by NHPC outside J&K, a big state like Madhya Pradesh contributes 1520 MW from two power stations, Himachal Pradesh contributes 1020 MW from three power stations, Sikkim gives 570 MW from two power stations, Uttarakhand 400 MW from two power stations and Manipur 105 MW from one power station.

Out of the 10 upcoming power stations of NHPC, the highest number of four stations with generation capacity of 660 MW would be again in Jammu & Kashmir. These include Uri-II (240 MW), Kishenganga (330 MW), Nimo Bazgo (45 MW) and Chutak (44 MW).

NHPC is again a major share-holder in the joint venture - Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Limited - in association with the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) and Power Trading Corporation of India (PTCI) for executing three projects totaling 2,120 MW on the Chenab river basin. These include Bursar power project with 1020 MW capacity and Pakal Dul with 1000 MW.

As per its balance sheet, NHPC has earned net profit of Rs 2167 crore during the fiscal 2010-2011 from its cumulative power sales. Given the percentage of electricity being contributed by J&K to its kitty, the state’s share in the Corporation’s net profit amounts to around Rs 700.

Pertinently, NHPC Chairman and Managing Director A B L Srivastava made a startling revelation at a press conference in New Delhi on October 28 this year, when he stated that Jammu & Kashmir government has withdrawn the cess it used to levy on hydro power projects in the state. This, he said, added Rs 453 crore to the Corporation’s profit in the last six months. Srivastava’s disclosure was in contradiction to the claims of the state government that it had recovered around Rs 500 crore as water usage charges from NHPC.

Curiously, while NHPC has undertaken various community welfare schemes in areas like education, healthcare, heritage conservation, poverty eradication, vocational training, women’s welfare and sports activities in various states where its power projects are located, in J&K there is no visible presence of the Corporation in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) sector.

“What could be more ironic than the fact that most of the villages that fall in the catchment area of two NHPC power projects (Salal and Dulhasti) on Chenab basin are not only most underdeveloped but some of them are without electricity even after 60 years of independence,” laments Civil Society activist, Shakil Qalandar.

Paradoxically, against the generation of 1680 MW of hydro power in J&K, Himachal Pradesh has limited the NHPC’s power generation capacity to only 1020 MW in the State and is presently generating around 1000 MW on its own J&K’s power generation in the state sector is a paltry 750 MW.

1993 Sopore Massacre, People Still Missing Women’s College

January 6 : In occupied Kashmir, massacre in Sopore town 18 years back, when the apple town witnessed the worst incident of arson at the hands of troopers of Border Security Forces leading to death of 57 people, a dozen of them roasted alive, besides reducing 350 shops and residential houses to rubble and ashes on 6 January, 1993.

The ‘Time’ magazine had titled the news report (on January 18, 1993) “Blood tide rising: Indian forces carry out one of the worst massacres in Kashmir’s history.” The publication described the massacre, and the protests that ensued thus: “Perhaps there is a special corner in hell reserved for troopers who fire their weapons indiscriminately into a crowd of unarmed civilians. That, at least, must have been the hope

of every resident who defied an army-enforced curfew in the Kashmiri town of Sopore to protest a massacre that left 55 people dead and scores injured.”

The memories of the bloodiest of the massacres carried against the civilian population in Valley remains fresh in hearts and minds of the people particularly denizens of the apple town even after eighteen years.

It was the chilly morning of January 6, 1993 when mujahideen attacked the BSF men at Baba Younis Lane near the Sopore town’s main street, killing two of them. The mujahideen also took away the rifles of the slain BSF men. The personnel after the shootout went berserk and opened indiscriminate fire on unarmed civilians and set on fire markets and Women’s Degree College near chowk of the town.

The local residents regard the incident as one of the worst massacres in the history of Kashmir. Abdul Rashid, an eyewitness while recalling the massacre said it was around 1030 hours on the fateful day when BSF personnel fired indiscriminately and carried out arson in the apple town.

“I still remember that BSF personnel intercepted a bus from Bandipore near Sopore and set it ablaze.” Fifteen persons were charred alive. “I along with nine other persons had taken refuge in a shop and there was destruction across Sopore. I still remember that corpses were scattered and police was watching helplessly,” he said.

Some 15 civilians who tried to rescue their brethren were also shot dead by the BSF personnel, said Abdul Majid, a survivor. Ghulam Nabi Butt of New Light Hotel shouldered 11 dead bodies and before he could carry the 12th, he too was shot dead. “I cannot forget that horrendous incident till I am alive; the troops were on rampage; I lost two relatives in the incident,” said an eyewitness and survivor of the carnage. “I wonder how can doomsday be worse,” said a resident.

As per the locals, BSF personnel sprinkled petrol and gun powder on all structure to set about 350 shops on fire,” said an eywitness, Ghulam Nabi. Recalling the horror at the hospital, an employee at local hospital said, “We could not rush outside as BSF personnel killed several persons who rushed the injured for treatment.”

“The massacre would haunt us as long as we are alive,” said Muhammad Abbas of Sopore.

The locals said that people searched the debris for bodies for next three days. The incident sends shock waves across the Kashmir valley and people protested for many days continuously. The martyred were later identified as Mohammad Maqbool Dar son of Karim Dar, Abdul Ahad Laloo son-in-law Razaq, Abdul Ahad Kanjwaal (85) of Muslim Peer Sopore, Zahoor Khan son of Shafi Khan, Bashir Ahmad son of Ghulam Mohammad Shalaa, Ghulam Rasool son of Mohammad Shaban, Ashraf son of Mohammad Maqbool Shalla, Sajad son of Razaq Shalla of Shalpora, Ismayeel son of Ghulam Ahmed Butt of Marajpora, Ghulam Mohammad son of Khaliq Wani of Iqbal Nagar, Sideeq Rahee, Ghulam Nabi Zargar Son of Qadir of Badami Bagh, Ghulam Nabi Butt New Light Colony, Farooq Banday son Rashid Banday, Javid Sheikh, Ghulam Nabi Butt son of Abdullah Butt of Sangrampora, Altaf son of Ghulam Rasool Ganie of, Ashraf son of Ghulam Hassan Kangoo, Ashraf Kernaie son Hassan Kernaie Khan Kahie Mohalla, Ghulam Rasool Sofi of Rafiabad, Majeed son of Ghulam Mohammad Gadoo of Baba Raza, Majeed son of Shafi Sofi, Haji Gh Mohammad Sheikh of Krankshun colony, Ashraf Wani of Handwara, Mohammad Hussain Wani of Baramulla, Bashair Wani of Wanigam Pattan, Mushtaq Ahmad Balla Son of Khazir Balla of Seer, Mohammad Ashraf Mir of Ashpeer, Rashid son of Jabbar Sofi Bandipore, Rashid son of Ghulam Mohammad War Tujar Sharief, Khaliq son of Ghulam Mohidin Malik of Arampora, Razak Chalkoo son Ghulam Mohammad of Baramulla, Ghulam Mohammad son of Sultan War of Tujar Sharief, Gulzar Sheikh son of Abdullah Sheikh of Shahabad, Ghulam Mohidin son of Asadullah Mir Bandipora, Ghulam Rasool son of Sultan Sofi of Langate, Ghulam Mohammad Khan of Bandipora, Bita Mir son of Gh Mohdin of Tawheed Gung Baramulla, Bita Ganie son of Wali Mohd of Syed Kareem Baramulla, Misra wife of Asadullah Lone of Hatlongoo and Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh of Krankshun colony

Earlier Published On Aalaw

Zaalim- "The Tag Forever"

Fan Write-Up By One Of Our Young Female Writer

As the tip of my pen touched it, I feared that the whole paper would turn blue! It felt like the bundle of events mixed with emotions would burst through the ink out on the paper. But there was a second point. It is said that what we, humans, cannot see, is seen by every other thing! Ah!, then, seeing the tears of blood lingering to fall off from my eyes, the paper would rather turn red in affinity.There was an affray between the two liquid entities and a question for me too. Which one should I allow to bedeck my paper? Perplexed, I could not decide. The paper was filled either way. People can better adjudge whether it is a spontaneous outburst of emotions or a more familiar overflow of an overturned river of blood. Whatever, one thing that

I think ZULM or oppression in itself can be an answer to the WHY. Anyway it is transparent to everybody that ZULM spares none in kashmir. That is why after getting fed up with the slow and steady ZULM, even the JKBOSE decided to give the ZALIM a prestige for ever. No sooner had the ZALIM been honoured by the board authorities, he became more audacious only to add to himself the ZALIM tag forever! For children, he was merely a sketch in their books, but the ZALIM himself proved that he is no way a sketch only and that ghost stories are not always fictious! Here also, I suppose everybody knows HOW!is coherent is that the same kind of feeling would arise in the heart of every cognisant person of Kashmir who tries to provide a vent to his feelings and emotions...and perhaps everybody knows WHY! So just a reminder gets the work done, since every person from Kashmir can pen down a book of his own in answer to this WHY! Therefore I need not exhibit my own.

Ah! I pity the ZALIM, his bona fide picture has been clicked by every person of kashmir and now it seems incongrouous if he can ever get rid of his proud tag. And Yes, there is a good news for mothers also. Now there is no need to frighten the children with the fear of 'Khukh' or ' muttoo baba'.

A simple ZOI is scary enough to be frightened of, because 'khukh' was hypothetical while ZOI is practical.!

''Zaalim tu chaahe duniya mein,

Kitna bhi zulm-o-sitam kar ley,

Mazloom ka haami khud Rabb hai,

Iss pe bhi zara tu fikr kar ley''

Role Of United Nations In Solving World Conflicts

Guest Post By: Mohammad Yousuf Naqash

The chief of United Nations human rights commission Madam Navi Pillay has discouraged Kashmiri people by her recent statement on Kashmir. In which she said that though United Nations council for human rights is watching and monitoring the situation in Kashmir, it can not order for the commission of inquiry in Kashmir without the consent of Indian government. By saying so she has negated the role of United Nations organization in Kashmir, in respect of ensuring the right to self determination and protecting people from the state terrorism and gross human rights violations perpetrated by Indian forces and state police.

These basic inherent rights have been guaranteed to every human being of the world irrespective of caste, creed, color, sex, religion and region by various United Nations covenants and declarations on human rights like universal declaration of human rights and international bill of rights. World apex body has every right and jurisdiction to enforce these covenants and declarations in letter and spirit in any country and territory where these covenants and declarations are violated, disrespected and denied and no country has the justification to deny the access and intervention of United Nations organization in this regard. United Nations organization came into existence for the welfare of the world humanity i.e establishment of peace, resolution of disputes and protection of the rights of human beings including the peoples, and territories under colonial rule. Above referred responsibilities are the legal and moral obligations of this world apex body as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions and other resolutions passed from time to time. Unfortunately all these resolutions passed and responsibilities of United Nations remained confined to the extent of theory.

The said world body utterly failed in performing its duties towards the human race of the world. Right from day one it has the history of failure and deception given its defective structural formation including prominently the veto power curse to America, Britain, France, Russia and china. These five countries have been dictating and shaping the world affairs as per their respective national interest. One can say it with reason that only these countries have the say in United Nations organization and rest member countries do not have any hold or relevance, in respect of making decisions on world affairs. The unipolar dictatorship of America is another misfortune to the world. This has not only reduced the world body to a mere showpiece, has made it soul less, ineffective and redundant. These five countries including the unipolar dictator America has forced the world to kneel down before their every decision.

These are behaving ruthlessly in pursuing their policy of dictating hegemonic terms and are forcing the decisions on world affairs as per their own interest. The vested interest of these five countries encouraged India, Israel and nations hell bent on subjugating and oppressing the people otherwise India, Israel and other nations are bound to uphold and respect and internal covenants and declarations on human rights as they are all signatories to these international covenants and decisions and is their legal binding, to remain, strictly and seriously stick.

Addressing United Nations general assembly on 20th September 1999 then U.N secretary general Mr. Kofi Anan said that time has come to initiate global debate on the humanitarian intervention. In his address he identified different aspects of armed intervention in resolving future conflicts. while elaborating Mr. Anan said that such interventions are inevitable now in the near future as some nations are bent on criminal behavior and are perpetrating unchecked genocide and whole sale slaughter of civilians in the name of maintaining national soveregnity.He further said that such massacres and brutal acts against civilians are crimes against humanity and violative of international norms meant for peace, stability and prosperity.Mr Anan further said that this developing international norm in favor of intervention will no doubt continue to pose profound challenges to the international community and both national sovereignty and states interpretation of its national interest can be challenged in the interest of humanity What Mr. Anan said was practiced in many nations by the order of these five nations as per their respective national interest. North Atlantic Treaty Organization N.A.T.O with the headship of America took undue advantage of the humanitarian intervention and without any reason attacked and rocked Iraq and Afghanistan, where lakhs of civilians were ruthlessly massacred for their no fault. And where humanitarian intervention was due and based on reason such colonial and repressive states were let free to further deepen the subjugation and trample the humanity.

Humanitarian intervention was badly needed in India and Israel as both rouge countries have subjugated and oppressed the people in Kashmir and Palestine respectively. Is it not the double standard of United Nations Organization which under the complete grip of Veto power countries is not intervening? Where genuinely needed for enforcing, upholding, respecting the objectives of United Nations Organization and is dancing to the tunes of these Veto power countries including unipolar dictator America.

Resuming to United Nations Human Rights Council as defined by its laws, it has the human obligation to raise voice against the Human Rights Violations in any country and has the every power to order for commission of inquiry in this regard. Then why this double double standard in respect of Iraq, Afghanistan, Kashmir, Palestine and North Eastern states of India. World has to change dictatorships need to be dethroned. Either the closure or restructuring and reformation of United Nations Organisation is must and inevitable to make it the representative of whole humanity in real sense, to give it real power in respect of resolving disputes decolonizing the territories, upholding Humanitarian laws.

Author is Chief Patron Islamic Political Party, a constituent of APHC (M)

1st Female Battalion Of Indian Army Goes Pregnant In Held Kashmir

New Delhi- The first battalion of Indian army that actually comprises sex workers, recruited from relight areas across India with the help of RAW and posted as Border Guards in the occupied Kashmir by Indian army in September 2009, with aims to provide “fun” to soldiers in the area who were constantly committing suicide, is now reported to be suffering from some serious medical problems due to unsafe sexual activities while at least 63 out of the total 178 female “soldiers”, posted under Northern Command in September last, are reported t have been tested positive in the pregnancy tests, carried out at military hospitals while many male soldiers have also been diagnosed with serious sex related diseases, reveal the investigations of The Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail’s investigations reveal that the problem started occurring when in the month of December a large number of female “soldiers” started reporting SIQ (Sick-In-Quarter) at different formations with complaints of minute illness like vomiting and headaches. However, as the number of complaints in this direction started rising dramatically, the patients were referred to Military Hospital at Badamibagh cantonment in Srinagar.

At Srinagar’s Military Hospital, after different tests, it was found that the female soldiers sent there from different formations were mostly s uffering from no disease but were found to pregnant while a few others were treated for different unsafe-sex related minor diseases. Captain Dr. Jyoti (name changes on source’s request) of the IAMC (Indian Army Medical Corps), posted at the Military Hospital told The Daily Mail that at least 63 female soldiers, sent to the base hospital from different field units were tested positive in the pregnancy tests. “It was something unusual that these women were found 8 to 10 weeks with pregnancy while they were not sent on leave since their posting some 12 to 14 weeks back. Similarly some other 38 were found having some minor diseases but these were sex related diseases that occur normally due to unsafe sexual activities and thus we reported the matter to the commandant of the hospital who forwarded the same to the high command”, asserted Dr. Jyoti.

The Daily Mail’s findings indicate that the situation rang alarm bells in the Eastern Command’s headquarters where an emergency meeting was held which, apart from others, was attended by Major General Harinder Singh, Commandant of the IAMC of Northern Command. Since the matter was of very serious nature, it was decided in the meeting that was held under the command of the Commander of the 14th corps to bring the matter to the notice of the Army Headquarters at New Delhi. The News arrived at Army Headquarters at New Delhi as a bomb because the headquarter was already suffering from a high profile controversy of land scams and the rift between Army Chief and Commander Eastern Command over the issue was at the peak and Defence Minister was in no mood to give any support to Army Chief Deepak Kapoor.

The Daily Mail’s findings indicate that since the project of posting sex workers in the disguise of female soldiers in Kashmir was initiated by the orders of General Deepak Kapoor without seeking any formal approval from the Defence Minister, the news cam as a big shock as General Kapoor was already at odds with the Defence Minister A.K Antony over the issue of corruption in sale of army lands. Our sources reveal that upon this, Army Chief held a classified meeting with his confidants and aides and also invited Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services Lt. General N.K Parmar. In the meeting, it was decided to dash a team of gynecologists from Delhi to Northern Command to tackle the situation on emergency, yet confidential basis. Upon this, a team of 9 gynecologists from IAMC was sent to Northern Command. The team performed the abortions upon some 56 “soldiers while rest of the 7 were shifted to Udhampur-based military hospital as their ‘cases’ were reported to be bit complicated and required some serious surgeries. The said team of Army Gynecologists, headed by Lt. Colonel. Bharti Sharma, not only treated the patients but also gave them tips to follow the safe sex practices. In the meanwhile, several male soldiers from the same region were also reported SIQ with sex related diseases.

The Daily Mail’s findings indicate that as the situation started worsening, the Army Chief General Kapoor contacted Lt. General. Raj Kumar Karwal, who was the head of the committee which recommended the posting of undercover sex workers in Kashmir to meet the natural requirements of the sex starving male soldiers. Sources reveal that General Karwal told General Kapoor that while following his committee’s recommendations, the recommendations, regarding the provision of safe sex devices like the condoms and educating the soldiers about safe sex practices were not followed at all as the committee had recommended that prior to the posting of sex workers amongst the ranks of soldiers, the soldiers must be provided with precautionary measures and should be given tips regarding the safe sex practices.

Sources revealed that upon this, General Kapoor, who had hopes of a support from Defence Minister Antony in this matter, decided to approach the Home Affairs Minister P Chidambaram. Upon contacting, Chidambaram promised general Kapoor of his all out support.

The Daily Mail’s findings indicate that hiding behind the notion of helping the Paramilitary forces, Chidambaram ordered the Home Affairs Ministry to procure condom making machines to be given to military and paramilitary authorities for installing at remote areas of deployment, particularly along the borders. According to a report, released by Indian’s State news agency Press Trust of India (PTI), Indian Government is procuring more than 1,000 units of condom vending machines to promote safe sex practices among its military and para-military deployed in far flung areas.

The machines, the PTI reports further, for the men of forces like CRPF, CISF, SSB, ITBP, BSF and NSG will be installed at the battalion and sector headquarters of the forces, especially along the borders.

"A total of 1,080 machines are being procured by the Home Ministry. The idea is to promote safe sex practices amongst the soldier who are deployed at far off places for long durations," PTI reports, quoting a senior para-military officer.

The PTI further reports that the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been appointed as nodal agency by the Home Ministry for procurement of these machines as well as all health related purchase and activities.

“The condoms, to be provided through these machines, have been procured from different companies and would be provided to the soldiers free of cost but on rationing basis every month,” concludes the PTI report.

The Daily Mail’s finding further indicate that the soldier of Indian army, posted in Indian Occupied Kashmir and other border areas of India often indulge into unsafe sexual activities including rapes and prostitution. While the complaints of rapes and gang rapes by Indian soldiers are fairly common in Kashmir valley, the border natives other regions are also constant victims of brutal forced rapes of women by the frustrating Indian soldiers. The female villagers along the either side of Indo-Myanmar border, Indo-Bangladesh border and Indo- Nepal border are often sexually assaulted by Indian soldiers while visiting the prostitution dens and opting for paid, yet unsafe sex is a common practice throughout the Indian Army and at many garrisons, Indian Army High Command has taken stringent measures to curb prostitution and have even displayed sign suggesting a ban on prostitution in the area. However the number of such incident had reached alarming limits and the Indian soldiers got into a severe trauma of sexual and mental frustration due to continuous bans on different recreational facilities by the top authorities and thus they started indulging into suicide practices and killing the colleagues as well. The Daily Mail’s findings indicate that adding to the miseries of soldiers in Kashmir, the Indian Army announced imposing a ban on use of mobile phones by soldiers, posted in the Occupied valley. These findings indicate that senior medical officers of the Indian armed forces believe that just engaging the sex workers under the grab of female soldiers was not enough to rid the soldiers of frustration and mental stress but the use of mobile phone by troops was also a permanent source of stress and strain for the soldiers, deployed in the occupied valley.

“The problem is not the stress in the encounter, the problem is the cell phone and that should be banned,’’ said Lt-General Dipankar Ganguly, speaking on the occasion of the 246th anniversary of the Army Medical Corps
The top General said that cell phones allowed the soldiers to maintain regular contact with their families and get updated on their problems, which led to higher levels of stress among them.
Armed Forces Medical Services Director General Lt-Gen N K Parmar, in his observation, said that the armed forces had taken a number of steps to tackle stress-related issues among the troops.
But, as reported earlier, armed forces continue to grapple with stress-related deaths in the shape of suicide and `fragging’ (to kill a fellow soldiers) cases. In 2008, for instance, there were 151 suicide and four `fragging’ cases in the three Services.
While prolonged deployment in operations in Indian occupied part of J&K and North-East are exacting a heavy toll on the physical endurance and mental health of soldiers, they also undergo tremendous stress for not being able to take care of the problems facing their families back home. The problems could range from property disputes and harassment by anti-social elements to financial and marital problems.

Soldiers, of course, also have to grapple with paltry salaries, lack of basic amenities, ineffectual leadership, humiliation at the hands of their officers, and the constant fear of being accused of human rights violations.

The Daily Mail’s findings further reveal that not just the soldier but a number of Indian Army Officers are working in the institution against their wills but as a bonded labour. These findings indicate that since the Officers sign a bond while joining the army under which they have to pay a huge amount of money to army in case of quitting the job, they do not dare to do so due to poor financial conditions but work with a dead heart after being posted to duties at stations like Kashmir. These findings indicate that even young female commissioned officers are no exception in this direction. These findings indicate that a female officer of the Indian Army committed suicide by shooting herself in Udhampur, headquarter of the army's Northern Command, a couple of years back as she was "dissatisfied and unhappy with her job".

According to police and army officials in Udhampur, about 65 km north of Jammu, the 25-year-old officer Lt. Sushmita Chakravorty of 5071 ASC Battalion went to a guest house near her official quarters on Thursday evening and asked the sentry there for his rifle "as she wanted to get her photo with that".

The unsuspecting sentry handed his weapon and in moments Lt. Chakravorty shot herself with it. She was shifted to the army hospital where she was declared brought dead.

This was the first incident of its kind in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir of a female army officer committing suicide.

The officer's mother Sadhana Chakravorty told media persons in Udhampur that Lt. Chakravorty had "unwillingly joined the army about 10 months ago".

Lt. Chakravorty had returned from two months leave. "I came with her as she was feeling very low," her mother said.

Sadhana told reporters that her daughter had become very short tempered soon after joining army and being posted in Kashmir "disillusioned with her present job". She wanted to quit the army but could not do so as "she had to pay the bond money to the army".

"We had told her that the money could be arranged by selling off the house in Bhopal," Sadhana said. But Lt. Chakravorty did not agree to it "because she was concerned about her younger brother too who had just passed Class 12."

The Daily Mail’s finding that the female members of the Indian Army have always been serving under very miserable conditions as they are often sexually harassed and abused by seniors at workplaces “in the line of duty.” These findings indicate that in most of the cases the female officers of the Indian army remain silent over the sexual assaults and sexual abuses by seniors because even if they report so, instead getting justice, they are always victimized even loose jobs.

The Daily Mail’s findings further indicate that just in July 2009, an army court martial ordered “dismissal” of a woman officer Captain Poonam Kaur, who a year back had accused her seniors of sexually harassing her, but her allegations were found false.

Kaur , in 2008 alleged that three officers of her unit, the Army Supply Corps (ASC) in Kalka, Haryana had physically and sexually harassed her and confined her illegally when she resisted their advances.

A court of inquiry (COI) had then been ordered to investigate the allegations of physical and mental harassment leveled by Capt Kaur against her superior officers.

She had accused three of her seniors, including her commanding officer, the unit’s second-in-command and adjutant, a Colonel, Lt Col and a Major rank officer respectively, of harassing her over the past few months.

However, in an immediate reaction then, the army had denied the charges.

“The court martial proceedings, which were initiated, against Capt Kaur, in its order at Patiala, have ordered her dismissal from service, which will be subject to confirmation by the Western Command chief, a process which may take two months,” was the official announcement to conclude.

Earlier Published on: The Daily Mail