SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

Where Hao Hao Xuexi is not Possible

2011-07-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

Where Hao Hao Xuexi is not Possible

Just around 250 kilometers – a three to four hour bus drive from Beijing – and 65 kilometers from Zhangbei county, Loutapan village in Hebei province wears a pre-medieval look. Except for a macadamized road, which connects the village to rest of the world, it lacks almost all the basic facilities. Even a basic need like water is a luxury, as villagers have to walk more than a kilometer to fetch a bucket of water from a well in the nearby fields. However, education the necessity of modern society is not easy to receive here. The absence of basic schooling facilities in the village is believed to have become major reason for migration in the village to urban centers.
It is an established fact that education is one of the important pillars of any society’s development and primary education its foundation. No tertiary education, how affective it may be, can fill the vacuum created by the absence of good primary education. For China education became first priority when Chairman Mao famously once said “好好学习天天向上” hao hao xuexi tian tian xiangshang – study hard and get better day by day. But in Loutpan Mao’s saying turns meaningless. Though the village, according to elders, had culture of education by informal teaching even before the independent China. The villagers will hire an educated person to teach their kids in return of cash and kind, recalls Luo Guihua, 87, oldest in the village. Later a formal school was also opened in the village and villagers had to pay fee to educate their kids. But now though education is free for all, Luo is disappointed, as her village does not have a school. Luo’s daughter, who has three kids, had to migrate to the nearby town, which is about twenty-five kilometers away from the village, so that she can educate her kids. Thus she cannot now take care of her farmland. Luo is not the only person who has to leave her home for the future of her kid, and the Loutapan is not the only village which lacks the basic school facility. The similar stories such as that of Luo in particular and Loutapan village in general can be found in many Chinese households and villages.
As the effects of one child policy become visible, in the form of not many children in Chinese villages. Government decided to close the schools at village level and combine them at one place as there were fewer students enrolled in the village school. Though the policy might be economically cost effective, and help government save some money. It does have a social and psychological impact on the society. The two major visible impacts are: it forces parents to migrate from the village for the education of their kids. Right now, 1/3 of the Loutpan population has migrated to the nearby townships to work there as migrant labors in order to provide education to their kids. And, secondly, it detaches kids from their natural environment, which might have an impact on their future development.
On the other side in Wudaohe village in Anchungoumen county situation is not much different. Here every father of a small kid has a same tale to share, that they had to migrate for the better future of their children. A village resident Qi, who lived on the mountainous side of village, is father of a beautiful three year old girl. The family of three: Qi, his wife and daughter were living comfortably in their village till last year. But now, their daughter has to go the Xiao Ban (kindergarten) but there is no Xiao Ban and primary school in the village or somewhere nearby. So the only option for them was to migrate, if they wanted to educate their daughter. And they did. Migration from village means giving-up farming, livestock, neighbors, and living in the township means increase in daily expenditures for them.
Qi, who works in a Brickyard; earns 70-80 yuan a day. However, his wife who would earlier earn some money in the village is no more able to work, despite being in township. She has to take her daughter to the school at 8 a.m. Pickup her at 11 a.m. for lunch; and takes her back to the school at 1:30 p.m. and then again pickup her up at 3:30 p.m. Thus her whole day goes with taking care of her daughter. In between living in the township has increased her expenditures. Before they could take bath at their home in the village, now they have to use public bathroom, which cost them 5-7 yuan every time. In the village they would use wood, which is almost free, to cook meals; now living in the town, they have to buy coal to prepare meals. However, being out of village does not mean that they can abandon ties with their fellow villagers. Thus during festivities and celebrations they have to go back to village. And, going from township to the village always costs them more money. Living in town certainly has brought them some comfort too: easy availability of a doctor, buying goods and do access to other luxuries. But at the same time it has brought some sort of alienation in them as well. Qi’s wife, Qi Luo, says that she doesn’t feel happy to live in the township. She believes, happiness has gone since she moved to the town, she is not familiar with neighbors, she feels alienated in the city life.
Luo Qi and their ilks are waiting for the day when there will be a school again in the village, so that their sons and daughters don’t have to migrate from the village for the education of their kids. And, availing possibility of hao hao xuixi will be at their doorstep again.

Egyptian Protests: A Defining Moment For Arab World

2011-07-01T08:08:00.000-07:00

Egyptian Protests: A Defining Moment For Arab World

By Suhail Masoodi

07 February, 2011
Countercurrents.org

As the Friday protests at the Maidani Tehrir could not prove decisive to change the regime, as it was expected; it, however, unnerved, already weak, Hosni Mubarak. He was not only asked to step down and leave the country by the people of Egypt, but his close ally the US president, Barack Obama, also asked him to listen to the legitimate voices of people. The slogans reverberating on the streets of Egypt are very clear and loud. Hey Mubarak, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali is calling you, and the hotel in Judah is waiting for you, chanted at Tehrir makes it clear that writing is on the wall.

One the other side of Arabian peninsula Yemeni president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, convened an emergency meeting of Shura and parliament on February 2, and declared that he will neither run for 2013 presidency himself nor will allow his son to do so. Interestingly, Yemeni parliament was planning to make constitutional amendment last month, which would enable a president to hold the presidency for lifetime. At the same time Jordan’s King Abdullah II sacked prime minister and his cabinet and appointed a new one, which was pretty much appreciated by western powers. Before all this, the first uprising which motivated/inspired all these movements was Tunisian revolution which might turn to be originator of reformation movement in the Arab world.

All these events suggests that the sleeping Middle East and Arab World has awakened and for good. This becomes a challenge not only for Mubarak, but to his ilk in the Middle East and Gulf and to the western world, particularly USA, which pretty much tries to micromanage this region.

Zain El Abidine Ben Ali’s stepping down as Tunisian president and his flight at the dead of the night provided fuel and inspiration to the Egyptian people, who were on and off protesting against the price rise, unemployment and other economic problems and social issues. Egyptians thought that if a small country with less population can dethrone its stringent and most authoritarian ruler why cannot Egypt, which is considered as the leader of the Arab region. Tarek Mohammad, a Ph.D. scholar from Egypt in China believes that Tunisian revolution was not only inspiration for Egypt but also a challenge that if they fail to change this authoritarian and ineffective government, we have no right to call ourselves leader of the Arab World. Protests were also seen in Jordan, Mauritania, Sudan, Yemen, and Algeria thus sending signals to the Arab rulers that the bells have starting ringing, therefore, your fall is certain.

But there is a serious concern. In Yemen the protests might be catastrophic. The worry about Yemeni protests is: if the protests intensify, unlike Egypt and Tunisia, they can turn into a civil war. The country which has 21 million populations with sixty million guns—which means on an average an individual owns three guns, besides tanks, rocket launchers and other modern weaponry in the hands of ordinary people. With almost tribal wars going on among the tribes, which have Al-Qaida ranks inside them, there can be bloody clashes between the government and the people. This movement will not only have divisive effect on Yemen, but might take Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states with it as well.

However, the revolution and regime change in the Arab countries, to start with from Egypt will not only determine Arab World’s future, but will also change whole geo-political relations of west towards these countries. And if the democracy comes in these countries, one might see the influence of Arabs in the world. The United States and Israel is threatened by that development. The Washington and Tel Aviv need Egypt more, in the Middle East, than Egypt needs them. But, if there is again imposition or enthronement of western lead government, as it seems most probably will happen in the form of Israel and the U.S. favorite Omar Suleiman lead temporary government, which might turn into permanent one, it will be disastrous for the Arab world, which could crumble again, may be for many many years. The protests were started against the economic problems, and might end there if any government addresses these issues with basic respect of human rights and public service delivery. There are most likely chances of change in regime, but not system of governance. However, it would not be 100 percent democracy or 100 percent Authoritarian governance system. Thus Mubarak might be replaced by incumbent vice president Mr. Omar Suleiman. If that happens Washington and Tel Aviv would be glad to see their man, on the presidential position, at the same time garner support in the country by removing Mubarak from the presidential positions. Ehsham Mohammed a Ph.D. Scholar from Egypt in China believes that people have to choose between bad and worse. “Mubarak is worse and Omar is bad,” says Mohammed, “So we may have to choose lesser evil.” Washington does not only want to meddle in Arab world affairs to keep controlling scare recourses in the region, but also to safeguard the interests of its all weather friend and ally Israel.

Transition from Mubarak will happen but how, in what form, and what will be the state of affairs at the time of transition, will determine the future of Egypt. Though Obama administration is in constant touch with Mubarak and has asked him to step down, but deep down Washington is worried which path it should take? It would not, obviously, want another Iran in the Middle East. As the symbolic military gestures are seen in the streets and planes are flying on air, Egyptian people are no way in a mood to give up. Therefore, sending signals not only to the Mubarak to leave the post, but also to the world powers that either you are with the people or with self imposed leader. And, Washington and other powers have no option this time except to be in the people’s side.

No matter what, there are visible signs of change, but the bigger question is: Can imposition of western model of free market liberal democracy bring justice and fulfill the people’s aspirations?

Protests in Cairo, Yemen and post-protest phase in Tunisia, does not clearly suggest what form of governance system would be placed in these countries. But if it turns to be a movement for Westminster democracy, Samuel Huntington’s soul would be happy. Had he been alive he would have called it fourth wave of democracy in the world. However, looking at the prevailing world order and the recent history, it is conspicuous that Westminster democracy has not shaped well in the third world countries either. Amy Chua classically presents the case in her book World on Fire, wherein she thoroughly explains how exporting free market democracy “breeds ethnic hatred and global instability”. At times the case looks clear and persuasive. Before Chua many western thinkers such as Robert Kaplan have expressed concerns with the western obsession of exporting liberal democracy to countries that lack the institutions, which support, carry forward, and nourish its principles. As per Kaplan imposing democracy on countries that lack the institutions necessary for its implementation, is naïve and often dangerous, fostering demagogues and communal hatreds. Democracy along with free markets enriches certain ethnic groups, which lead to vicious sectarian strife. This often leads to creation of market dominant minorities; groups like Chinese in Southeast Asia, Jews in Russia, Whites in Zimbabwe and Indians in Africa and Fiji. Democratic set up along with free markets allows these groups, while being minorities to control hugely disproportionate percentage of their countries assets. In such situations democracy gives voice to impoverished majorities there can be, as have been, violent backlashes on the ethnic minorities. The examples are violence against ethnic Chinese in Philippines, against Jews in Russia, against Indians in South Africa etc.

The lesson here is that the system of Westminster democracy, which is a collage of institutions, practices and principles, cannot be adopted and implemented everywhere. Nation states have to go through a necessary evolution of their systems before they can prepare and adopt this system of governance or to create their own governance system that guarantees universal human rights, yet does not clash with the basic cultural and traditional fundamentals of that society. It is too early to say which form the Egyptian revolution will take, but there is a serious need to have incremental economic, political, judicial and social policy changes in the whole Arab world, because rapid change might burst it into pieces, thus create what Durkheim calls anomic situation.

Research is the key!

2010-01-26T19:18:00.000-08:00

It is hard to have development without innovation, and impossible to have innovation without research, writes Suhail Masoodi

Greater Kashmir
January 27, 2010
On the first day of the 2010, I started off with a normal routine; grabbed a newspaper and started reading it. But this time I adopted a more optimistic approach, perhaps as part of a New Year resolution, that 2010 will be better than the previous year in terms of peace and development in India and the world. I also hoped that the role of policy makers, politicians, and writers will be pragmatic for the well being of a common man.
Turning the pages of “Times of India”, I came across an article written by Swaminathan Aiyer, one of the most respectable writers of India. The article entitled “India to overtake China in 2020” seemed to me far from reality. Being in China for over a year and looking at the development of China which accelerates at the fastest pace, I wondered whether the author is trying to befool people by his tall claims.“China is set to be 2nd largest economy in the world,” I said to myself, and recalled what my professor would often say “China will catch-up USA by 2020.” Even though both my professor and Mr. Aiyer made assumptions, the difference was the former’s claims were based on facts and figures while the latter’s was sheer rhetoric. Several people had even termed “ridicule” Mr. Aiyer’s article in their comments.
Exactly 16 days later on January 16, a news story in The Indian Express “‘UGC's norms link promotion to output; Seniority not a factor’” caught my eye. This news put me back in a thought- that something concrete is also happening. The University Grants commission (UGC) initiative (promotion on the bases of research output) led by Sibal is practical and need of the hour. Aiyer through his article wanted people to believe that India can overtake China because it has more young population, more English speaking population. While, Sibal knows, saying “all is well” phrase that has attracted thousands of people after it was used in a recently released Bollywood movie “3 Idiots,” is not going to work.
If India wants to compete with China it has to change its basics first. And, Sibal has touched the right nerve: research. It would have been better for the development of India and specifically for its educational development had they brought this regulation a decade ago, but, better late than never. Under this regulation, the promotion of a university/college teacher would be based on his/her research output, and satisfaction in teaching rather than experience. Apart from this, another regulation was passed some months ago by the HRD Ministry in which CBSC exams system of evaluation would change into the grading system of evaluation. I believe both the systems grading pattern of examination system and promotion on the basis of research output and quality of teaching are borrowed from China—which have been part of the Chinese education for years.
Fair enough. Countries adopt policies from other countries, which can fit to their context, and leave the ones which are not applicable. But the problem here is not with the policy but with the perception of people, especially teachers, professors in this case. The members of Federation of College and University Teachers Association (FEDCUTA) have supposedly gone for hunger strike against this regulation saying it will affect the teaching quality.
Usually in many other developing countries teachers complain that bureaucrats come in their way, when they want to focus on research, but here it is opposite. They say, a scholar’s desire is to produce more and more research, but it seems that is not true in India. Either the teachers don’t want to do the research and enjoy 60 years of life-long employment, without any accountability. Or they don’t know the importance of research. But blame does not lie squarely on teachers only. There is also institutional fault which the HRD is now trying to rectify by creating new policies which make research output pre requisite for promotion. But only this is not going to bring any drastic change unless the mindset is changed and skills for research are incorporated. The basic need is to change the pattern of evaluation system in the colleges and universities. It should be based on research paper submission, presentations, group discussions among others by the students in the class, pretty much like most of the developed countries as well as developing countries like China, and Singapore etc do, instead of present examination system which in one hand creates fear psychosis on the students and on the other hand fails to bring critical thinking among them.
Lifelong employment without any threat of getting fired has proved ineffective except in few countries like Japan, where unlike India; ownership of government work can be seen from each and every person. Thus, many countries replaced the lifelong employment system with the contract system of employments, which has proved to be affective
Secondly whether research is important for a country? The answer to this question lies in industrial revolution which changed the power politics of world. Finally policy change in the education system would improve the Indian research out. Most of the Indian students lag behind in research and academic writing skills because of the faulty education system. Contrary to India, where a student has to memorize the answers in order to write them in exams, in China an under graduate student write a thesis paper in order to graduate besides other course requirement papers and exams. The requirement for master’s degree student is to at least publish one academic paper in addition to his/her thesis. But in India, except few topnotch universities like Delhi University, JNU, IIM, or IIT’s students get even PhD degrees without any academic publication.
To borrow from Jaffrey D. Sachs argument, “it is the technology not the exploitation of poor, which became force behind the increase in income in rich world”. (Sachs; The End of Poverty). A small piece of steal (chip set) on which they add knowledge became much more expensive than our gold. Developed countries are developed because of innovation, not because they have natural resources, or they exploited the poor countries. I do not say natural resources do not play role in countries development, or the mighty America, western, and new rising East Asian tigers did not exploit poor countries, which helped in economic growth in these countries. But, it was innovations and technology, which made them superior than the rest of the world. History is testimony to the fact that many countries have developed in spite of less or nonexistent natural recourses; and at the same time sizable number of countries in Africa, Middle east, Central Asia, Asia pacific and South Asia are under developed despite huge natural recourses. Countries like Saudi Arabia. Qatar, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and even China have huge natural resources than a small country like South Korea which has no natural recourse at all, but none of these countries can match the economy of South Korea; which has mostly knowledge-based economy. Instead of benefiting a country’s development, the natural resources in many developing countries or least developed countries have become what Richard Auty calls “Resource Curse”. This “resource curse” could be seen in many African, Middle Eastern, Central Asian and many other developing countries.
So, where is the India’s knowledge capital? India’s HRD Minister Mr. Kapil Sibal answering a question in a debate on 12 March, 2008 in the Raj Sabah said, “India lags behind China in Research and Development (R&D) output and R&D spending”. India has 157 researchers per million population compared to China’s 633, Germany 3222, USA’s 4,526, Japan 5085, Sweden 5171 and Finland 7431.The gap between India and China in research output is very wide. In 1996, China was ranked 9th on research output with 26, 853 documents and India grabbed 13th spot with 20,106. This gap widened until 2006, China got onto the second position in research output after the USA with 166,205 documents, and India secured 10th position with 38,140 documents. (Subbiah Arunachalam 2008). This gap may widen further as China is investing huge money on R&D sector compared to India. China already invests around 1.80% of its GDP on R&D compared to USA’s 2.5%, and India’s 0.8%. China is planning to spend 2.5% of GDP on R&D in 2020 to don innovation in the world. So for India, the challenge is not only to invest in R&D and make India advanced in technology and foster development. But to effect the institutional change by changing the mindset of teachers and students, and by enforcing legislation that would encourage research. Or else, it is not going to happen. As the American Scholar Margeret Lavi says, “People seldom want to change the habits and norms that have protected them and promoted their individual ends, unless they are not convinced that the circumstances have truly changed.”
It is hard to have development without innovation, and impossible to have innovation without research. So research is the key.

India Needs To Act, Atleast For Its Own Sake

2010-01-26T19:14:00.000-08:00

If India wants to meet first Millennium development goal “to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger,” it has to leave its static position and take a proactive role in Copenhagen to combat Climate Change.

By Suhail Masoodi

07 December, 2009
Countercurrents.org

On 3rd December, 2009, just 4 days ahead of Copenhagen summit on Climate Change, Minister of Environment, Mr. Jai Ramesh, announced in the Indian Parliament that India has voluntarily agreed to cut 20-25 percent carbon emissions by 2020 over 2005 level. On next day, Arun Jaitly, leader of the India’s largest opposition party BJP rebuked Mr. Ramesh for agreeing to emissions cut, which he believes was done under the USA pressure. On the other side of Indian border, and world’s biggest carbon emitter China also agreed first time to set a target of 40-45 percent cut in its carbon emissions. It must be stated here, China’s decision came a day after President HU Jintao’s meeting with the US President Barak Obama last month in Beijing, and Indian government’s decision what they called voluntary action, also came just after few days after PM Manmohan Singh’s meeting with President Obama. This is the first time when both the countries, India and China set targets to cut Co2 emissions, which means the big daddy Obama means business, and thus wants to take action himself and push others to do so.

There are many voices not only in India and China but in other parts of developing world that seem to be not in favor of making any commitment to cut the carbon emissions, thus stating the old and obsolete argument that developed countries should cut the emissions, thus take whole responsibility on their shoulders. Fair enough, everybody knows they (developed world) have polluted the world, but does that mean we in developing world should sleep and let our people die. In India, except some scientists and environment activists nobody seem to be bothered about climate change, and why should they be? It will neither fetch votes for Politicians, nor has it yet affected its bourgeois, India’s three hundred million middle class. Yes, it has affected its over 28% population who live under the below poverty line, it affects and will severely affect in future its 400 million population (which is almost equal to the population of whole Europe and the US) who are still without basic electricity.

Over the years we have seen increase in threat of Climate Change to the world. According to Global Humanitarian Forum report 2009, around 325 million people are seriously affected by climate change, and estimated 500 million will be at extreme risk, and 4 hundred billion people (about two thirds of world population) are expected to be vulnerable to the future effects of climate change. More and more land is getting severely affected by drought. The percentage of land affected by drought has gone up from 1% to 3 % from last 10 years, and it is expected to affect 8% in 2020, and 30% by the end of this century. Looking at the rising problems created by Climate Change, it is obvious that it is the poor Indian population who will have to face the brunt of climate change in the coming years. A very shocking truth about the effects on poor Indian farmers come from the National Crime Records Bureau, which tell us that an estimated 16,625 farmers across India have killed themselves in 2007, nearly one fourth of them were from the Maharashtra’s Vidarba region. The growing worry is that the numbers are continuing to rise. Since 1997, 182,936 Indian farmers have ended their lives, or roughly, 46 Indian farmers kill themselves every day - one suicide almost every 30 minutes. These suicide rates although cannot be generalized as being solely due to negative impacts on agricultural produce from climate change, but Climate Change has certainly contributed to their agony and the negative effects of climate change on agriculture are bound to worsen this scenario further. It is believed that methane emissions especially from the cultivation of rice (especially the flood irrigation of rice) and livestock are the principal green house gas (GHG) emitters in the South Asian region. These account for about 25 percent of GHG emissions in India and 40 percent in neighboring Bangladesh and Pakistan. As such it has become a vicious cycle where the poor end up having no choice but to emit GHG and in turn also suffer from the negative effects of the emitting.

On the other hand the increasing affects of global warming, have caused the Himalayan glaciers to melt rapidly. The 24,000 kilometer Himalayan glaciers which are source for 9 largest rivers in Asia thus provide water to over 1.3 billion population cutting across geographical boundaries. According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN body on Climate Change; Himalayan “Glaciers could disappear altogether by 2035.” So it is high time for India to act rather than playing petty politics on the issue. If India is able to manage to save the Himalayan glaciers, it will not only help herself, but will also help her neighboring countries as well. India needs to play a central role and bring other stakeholders like China, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bhutan to save the Himalayan glaciers from melting. There is a clear indication that water capacity in India has been decreasing, since 1947, as such this decreasing rate of water availability is a serious concern for the whole subcontinent. Currently, India has 1,100 billion cubic meters of aggregate annual utilizable water and it is believed the water demand in 2025 of the country will be 1,013 billion cubic meters. Although the data shows the country has enough water, as the current availability of water is higher than the projected demand by 2025, but decreasing water capacity makes it alarming. In the year 2000 India had 2,200 billion cubic meters of water available, which is expected to decrease to 1,600 billion cubic meters by 2017.

Though India has taken a series of measures including 2008 eight point action plan to combat Climate change, but it does not seem India has invested much in green technology, despite its relative advantage in wind energy it has so far failed to make full use of it. On the other hand China has been immensely investing in green technology. With $ 218 billion green stimulus package, it has already become largest investor in green technology in the world. Making green technology as a mission, it has launched major research in solar battery and wind energy; it is pertinent to mention here that China already creates more power from renewable energy than other countries, if you walk to Beijing or Shanghai streets you could observe a caravan of electronic bikes, but hardly any petrol or diesel motor bikes. Renewable energy in China is getting immense importance contrary to India, where even its minister for new and renewable does not visibly get invitation for meeting on climate change. So if India wants to meet first Millennium development goal “to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger,” it has to leave its static position and take a leadership in Copenhagen to combat Climate Change. At least for its own sake.

For Palestinians, Every Day Is Kristallnacht

2009-12-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

Foreign Policy Journal
December 15, 2009
by Paul Craig Roberts

Israel_stealing_palestine“Settlers attack West Bank mosque and burn holy Muslim books” was a London Times headline on December 11, 2009.

These attacks, together with the demolition of Palestinian homes, the uprooting of Palestinians’ olive groves, the innumerable checkpoints that prevent Palestinians from accessing schools, work, and medical care, the Israeli Wall that denies Palestinians access to the land stolen from them, and the isolation and blockade of the Gaza Ghetto, are part of the Israeli government’s policy of genocide for the Palestinians.

The Israel Lobby has such power over America that even former President Jimmy Carter, a good friend of Israel, is demonized for using the polite term–apartheid–for the genocide that has occurred over the decades during which American “Christian” preachers, together with bought-and-paid-for politicians, justified Israel’s policy of slow genocide for Palestine.

Israelis who still have a moral conscience–a small part of the population–endeavor to use moral protests against the inhumanity of the Israeli government. Israelis Jeff Halper and Angela Godfrey-Goldstein lead the Israeli Committee Against House Demolition (ICAHD), a non-violent, direct-action group established to oppose and resist Israeli demolition of Palestinian homes in the Occupied Territories.

Under international law an occupier by military force is forbidden to steal the occupied land. The US, however, has protected Israel’s violation of international law for decades by vetoing UN resolutions. Israel has been able to steal Palestine from the Palestinians, because the US government used its power to prevent Israel from being held accountable under international law.

In March 2003 American citizen Rachel Corrie stood in front of an Israeli bulldozer, made by Caterpillar and sent to destroy a Palestinian home. Her courageous act of defiance was regarded as an annoyance, and she was run over and murdered by the Israeli bulldozer operator. Israel suffered no consequences for its murder of an American citizen who had a moral conscience.

In the Israeli-controlled American media, we hear endlessly that Palestinians are terrorists who strap on explosives in order to kill innocent Israelis and who terrorize Israeli towns by firing rockets into them. One look at the maps above is enough to make clear who the real terrorist is. The success of Israeli propaganda in the face of totally obvious facts damns the ignorance and unconcern of the American people.

The Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, which also has a moral conscience and is intelligent to boot, wrote on December 4, 2009: “Every appointee to the American government must endure a thorough background check by the American Jewish community.” Haaretz notes that any American that the President of the United States proposes for an appointment to his government is subject to the approval of the Israel Lobby, which can blackball appointees at will.

Haaretz gives the example of Charles Freeman, whom President Obama intended to appoint as head of the National Intelligence Council. The Israel Lobby proved, again, that it was more powerful than a mere American President and prevented the appointment, citing Freeman’s “anti-israel leaning.” In other words, because Freeman was not an overboard apologist for Israel’s crimes he was unacceptable to the Israel Lobby.

Haaretz reports: “The next attempt to appoint an intelligence aide, in this case, former Republican senator Chuck Hagel, also resulted in vast criticism over his not having a pro-Israel record.” The Israel Lobby has blocked Hagel’s appointment by President Obama. Hagel doesn’t want to start a war with Iran for Israel’s benefit and was blackballed by Morton A. Klein, the president of the Zionist Organization of America. Hagel, it seems, “refused to sign a letter calling on then-president George Bush to speak about Iran’s nuclear program at the G8 summit that year.”

Now it is a Jewish daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Hannah Rosenthal, whose appointment to head the US Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, an office that is another indication of America’s puppet state status, is under attack. Rosenthal was the head of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs during 2000-2005. Her black mark came from serving on the advisory board of the J Street Lobby, a recently-formed American Jewish organization formed in opposition to AIPAC’s murderous militarism.

The Israel Lobby’s opposition to Hannah Rosenthal shows that no moral person can survive the Israel Lobby’s blackball.

The US, “the world’s only superpower,” has no independent voice in Middle Eastern affairs. The real power rests in the hands of the settler thug, Avigdor Lieberman, Deputy Prime Minister of Israel and Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is the man who controls the Obama government’s Middle East policy. Lieberman forced the “all-powerful President of the US, Barack Omama,” to rescind his order to Israel to halt the illegal settler settlements on occupied Palestinian land. Obama was given the bird and submitted to his master.

Macho Americans who prance around as if they owned the world are nothing but the puppets of Israel. The US is not a country. It is a colony.
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Paul Craig Roberts
Hon. Paul Craig Roberts was educated at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Virginia, the University of California, Berkeley, and Oxford University where he was a member of Merton College. Dr. Roberts has held numerous academic appointments, including Senior Research Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and William E. Simon Chair, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Georgetown University. Dr. Roberts served in the Congressional Staff in the House and Senate and was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Treasury by President Ronald Reagan. He was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 1987. Dr. Roberts is author of 'Alienation and the Soviet Economy' and 'The Supply-Side Revolution'. He is coauthor with Matthew Stephenson of 'Marx’s Theory of Exchange, Alienation, and Crisis'. He is coauthor with Karen LaFollette Araujo of 'Meltdown: Inside the Soviet Economy and The Capitalist Revolution in Latin America'. He is coauthor with Lawrence Stratton of 'The New Color Line and The Tyranny of Good Intentions'. His latest book, 'How The Economy Was Lost', will be published by CounterPunch in October 2009. Dr. Roberts is a columnist for Creators Syndicate in Los Angeles.

http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2009/12/15/for-palestinians-every-day-is-kristallnacht/

Disputed Kashmir serves China’s interest

2009-12-01T09:40:00.000-08:00

The optimism is misplaced. With China issuing stapled visas, only Kashmiris end up on the losing side.

Rising Kashmir
Ghulam Nabi
On November 12, Indian Foreign Affairs Ministry declared it officially that no stapled visa issued by Chinese Embassy in Delhi will be entertained. Before that, it was only at the international Airport where Kashmiri people who had stapled visa would be informed that they can’t board the flight because of having different visa; which does not say anything different from normal visa except that it is not pasted, but stapled on the passport.
The issue is not as simple as it seems. Why China started issuing separate visas to Kashmiris now when it has always treated it as a disputed region? Though a section of Kashmiri society is jubilant about it thinking that China might be a saviour to help Kashmir secure its independence, but if we look into history then it seems a hoax. Though China has never treated Kashmir as part of India, but it has always adopted different policies vis-à-vis Kashmir, shaped according to her interest.

During 1950’s China adapted neutral policy, but in 1960’s and 1970’s the country towed her position towards Pakistan because of the deteriorating relations between USSR and China. Their relations aggravated first because of lack of support of USSR to China in 1962 Sino-India war, and later turned worse during the time of Cultural Revolution. So there was no love relation for Pakistan, which made China to modify their stand in favour of her “all weather ally”. As the old saying goes, my enemy’s enemy is my friend. With the shift in China’s overall foreign policy during Deng Xiaoping’s period who unlike his predecessor without any doubt gave more importance to economic reformation than sticking to a political ideology. China tried to build its business relations with different foreign countries including India. With the revival of business linkages with India, China’s stand on Kashmir also changed, it went back to its 50s position – ‘Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan’. Thus it secured its business interests while at the same time maintained its relation with Pakistan.
China continued with its post-1980 policy towards Kashmir issue till this year with little variations every now and then. However, it is pertinent to mention here that China alongside the US pushed Pakistan to withdraw from kargil war in 1999. Why China pushed Pakistan to withdraw from Kargil? Either, it does not want war in its neighborhood and if Kargil war could go worse it might affect China also or was it something else?
Coming back to visa controversy, with Chinese embassy in India is issuing separate visas to Kashmiri students and businessmen, some political commentators in Kashmir believe it is good for Kashmir, but if we give it a deep thought, it is the Kashmiri who is on the losing side.
There are 23 resolutions pending with the United Nations on Kashmir issue. There is an armed conflict, which is supported by peaceful non-violent resistance movement - going on from the last 20 years. The disputed nature of conflict is being discussed in every important forum. Even political commentators go on to say the road for peace in South Asia goes through Kashmir. But that has turned into rhetoric. So how would stapled visa help solve Kashmir issue? All it does is that it bars Kashmiri students to get their education in China. Similarly, when whole world is trying to build their business relations with China, Kashmiri business community can’t take benefit of it unlike the Indian business community which doesn’t face such restrictions. China has emerged as India’s largest trading partner in 2008, while surpassing United States. Just one decade ago, the bilateral trade between the two Asian giants was $2 Billion, and it has reached $51.8 billion in 2008.
If China was sincere to help Kashmir, it would help Kashmiri students to get admission and scholarship in Chinese universities on priority bases. It would also give concession to Kashmiri traders, which would not only help China to connect with Kashmiri people, but would also boost deteriorated Kashmiri economy. However, it is doing entirely opposite.
The very jubilance in Kashmir about China is coming is like “aaya aaya Lashkar aaya”. Lashkar is coming, Jaish is coming and now China is coming. These comings neither helped in the past nor they are going to help in the future. It might be of the interest of Indian business community (excluding trigger-happy FCCI people who formed task force of retired army generals and bureaucrats, which proposed to wage war in Pakistan, without knowing consequences of it) to have good relation with Pakistan if the Kashmir problem is solved. India which is not able to get access to Central Asian market will not only get that, but the solution will also help to build a successful South Asian block, which is in a way threat for China. So if China wants to fulfill its dream to rule Asia, it is in her benefit to have conflict like Kashmir in South Asia. This argument can be also looked in the context of a recent article titled “If China takes a little action, the so-called Great Indian Federation can be broken up” published by a Chinese writer Zhong Guo Zhan Lue Gang on 8th of August, 2009 which says China should use its forces and take support from countries like Pakistan, Nepal etc to split India. The fragmentation of India would only help China to be sole economic power in the region.
Though at the political level, China does not have good relations with India, but it does not want its politics effect its economic cooperation with India. And at the same time it’s getting free hand to do any kind of business in Pakistan. The all-weather ally and sweeter than sugar friendship with Pakistan is strategically important for China. On one hand Pakistan recognizes Xinjiang as part of China and on the other hand China is getting access and enormous support in Muslim we of its friendship with Pakistan. However, it cannot be negated that China has been relatively good with Muslim world compared to many western countries, but it remains to be seen how long this good-will remains.
Finally it has to be seen from one of my Pakistani friend’s perspective, who says whenever he visits China if he sees two people, one is Indian and the other is Chinese. He adds that he prefers to talk to Indian than Chinese. I can relate something to him; we share same culture, language, tradition, food habits. The day Kashmir problem is solved we will have more close relations with India than China. So will it be in the Chinese interest to solve Kashmir problem when it sees its competitor, India, without having a proper trade relation with South Asia and Central Asia and yet chasing him in every direction, and if they get access to this area that can be the threat to the Chinese market, and that too when USA is going to provide India every kind of support to contain China.
The author is a social activist and can be contacted at gkashmiri @gmail.com

Beyond Media Rhetoric, Muslims Enjoy a Respectable Life in Beijing

2009-08-11T22:17:00.000-07:00

When we talk about china’s approach towards religious minorities’. The first thing that comes in our mind is: China does not recognize any religion, religious minorities and specifically Muslims are being harassed, ill treated by the Chinese Government. Coming from the Muslim background, I too had the same conception about China, and there was a reason to be skeptical, worried as I had seen on The Tsinghua University website that no religious activity should be performed inside the campus; yet on the other hand when I browsed the same website I saw there is a Muslims dinning hall available for Muslim students between zijing 21 and 22 dormitories.
I arrived in Tsinghua on August 2008, after taking shower I tried to look for the Dinning hall I had seen on the website, but unfortunately I was told that the dinning hall does not serve Muslim food, though it is meant for Muslims, they buy Halhal meat, yet they mix Alcohol in the food, which makes it Haram (prohibited) for Muslims to eat. While I was looking for Muslim food, I accidently met an Indian student here in Tsinghua, who took me to a restaurant near Wudakho where I had my dinner. The night passed, the worry started again, where should I take breakfast, lunch. I decided to visit my School, the school of Public Policy and Management, but for me reaching my school was not easy as I could not speak a single Chinese word. So I started looking for some one who could speak English, fortunately I found a guy, who could speak English, I requested him to show me the school of Public policy. This was the first time when I saw the warmth of Chinese people. This student not only came with me to my school but he took me around the whole Tsinghua campus; more importantly when I told him I am Muslim, He helped me to get the dinning card, took me to another Muslim restaurant inside the Tsinghua, which is meant for Chinese Muslim students. I was elated to see Muslim restaurant, though not as sophisticated as other canteens in the campus; but the restaurant even provided me free Sehri during the month of Ramadan , which I had never expected to get here.
With the passing time, I came to know china’s policy towards its minorities. I found that unlike most of the universities in the world, in china all the universities have special restaurants for Muslim students, which serve subsidized food. Besides, these Muslim restaurants inside the campus, there are a number of Muslim restaurants outside the campus as well. A Muslim can find Halhal food in every super market. From meat to milk, and from bread to ice-cream and juice, Halhal food is available all the corners of Beijing
Outside the university campus, China offered me a chance to visit one of the oldest mosques of Islam; Niujie Mosque in Beijing, which was built in 996 AD. It was again surprising for me to see men and women flock together to offer the prayers. The gathering was so huge I thought I am somewhere in a Muslim country.
When we look back to Chinese history since Mao’s period, Muslims were least affected even in the Cultural Revolution period. Chinese government has been always effectively protecting the Muslims community and their sentiments. The example of these policies can be seen from the Pig year 2007, when China banned any mention of pigs in the TV adds, in order not to antagonize Muslim community in China which constitute two percent of china’s population .
As I become familiar with the people, culture, and society here in China , I don’t see any problem in practicing my religion, I some times feel more secure, empowered than in my homeland.
While looking at China’s pro minority policies, I realize whey china is so close to Muslim world, Whether it is china’s all time close friend Pakistan, or it is Saudi Arabiya, Iran, or any other Muslim country; China has a cordial relation with whole Muslim world. The result of that can be seen not a single Chinese person was touched in Iraq, and in Afghanistan. Ultimately truth prevails, beyond media rhetoric I would say Muslims in Beijing are freer, independent and empowered then many Muslim communities in the world.

In Search of My Identity

2009-04-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

‘He has got Indian passport but he does not look like an Indian.’

It was August 26, when I first arrived in Beijing. Beijing was busy welcoming guests from across the globe. Beijing was blooming and there was no reason why it should not have been, as China was hosting 2008 Olympic Games. Thousands of ordinary people thronged to Beijing to watch historic Olympic Games. One could see volunteers – trained and acclimatized with the foreign cultures – everywhere including airports, railway stations, highways, at all most all the commercial and tourist places - to help and do the interpretation for visitors. What added color to the Olympics in Beijing and made China proudest host was when their athletes won most of the gold medals. If 2001 formally opened China to the world market, 2008 opened gates of Chinese culture to the world culture and vice-versa.
When I arrived in Beijing, before I could come out of the airport, I faced a hard but truthful reality. At the immigration check despite the clearance, they asked me to wait. As Chinese was indeed alien for me till that time, I knew only one Chinese word Ni hao (hello), I could not understood the reason they stopped me. After waiting for 20 minutes, I started looking for an interpreter who could help me, what they are looking for, but I could not find one. All I could see, they were calling some people on the phone that made me scared. I thought they will arrest me for the reason I don’t know, or I will never know. Coming from the conflict hit Kashmir region, I could only imagine how people were arrested, killed, or disappeared during nineties, so I was just preparing my self for the same experience. I had a sigh of relief when I saw an Indian man talking to them and after waiting impatiently again for 20 minutes, they let me go. Though I got a bit of relief, but felt very perturbed why did they halt me here? So what was it; they were looking for? Why did they allow everybody to go and kept me waiting? What was the problem? These questions were hammering my mind, I rushed to see that an Indian man, to find out what were these officials looking for, after some minutes of search I could find him and ask him; can you please tell me: Why didn’t they allow me to go first? Why they asked me to wait for more than half an hour? What is the problem? … He smiled and said: they didn’t believe you are an Indian. They said, ‘he has got an Indian passport, but does not look like an Indian.’ This puzzled me and was the starting point when I realized that it is not only me, but people outside Indian boundaries too don’t accept me as an Indian. I remember when I was questioned at Amsterdam Airport in 2006 for the same reason. This was the time again I was forced to think ‘who am I? What is my identity?’ My passport calls me an Indian, but despite having Indian passport people don’t accept me as an Indian. From my classmates to other acquaintances from around the world, everybody know me as a Kashmiri, why so? It is not me only who would proudly love to be called as Kashmiri than Indian, but the people around me don’t accept me as an Indian either.
Chinese being predominantly Han ethnic group have little knowledge about religions. Yes, there is no doubt they know the major religions of the world, like: Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. Christianity because of Christmas celebrations, which most of the Chinese love to celebrate, though most of them don’t know why they do so. Buddhism had an amicable impact on Chinese society, and Islam, as Muslims are the second largest minority here in China. There are around two hundred thousand Muslims living in China. Though the state does not recognize any religion, but I have not seen any restrictions on the practice of any religion here. Unlike most of the democratic countries, all most all the universities have separate restaurants for Muslim students, which offer Halhal and subsidized food. Finding Halhal food outside the universities is not difficult, either. Besides a number of Muslim restaurants, one can find packed Halhal food with Islamic organization stamp on it, in almost all the supermarkets in Beijing, and other cities of China.
When I arrived in Tsinghua University, the university I had never heard of before I applied for it .Tsinghua is among the top fifty universities in the world, with more than 30,000 undergrad and grad students, and around 5000 Ph. D. scholars indeed was unimaginable for me. It takes 30 minutes by bicycle to shutter from one department to other, and hard to explore whole campus even you spend whole day walking or riding bicycle. Joining (MID) Program in The School of Public Policy, which has 42 students from 32 nationalities; Teachers who been teaching or taught around the globe; The School where from Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair Bush, Sonia Gandhi, and Hillary Clinton, to the noble prize winners like Al Gore and Joseph Stieglitz have delivered lectures, has fascinated me in every respect.
Studying in Tsinghua is not only challenging for me in academic respect, but it also became more challenging for me owing to my Muslim identity. I have to answer questions posed by my fellow students and people around me on the issues related to Muslim world. Whether there is attack in Islamabad in Pakistan, or it is a discussion of American aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan, or be politics, economy and social system in Muslim world. The most frequently of them asked is: Why Muslims become terrorists? Why women are not treated well in Muslims countries. These very questions forced me to read more about my religion, and Muslim world. Then came a unique, yet surprising and challenging opportunity for me, which nobody had got so for in post Cultural Revolution in China. I was asked to give presentation on Islam in the Tsinghua University, for which school provided official funds for arrangements. I couldn’t believe it, as if it was a dream. How can they allow me to do presentation on Islam? State does not recognize any religion here. Just I could not believe, nor did my friends. Then came the time to do presentation, I could see posters pasted on the school wall, presentation on Islam, teachers and students from other departments have been invited too to join the presentation. I was nervous and there was reason to be, as I had to do presentation on the most discussed religion in the world. When I did my presentation on Islam, it was again dominated by questions like, Terrorism, women’s rights in Islam, and problems faced by Muslim world. The important and relevant example of present Muslim world I could quote was Kashmir’s transition from armed moment to the non-violent moment. I was surprised, when one of my classmate from United Kingdom, during the question answer session stood up and said, ‘I am shameful for whatever is happening in Kashmir, as it is the creation of my country, UK.’
Over the last six months in Beijing I have faced very harsh realities of identity, am I an Indian, or a Kashmiri, if I am Muslim, I should be then a terrorist, an orthodox or an illiterate. What not. I don’t go to discos or bars, yet I know the history and culture of western world, I can speak in their language; I am as modern as they are, I speak more against terrorism than any non-Muslim. Yet they know ‘he is a Muslim; a threat for the world.’ This is not what they say me; this is what I always feel.
I was astonished to see Beijing as a clean city despite so populated and congested. When I was in Sweden in 2006, I was amazed to see the cleanliness there but when I came to China, I realized keeping Uppsala or Stockholm clean is not a difficult task, as the population of these Scandinavian cities is proportionately very less as compared to Beijing. From Starbucks to MacDonald, and jazz music Beijing has everything to offer. (Even) as a Muslim, it paved me chance to visit Chinas first and one of the world’s oldest mosque, Niujie Mosque, built in 996 AD. Masjids are a connecting force for people of the faith. It is Hidian Mosque, not far from Peking, and Tsinghua universities, which helps me to meet Muslim students from around the globe. But more impotently Hidian Mosque provided me the chance to meet cream of Pakistani scholars, who pursue their Ph.D. degrees in different universities in Beijing. Interacting and meeting with this influential Pakistani intelligentsia is something enriching. There are more than 30 Pakistani scholars pursuing PhD in Beijing, on HEC (higher education commission) scholarship of Pakistan. But recently a friend who belongs to other part of Kashmir told me that scholarship program has been now closed by the new government, which he perceived as a blow to the education system in Pakistan. After interacting with most of the Pakistani students, I realized none of them is in favor of independence of Kashmir. Yes all of them are against gun culture, they call it terrorism. I wonder when the same people are sent to Kashmir, how they become Mujahids. I was told a sizable number of them were criminals and thugs from many other countries, who had been given choice either to go jail, or Kashmir.
Amidst this networking, studying, and playing in a foreign country, I feel very safe, as safe as I have never been in my whole life. Here I don’t have to show my identity card, unlike my own land, where I cannot step out of my home without it. But here too the question of identity haunts me.
….Ends….

Muslims need ''Knowledge capital''; West understanding and tolerance

2009-03-02T11:05:00.000-08:00

“Read! Recite! Proclaim! In the name of thy Lord and cherisher who created - created the human, out of a congealed clot of blood (a leach-like substance). Read and thy Lord is Most Bountiful. He who taught (the use of) the Pen- taught man that which he knew not (Holley Quran 96: 1-5).

The first revelation to the Prophet of Islam revealed by God was ‘to read’. God didn’t say fight, be clean, do charity, pray, but he said ‘read’. With the passage of time Mohammad (peace be upon him) stressed his followers to gain knowledge, he says “seek knowledge even unto China”. The importance of china in my understanding was in two contexts, one Chinese language was alien to Arabs and other Islamic world at that time besides being very far off place to the Arab world. And second was the knowledge capital of china that would have made it focus of Prophet, as China was advanced, even than western world, in knowledge at that time. The emphasis given on knowledge by Prophet of Islam motivated most of the Muslims to seek knowledge and to transfer this knowledge from generation to generation. Within the hundred years after the emergence of Islam, Muslims proved to be very educative and innovative.

The non-commercialization of education in Islamic world and the zeal to propagate this knowledge made Islamic world front runner and torch bearer of knowledge. When whole of the west was in Dark period, Islamic world was blooming with knowledge and prosperity. Muslim scholars contributed in almost all major fields of knowledge and innovations. The thirst of knowledge in the Muslim world gave birth to scholars like Abu Ali al-Hussain Ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina, known as Avicinna, Hunayn ibn Ishaq, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi, Al-Idrisi, Ibn al-Baitars who immensely contributed in the field of medicine and science, besides these scholars Muslim world created scholars like; Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, Ghiyath al-Din al Kashani, Umar Khayyam, Abu al-Hassan al Haitham and many others. They too proved to be masters and architects of the modern scientific fields of medicine, astronomy, physics, mathematics and social sciences like Sociology and History, of which example of Ibn khaldun is a ready reminder to everybody. Unfortunately we can not find names of these people anymore in our academic books and papers, as there legacy was not continued and their innovations were not patented, when Intellectual property law IPR was implemented. With the result western scholars adopted their innovation and patented them in their own name, as they did with the number of Chinese innovations like gun powder, printing press etc.

The knowledge capital of Muslim world could not sustain long, as the coming generation failed to preserve and work with it with the changing times. With the result after 13th century, influence of Muslim world in the field of knowledge and innovation started declining. Though the influence and contribution of Muslim scholars to this legacy remained for one more century, but after fifteenth century we could not see such innovations and rapid application of knowledge in the Islamic world. Despite the fact that in the medieval period three greatest Muslim Empires came to existence- Ottaman in Turkey, Safavid In Iran, and Mughal in Indian subcontinent. Still in modern time, we could not see much contribution in scientific knowledge by Islamic world. Why the greed of seeking and imparting knowledge declined in Muslim world? Why Muslim countries are far behind than non-Muslim countries in education, technology, and economic development? Why Muslim women are less educated than the non-Muslim women? Despite the fact, Islam gives equal rights to both male and female to seek education /knowledge. According to (Al-Bayhaqi), the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) says, “It is obligatory for every Muslim – male or female – to acquire knowledge.” If Islam would not have allowed women to seek knowledge we would not have seen the wife of Prophet Mohammad (PBuh) - Aisha bente Abu Bakir, who had gained a tremendous knowledge of law, religion, literature and even medicine - guiding many sahaabi’s (companions of prophet Mohammad) after the death of Prophet Mohammad. But present day Muslim world has forgotten this.

The recent ban on girl education and demolition of Schools in the picturesque Swat valley in NWFP (North-Western Frontier Province) in Pakistan by Taliban is a new challenge which Muslim world is facing by its own people. Though national assembly of Pakistan later rejected the ban, Taliban’s second in command Mula Shah Duran ordered prohibition of girl’s education Calling it un-Islamic. One fails to understand which Islam he is talking of. As we have already seen din-i-illahi, din-i- Qadyani , and now we have dine–i-Talibani, which does everything except the things which Islam teaches. According to Washington Times, dated January 5, 2009, “Three years ago, more than 120,000 girls attended schools and colleges in the region (NWFP), which has a population of 1.8 million. Now only about 40,000 are enrolled”. The enrolment has effected because of the speeches of so called local religious demagogues against girl education. If the situation continues time is not far when we will find no girls in schools, and boys either in opium cultivation or in jihadi camps. If we go by Taliban means of education, then we have to confine girls inside homes and teach them to read Quran. What should these girls do, just to recite Quran-- which they don’t even understand as most of us in south Asia do-- is not enough to progress. If learning means to learn to read Quran only, than Prophet Mohammad (Pbuh) would not have asked his people seek knowledge even if you have to go China.

Muslims in the present world feel helplessness, vulnerability, frustration and reaction to their every action, whether sane or insane, with the result they either go for Jihad or come to the streets to protest. That only alienates them from the rest of the world. On the other hand America and other western countries that feel Muslim as the biggest threat, with the result they have been using force to eliminate a section of people who oppose American/western hegemony. The antagonism and hatred by western countries for Muslim world, going on from many centuries, is a creation of Christian Church who felt threat of Islam. This creation of hatred is still going on in western world despite their liberal education and thinking. Thanks to the American and western culture and so called modernism that has trapped and jaundiced their vision. If they would have kept, otherwise, eye on their history that could have led them to learn the truth about their past.

The second biggest challenge now, west and America feels, is ideological challenge. All the ideologies vanished, because of the influence of western ideology. Hindus, Buddhists, Communists, and other sects fell into the lap of west. Even the most politically and culturally rigid country; China follows all the footsteps of West. The culture, way of living, eating habits, and dressing in China goes western way; thus on cultural sector even China has fallen into their lap. Then ,there remains only one ideology which challenges western ideology, i.e Islamic ideology .this is the ideology which challenges western ideology and goes against the western way of life style. This way, it is Muslim world that become only challenging force for the western world. So there remain only two prominent ideologies: western ideology and Muslim ideology. Parallel force is always, and has been always, challenge unless it bows down its head and accepts the supremacy of the other. If you are not with us, you are against us. And the one who is against us has to accept our hegemony or face the music, that is the direct and indirect message of American and western world to the Muslim world.

At this important point of time, when a black African becomes president of USA, Taliban forces in Afghanistan are able to gain control, and America is loosing their “war on terror”. The humiliation of Bush in Iraq where he was given farewell with shoes, the Israeli attack on Palestine that lead to death of thousands of people and further strengthened the Hamas, one wonders where the world is heading. In one hand America and its allies have realized that they cannot defeat Muslim world with force, they need to negotiate and find a different strategy. One the other hand Muslim world is getting ray of hope after America’s shameful exist form Iraq, and their helplessness in Afghanistan. But what is Muslim world doing? Excluding one or two Muslims nations, USA and other Western countries control all most all the Muslim nations. That starts from the nuclear power Pakistan to the natural resource rich countries of Middle East. But, despite America’s indirect control on these governments, it could not control the emotion and loyalty of the people of these countries, who have started hating America and western world because of its anti-Muslim policies.

Despite having enough economic resources Muslim world could not establish a single world class university. This had a direct impact on the knowledge capital of Muslim world. Why can’t Muslims produce ibn Sina, and Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi like people now? Muslims in the world have enough resources, access to technology and knowledge; why still they are behind the west. If Muslims were masters of knowledge, why are they most illiterate and ignorant at this point? This ignorance and lack of knowledge keeps Muslims behind the world, especially the West. Why a community of 14 million Jews can maneuver things in the world, why not Muslims with more the 1 billion population. Muslims world need brains, not countless heads. Muslim uma in general and Ulemas in particular need to come out of there stereotypic notions about science, and encourage young generation -boys –girls to seek more and more scientific knowledge. If Muslims can not speed up and work in the field of knowledge which is imperative for the success of a nation, state, village and for the growth of an individual; they will remain where they are. On the other hand, if the west and America will not take Muslims seriously, the word of ‘jihad’ which has now become a household discussion may have an impact on every household.

Why People Defied Election Boycott Call In Jammu And Kashmir

2009-02-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

By Ghulam Nabi

28 January, 2009
Countercurrents.org

Elections were held, voter turnout was exceptional, and the government is now formed. But the big question remained unanswered why did people vote this time. The large scale turnout surprised the pro-freedom leadership and pro-Indian parties as well as the state of Pakistan, and India. While the Indian state project the voter turnout in favor of Indian state, and the Kashmir based political parties including the ruling party believes this vote is for development, not for the resolution of Kashmir. New Delhi based news channels and news papers forgot their journalistic ethics which they often do, when it comes to the matter of projecting India as a biggest democracy, and Kashmir as an integral part of India. While some news papers and news channels projected the voter turn out as the defeat of separatist sentiment in Kashmir, while the others wrote Pakistan should stop now taking about Kashmir, as the kashmiris have shown faith on Indian democracy. Indian president in her address to the Nation on the eve of 60th Republic day of India also projected elections in Kashmir as the Kashmiri people’s faith on Indian polity. One wonders how she could forget the protests of hundreds of thousands of people in recent Amarnath controversy when people marched to the streets of Kashmir to demand for Aazadi (independence). On the other hand this was again the time when separatist like Mirvaiz Umar Farooq, first time confessed that the governance and resolution are two separate issues ,alas had separatist leadership realized it earlier we would not have lost hundreds of lives which were killed because they either contested election or casted their vote .

Unlike this election, Elections in Kashmir were either rigged like 1987, or people were forced to vote like 1996, 2002. But amidst this rigging and coercion we could not see a large voter turn out, than this election, why? I believe the resilience of militants not to use gun against the contestants and voters is the biggest reason for large scale voter turn out , as National conference president Farooq Abdullah said in a public debate on NDTV , that if Pakistan and militants had not restrained from attacking we would not have seen this large scale turn out . But at the same time we have seen people from Srinagar, and some other small towns observing complete boycott of elections. So does this mean only people from Srinagar and other small town which observed boycott want aazadi and rest don’t? I would argue with a big No, those who voted do not want to be part of India, as the ones who did not vote; their ends are same, but the means to reach that destination can be different. If we look at the press briefings and speeches of all mainstream parties during their election campaign, either they disassociate themselves with the resolution of Kashmir conflict, and fought the election on the name of governance or they projected themselves as the facilitators for the resolution of Kashmir dispute. In both ways mainstream parties tried their best to disassociate themselves from projecting the so called glory of Indian democracy which has been very much understood by Kashmiri people from last sixty years. However at the same time, regional/religious centric parties like BJP in Jammu and PDP in Kashmir managed to win more seats on the name of religion and region, thus lays the foundation of communal politics in Kashmir, which had failed so far to take its organized form.

History is witness to the fact that Kashmiris have fought against those who went against their wishes .be it towering leader of Kashmir; sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, who was highly praised and respected by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, unlike any of the separatist or mainstream leader of present time, but when people understood he has compromised on Kashmir cause, they went to the extent of dig his corpse out of his grave in 1990’s. The 1990 arms movement created a new leadership who started ruling people, and some times went to the extent of giving judgments on family /community disputes. A section of this community later become part of Hurriyat conference, which virtually started ruling Kashmir. Hurriyat become biggest force after 1990. But the state elections in 1996 when National conference rule was enthroned on Kashmiri people, NC workers started reaching out to people, but Hurriyat’s power did not vanish with it, it played its role and become a parallel force till august 2008, when it again got a control on the mass movement. Thanks to the then Governor of Jammu and Kashmir sate S .K Sinha who forced Aazad lead Congress and PDP coalition government to transfer land to the Amarnath shrine Board, which provoked kashmiris to fight back and get land allotment order revoked. Hurriyat tried to exploit this sentiment, and convert it into mass movement for independence, but the internal politics in both the sections of Hurriyat conference disappointed people and we lost the opportunity to negotiate with India. This was the second chance when India was ready to discuss any solution after 1990, and this time we had gained support from some sections of Indian civil society. Then came the election period, not only two factions of Hurriyat but Yaseen malik , and Sajad Lone who was earlier delinking elections in J&K with the resolution of Kashmir , lost his sanity and was swayed by August protests decided to launch anti election campaign. But they got in response what they had sown. This time they could not lure people for there false claims of bringing independence overnight. So the question arises, why people voted, if they were protesting against India and for aazadi just three months back? The answer is failure of institutionalization of movement.

Almost everybody in Kashmir knows, millions were being donated by people for the Kashmir cause, but the money went to the pockets of our separatist leader’s .For twenty years of resistance they failed to create even a single school, college, library, or hospital. Families of militants and other poor people always remained at the mercy of pro India parties. Even the deceased of august 2008 protests did not receive any monitory support from Hurriyat, except some meager amount of money and award from JKLF to some of the martyrs who were killed in Police firing. With the absence of alternative support, failure of Hurriyat and pro-freedom leadership to support needy ones, people chose what they felt is better for them. They voted, but not compromised their mission to fight for aazadi, thus they proved to be masters of negotiation, unlike our Hurriyat leaders who failed to understand the ground situation. History is testimony to the fact, that those people, who vote, are the same people who were part of 1990 and august 2008 mass movements. They are the people who face the brunt of army, police, and some times the harassments by militants. They fought for independence at every point, but they have been betrayed and disappointed at every time by our separatist leadership, yet they say they vote for development, not for India. At the same time mainstream parties succeeded in delinking elections with the resolution of Kashmir, and thus projected elections for the development and solution for local problems. Thus they succeeded in bringing people out to vote. This is the lesson for Hurriyat and pro-freedom leadership, they need to do introspection and chalk out a proper strategy to lead this movement to the logical conclusion. If they are not able to do it, it is better for them to get out of the way.

Sahibnabi@yahoo.co.in

Authorities relax curfew in Indian Kashmir: International Herald Tribune

2008-08-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

By Sheikh Mushtaq Reuters
Published: August 28, 2008

SRINAGAR, India: Authorities tentatively relaxed a four-day curfew in Indian Kashmir on Thursday to allow people to buy essentials as residents ran short of food during massive protests against Indian rule.

At least 30 protesters have been killed by government forces over the past three weeks in some of the biggest pro-independence demonstrations since a revolt against New Delhi's rule broke out in Kashmir in 1989. More than 600 have been injured.

In Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, people swarmed grocery shops as authorities relaxed a curfew for more than an hour. The curfew was briefly relaxed at different times in different areas across much of the Kashmir Valley.

The latest deaths occurred on Wednesday, when troops shot protesters who police said defied a curfew and shouted pro-independence slogans. Two protesters were killed and more than a dozen wounded.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called on Wednesday for the India government to show restraint and called for a probe into the recent killings.

"OHCHR calls on the Indian authorities and in particular security forces to respect the right to freedom of assembly and expression, and comply with international human rights principles in controlling the demonstrators," the OHCHR said in a statement.

First sparked by a land row over a Hindu shrine, the protests quickly transformed into rallies that galvanised pro-separatist groups after years of relative calm in the region.

The crisis has strained relations between India and Pakistan, which both claim the region in full but rule in parts, damaging a tentative peace process and raising fears Kashmir could again become a hotspot between the two nuclear rivals.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Kashmir since the armed revolt against New Delhi's rule broke out, but levels of violence had been falling in the past few years after the tentative peace process between India and Pakistan.

The conflict over the land also sparked large protests in the Hindu-majority region of Jammu, sparking fears of communal conflict gripping parts of the state of more than 10 million people previously less affected by violence.

"EXCESSIVE FORCE"

Indian troops have been criticised by Kashmiris and human rights groups for using excessive force, with reports that they have attacked journalists and ambulance drivers.

Authorities have blocked four local television news channels from broadcasting since Sunday and none of more than a dozen local newspapers have been able to publish for the past five days.

"They have stopped newspapers, local television and starved us," Mukhtar Ahmad, a carpet trader said. "They can't hold us at gun point for long."

Police have also detained four senior separatist leaders since Monday to defuse protests and raided the homes of dozens of others.

"Already reeling under the impact of an economic blockade the curfew has further accentuated the conditions and a humanitarian disaster is staring at our faces," Sajad Lone, a separatist leader, said in a statement.

The crisis began after the Kashmir government promised to give forest land to a Hindu trust that runs Amarnath, a cave shrine visited by Hindu pilgrims. Many Muslims were enraged.

The government then rescinded its decision, which in turn angered Hindus in Jammu who attacked lorries carrying supplies to the largely Muslim Kashmir Valley and blocked the region's highway, the only surface link with the rest of India.

Challenging the blockade, Kashmiris took to the streets.

In Jammu, mainly Hindu protest groups were due to hold talks with state government officials on Thursday evening.

"We are hopeful now," said Narinder Singh, a protest leader in Jammu, when asked about the chances of agreement with the state government over the land row.

Three suspected Muslim militants who slipped across the border from Pakistan into Indian Kashmir were shot dead by security forces after they killed six people in the Hindu-majority region of Jammu on Wednesday, police said.

(Editing by Alistair Scrutton and Alex Richardson)

Kashmir Rumbles, Rattling Old Rivals:The Newyork Times

2008-08-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

By SOMINI SENGUPTA
Published: August 21, 2008

SRINAGAR, Kashmir — Born and reared during the bloodiest years of insurgency and counterinsurgency, inheritors of rage, a new generation of young Kashmiris poured into the streets by the tens of thousands over the past several weeks, with stones in their fists and an old slogan on their lips: “Azadi,” or freedom, from India.

Kashmiri Muslims headed to a United Nations office in Srinagar on Monday to press their cause.

Their protests in Indian-controlled Kashmir were part of an unexpected outburst of discontent set off by a dispute over a 99-acre piece of land, which has for more than two months been stoked by both separatist leaders in Muslim-majority Kashmir and Hindu nationalists elsewhere in India.

Overnight, the unrest has threatened to breathe new life into the old and treacherous dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir, which is claimed by both nations and lies at the heart of 60 years of bitterness between them, including two wars.

Disastrously for the Indian government, Kashmir has burst onto center stage at a time of growing turmoil in the region — with the resignation this week of Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf, who had sought to temper his country’s backing for anti-Indian militancy here.

Even though the two countries have been engaged in four years of peace talks, India has grown nervous that the disarray in Pakistan has left it with no negotiating partner. From New Delhi’s perspective, that power vacuum has allowed anti-Indian elements in Pakistan’s intelligence services and the militant groups they employ to pursue their agenda with renewed vigor.

Relations between the countries have become newly embittered as Indian and Pakistani forces have engaged in skirmishes across the Line of Control that divides Kashmir between them for the first time in years.

Not least, India has blamed the Pakistani intelligence services for playing a hidden role in the bombing of the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan last month, a charge that Pakistan vehemently denies.

The latest unrest here has only added to the difficulties of renewed dialogue.

How long this agitation will continue depends on both India’s capacity to assuage Kashmiri separatist leaders, and their ability in turn to control the sudden eruption of rage among the young.

The largest, most intense demonstration in years took place on Monday, as tens of thousands of Kashmiris, mostly men, streamed into an open area in the city center to demand independence from India. They came in motorcycle cavalcades, and on the backs of trucks and buses.

A few waved Pakistani flags. Some shouted praise for Lashkar-e-Taiba, the banned Pakistan-based militant organization that India blames for a series of terrorist attacks in recent years. “India, your death will come,” they chanted. “Lashkar will come. Lashkar will come.”

By Tuesday, traffic had returned to the city, as the separatists called for a three-day suspension of the strike. Shops and cafes reopened. The pro-Pakistan graffiti had been covered up, as though it were again an ordinary day.

Another mass gathering, however, is planned for Friday at the martyrs’ cemetery, where two generations of those killed in the conflict are buried, with all the potential to become yet another flash point of conflict.

Again and again, Kashmiris from across the political spectrum said these scenes reminded them of the peak of the anti-Indian rebellion in the early 1990s, except at that time, separatist guerrillas, aided by Pakistan, openly roamed the streets with guns.

Nineteen years after that rebellion kicked off, the current demonstrations have pierced what seemed, perhaps deceptively to the Indian government, like a return of the ordinary here.

Earlier this year, tourists were flocking to Dal Lake in Kashmir. Buses were running twice monthly so that Kashmiris could visit their relatives across the de facto border in the Pakistan-controlled region of Kashmir. A bookshop opened for the first time in nearly two decades.

“Before the storm, there is always a calm,” a Kashmiri woman, Assabah Khan, 34, declared. “The uprising we see now is the latent anger against the Indian state that has erupted again.”

Narendra Nath Vohra, the governor of the Indian-controlled Kashmir state, compared life in Srinagar today to darkness at noon.

In the last few weeks, tourists all but disappeared. Schools and offices closed. The main city hospital was filled with Kashmiris shot and wounded by Indian security forces.

Mehmeet Syed, who only a few months ago could sing her heart out on stage with her five-piece rock band, remained caged in her home, as her city erupted in a series of fiery protests and strikes. On the road leading to the Syed family home, children guarded a homemade roadblock the other day, clutching stones.
On Monday, on the edges of an open field where tens of thousands had gathered to vent their anger at Indian rule, Abdul Gani Mir, 62, marveled at a young man who had scaled a chinar tree to plant a green Islamic flag.
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The New York Times

Amarnath, a Hindu shrine, figures in Kashmir’s unrest.
Related
Times Topics: Kashmir

Mr. Mir said being here filled him with hope. “We succumbed, but I don’t think this generation will,” he said, and then he chuckled. “I wish I were young.”

His niece was among 20 unarmed Kashmiri protesters killed by Indian security forces last week, as they set off on a march to Muzaffarabad, in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.

Sheik Yasir Rouf, 27, said he had never before taken part in a demonstration so large, so intense. He was a child in the early 1990s, when the anti-Indian rebellion was at its peak. “This feeling was always there,” he said. “We are fighting for our one right to be free.”

“Sooner or later, this had to be,” insisted his friend, Shahid Rasool, also 27.

Mr. Rouf said he had spent 15 days in jail during his senior year in high school, accused of harboring militants. Mr. Rasool was picked up by security forces and interrogated all night; he was 16 years old.

The trouble in the valley began two months ago, quite unexpectedly, over 99 acres of state government land that, for decades, had been used by Hindu pilgrims on the route to a Himalayan shrine called Amarnath.

In May, the authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir authorized the panel that runs the pilgrimage site to put up “prefabricated structures” for pilgrims. The order enraged Muslims.

With state elections scheduled for this year, some politicians and separatist leaders pounced on the decision and declared it a bid to re-engineer the demography of Kashmir. Hard-line Islamists compared it to the Israeli occupation of Muslim holy lands.

The government soon rescinded the order, but nothing, as Governor Vohra pointed out, actually changed — Hindu pilgrims still used the land, and they still came this year in record numbers.

Nevertheless, the retraction of the original order enraged people in the Hindu-majority plains of Jammu, which is part of the same state. They, too, began agitating by the tens of thousands. And they, too, were goaded by politicians and hard-line leaders.

All told over the past two months, the protests here in the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley and counterprotests led by Hindu groups in the plains below, have left a death toll of nearly 40 in clashes with security forces.

The two sides remain at each other’s throats. Muslims in the valley allege that Indian troops have been quick to halt their protests, while letting Hindus in the plains carry on their agitation.

Hindu leaders in the plains were outraged that the government allowed anti-Indian separatists to march through the valley carrying Pakistani flags.

Many Indians regard the rebellious tableau in the valley as an unexpected affront. Kanwal Sibal, a retired diplomat, suggested in a livid column on Tuesday in Mail Today, an English-language newspaper, that unlike China with its Tibet policy, India has never sought to alter Kashmir’s Muslim-majority demography.

The latest fury, he suggested, “shows the failure, and perhaps the futility, of efforts to win the hearts and minds of the valley Kashmiris.”

Kashmiri public opinion is hardly uniformly anti-Indian, and the pro-Pakistan current is one among many. But distrust runs deep. Rumors travel and harden equally fast.

Muslims here complain that Indian security forces roam the streets, and they can recount at least one memory, usually more, of humiliation and fear.

“It is a volcano that has erupted,” Shad Salim Akhtar, 54, a doctor, said of the latest agitation.

That volcano kept Ms. Syed, the Kashmiri singer, at home. She had a video shoot scheduled for her new solo album; it has been postponed. Her father, Ahmad, a doctor was considering running in the elections this fall, but he is no longer sure.

Dr. Syed, 46, said he had just been getting used to the sense of the ordinary returning to his city. The guards at checkpoints were less aggressive than before. He did not worry much about his daughter’s concerts. “Three, four months ago, we thought, ‘It’s all over now, nothing to worry about,’ ” Dr. Syed said.

That is all over now, his daughter lamented. “Will that day come when we can move around freely?” she asked. “It is a dream.”

Amit Wanchoo, a Kashmiri Hindu and the leader of her band, Imersion, was also mostly staying home, leaving plenty of time to write new songs. One was dedicated to those killed last week.

“The sky is saying something, the air is saying something,” the lyrics went. “Where are my people, whom I met here?”

Yusuf Jameel contributed reporting.

Kisse Vakil Karen Kis se Munsifi Chahen :Greater kashmir

2008-08-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

ALEE ANDRABI

Srinagar, Aug 18: The ‘discrimination’ debate has come to the fore, yet again. Taking the centre-stage in Jammu along with the Amarnath agitation, its misrepresented and clichéd tagline of ‘second class citizens’ has not only been restricted to the slogans of resurrected right wing netas and newsprint in Jammu but has found its way into the newsrooms of National media, gaining undue mileage across Bharat.
We are making an attempt to remove some mist around this discrimination debate. However, Greater Kashmir does not want to contribute to the agenda of hate, discord and divisive politics being run across Chenab. We just want to put the record straight and remove the myths of regional disparity. This is the first of a series of articles on the subject.
We start with the Judiciary. First things first, though. The Sachar Committee report on the Social, Economic and Educational Status of the Muslim Community of India, commissioned by the Prime Minister, reveals important figures and information which would somewhat help in dispelling the distorted facts around discrimination in Jammu and Kashmir. We take the representation of Muslims in West Bengal Judiciary as an analogy to the judicial composition in our state. This makes sense because the composition of population in West Bengal is roughly opposite to that of Jammu & Kashmir. West Bengal has a population of 72.5 percent Hindus and 25.2 percent Muslims, whereas Jammu & Kashmir has 67 percent Muslim population and about 29.6 percent Hindus. In West Bengal judiciary the share of Muslims is 4.8 percent at the level of Sessions Judge and 3.2 per cent at the levels of Munsif. A comparison of these numbers with the Muslim representation in our judiciary will prick the bubble of the discrimination bogey.
Muslims and Kashmiris are hugely outnumbered in the superior and lower judiciary of Jammu and Kashmir, the only ‘Muslim majority’ state in India. Contrary to the bogus claims emanating from different quarters, the figures are surprising. Grave, on second thoughts. We have 10 High Court Judges. Only 3 happen to be Kashmiri Muslims. One a Kashmiri Pandit. Amongst the rest, 3 are Jammu Hindus and 3 outsiders, Hindu again. Well then, discrimination? Of course. But the other way around. Muslims with more than double the population of Hindus have been ‘made to’ stand on equal ground in the superior judiciary. Blatant discrimination. Exploitation. I hope these figures address the concerns of the self proclaimed ‘second class citizens’ up in arms against Kashmiri Muslims and gives them an ego boost. A much needed one.
Moving on to the Sessions Judges. 8 Kashmiri Pandits, 4 Jammu Muslims, 28 Jammu Non Muslims and 24 Kashmiri Muslims. The representation of Jammuites works out to 50 per cent. Compare that with the representation of West Bengal Muslims quoted above. With these figures, I can only be shocked as to how this blatant myth of discrimination of the Jammu population has been kept alive for so long and even gets coverage and endorsement across the ‘Breaking News’ bandwagon of modern day India. A commendable feat indeed. And to add to these disturbing figures, sixteen of the twenty four Muslim Judges of Kashmir are retiring in two years. It is all yours to play Jammuites!
Thanks to the recruitment during the past twenty years the lion’s share will literally belong to the ‘second class citizens’. Have a look at these staggering figures. In all there are 110 Sub Judges/ Munsifs out of which 79 are from Jammu, with 19 Muslims and 60 Non Muslims. This works out to 72 percent, compared to the 3.2 percent Muslim Munsifs in West Bengal! The participation of Kashmiris in the most vital judiciary is of course a pittance. Only 29 Kashmiri Muslim Sub Judges and 2 Kashmiri Pandits. This is not even discrimination, it looks like ethnic cleansing.
There is no doubt in my mind that Kashmiris got only what they deserved on the basis of comparative merit. But they don’t complain. Look who does!

Hawk Geelani says he’s ‘sole’ azadi leader, then apologises:Indian express

2008-08-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

Muzamil Jaleel
SRINAGAR,
AUGUST 18: The massive march by protesters in the Valley to submit a memo to the United Nations Military Observers Group here today also came to reflect the fragility behind the new-found union between the hawks and doves in the separatist camp as they lead the snowballing agitation.

In his address to the crowds that had started pouring in from across the Valley since morning, Hurriyat hardline leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who called for a “merger with Pakistan,” proclaimed himself the sole leader of the separatist movement. He sought approval of the huge gathering asking those assembled to raise their hands.

But sensing that such a call could undermine the united front — separatists, traders, industrialists and civil society organisations — formed after the Amarnath land transfer row in June, Geelani, within hours of his speech, called a hurried press conference to apologise.

“It was a mistake,” he said, “no person is bigger than the movement”. The apology assumes significance since Geelani’s themes today were an echo of his traditional “Islamist” stand on Kashmir. He also welcomed the exit of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf who, he said, had betrayed the cause of Islam and Kashmir.

But Geelani’s immediate withdrawal of his controversial public statement — this is the first time he has done so — is also a pointer to the mood in the Valley where protests have gone beyond the land transfer and the “economic blockade” to calls for “azadi.”

But, clearly, it once again exposed the deep ideological fissures in the separatist camp between Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.

While Geelani bases his separatist struggle entirely on the premise of “Islam, seeking Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan”, Malik’s separatist politics stands for “an independent, secular and united Jammu and Kashmir”. Mirwaiz, meanwhile, takes the middle route and does not necessarily have a rigid political manifesto even as his Awami Action Committee party and constituency in downtown Srinagar are staunchly in favour of Pakistan.

Earlier, the flow of people into Srinagar from across the Valley began early this morning, especially as the Government decided to allow the procession, after Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Kachu Asfandyar Khan and Senior Superintendent of Police Syed Ahfad-ul-Mujataba met and convinced the separatist leadership to change their programme from assembling at the UN office to holding a rally in the neighbouring Tourist Reception Grounds. By 10 am, all roads surrounding the TRC grounds were choked with protesters shouting separatist slogans.

Groups from political, business and social organisations represented in the Hurriyat-led Coordination committee — Geelani, Mirwaiz and Yasin did not accompany them — were allowed to go to the UN office where they submitted a memo asking UN Secretary General to intervene in Jammu and Kashmir. It also called upon India to take effective measures in giving the people of the state the right to self-determination.

JKLF leader Yasin Malik was the first to arrive to azadi slogans: “Is paar bhi lenge azadi, Us par bhi lenge azadi,” (freedom on this side of the LoC, freedom from across as well). When Hurriyat moderate leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq appeared, the crowd began shouting pro- Pakistan slogans. When Geelani arrived, it was 3 pm and he was the last to speak. “We demanding a right of self determination. This is our human and democratic right and we have given every sacrifice to attain our goal,” he said. “We demand that the United Nations sends its delegation to Kashmir to listen to this demand of people. People want a complete withdrawal of Indian troops from here and a referendum under the auspices of the United Nations”. Geelani lashed at the media too. “The Indian media is part and parcel of India’s war machine so we want international press to visit Kashmir and report the truth. People here are demanding their basic rights,” he said.

Geelani then gave the resignation of Pak President Pervez Musharraf his own twist. “I want to give you a good news,” he said. “For the past eight years, a military general of Pakistan has been damaging the entire Islamic nation. He harmed Pakistan. He destroyed the Kashmir cause to save his chair. Today he has resigned. Pakistan’s public has rejected him,” he said. “We are demanding from Pakistan’s rulers, political leadership and Pakistan’s people that Pakistan had been created for the sake of Islam and it should be used only for Islam. Socialism, secularism and America’s world order cannot work there. Only Islam must work there,” he said. “Through the relationship of Islam, we are all Pakistanis and Pakistan is ours”. Then he shouted: “Hum Pakistani hain. Pakistan hamara hai (We are Pakistani and Pakistan is ours).”

“Till now the choice of a leader (of the separatists) could never been made,” Geelani said. “Today, I am asking you whether you trust me. Do you trust Syed Ali Shah Geelani to lead this movement?” he said and asked the people to raise their hands. “I promise you to work for the domination of Islam and will carry everyone along”.

After the rally concluded, the Hurriyat moderates immediately issued a statement that separatist leadership is not the sole right of one person. “It is a joint leadership,” the moderates insisted. JKLF, however, didn’t issue any statement. JKLF leader Yasin Malik sees the sudden surge in pro-Pakistan slogans as the Geelani camp’s effort to dominate this latest wave of separatism and bring religion and Pakistan to the centrestage.

Independence Day for Kashmir:Times of India

2008-08-18T06:38:00.000-07:00

Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar
On August 15, India celebrated independence from the British Raj. But Kashmiris staged a bandh demanding independence from India. A day symbolising the end of colonialism in India became a day symbolising Indian colonialism in the Valley.

As a liberal, i dislike ruling people against their will. True, nation-building is a difficult and complex exercise, and initial resistance can give way to the integration of regional aspirations into a larger national identity — the end of Tamil secessionism was a classical example of this.

I was once hopeful of Kashmir's integration, but after six decades of effort, Kashmiri alienation looks greater than ever. India seeks to integrate with Kashmir, not rule it colonially. Yet, the parallels between British rule in India and Indian rule in Kashmir have become too close for my comfort.

Many Indians say that Kashmir legally became an integral part of India when the maharaja of the state signed the instrument of accession. Alas, such legalisms become irrelevant when ground realities change. Indian kings and princes, including the Mughals, acceded to the British Raj. The documents they signed became irrelevant when Indians launched an independence movement.

The British insisted for a long time that India was an integral part of their Empire, the jewel in its crown, and would never be given up. Imperialist Blimps remained in denial for decades. I fear we are in similar denial on Kashmir.

The politically correct story of the maharaja's accession ignores a devastating parallel event. Just as Kashmir had a Hindu maharaja ruling over a Muslim majority, Junagadh had a Muslim nawab ruling over a Hindu majority. The Hindu maharaja acceded to India, and the Muslim nawab to Pakistan.

But while India claimed that the Kashmiri accession to India was sacred, it did not accept Junagadh's accession to Pakistan. India sent troops into Junagadh, just as Pakistan sent troops into Kashmir. The difference was that Pakistan lacked the military means to intervene in Junagadh, while India was able to send troops into Srinagar. The Junagadh nawab fled to Pakistan, whereas the Kashmir maharaja sat tight. India's double standard on Junagadh and Kashmir was breathtaking.

Do you think the people of Junagadh would have integrated with Pakistan after six decades of genuine Pakistani effort? No? Then can you really be confident that Kashmiris will stop demanding azaadi and integrate with India?

The British came to India uninvited. By contrast, Sheikh Abdullah, the most popular politician in Kashmir, supported accession to India subject to ratification by a plebiscite. But his heart lay in independence for Kashmir, and he soon began manoeuvering towards that end. He was jailed by Nehru, who then declared Kashmir's accession was final and no longer required ratification by a plebiscite. The fact that Kashmir had a Muslim majority was held to be irrelevant, since India was a secular country empowering citizens through democracy.
Alas, democracy in Kashmir has been a farce for most of six decades. The rot began with Sheikh Abdullah in 1951: he rejected the nomination papers of almost all opponents, and so won 73 of the 75 seats unopposed! Nehru was complicit in this sabotage of democracy.

Subsequent state elections were also rigged in favour of leaders nominated by New Delhi. Only in 1977 was the first fair election held, and was won by the Sheikh. But he died after a few years, and rigging returned in the 1988 election. That sparked the separatist uprising which continues to gather strength today.

Many Indians point to long episodes of peace in the Valley and say the separatists are just a noisy minority. But the Raj also had long quiet periods between Gandhian agitations, which involved just a few lakhs of India's 500 million people. One lakh people joined the Quit India movement of 1942, but 25 lakh others joined the British Indian army to fight for the Empire's glory.

Blimps cited this as evidence that most Indians simply wanted jobs and a decent life. The Raj built the biggest railway and canal networks in the world. It said most Indians were satisfied with economic development, and that independence was demanded by a noisy minority. This is uncomfortably similar to the official Indian response to the Kashmiri demand for azaadi.

Let me not exaggerate. Indian rule in Kashmir is not classical colonialism. India has pumped vast sums into Kashmir, not extracted revenue as the Raj did. Kashmir was among the poorest states during the Raj, but now has the lowest poverty rate in India. It enjoys wide civil rights that the Raj never gave. Some elections — 1977, 1983 and 2002 — were perfectly fair.

India has sought integration with Kashmir, not colonial rule. But Kashmiris nevertheless demand azaadi. And ruling over those who resent it so strongly for so long is quasi-colonialism, regardless of our intentions.

We promised Kashmiris a plebiscite six decades ago. Let us hold one now, and give them three choices: independence, union with Pakistan, and union with India. Almost certainly the Valley will opt for independence. Jammu will opt to stay with India, and probably Ladakh too. Let Kashmiris decide the outcome, not the politicians and armies of India and Pakistan.

کشمیر: ہلاکتوں پر ہر جگہ ماتم

2008-08-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

ریاض مسرور
بی بی سی اُردو ڈاٹ کام، سرینگر

تعزیتی اجتماع کی کال علیٰحدگی پسند رہنماؤں سید علی گیلانی اور میرواعظ عمرفاروق نے مشترکہ طور پر دی تھی
ہندوستان کے زیرانتظام کشمیر میں گیارہ اگست کو شروع کی گئی ’مظفرآباد چلو‘ تحریک کے چھٹے روز سنیچر کو اس تحریک کے دوران فوج اور نیم فوجی عملے کی فائرنگ میں ہلاک ہونےوالے کشمیریوں کے حق میں جگہ جگہ غائبانہ نماز جنازہ پڑھی گئی۔
اس حوالے سے سب سے بڑا اجتماع جنوبی کشمیر کے پانپور قصبہ میں ہوا ، جہاں گیارہ اگست کو مظفرآباد مارچ کے دوران مارے گیے سرکردہ علیٰحدگی پسند رہنما شیخ عبدالعزیز کے گھر پر لاکھوں لوگوں نے تعزیتی مجلس میں حصہ لیا۔

اس اجتماع کی کال علیٰحدگی پسند رہنماؤں سید علی گیلانی اور میرواعظ عمرفاروق نے مشترکہ طور پر دی تھی۔

کشمیری للکار قبول نہیں کرتے
’تحریک آزادیِ کشمیر‘ کا نیا شہید
کشمیر میں مظاہرے تصاویر میں

شیخ عبدالعزیز کے آبائی قصبہ پانپور میں قریب دو لاکھ لوگوں کے اجتماع سے سید علی گیلانی، شبیر احمد شاہ ، میرواعظ عمر، نعیم احمد خان اور محمد یٰسین ملک نے خطاب کیا۔ ان رہنماؤں نے مظفرآباد روڑ کی بحالی تک جدوجہد جاری رکھنے کا اعلان کیا ۔

ان رہنماؤں نے عوام سے اپیل کی کہ وہ پیر یعنی اٹھارہ اگست کو وادی کے تمام قصبوں اور دیہات سے سرینگر آئیں اور یہاں مقیم اقوام متحدہ کے فوجی مبصرین کو ایک یاداشت پیش کریں۔

پچھلے اُنیس سال میں یہ پہلا موقع ہے کہ لوگوں کا ایک اژدہام اُمڈ آیا اور ہر طبقہ سے وابستہ افراد جن میں خواتین اور بچے بھی شامل تھے۔ سیاہ اور سبز ہلالی پرچم تھامے قافلوں کے ساتھ پانپور کی طرف رواں دواں تھے۔

جب تک مظفرآباد روڑ بحال نہیں ہوتا، ریاست سے مکمل فوجی انخلا نہییں ہوتا، کالے قوانیں کا خاتمہ نہیں ہوتا اور تمام کشمیری قیدیوں کو رہا نہیں کیا جاتا ، تب ہماری جدوجہد اور احتجاج جاری رہے گا

میر واعظ عمر فاروق، حریت لیڈر

پچھلے چند روز کے دوران پولیس اور سی آر پی ایف کے خلاف انتہائی غم و غصہ کو دیکھتے ہوئے، صوبے کے پولیس سربراہ کلدیپ کمار کُھڈا نے جمعہ کے روز ہی ایک بیان میں اعلان کی تھا ’اگر مظاہرین پرامن رہینگے تو انہیں روکا نہیں جائے گا۔‘

پانپور جارہے قافلوں میں لوگ مرثیہ خواں تھے، اور ’السلام السلام ، اے شہیدو السلام‘ کے نعروں سے پوری فضا گونج رہی تھی۔ لوگ ، اسلام، آزادی اور پاکستان کے حق میں بھی نعرے بلند کررہے تھے۔

خواتین مخصوص کشمیری انداز میں ماتم کررہی تھیں اور ’ہا میانہ شہدو ولا گور کرایو (اے میرے شہید آجا تجھے سینے سے لگادوں‘۔

سرینگر سے پانپور تک کے دس کلومیٹر فاصلے پر جگہ جگہ خواتین نے مشروبات اور دیگر اشیائے خوردنی کے اسٹال لگائے تھے جن سے مظاہرین مستفید ہورہے تھے۔

پانپور کے تعزیتی اجتماع سے خطاب کے دوران میرواعظ عمر فاروق نے حالات کی بحالی کے لیے حکومت ہند کو چار نکاتی فارمولہ پیش کرتے ہوئے’جب تک مظفرآباد روڑ بحال نہیں ہوتا، ریاست سے مکمل فوجی انخلا نہیں ہوتا، کالے قوانیں کا خاتمہ نہیں ہوتا اور تمام کشمیری قیدیوں کو رہا نہیں کیا جاتا ، تب ہماری جدوجہد اور احتجاج جاری رہے گا۔‘

سید علی گیلانی، یٰسین ملک، شبیر احمد شاہ اور نعیم خان نے بھی اس مؤقف کی تائید کی۔ انہوں نے یاد دلایا کہ حریت کانفرنس کے دونوں دھڑوں نے پہلے ہی ’مظفرآباد چلو‘ کی تحریک کو آگے بڑھانے کے لئے ایک مشترکہ رابطہ کمیٹی کا قیام عمل میں لایا ہے، اور احتجاجی تحریک سے متعلق یہی کمیٹی لائحہ عمل طے کرے گی۔

مظفرآباد چلو مارچ کے دوران شیخ عبدالعزیز کی ہلاکت کے بعد ان کے آبائی قصبہ پانپور میں تقریبا دو لاکھ افراد تعزیتی جلسے میں پہنچے

گیلانی نے ڈاکٹر فاروق عبداللہ، عمر عبداللہ، مفتی محمد سعید ، محبوبہ مفتی اور دیگر ہندنواز سیاسی رہنماؤں کو دعوت دی کہ وہ ’ہندنواز سیاست سے کنارہ کش ہوکر اس تحریک کا حصہ بنیں کیونکہ وہ اسی مٹی کی پیدوار ہیں جس کے لیے یہاں کے نوجوان اپنا گرم لہو نچھاور کررہے ہیں۔‘

واضح رہے شیخ عبدالعزیز گیارہ اگست کو مظفرآباد مارچ کے دوران بارہمولہ کے ژہل گاؤں میں کنٹرول لائن سے چند کلومیٹر کے فاصلے پر فوج کی فائرنگ میں ہلاک ہوگئے۔

ان کی ہلاکت کے بعد وادی میں کشیدگی بڑھ گئی اور پولیس و سی آر پی ایف کی انسدادی کاروائیوں میں ہلاک ہونے والوں سے متعلق جو فہرست مقامی اخبارات نے شائع کی ہے اس کے مطابق اب تک کم از کم 32 افراد مارے گئے ہیں۔ تاہم سرکاری طور پر ابھی تک ہلاکتوں کے بارے میں کوئی واضح بیان جاری نہیں کیا گیا۔

دریں اثنا ہلاک ہونیوالے نوجوانوں کے حق میں غائبانہ نماز جنازہ کا عمل جاری ہے اور تقریباً ہر محلے اور ہر بستی میں مقامی اوقاف اسلامیہ ان جنازوں کا اہتمام کررہی ہے۔ سرینگر کے بٹہ مالو علاقہ میں سابق عسکریت پسند رہنما مشتاق الاسلام اور علیٰحدگی پسند رہنما شکیل بخشی نے بھی ایسے ہی جنازے کا اہمتام کیا۔

End blockade, or patients will die: Chemists :Greater Kashmir

2008-08-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

FAHEEM ASLAM

Srinagar, Aug 16: Chemists and other people associated with drug business on Saturday said they were running out of vital medicinal stocks, warning the government that if the blockade to the Valley is not ended forthwith, patients would die.
Many retailers, chemists and stockists, who spoke to Greater Kashmir, said they haven’t received any consignment from outside during the past 15 days of the blockade, enforced by the right wing groups. “We have a very meager stock of vital drugs in store now. If the blockade won’t end immediately, people would die on daily basis for want of drugs,” said a retailer, Khursheed Ahmad of World Line Medicines at Khayam. “This time my shop has not a single tablet of medicines like Aceloc and Paracetamol.”
Ahmad said he would buy medicines on daily basis from the distributors. “But we haven’t received any consignment from Jammu or Delhi for the past more than two weeks,” he said.
Similar views are expressed by Ghulam Rasool, a wholesaler dealer. “The government is lying that there is no blockade. Our trade has suffered a lot due to it,” he said.
Ghulam Rasool works under the banner of KF Traders at Karan Nagar. “Normally we would receive consignment after every week, but because of the blockade, we haven’t received any so far.”
Ghulam Rasool said the patients suffering from diabetes, blood pressure or other similar ailments would be the worst hit if the blockade won’t end. “Such patients need drugs on daily basis. They have to purchase it from the market, which is running dry,” he said. “We talked to the divisional commissioner Kashmir some time back and asked him to ensure smooth flow of trucks along the highway so that the medicines reach the Valley.”
Chemists and druggists say that majority of their super-stockists are located in Jammu, Chandigarh and Delhi. “We got some vital drugs airlifted two days ago. But I am sure that all chemist shops would run out of stock in the next two to three days,” said Muhammad Ashraf, a chemist.
However many chemists said the picture of how many drugs are available was not clear as the local distributor outlets were not functioning for the past few days. “This time the diabetic patients are the worst hit. If the local distributors would open their shutters, we would at least come to know about the availability of stock with them. Whatever the stock available with them should be forwarded to the retailers for use of patients. I am sure it would help hundreds of patients for the time being,” said a dealer, Iqbal Bazaz, of Asian Pharma at Batamaloo

عوامی انقلاب

2008-08-16T11:40:00.000-07:00

پانپور میں لاکھوں لوگوں کا اجتماع ، نذرانۂ خون پر شکرانے کا تاریخی مظاہرہ
شاہ عباس
پانپور16اگست

'خونی لکیر توڑ دو،آر پار جوڑ دو'اور 'ہم کیا چاہتے آزادی ' کے نعروں کی گونج میںکل لاکھوں لوگوں نے مرحوم حریت لیڈر شیخ عبد العزیز کو اُنکے آبائی قصبے پانپورمیں شاندار خراج عقیدت پیش کیا ۔ اس موقعے پر قصبہ زعفران پانپور کو شیخ عبد العزیز کی تصاویر اور سبز و سیاہ پرچموں سے مزین کیا گیا تھا۔ مرحوم شیخ عبد العزیز 11اگست کو خط انتظام عبور کرنے کی کوشش میں چہل اوڑی کے مقام پر جاں بحق ہوئے تھے۔ مرحوم شیخ عزیز کو خراج عقیدت ادا کرنے کے لئے آزادی پسند تنظیموں کی اپیل پر وادی کے طول و عرض سے لاکھوں لوگ پانپور پہنچے تھے۔ پانپور کاعید گاہ اور اُس سے باہر جموں سرینگر شاہراہ کے علاوہ قرب و جوار میں تمام مکانوں کے در و دیواراور چھت لوگوں سے اٹے ہوئے تھے۔ اس کے علاوہ گالندر سے پانتہ چھوک تک کی شاہراہ پر انسانی سروں کا ایک سیلاب پانپور پہنچنے کی کوشش کررہا تھا تاہم اس عوامی سیلاب کو اس کا موقعہ نہیں ملا کیونکہ قصبہ پانپور پہلے ہی لوگوں سے کھچا کھچ بھرا پڑا تھا۔ اور کہیں تل دھرنے کیلئے جگہ موجود نہیں تھی۔صرف عید گاہ پانپور میں موجود لوگوں کی تعداد کا اندازہ اس بات سے بھی لگایا جاسکتا ہے کہ یہاں دم گھٹنے کے نتیجے میں درجنوں افراد بے ہوش ہوگئے ۔ عید گاہ کے میدان میں حد سے زیادہ لوگ داخل ہونے کے نتیجے میں یہاںنصب شامیانے اور لائوڈ سپیکر کا نظام درہم برہم ہوگیا اور مقررین کی آوازیں سامعین تک نہیں پہنچیںجس کے نتیجے میں لوگوں کو کافی مایوسی ہوئی اور ذرائع ابلاغ کے نمائندوں کو اپنے پیشہ ورانہ فرائض انجام دینے میں سخت مشکلات پیش آئیں۔ عید گاہ پانپور کے اندرلوگوں کی بھاری تعداد کے نتیجے میں حریت گ کے چیر مین سید علی گیلانی بھی ڈائس تک نہیں پہنچ سکے اور انہوں نے ڈائس سے دور ہی اپنے خیالات کا اظہار کیا۔ عید گا ہ قصبہ پانپور کل دن بھرا زادی کے حق میں اور بھارت کے خلاف نعروں سے گونجتا رہا۔ ادھر وادی کے اطراف و اکناف کی شاہرائوں پر ہر قسم کی گاڑیوں پر سوار پیر وجوان نعرے لگاتے ہوئے جوق در جوق پانپور کی طرف صبح سے ہی رواں دواں نظر آرہے تھے جن میں سے بیشتر لوگ تقریب اختتام پذیر ہونے تک پانپور نہیں پہنچ پائے۔ لوگوں نے اپنے ہاتھوں میں بھارت مخالف بینر اور سبز پرچم اُٹھارکھے تھے اور اُنہیں جہاں کہیں بھی کوئی ٹاور نظر آیا انہوں نے اُس پر سبز پرچم لہرایا ۔خود پانپور میں بھی لوگوں نے عید گاہ کے متصل قائم موبائل ٹاور پر چڑھ کر اس پر سبز پرچم لہرایا۔پانپور کی ایک مسجد کے امام نے اپنا مخفی رکھنے کی شرط پر'اطلاعات' کو بتایا'' میں نوے کی دہائی کی عوامی ریلیوں کا بھی چشم دید گواہ ہوں تاہم میں نے آج کی جیسی عوامی ریلی نہیں دیکھی ہے''۔ کل پانپور جانے والے لوگوں کے لئے جنوب کی طرف اونتی پورہ اور شمال کی طرف حیدر پورہ اور سولنہ سے مقامی لوگوں نے لفافہ بند کھانے اور مشروبات کا انتظام کر رکھا تھاجبکہ خود پانپور میں بھی ایک بہت بڑا لنگر قائم کیا گیا تھا۔ایک مقامی شہری طارق احمد نے 'اطلاعات' کو بتایا'' ہم نے عزم کیا ہے کہ آج پانپور سے کوئی بھی شخص بھوکے پیٹ واپس نہیں جانا چاہیئے''۔

Ration depots, retailers run out of stocks:Greater kashmir

2008-08-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

GOWHAR BHAT

Srinagar, Aug 16: Government’s contrary claims on economic blockade and supplies notwithstanding, the Valley is facing acute shortage of rice, sugar, kerosene, LPG and other essential items, with most of the ration depots and shops running out of stocks.
In the wake of the shortage of the essential commodities, people on Saturday could be seen return empty handed from the ration depots here. The storekeepers at city’s ration depots said the sugar and rice stocks had fully exhausted almost a week back.
“The fresh supplies might be reaching to the Valley but we haven’t received any supplies for the past a month. The stocks we received exhausted last week,” said a store in charge at a ration depot in Soura.
Similarly, the kerosene depots and many petrol pumps are running dry. The LPG retail outlets too are falling short of the demand.
In other areas of the city the situation is no different. The residents of many city areas including Khanyar, Nowhatta, Rainawari and Soura said in absence of supplies to the food depots they had been left in lurch.
“Everyday government makes announcements on radio and TV that enough supplies were reaching to the Valley, but there is no stock at the ration depots,” said Bilal Ahmad, a resident of Buchpora.
Due to the highway blockade and the ensuing shutdown, the stocks of the retailers too have exhausted. “Most of the shopkeepers have empty shops. To fetch half a quintal of rice I had to approach to more than a dozen shopkeepers,” said Muhammad Ayub of Safakadal.
“Most of the stockists and distributors here have a habit of maintaining fat stocks in view of the unreliable sole highway that mostly gets blocked during winters. But the stocks they had reserved too have been exhausted,” said Tufail Ahmad, a stockiest.
The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Masood Samoon had Thursday said that enough stocks of food and other consumable items were present in the Valley. “The rice stocks would last for 20 days, petrol for 7 days, LPG for 6 days, diesel for 5 days, kerosene for 1 month and sugar stocks for 3 days.” he had said.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO PAMPORE :Rising kashmir

2008-08-16T11:08:00.000-07:00

Nation pays homage to Aziz

Hakeem Irfan
Srinagar, Aug 16: All roads leading to Saffron town were flooded with people marching to pay homage to the slain Hurriyat leader Sheikh Aziz who fell to the bullet of troopers during the recent ‘Muzaffarabad March’.
It is hard to ink the emotions. Black flags, green flags furling in air with enthusiastic sloganeering in favour of Islam, freedom and Pakistan were resonating around Badami Bagh Cantonment of the army, which is considered to be the most heavily deployed area by troopers anywhere in the world.
People in private flagged cars, buses, trucks, jeeps and bikes were raising slogans in rhythm and rhyme.
The atmosphere was charged when women near Pantha Chowk joined the motor cavalcade in sloganeering.
The 12 km strip from Dalgate to Pampore was all abuzz with pro-freedom slogans and lyrics.

A woman amidst heavy slogans said: “We are paying tribute to our martyrs especially Sheikh Abdul Aziz.”
“He is our hero,” she said wiping tears with her head gear.
People were seen offering cold drinks and fruits to the marching protestors. Children at various places in their stuttering voices were trying to imitate their young sloganeers.
“It is more than what happened in 1990. I was part of those processions as well. Today I’m getting nostalgic about things,” said a 50-year-old cameraman who had also covered the 1990 uprising.
The placards carried by protestors read: “If Kashmiris are terrorists then what about Gandhi; India is at war with unarmed Kashmiris; We want freedom; Break this bleeding line and join two Kashmirs; Hamari Mandi Rawalpindi.”
“It is do or die situation. This time we will get freedom. Long live Pakistan,” shouted a boy carrying a green flag in a truck on seeing a camera focusing him.
Women en route Pampore had prepared “Tahri” at various places for the rallying protestors.
“It is our duty to serve our men as they have come out braving bullets. Inshallah we will soon get freedom,” said a women serving “Tahri” to the protestors.
“For the first time I’m witnessing army convoy being stopped for locals. This is the right time for them to leave this state. I’m enthusiastic as I am witnessing this for the first time,” said a medical science student Maroof, 20.
“I just pinched myself twice. It was hard to believe what I was seeing is real,” Maroof added.
The Srinagar-Jammu highway near Kadlabal Pampore was picturesque. People could be seen here, there and everywhere.
“It was a million men march when I saw it from the roof of a three-storey building nearby,” said a journalist who was performing his duties.
When people were moving back to their homes, local women and children at various places stopped their vehicles and offered drinks, biscuit packets and then joined in for a short slot of sloganeering.
Women, children and elderly persons who could not make it to Pampore were seen waiting on the roadsides for the people to return. The bye-pass strip from Pantha Chowk to Bemina and onwards was reverberating with sloganeering.
“This is unbelievable. I pray that this fetches immediate results. I want to move to take a breath in free air at least once,” said an octogenarian Muhammad Shaban waiting for his two sons and three grandsons who had joined the march.
The Kashmiri Tibetans from Eidgah, Hawal and other parts of the Valley also participated in the march and were raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans.

World wakes up to Kashmir crisis:Greater Kashmir

2008-08-15T04:34:00.000-07:00

Srinagar, Aug 14: It seems the World has finally started taking note of the spiraling renewed strife in Kashmir with the United Nations Thursday saying that it is monitoring the situation in Kashmir and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is aware of it.
UN human rights officials in Geneva are also aware of it and are “determining whether to make any comment,” associate spokesman Farhan Haq said when asked by reporters whether the UN is aware that Kashmir is suddenly becoming a ‘hot spot.’
“The Secretary-General is aware of the situation. We are monitoring it,” he said.
“I believe our human rights colleagues in Geneva are also aware of the situation,” Haq said.

OIC condemns killings
Strongly condemning what it called the excessive and unwarranted use of force against the Kashmiri people, Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has expressed his deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Kashmir that resulted in loss of life and property of the Kashmiri people.
The Secretary General called upon the Indian Government to take immediate steps to end violence against innocent Kashmiris in the interest of creating and sustaining an enabling environment for the ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India, aimed at peaceful settlement of the long standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
The Secretary General also expressed deep concern on the reported attacks on the life and property of Muslims in the State and the ongoing economic blockade. He called for steps on the part of international humanitarian and human rights organizations, including the UN Human Rights Council, to address the situation in a manner that would prevent the human rights violations there.
Expressing deep sorrow and grief at the martyrdom of Shaikh Abdul Aziz-a prominent Kashmiri leader, the Secretary General offered condolences with his family and those of other innocent Kashmiris who had lost their lives in the ongoing violence.

AI for probe
Amnesty International asked the Government of India to ensure that it protects the right to life in accordance with its responsibilities under international law. This includes the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which it is a state party, and standards such as the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, which state that firearms should be used only when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.
‘The Indian authorities should conduct investigations and bring to justice police officers, as well as protesters, in a quick, transparent, and fair way in order to cool down sectarian tension,’ Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Director, said.
AI also asked the government of Jammu & Kashmir to rescind the order issued yesterday authorizing security forces to ‘shoot on sight’ in response to communal clashes in the town of Kishtwar.

HRW for restraint
Asking India to refrain from using excessive force against protesters in Jammu and Kashmir, leading international human rights watchdog, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has appealed to all parties in the troubled state to settle peacefully the ongoing dispute, which has claimed nearly 40 lives.
Ongoing protests by Muslims and Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir State since June 2008 have turned “increasingly violent,” claiming nearly 40 lives, injuring hundreds, and “fueling religious hatred,” HRW said.
“To end this cycle of tragedy, the government should order security forces to act with restraint and all parties should try to settle the dispute peacefully,” it added.
The Indian security forces, HRW said, should abide by the UN Basic Principles on the use of force and firearms, which call upon law enforcement officials, including members of the armed forces, to employ nonviolent means before resorting to use of force and only in proportion to the seriousness of the offence.
“With violence escalating, the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir is again at the brink of catastrophe,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, senior Asia researcher at HRW. “Political leaders and civil society in Jammu and Kashmir should seek a mutually agreeable solution to the immediate crisis, so that peace is restored,” Ganguly added.

Civil Society appeals UNHCHR
Meanwhile, in a joint appeal to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), around 50 civil society activists from across the world led by Dr Angana Chatterji, Associate Professor, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, California Institute of Integral Studies, have sought the urgent intervention of the UNHCHR in ensuring that human rights, as enshrined in the charter of the United Nations, are upheld in Kashmir.
“We write to bring to your attention the profound humanitarian crisis continuing in the Kashmir Valley due to the ongoing blockade of the Srinagar-Jammu highway. This has resulted in severe shortages in the Kashmir Valley of food and other vital provisions,” the appeal to UNHCHR reads.

Police, CRPF take their Valley crackdown to even ambulances, hospitals:The Indian Express

2008-08-15T04:30:00.000-07:00

Muzamil Jaleel
40 ambulances attacked by security personnel, says Valley’s Health Director; DGP says will order a probe

Srinagar, August 14: Battling angry and violent crowds on the streets, the police and the CRPF have even targeted ambulances ferrying the injured and, in one case, they opened fire at the entrance to a hospital’s casualty ward.

While Director General of the J&K Police Kuldeep Khuda has said that there will be a probe, CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi denied the charge. “No such incident has come to our notice,” he said. This comes the day Inspector General, CRPF, S K Jain was shunted out of the Valley.

“These three days have been extremely challenging for us,” said Dr Muzaffar Ahmad, Director of Health Services, Kashmir. “Our 40 ambulances were attacked across Kashmir and most them have broken windscreens. Seven of our ambulance drivers were hurt as well.” The director of Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) hospital, Dr Abdul Hameed Zargar, said that one of the hospital’s ambulances is still missing. “We are yet to trace it,” he said. “There have been several attacks on our ambulances by the security forces”.

Consider the following encounters:

• On August 11, J-K Police personnel fired tear-smoke shells inside the casualty ward of the Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital in Srinagar. “There was a rush of wounded and our doctors and paramedic staff was busy treating them when tear-smoke landed inside the casualty ward,” said SMHS Medical Superintendent Dr Wasim Qureshi. “We had to stop work for some time.

There was a lot of inconvenience to both patients and our staff. This should not happen”. He said that after this incident, hospital attendants were enraged and ransacked CRPF bunkers in the hospital premises.

• On August 12, an ambulance (JK01C 5641) carrying protestors with bullet wounds from Bandipore was attacked at Parimpora by the CRPF. “We were carrying two critically wounded persons in the ambulance,” Dr Asif Ahmad told The Indian Express. “When we reached Parimpora, there was a huge procession. We stopped. The people cleared the way for us. Then the CRPF persons were standing a few dozen metres away,” he said. “When we were close to them, they opened fire on the ambulance. Within seconds, a few CRPF men pounced on the ambulance and started hitting everybody inside. They even assaulted the wounded. One of the wounded died there”. Ahmad said he jumped from the vehicle and rushed inside a house for safety. “A stone hit ambulance driver Mohammad Shaban Para and he was seriously injured”. Director Health Services Dr Muzaffar Ahmad confirmed the incident. “Our people had a close shave there,” he said.

• On August 12, CRPF personnel stopped an ambulance ferrying wounded protestors at Rambagh on the Airport road in Srinagar. The CRPF contingent attacked an ambulance with rifle-butts in front of a senior officer Commandant P S Rajora, broke its windshield and assaulted the wounded persons and the attendants in front of a large media crew including this correspondent. “I am unable to do anything. I am trying to stop them (the men),” Rajora told The Indian Express soon after the ambulance and the injured patients were rescued by personnel of the J-K Police, who rushed to intervene. “We were only trying to impose the curfew”.

• On August 12, J-K Police and CRPF men barged into the premises of the District Hospital in Baramulla. “They fired inside the hospital,” Dr Nisar Ahmad, an orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital told The Indian Express. “We rushed out of the Operation Theatre. We were frightened for our lives”.

• On August 12, police and CRPF men stopped an ambulance and beat patients and their attendants after dragging them out during a pitched battle with protestors at Qamarwari in Srinagar city.

• On August 13, an ambulance of the Jhelum Valley hospital — an associate hospital of the SKIMS — was fired upon by the CRPF near Boatman Colony in the city outskirts while it was ferrying a patient with bullet wounds. “The CRPF men first opened fire at our ambulance and then charged in and broke the windscreens with rifle-butts. Then they started beating us, even the patient was hit,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, in charge of immunization at the Jhelum hospital. “There was an Inspector accompanying them”. Driver of the ambulance Mohammad Shafi said: “It has never happened in these years.”

• On August 13, the J-K Police opened fire at the entrance of the Casualty ward of the SMHS hospital in Srinagar, where a large angry crowd of relatives of the injured had gathered. “The people are infuriated and when they saw a police vehicle inside the hospital compound, they attacked it. The police opened fire. But nobody was injured,” SMHS Medical Superintendent Dr Qureshi said.

DGP Khuda said that they were investigating all incidents of attacks on ambulances and hospitals. Speaking to The Indian Express, Inspector General of J-K Police S M Sahai said that the police have taken up the August 12 Rambagh incident with authorities at the highest level. “After we got reports that an officer was there, we have already taken action,” he said. “We are probing every case where we received reports of excesses”.

عوامی بغاوت پر فورسز کا قہر

2008-08-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

سرینگراورپلوامہ میں فائرنگ،100سے زائد زخمی،مزید2افرادجاں بحق سابق وزیرکا مکان ،پولیس چوکیاں،بنکراورگاڑیاں نذرآتش
شوکت حمید ،ایوب جاوید

سرینگر//”مظفرآباد چلو “پروگرام ناکام بنانے اور احتجاج کو کچلنے کیلئے فورسزکی فائرنگ سے زخمی ہوئے مزید2نوجوان زخموںکی تاب نہ لاتے ہوئے دم توڑ بیٹھے اس طرح گذشتہ 2روز کے دوران جاں بحق ہونے والے افرادکی تعداد27تک پہنچ گئی ہے ۔اس دوران شہر سرینگر کے ڈاﺅن ٹاﺅن علاقے اور پلوامہ میں درجنوں مقامات پر احتجاجی جلوسوں کو منتشر کرنے کےلئے سی آر پی ایف نے بے دردانہ طریقے سے لاٹھی چارج کیا اور گولیاں چلائیں جس کے نتیجے میں 100سے زائد افراد زخمی ہوئے۔ پلوامہ میں ایک سابق وزیرکے مکان کو نذرِآتش کیاگیا جبکہ پوری وادی میں کئی فورسز کے بنکراور پولیس چوکیوں کے علاوہ پولیس کی گاڑیوں کو پھونک ڈالاگیا۔ تفصیلات کے مطابق 11اگست کو باغ مہتاب میں فورسز کی فائرنگ سے زخمی ہوا فیصل احمد ڈار ولد شوکت احمد ڈار ساکنہ نوہٹہ بدھ کو اسپتال میں زخموں کی تاب نہ لاکر جاںبحق ہوگیا۔ فیصل احمد کے جاں بحق ہونے کی خبرجونہی نوہٹہ پہنچی تو وہاں کہرام مچ گیا پورے نوہٹہ اور ملحقہ علاقوں میں کشیدگی پھیل گئی۔اس موقعہ پر نوجوانوں نے سڑکوں پر نکل کر ایک بار پھراحتجاجی مظاہرے شروع کئے اور سی آر پی ایف اہلکاروںپر زبردست پتھراو

¿ شرو ع کیا۔جس کے بعد یہاں سے ایک جلوس نکالا گیا تاہم سی آرپی ایف اہلکاروں نے جلوس کو منتشر کرنے کے لاٹھی چارج کیا اور ٹیر گیس کے گولے داغے۔ بعد میں نوجوان کی تجہیز وتکفین کے بعد ہزاروں لوگوں نے اس کی نمازہ جنازہ پڑھی اور اشکبار آنکھوں کے ساتھ اسے سپرد خاک کیا گیا۔رعناواری کے قریب فورسز کی فائرنگ سے زخمی ہوا حفیظ اللہ بابا ولد محمدجمال ساکنہ برتھنہ قمرواری بھی اسپتال میںزخموںکی تاب نہ لاتے ہوئے دم توڑ بیٹھا۔اس کی میت جب اس کے آبائی گھر پہنچائی گئی تو یہاں قیامت صغریٰ بپا ہوگئی ۔اس طرح 11اگست کو مظفرآباد چلو اور اسکے اگلے دن یعنی 12اگست کوانتہائی سخت کرفیو کے باوجودعوامی جلسے جلوسوں کو ناکام بنانے کے لئے فورسز کی اندھا دھند فائرنگ سے جاں بحق ہونے والوں کی تعداد27ہوگئی ہے۔کل شام بسنت باغ سرینگر میں سی آر پی ایف اہلکاروں نے اس وقت فائرنگ کی جب یہاں کچھ لوگ گھروں سے باہر آئے اور احتجاجی جلوس نکالنے کی کوشش کی ۔اس موقعہ پر فورسز اہلکاروں نے اندھا دھند فائرنگ کی ۔جس کے نتیجے میں حیات احمد ولد فاروق احمد ،شبنم ،پروینہ اور ضمیر احمد ولد غلام رسول گولیاں لگنے سے زخمی ہوئے ۔انہیں شدید زخمی حالت میں اسپتال لے جایا گیا۔اس واقعے کے بعد گاﺅ کدل ،بسنت باغ اور مائسمہ میں لوگوں کا ہجوم سڑکوں پر نکل آیا اور فورسز کے خلاف مظاہرے گئے ،فورسز نے مظاہرین کو تتر بتر کرنے کیلئے زبردست ٹیر گیس شلنگ کی اور شام دیر گئے تک علاقے میں حالات کشیدہ تھے ۔اس سے پہلے سرینگر میں کل صبح8بجے انتظامیہ نے کرفیو میں 11 بجے تک ڈھیل دینے کا اعلان کیا جس میں بعد میںوقفے وقفے شام تک توسیع کی گئی۔ سولنہ، رام باغ ، نٹی پورہ، چھانپورہ، باغ مہتاب میںکل صبح سے ہی احتجاجی مظاہروں کا سلسلہ شروع ہوا اور پولیس اور مظاہرین کے درمیان جھڑپیں ہوئیں۔مائسمہ میں لوگ سڑکوں پر بیٹھ گئے اور ہاتھوں میں سیاہ پرچم لیکر آزادی کے حق میں نعرے بلند کئے ۔شہر خاص کے نوہٹہ، خانیار، راجوری کدل،بہوری کدل، فتح کدل، بمنہ، بٹہ مالو اورصفاکدل میںمظاہروں کے دوران پتھراو

¿،ٹیر گیس شلنگ اورلاٹھی چارج کے واقعات پیش آئے۔ بمنہ میں مظاہرین نے سی آر پی ایف پر زبردست سنگباری کی جس کے نتیجہ میں کئی اہلکار زخمی ہوگئے جبکہ جواب میںسی آرپی ایف نے گولیاں چلائیں جس کے نتیجے میں دوافراد زخمی ہوئے ۔ امام مسجد سمیت کئی افراد کے لہولہان ہونے کے بعد مظاہرین اور زیادہ مشتعل ہوگئے اور امام مسجد کو گولی مار کر زخمی کرنے کی خبر پورے بمنہ اور ملحقہ علاقوں میں پھیل گئی جس کے بعد ہزاروں کی تعداد میںلوگ اپنے گھروں سے باہر آگئے اور انہوں نے زبردست احتجاجی مظاہرے شروع کئے۔ اس دوران ہزاروںلوگوں نے ایک جلوس نکالا جس دوران جلوس میں شامل نوجوانوں نے مشتعل ہوکر بمنہ میں قائم سرینگر ڈیولپمنٹ اتھارٹی کے آفس،ایک جپسی اور کار کو نذر آٹش کرڈالا جبکہ مظاہرین نے پولیس و سی آر پی ایف پرزبردست سنگباری کی اور پولیس اسٹیشن پر دھاوا بولنے کی کوشش کی ۔ نوہٹہ سرینگر میںبھی لوگوں نے پرتشد د احتجاجی مظاہرے کئے جبکہ خانیار سے ہزاروں کی تعداد میںلوگوں نے ایک جلوس نکالا جس لالچوک سرینگر کے ایم ڈی اڈہ پہنچنے میں کامیاب ہوگیا تاہم اس موقعہ پر پولیس نے مظاہرین کو منتشر کرنے کے لئے لاٹھی چارج کیا اور اشک آور گیس کے گولے جس کے نتیجہ میں نصف درجن کے قریب افراد زخمی ہوگئے۔ صفا کدل سرینگر میں مشتعل مظاہرین نے ایک پولیس اہلکار کو پکڑ کر اس کی شدید مارپیٹ کی جبکہ اس کا سکوٹر بھی نذر آتش کیا گیا۔ مشتعل ہجوم نے صفاکدل تھانے پر زبردست پتھراﺅ کیااور پولیس نے جوابی کارروائی میں مظاہرین پر اشک آور گولوں کے ساتھ ساتھ ہوائی فائرنگ بھی کی ۔فتح کدل سرینگر میں بھی نوجوانوں کی ایک ٹولی نے پولیس اسٹےشن پر پتھراﺅ کر کے اسے نقصان پہنچانے کی کوشش کی۔ تاہم پولیس نے نوجوانوں پر زبردست لاٹھی چارج کر کے ان پر اشک آور گےس کے گولوں کی برسات کی لیکن ہجوم منتشر نہیں ہوا جس کے بعد پولیس نے فائرنگ کر دی اور گولی لگنے کے نتےجے میں 2نوجوان زخمی ہوئے جنہیں صدر اسپتال منتقل کیا گےا ۔ رعناواری میں بھی پولیس اسٹےشن پر پتھراﺅ کیا گےا ۔کرن نگر میں لوگوں کے ایک بھاری جلوس نے سی آر پی ایف کے بنکر پر دھاﺅا بول کر اسے منہدم کر دےا جس کے جواب میں فورسز نے مظاہرین پر زبردست لاٹھی چارج کر کے کئی افراد کو زخمی کر دےا۔ نوہٹہ میں اس وقت حالات کشیدہ ہوگئے جب باغ مہتاب میں کل زخمی ہوئے فےصل احمد کی لاش وہاں پہنچائی گئی تو لوگوں کی ایک بڑی تعداد نے وہاں احتجاجی مظاہرے کئے اور لاش کو جلوس سمےت ملہ کھاہ پہنچاےا جہاں اسے سپرد خاک کیا گےا ۔مذکورہ نوجوان اپنے ننہال باغ مہتاب گیا تھا جہاں سی آر پی ایف نے ایک جلوس پر فائرنگ کی ۔کنہ کدل میں بھی فورسز اور مشتعل نوجوانوں کے مابےن ٹکراﺅ کی صورتحال پیدا ہو گئی اور یہ ٹکراﺅ دیکھتے ہی دیکھتے جھڑپوں میں تبدیل ہو گےا ۔مشتعل نوجوانوں نے جگہ جگہ پر فورسز اہلکاروں پر زبردست پتھراﺅ کیا جس کے بعد فورسز اہلکاروں نے گھروں میں توڑ پھوڑ کر ڈالی اور سامان تہس نہس کر دےا ۔لوگوں کے مطابق فورسز اہلکار اس قدر مشتعل تھے کہ انہوں نے کئی مکانوں کے شےشے چکنا چور کر دیئے اور پوری بستی میں ادھم مچا دی ۔رامباغ میں کل شام زم زم کمپلیکس کے قریب سی آر پی ایف اہلکاروں نے گھروں میں گھس کر مرد وزن کی پٹائی کی اور مکانوں کے شیشے توڑ ڈالے ۔بٹہ مالو،نٹی پورہ ،بائی پاس ، بسنت باغ ،برتھنہ اورگاﺅ کدل میں بھی مظاہرین اور فورسز و پولیس اہلکاروں کے مابےن جھڑپیں ہوئیں ۔اس دو ران کل صبح ڈےموکریٹک پولٹیکل مومنٹ کی طرف سے ایک جلوس نکالا گےا جس کی قےادت تنظیم کے سینئر لیڈر عبدالرشیدڈار اور یار محمد خان کر رہے تھے ۔جلوس جونہی بربرشاہ ،نئی سڑک،بسنت باغ،گاﺅ کدل سے ہوتا ہوا ایم ڈی اڈہ پہنچا تو پولیس نے جلوس پر دھاوا بول کران پر زبردست لاٹھی چارج کیا اور ٹیرشلینگ کی بوچھاڑ کر دی جس کے نتےجے میں 20افراد زخمی ہو گئے ۔ بربرشاہ میں نوجوانوں کی ٹولیاں مشتعل ہوئیں اور انہوں نے سی آر پی ایف اور پولیس اہلکاروں پر زبردست پتھراﺅ کیا جس کے نتےجے میں فورسز نے ان پر لاٹھی چارج کیا اور مقامی لوگوں کے مطابق فورسز اہلکاروں نے رہائشی مکانوں کی توڑ پھوڑ کر ڈالی جس کے نتےجے میں علاقہ میں کشیدگی پھیل گئی ہے۔ڈلگیٹ میں خواتین نے ایک جلوس نکلا جس کے بعد وہاں کشیدگی پھیل گئی ۔اس دوران بیلو پلوامہ میں کل شام اسوقت حالات نے کشیدگی اختیار کی جب علاقے میں قائم سی آر پی ایف کیمپ سے وابستہ اہلکار بستی میں داخل ہوئے اور وہاں ادھم مچادی، فورسز کے اہلکاروں نے گھروں میں داخل ہوکر مکینوں کو بے دردی سے زد کوب کیا اور رہائشی مکانات کو شدید نقصان پہنچایا۔ فورسزاہلکاروں نے جامع مسجد بیلو کو بھی شدید نقصان پہنچایا جبکہ فیاض احمد وانی کی ٹاٹا سومو گاڑی بھی تباہ کی گئی۔ سی آرپی ایف نے عاشق حسین میر، غلام قادر وانی، محمد سلطان وانی اور خورشید احمد ڈار کی ہڈی پسلی ایک کردی جسکے بعد علاقے کے لوگ سڑکوں پر نکل آئے اور پنچائت گھر کو آگ لگادی۔ مشتعل لوگوں نے کیمپ کا گھیراﺅ کرنے کی کوشش کی جسکے بعد فورسز نے فائرنگ کرکے 30افراد کو زخمی کیاجن میں مشتاق احمد ڈار ،فینسی ،عبدالمجید ڈار ،مشتاق احمد ،حنیفہ بیگم اور فاروق احمد ڈار شامل ہیں۔ زخمیوں کو سرینگر کے مختلف اسپتالوں میں داخل کیا گیا۔جہاں 4کی حالت تشویشناک ہے ۔اس واقعے کے بعد راجپورہ اور دیگر دیہات میں لوگ مشتعل ہوئے اور شیخ آرہ میں ممبر اسمبلی ممبر سید بشیر احمدکے رہایشی مکان کو نذر آتش کیاجبکہ پلوامہ قصبے میں احتجاجی مظاہرے ہوئے ۔راجپورہ میں پولیس نے مظاہرین کو تتر بتر کرنے کیلئے ہوائی فائرنگ کی ۔مقامی لوگوں نے کشمیر عظمیٰ کو بتایا کہ سی آر پی ایف کے اہلکاروں نے علاقے میں 2 روز سے جاری پر امن احتجاجی مظاہروں کا بدلہ کیلئے بستی پر ہلہ بول دیا۔ آخری اطلاعات آنے تک علاقے میں احتجاجی مظاہروں کا سلسلہ جاری تھا۔ کل شام جب پلوامہ سے زخمیوں کو سرینگر لایا جارہا تھا تو کاکہ پورہ اور بادام باغ میں فورسز نے گاڑیوں کو روک لیا اور انہیں اسپتال جانے سے روک لیا۔اس دوران جب زخمیوں کو صدر اسپتال لایا گیا تو یہاں رات کے 8بجے پولیس نے کیجولٹی میں فائرنگ کی ۔جس کے نتیجے میں پورے اسپتال میں افرا تفری مچ گئی اور اسپتال میں داخل کئی مریض بے ہوش ہوگئے۔ضلع کے کاکہ پورہ، مورن ،نائنہ ترال، مندورہ اور پرچھو دیہات میں بھی لوگوں نے فورسز پر توڑ پھوڑ اور مار دھاڑ کے الزامات عائد کرکے حکام سے ان واقعات کی تحقیقات کا مطالبہ کیا ہے۔ترال سے سید اعجاز نے اطلاع دی ہے کہ مندورہ ترال میں حالات اسوقت کشیدہ ہوگئے جب وہاں لوگوں نے شیخ عزیز کی غائبانہ نمازِ جنازہ ادا کرنے کی کوشش کی۔ اس موقعہ پر سی آر پی ایف کے اہلکار وہاں نمودار ہوئے اور اُنہوں نے لوگوں پر دھاوا بول دیا جسکے نتیجے میں لوگ مسجد میں پناہ لینے پر مجبور ہوئے۔ سی آر پی ایف اہلکاروں نے مسجد پر بھی دھاوا بول دیا اور اس کی کھڑکیاں اور دروازے توڑ ڈالیں اور لوگوں کی شدید مارپیٹ کی جس کے نتیجے میں سجاد احمد گنائی، ہلال احمد راتھر ، غلام حسن راتھر، یونس احمد ، سلیم یوسف اور امتیاز احمد بٹ نامی نوجوان شدید طور پر زخمی ہوئے۔ شکار گاہ ترال سے ہزاروں لوگوں مشتمل ایک جلوس نکالاگیا اور جب جلوس ہائن کے مقام پر پہنچ گیا تو پولیس ٹاسک فورس اور سی آر پی ایف اہلکاروں نے جلوس کو منتشر کرنے کےلئے لاٹھی چارج کیا اور آنسوگیس کے گولے پھینکے جس کے نتیجے میں 2افراد شدیدطورپر زخمی ہوئے جبکہ کئی افراد کا شدید زد و کوب کیاگیا۔نودل ترال سے ایک اور جلوس نکالاگیا اور جب لوگ بجہ کول کے نزدیک پہنچ گیا تو اس موقعہ پر سی آرپی ایف نے لوگوں پر شلنگ کی جسکے نتیجے میں درجنوں افراد زخمی ہوئے۔ امیراآباد ترال میں بھی ایسا ہی واقعہ پیش آیا۔ کل ترال میں ہوئے تشدد آمیز واقعات کے دوران 35افراد زخمی ہوئے۔ سوپور سے کشمیر عظمیٰ کے نامہ نگار غلام محمد نے اطلاع دی ہے کہ سوپور میں مسلسل کرفیو کی وجہ سے عوامی زندگی مفلوج ہو کر رہ گئی، ضروریات زندگی کی چیزوں کی زبردست قلت پائی جارہی ہے ۔اگرچہ وادی کے دیگر علاقوں میں کرفیو میں ڈھیل دی گئی تاہم سوپور میں کوئی نرمی نہیں برتی گئی۔اس دوران ہائیگام اور دوسرے علاقوں سے سبزی کے ٹرک سوپور لائے گئے۔بٹہ پورہ میں جونہی ایک ٹرک پہنچ گیا تو ایس ٹی ایف ٹرک کو اپنے ساتھ لیا۔جس کے بعد لوگوں نے جلوس نکالا ۔جلوس میں شامل لوگوں نے شیو سینا کے بال ٹھاکرے کو پتلا نذر آتش کیاجس کے بعد فورسز نے ٹیر گیس شلنگ اور ہوائی فائرنگ کی۔ایس ٹی ایف اہلکار سوپور میں داخل ہوئی اور وہاں موجود لوگوں کی مارپیٹ کی۔ایس ٹی ایف نے پورے قصبے میں خوف ودہشت مچاکراخبار فروشوں پر ٹوٹ پڑے اور انکی زبردست مارپیٹ کرکے اخبار فروخت کرنے سے روک لیا۔اس دوران سوپور کے اندرونی علاقوں سے بھی جلوس نکالے گئے اور فورسز نے انہیں روکنے کیلئے ٹیر گیس شلنگ اور ہوائی فائرنگ کی۔چرار شریف سے غلام قادر بیدار نے اطلاع دی ہے کہ چرار شرےف میں لوگوں کی ایک بڑی تعداد نے جلوس نکالا۔پولیس نے اس موقعہ پر مظاہرین کو منتشر کرنے کےلئے پہلے لاٹھی چارج کیا اور اشک آور گےس کے گولے داغے جس کے جواب میں مشتعل ہجوم نے پولیس اہلکاروں پر زبردست سنگباری کی اور اس سنگباری کے نتےجے میں6پولیس اہلکار شدید زخمی ہو گئے جبکہ پولیس اہلکاروں کی جوابی کارروائی میں 19 افراد زخمی ہوئے ۔ مظاہرین اس قدر مشتعل ہوئے اور انہوں نے وہاں اولڈ پولیس اسٹےشن پر دھاوا بول کر اسے نذر آتش کر دےا ۔اس موقعہ پر پولیس اسٹےشن کی حفاظت پر مامور اہلکار کھڑیوں سے چھلانگ لگا کر جان بچانے میں کامیاب ہو گئے ۔گاندربل سے کشمیر عظمیٰ کے نامہ نگار نے اطلاع دی ہے کہ مینگام، وتہ لار، ہاری پورہ سے جلوس نکالا گیا اور مختلف علاقوں جن میں وائل، نونر، سرژ، گراج اور دھوبی پورہ شامل ہیں، کے لوگ جلوس میں شامل ہوتے گئے اور بیہامہ چوک گاندربل پہنچ کر جلوس میں شامل لوگوں کی تعداد 10ہزار تک پہنچ گئی جو بی جے پی اور شیو سینا کے خلاف اور آزادی کے حق میں نعرے بازی کررہے تھے۔ جلوس میں شامل لوگوں نے بیہامہ چوک اور توحید چوک میں کھمبوں پر سبز پرچم نصب کئے۔ بعدمیں جلوس ایک بجے پرامن طور پر منتشر ہوا۔ اسی اثناءمیں چھترگل، وُسن سے بھی قریب1500لوگوں پر مشتمل جلوس بیہامہ پہنچا جہاں انہوںنے ڈی سی آفس گاندربل پر سبز پرچم نصب کرنا چاہا تاہم گاندربل کے تحصیلداراور ایس ایچ او کے سمجھانے بجھانے کے بعد لوگوںنے ڈی سی آفس کے متصل عمارت میں سبز جھنڈا نصب کیا اور پرامن طور پر منتشر ہوئے۔ دریںا ثناءزخمی ہوئے اعجاز احمد ماگرے کو صورہ سے رخصت کرنے کے بعد اسے جلوس کی صورت میں گھر پہنچایا گیا۔ناگہ بل میں مشتعل لوگوں نے پولیس گھارت پر دھاوا بول دیا اور وہاں موجود پولیس اہلکاروں کو بھگادیا۔کولگام سے نمائندے نے اطلاع دی ہے کہ ضلع کولگام کے کیلم حابلش، محمد پورہ، مالون، پہلو، کاڈڑ، کھڈونی، قیموہ میں ہزاروں لوگوںنے جلوس نکالا اور کولگام بازار میں جمع ہوکر آزادی کے حق اور انتہا پسند جماعتوں کے خلاف نعرے بازی کی۔ کولگام کے عیدگاہ میں پولیس اور فورسز کی فائرنگ سے جاں بحق ہوئے افراد کی غائبانہ نماز جنازہ ادا کی گئی۔ بعدمیںمظاہرین پرامن طور پر منتشر ہوئے۔ ادھر بجبہاڑہ میں مظاہرین نے DFOمجسٹریٹ اور DFOپلوامہ کے گھروں کی توڑ پھوڑ کی جبکہ میونسپل ٹاﺅن پنچایت نیشنل بنک اور دیگر کئی سرکاری عمارتوں پر شدید پتھراﺅ کیا۔ مظاہرین نے سنگم بجبہاڑہ میں دہلی پبلک سکول کی عمارت پر بھی حملہ کرکے وہاں توڑ پھوڑ کی۔بارہمولہ سے کشمیر عظمیٰ کے نامہ نگار الطاف بابا نے اطلاع دی ہے کہ بارہمولہ میں کل شام 5بجے سے 7بجے تک کرفیو میں ڈھیل دی گئیجس کے دوران اولڈ ٹاون برج کے قریب احتجاجی جلوس نکالا اور نعرے لگائے ۔بانڈی پورہ میںگذشتہ روز ہوئی ہلاکتوں کے خلاف کل بھی احتجاج جاری رہا۔اس دوران جوالا پورہ بڈگام میں بھی لوگوں نے احتجاجی مظاہرے کئے۔

Midnight protests rock Srinagar, Governor says replacing CRPF IG: The Indian Express

2008-08-13T21:09:00.000-07:00

J&K: Musharraf speech refers to Kashmir situation, India slams Pak for saying it will raise it with UN

Srinagar, New Delhi, August 13: In chaotic scenes in Srinagar an hour before midnight Wednesday, people, responding to calls made over loudspeakers of mosques, poured into the streets in protest after security forces allegedly barged into some houses in downtown localities and assaulted people.

There was confusion all around with hundreds packing the streets and chanting slogans. There were unconfirmed reports that CRPF personnel had entered homes in Rozabal, Safakdal, Kamangarpora and Zaina Kadal — the security forces are already under fire for the manner in which protestors have been dealt with in the last three days.

As the authorities tried to persuade people to return to their homes, Governor N N Vohra told The Indian Express: “We have sought the immediate replacement of the Inspector General of CRPF. We are trying our level best to calm people. It is in nobody’s interest”.

The police, however, said that apart from one incident in the evening they did not have reports of security forces breaking into homes. “We know of one such incident. The other incidents are not true,” said Srinagar SSP Syed Ahfad-ul-Mujtaba.

Security forces were trying to avoid moving into the city to break up the protests. “We do not want to create a scene. We will let them stay out,” a senior police officer told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, the spat between India and Pakistan over the J&K situation got uglier today after New Delhi issued its third statement in a week, describing Islamabad’s call for international involvement in Kashmir as “gratuitous and illegal”. The Ministry of External Affairs said the remarks by Pakistan’s leaders and Foreign office spokesmen were “objectionable” and “factually wrong”.

But late tonight, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, in his address on the eve of the country’s independence day, again referred to the situation in Kashmir, saying Pakistan shared the grief of the families of those killed in the Valley.

Earlier today, in a language reminiscent of the bitter past, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Sadiq called upon the international community, in particular “United Nations, Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Human Rights organisations, to take notice of the gross violation of human rights of Kashmiri people, unwarranted violence against them and their economic blockade perpetrated by extremist elements and impress upon India to observe restrain and rein in the extremist elements that are seeking economic destruction of the Kashmiri people.”

In New Delhi, Navtej Sarna, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, hit back, saying “the Government of India finds deeply objectionable the series of remarks by the official spokesman and leaders in Pakistan on recent events in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“We are witnessing a recurrence of Pakistani rhetoric and allegations that are factually wrong and that bear no relationship to reality. To call for international involvement in the sovereign internal affairs of India is gratuitous, illegal and only reflects reversion to a mindset that has led to no good consequences for Pakistan in the past.”

“It is not too late for Pakistani leaders and spokesmen to desist from the course of action that they have recently embarked upon, and we would urge them to do so forthwith,” Sarna said.

Firing to disperse or kill? Greater Kashmir

2008-08-13T21:03:00.000-07:00

Bullets Hit Protestors’ Chest, Head, Abdomen, Heart

NASEER A GANAI

Srinagar, Aug 13: Doctors in different hospitals say causalities due to bullet injuries were higher as bullets have been fired at upper parts of the body including chest, heart and head. They say the troops and police resorted to target killing of protestors.
“Yesterday, we operated upon a number of persons having received bullet injuries. We also operated upon 15 seriously wounded, among them several died. I tell you most people have been shot at from very close range and above the waist causing maximum causalities,” said a consultant at SMHS Hospital.
“I can understand what would have happened outside. Inside the hospital, in the causality ward police fired teargas shells,” said Dr Idrees. Six persons who were brought dead to the hospital including Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat of Lasjan, Imran Qayoom Wani of Baghi Mehtab, Qamran Mehboob, Faisal Showkat and others had been shot at upper parts including neck and chest.
Reports said 29 people have been killed in past two days. Doctors describe the shooting above waist as “target killing.” Bullet injuries in chest, neck and head could not be described as firing in self-defence, said a doctor working in Soura Medical Institute. He said most of the people who were in critical condition have been hit at neck, chest and head. He said a person brought from Bemina this morning had been hit in head.
A senior official of the Medical Institute Soura said 50 persons who have received bullets have undergone major surgeries in past two days. The official said most of the patients who have been operated upon were in critical condition. “This is grim situation. I should tell you frankly that half of the people who have gone through major surgeries are in extremely critical condition. Some are on ventilators. We should pray for their survival,” said a doctor working in the Institute.
Doctors in valley hospitals have cancelled their leaves and are in hospitals for past four days continuously looking after the injured. Eight persons have died in past two days in the Medical Institute. “Among the eight, some were brought dead and some died after operation,” officials said.
Doctors said had troops and police fired below the waist the causalities would have been far less. “In that case it causes less damage than target killing,” doctors say.
Rouf Majeed, presently admitted in the SMHS hospital, has been shot in his shoulder. Doctors looking after him said that he has been shot with pistol. “I was in a protest when army’s JAKLI troops fired at us. I received a bullet and I was brought to hospital by people,” he said. He said three other persons have received serious injuries in their chest and head and they have been shifted to SKIMS.
Nazir Ahmad of Sumbal had received a bullet in the abdomen. Apart from bullets, tear gas shells have been fired directly at people. Rouf Majeed admitted in the SMHS has been hit at chest with a tear gas shell. “Had it been hit at heart, it would have been fatal,” doctors attending him said. Another person, Gowhar Bhat of Dalgate, admitted in the SMHS, has been hit at private parts with tear gas shell.

36 killed in 3 days :Rising Kashmir

2008-08-13T20:59:00.000-07:00

4 protestors shot dead in Rajpora, Pulwama
Mosque damaged, ex-MLA’s house set ablaze
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Aug 13: At least four protestors were killed when police and paramilitary CRPF personnel fired on peaceful demonstrators at Rajpora in Pulwama on Wednesday, raising the death toll to 36. The CRPF personnel also damaged the Jamia Masjid after protestors took shelter in the mosque to escape bullets and tear gas shells.
At least 10000 people took to roads at Rajpora, Pulwama and tried to march towards the residence of slain Huriyat leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz to pay homage to him.

An eyewitness, Shameem Ahmad, who was a part of the procession told Rising Kashmir that when the protestors reached near Rajpora chowk, they were intercepted by CRPF and police personnel, who were deployed in strength in the area. “As the processionists tried to march ahead, the cops fired dozens of tear gas shells and resorted to cane charge to disperse the agitating people, who were raising anti-India, pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans,” the eyewitness said.
At least 22 persons were injured in the police and CRPF action. The injured were shifted to local hospitals, where from the critically injured persons were referred to Srinagar hospitals for specialised treatment. Later in the evening, four of the critically injured persons succumbed to injuries.
The eyewitness said during the chaos some people took shelter in the Jamia Masjid. “The troopers entered the Masjid and broke down its window panes and doors and whisked away the people who had taken refuge there. The cops manhandled and beat up many persons”, added Ahmad.
The protestors also set afire the residential house of ex-PDP MLA, Syed Bashir.
City continues to be on boil
Hafizullah Baba of Qamarwari, who was injured on Tuesday in police and CRPF firing, succumbed to injuries at SKIMS. Two others, Mehrajudin of Bandipore and Faisal Ahmad of Shampora, Nowhatta also expired.
The hospital authorities confirmed all the three deaths.
The funeral of the trio was held at Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, which was attended by thousands of people. They were later buried in martyr’s graveyard Iddgah amid tears and sobs.
After the curfew was relaxed, people in Qamarwari, Rajouri Kadal, Saraf Kadal, Nawab Bazar, Nowhatta, Khanyar, Kani Kadal came out on roads and staged massive protests. The protestors were raising pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans.
A group of irate mob tried to set afire CRPF bunkers at Nawab bazar, Fateh Kadal, Basant bagh and near DC office Srinagar but were prevented by cops. Police resorted to aerial firing and resorted to tear-gas shelling to disperse the agitating mob.
At Kani Kadal and Fateh Kadal areas in old city, the cops resorted to aerial firing and lobbed tear-gas canisters to quell demonstrators, who tried to set afire the police stations. Two people including a teenager identified as Suhail Ahmad received bullet injuries in their legs and were shifted to SMHS hospital for treatment.
The protests at Bemina near by-pass took violent turn where angry youth set ablaze Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) building and an oil tanker. Eye-witnesses said that a group of youth turned violent and set-afire SDA building. It suffered extensive damage in the fire incident.
An oil tanker passing through the area was also set afire near JVC hospital, Bemina by a strong mob.
In the Bemina area, the angry youth intercepted two policemen travelling in a bike. After coming to know that the duo were policemen, the youth caught hold of them and beat them mercilessly. They also tried to set afire their motorbike. The CRPF personnel deployed in the area fired tear gas shells and resorted to cane charge and rescued the cops. Half a dozen persons were injured in the CRPF action.
Meanwhile, angry protestors at Bagh-e-Mehtab tried to force their entry into Guroo complex, where the families of protected persons and SOG men are putting up. People, who were protesting against killing of three persons in the area yesterday, tried to setafire the complex. The protestors fought pitched battles with police and CRPF personnel, who fired tear gas shells and resorted to cane charge to disperse them.
The ding dong battles between the police and protestors continued in city throughout the day.
Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda informed that 22 incidents of protests took place in Kashmir on Wednesday. “The situation is under control normalcy will soon return to Kashmir,” Khoda said.
DFO Lidder thrashed
A strong mob raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans thrashed District Forest Officer (DFO) Lidder division Ghulam Ahmad Bader. Reports said that the agitators caught hold of him and manhandled him. “He was beaten by the mob,” reports said.
Reports further said that a mob damaged a restaurant at Dara Shakoo, Bijebhera in Islamabad district. The municipal committee of Bijbehara too was attacked by people.
Meanwhile, scores of demonstrations took place in South Kashmir to protest against the firing on peaceful and unarmed protestors in Kashmir.
Protests continue in North too
Thousands of people took to roads at Sopore town and staged massive protest demonstration. Raising pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the protestors were condemning the killing of unarmed and peaceful protestors in Kashmir. The police fired tear gas shells and resorted to cane charging to disperse the strong mob of people. At least three persons were injured in the police action and were hospitalised.
The clashes between police and protestors were also reported from Khawajabagh and Khanpora, Baramulla. The cops used force to disperse the agitating people.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people defied curfew restrictions in Handwara and other areas in border district of Kupwara and staged anti-government slogans. The protestors were demanding action against the troopers responsible for killing the unarmed protestors during peaceful demonstrations in Kashmir. “It is totally barbaric,” said the protestors.
Funeral processions and tears
Three persons, who succumbed to injuries on Wednesday, were buried in martyrs graveyard Iddgah. Thousands of people amid shrieks and cries attended their Nimaz-e-Jinaza.
The funeral prayers in absentia were offered in several places of Valley for the persons killed in protest demonstrations in Kashmir during past three days. People were writhing in pail and praying for peace to the departed souls.
“It is barbaric act and the troopers who fired on peaceful protestors are not humans,” alleged the people.
Pak flag hoisted in KU
The students putting up in various hostels of the University of Kashmir (KU) marched in the University campus and hoisted the Pakistani flags at Moulana Rumi gate and the Vice Chancellor’s office.
The students also removed the board of the Gandhi Bhawan and raised anti-India, pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans.

Pakistan to approach UN, OIC over Kashmir situation :Rising kashmir

2008-08-13T20:54:00.000-07:00

Islamabad, Aug 13: Pakistan on Wednesday said it had begun approaching global bodies like the UN over the "deteriorating situation" in Jammu and Kashmir, ignoring India's warning that such statements amount to "clear interference" in its internal affairs and will undermine the composite dialogue process.
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said Islamabad is "deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation" in the Indian state that is "resulting in loss of life and property of the Kashmiri people".

Earlier, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi described the police action in Jammu and Kashmir as the "excessive and unwarranted use of force" against people, drawing strong reaction from India, which said such statements constitute clear interference in internal affairs of an integral part of the country.
Replying to a question on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman said Pakistan has "set in motion" the process to call on the "international community, in particular the UN, Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and human rights organisations to take notice".
The world community and global organisation would also be asked to "impress upon India to observe restraint and rein in the extremist elements that are seeking economic destruction of the Kashmiri people", Sadiq said.
Replying to a question on India's assertion that Pakistan's statements on the Kashmir issue could affect the composite dialogue process, Sadiq said Jammu and Kashmir was a "disputed territory" according to UN resolutions.
The composite dialogue process too "considers Kashmir a disputed territory" and the Kashmir issue was the "second item on the agenda of the dialogue process", the spokesman said.
"It is important that an enabling environment, free of violence, is created to sustain the peace process and address the long-standing dispute of Jammu and Kashmir," Sadiq said.
He also asserted that the situation in Kashmir would not affect the composite dialogue.
"Diplomacy is about talking to each other, it is about reaching out to each other for solutions through talks, and we will continue with that path," Sadiq said.
The spokesman also referred to the death of Kashmiri separatist leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz during a protest and described it as "tragic and extremely unfortunate".
He said, "The government of Pakistan condemns the excessive and unwarranted use of force against the people of (Jammu and Kashmir)." PTI

13 Muslim protesters killed in Indian Kashmir: INTERNATIONAL Herald Tribune

2008-08-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press
Published: August 12, 2008

SRINAGAR, India: Indian forces shot and killed at least 13 Muslim protesters on Tuesday as tens of thousands of people defied a blanket curfew in Indian Kashmir, the bloodiest day in nearly two months of unrest that has rocked this long-troubled Himalayan region.

Police and protesters battled each other through clouds of bullets, tear gas and rocks, while in New Delhi, politicians again failed to find a solution to the crisis that threatens to shred the last tenuous threads binding the predominantly Muslim region of Kashmir to Hindu-majority India.

Angry Muslims took to the streets of cities and towns across Kashmir in spite of the first total curfew imposed on the region in 18 years to protest Monday's killing of a prominent separatist leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, and four others.

In Srinagar, the main city in Indian Kashmir, about 100,000 people gathered at Martyrs Graveyard for Aziz's funeral, vowing to fulfill his legacy and achieve independence for Kashmir from India.

Violence has roiled the region since June 23, when Muslims and Hindus began tit-for-tat protests over a government proposal to transfer land to a Hindu shrine in India's only Muslim-majority state.
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The protests have reinforced anti-Indian feeling in Kashmir just as Indian forces appeared to be gaining an upper hand in their nearly two decade fight against the region's separatist rebels.

Huge crowds attended Aziz's funeral, setting tires alight and waving green Islamic flags. Chants of "We want freedom," and "Blood for blood," rang through the cemetery.

"Our struggle for complete independence from India will continue. No power on earth can deter us from achieving this," Mirwaiz Omer Farooq, another separatist political leader, told the crowds who huddled together in the rain, straining to hear the speeches delivered without microphones.

"It's a do or die for us. India can take as many lives of Kashmiris as it can, but it must leave," said Rafiq Ahmed, a protester waiving green flag.

Six protesters were killed in several incidents Tuesday in Srinagar, police said. Two more died in Nagbal village on the city's outskirts and three others were killed in Paribal, a village 40 miles to the north, they said.

Two protesters died in Jammu, the only Hindu-majority city in the region, when police opened fire at an angry Muslim mob that attacked Hindu shops and homes, said Sudhanshu Pandey, a senior government official.

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, which have fought two of their three wars over the region and both claim it in its entirety.

More than a dozen Islamic militant groups have been fighting since 1989 for Kashmir's independence or its merger with Pakistan.

More than 68,000 people have been killed in the fighting.

Aziz was killed Monday when police fired into a large crowd of Muslims attempting to march to the Pakistan-controlled portion of Kashmir to protest a blockade by Hindus of the highway linking the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India.

The Hindus had blocked the roads to protest to the government's decision not to allocate land to a Hindu shrine in the region, after initially saying it would. The reversal came after protests by Muslims, who accused the government of trying to change Kashmir's demographics in favor of Hindus.

Traders say the region faces shortages of food and medicine because of the blockade, and complain that hundreds of truckloads of Kashmiri fruit are spoiling because they cannot be delivered.

On Tuesday the government announced that the road was now clear.

However, it said it was open to the idea of traders exporting their products across the border to neighboring Pakistan - a move that would further reduce Kashmir's ties to India.

"However, a decision in the matter can be taken only through mutual arrangements between India and Pakistan," the Home Ministry said in a statement, warning against unilateral action.

IFJ alarmed at targeting of media in Kashmir :Rising kashmir

2008-08-12T21:04:00.000-07:00

Srinagar, Aug 12: The International Federation of Journalists on Tuesday said it is alarmed to learn of journalists and media organisations being targeted in the recent civil disturbances in Kashmir.
A statement of the IFJ issued today said that according to reports received from sources in the state capital of Srinagar, police personnel on August 9 seized all copies of an Urdu-language daily, Etalaat, for allegedly carrying the report of a village being razed by a mob in the Jammu region of the state.

Reports have also been received that the staff of the English-language daily, Rising Kashmir, were warned by state authorities not to carry certain kinds of reports and that the Jammu offices of another English-language daily, Greater Kashmir, were attacked by mobs, the statement said.
The IFJ has learnt with great concern that one of the best-known journalists from Kashmir has had to travel through the Jammu region using a false identity card, for fear of being attacked on grounds of his religious identity, the IFJ said.
The IFJ endorses the call issued after a conclave of Srinagar’s most senior journalists on August 9, that the state authorities should adopt a policy of complete transparency with the media and the general public in Kashmir, about recent events of violence and lawlessness in the Jammu region.
“We call upon the state government not to intrude into the domain of press freedom and to ensure adequate protection for journalists and media offices in Jammu and Kashmir,” said the IFJ Asia Pacific.
“We are particularly anxious to see that journalists’ freedom of movement, safety, and ability to report on important news stories are not abridged in any way.”

کشمیر: 13 مظاہرین ہلاک، کرفیو جاری

2008-08-12T20:59:00.000-07:00

الطاف حسین، ریاض مسرور
بی بی سی اُردو ڈاٹ کام، سرینگر


	پولیس کا کہنا ہے کہ کرفیو کے باوجود جموں سے دو سو کلومیٹر دور واقع کشتواڑ میں ہندوؤں اور مسلمانوں کے درمیان تصادم ہوا ہے

ہندوستان کے زیرانتظام کشمیر کے مختلف شہروں میں منگل کو پولیس اور مظاہرین کے درمیان تازہ تصادم میں کم از کم تیرہ افراد ہلاک اور متعدد زخمی ہوئے ہيں۔وادی میں حالات تاحال کشیدہ ہیں اور مظاہرے جاری ہیں۔ادھر جموں میں بھی ہندو مسلم جھڑپوں کے دوران دو افراد ہلاک ہوئے ہیں۔

’تحریک آزادیِ کشمیر‘ کا نیا شہید

کشمیر میں مظاہرے تصاویر میں

گزشتہ روز فائرنگ سے ہلاک ہونے والے حریت رہنما عبدالعزیز کی تدفین کے موقع پر بھی پولیس اور مظاہرین کے درمیان تصادم ہوا لیکن مظاہرین ان کی میت مزارِ شہدا لے گئے جہاں ان کی تدفین ہوئی۔

واضح رہے کہ پیر کو کنٹرول لائن عبور کرنے کی غرض سے شروع کیے جانے والے ’مظفرآباد مارچ‘ کے دوران فوج کی فائرنگ سےعلیٰحدگی پسند اتحاد حریت کانفرنس کے رہنما شیخ عبدالعزیز سمیت کم از کم چھ افراد ہلاک ہوگئے تھے۔


	اڑی سے ملنے والی اطلاعات کے مطابق تقریباً ڈیڑھ ہزار افراد کنٹرول لائن کی طرف مارچ کر رہے ہیں۔ پورے خطے میں فوج بڑی تعداد میں موجود ہے۔

پیر سے ہی پوری وادی میں کرفیو نافذ ہے۔ تاہم بعض شہروں سے کرفیو کی خلاف وزریوں کے ساتھ ساتھ زبردست احتجاج کی خبریں آ رہی ہیں۔

شمالی ضلع بانڈی پورہ میں مظاہرین کو منتشر کرنے کے لیے فوج نے گولی چلائی جس میں چار افراد ہلاک اور دیگر پانچ زخمی ہوئے ہیں جبکہ پولیس نے سرینگر کے نواحی علاقے رینواری اور لاسجن میں بھی مظاہرین پر فائرنگ کی ہے جس میں تین افراد ہلاک ہوئے ہیں۔ بارہ مولہ میں ایک اور لنگیٹ میں دو افراد پولیس فائرنگ سے ہلاک ہوئے ہیں اور سات افراد کے زخمی ہونے کی اطلاعات ہیں۔

حریت رہنما شیخ عبدالعزیز کی ہلاکت کے بعد پوری وادی میں مظاہروں میں شدت آئی ہے۔


	شیخ عبدالعزیز کے جنازے کے وقت مظاہرین شدید اشتعال میں تھے اور انہوں نے سکیورٹی کو خاطر میں نہ لاتے ہوئے میت کو مزارِ شہدا تک پہنچایا

اطلاعات کے مطابق بڑی تعداد میں لوگ سرینگر کی جامع مسجد کے احاطے میں جمع ہوئے اور انہوں نے شیخ عبدالعزیز کی جنازے کی تیاریاں کیں۔

شیخ عزیز پینتیس سال قبل قائم شدہ علیٰحدگی پسند گروپ پیپلز لیگ کے ساتھ وابستہ رہے ہیں اور اُنیس سو نوے میں مسلح شورش شروع ہوتے ہی لیگ کے عسکری بازو الجہاد کے ’چیف کمانڈر‘ بن گئے۔ ان کا تعلق ضلع پلوامہ کے پانپور قصبہ سے تھا۔

اس دوران اڑی سے ملنے والی اطلاعات کے مطابق تقریباً ڈیڑھ ہزار افراد کنٹرول لائن کی طرف مارچ کر رہے ہیں۔ پورے خطے میں فوج بڑی تعداد میں موجود ہے۔

مقامی باشندے خواجہ ریاض احمد نے بتایا کہ مظاہرین کنٹرول لائن سے محض تین کلو میٹر کی دوری پر ہیں۔ انہوں نے یہ بھی بتایا کہ مظاہرین نے فوج کے محاصرے کو توڑ کر جنگل پاور سٹیشن پر بھی حملہ کرنے کی کوشش کی ہے۔

پچھلے کئی ہفتوں سے جموں سے اشیائے ضرورت کی درآمد اور سرینگر۔جموں شاہراہ پر میوہ ٹرکوں کی نقل وحمل معطل ہونے کے خلاف وادی کے میوہ تاجروں نےعلیٰحدگی پسند گروپوں کی حمایت سے مظفرآباد مارچ کا اہتمام کیا تھا۔


	منگل کے روز کئی مقامات پر پولیس اور مظاہرین کے درمیان آنکھ مچولی ہوتی رہی

ادھر جموں سے بی بی سی کی نامہ نگار بینو جوشی کے مطابق ہندوستان کے زیر انتظام جموں و کشمیر کے جموں خطے میں بھی شری امرناتھ شرائن بورڈ سے واپس لی گئی اراضی کے خلاف مظاہرے جاری ہيں اور اس دوران ایک فرد ہلاک اور ایک درجن سے زیادہ افراد زخمی ہوئے ہیں۔

پولیس کا کہنا ہے کہ کرفیو کے باوجود جموں سے دو سو کلومیٹر دور واقع کشتواڑ میں ہندوؤں اور مسلمانوں کے درمیان تصادم ہوا ہے۔ دونوں فریقین ایک دوسرے کے املاک پر حملے کر رہے ہيں اور گھروں کو آگ بھی لگا ر ہے ہيں جس سے کئی مکانات اور گاڑیوں کو نقصان پہنچا ہے۔

حکام کا کہنا ہے ان جھڑپوں میں ایک مسلمان ہلاک ہوگیا ہے اور بعد ازاں بھیڑ کو منتشر کرنے اور حالات کو قابو میں کرنے کے لیے پولیس نے ہوائی فائرنگ بھی کی ہے۔ لیفٹینٹ کرنل ایس ڈی گوسوامی نے کہا کہ فوج کو مقامی حکام کے کہنے کے بعد حالات پر قابو پانے کے لیے کشتواڑ بھیج دیا گيا ہے۔

Fifteen killed as Kashmir land row boils

2008-08-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

By Sheikh Mushtaq

SRINAGAR (Reuters) - Police shot dead at least 13 people in Kashmir on Tuesday as Muslim protests against what they termed an economic blockade by Hindus over a land row began to morph into independence calls, officials said.

Violence swept up the neighbouring Hindu-dominated Jammu region as well, where two people were killed and several injured when thousands of Hindu and Muslim protesters clashed with each other and with police.

In Kashmir, at least 200 people, including 85 policemen, were hurt and 13 protesters killed in a dozen separate incidents of police firing a day after a separatist leader was killed by police while trying to lead Muslim traders into Pakistan.

Muslim protesters shouted slogans against the government as Kashmir's main separatist alliance, the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, buried senior leader Sheikh Aziz, among the four people killed by police as he led Monday's march.

"This is not protest against land transfer, in fact this is anger against India," Pakiza Dar, a college teacher, yelled.

"Down with security forces, we want freedom," others shouted.

The land row has sparked some of Kashmir's worst religious riots in recent years. At least 20 people have been killed and hundreds injured.

The dispute began after the Kashmir government promised to give forest land to the trust that runs Amarnath, a cave shrine visited by Hindu pilgrims. Many Muslims were enraged.

The government then backed down, angering many Hindus in Jammu and polarising Indian Kashmir, which is split between the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley and the Hindu-dominated region around Jammu city.

The row has severely curbed trade between the two areas, and prompted Kashmir traders to try and sell their goods in neighbouring Pakistan.

The protests have widened to become pro-independence rallies, some of the biggest since a separatist revolt against New Delhi broke out in the region 20 years ago.

RISK TO PEACE PROCESS

On Tuesday, some 20,000 Muslims defied a curfew in Bandipora, about 60 km north of Srinagar to protest against Monday's killings.

Analysts said the protests had brought the focus back on Kashmir and endangered a sputtering 2004 peace process between India and Pakistan that had helped bring down violence.

"I see this will have a bad impact and considering that Pakistan is going through a bad turmoil now, the overall impact on the peace process will not be very positive," said C. Uday Bhaskar, a senior strategic analyst.

Experts said political groups were trying to gain mileage ahead of general elections next year, with the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, shepherding the Hindu cause in Jammu and separatists fuelling anti-India feelings in Kashmir.

India reacted angrily to a statement by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, condemning "excessive and unwarranted force" in Kashmir.

"Such statements by leaders of a foreign country do not help the situation. Nor do they contribute to creating the atmosphere necessary for the dialogue process between India and Pakistan to move forward," India's foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement.

Indian authorities also denied there was any economic blockade and said lorries, guarded by policemen and soldiers, were plying the region's main 300-km highway, the only land link between Kashmir valley and the rest of India.

The Indian government said it was trying to find a solution through negotiations and help traders sell their goods across the border in Pakistan.

(Additional reporting by Ashok Pahalwan, Nigam Prusty and C.K. Nayak)

Intellectuals appeal to UN on Kashmir blockade

2008-08-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

KT NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, Aug 12: Over 50 academics, social activists, writers, filmmakers, artists, lawyers, and concerned citizens, mostly based in the United States, including some of Indian origin, have approached the United Nations, drawing its attention to the humanitarian crisis in Kashmir Valley due to the ongoing blockade of Jammu-Srinagar national highway by what they called 'religious nationalist groups'.
In an appeal to the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations, they have maintained that the economic blockade has resulted in severe shortages in the Kashmir Valley of food and other vital provisions. We are reliably informed that petrol and essential medical rations, including blood, are in critically short supply, as well as newsprint, and that communication services and infrastructure are severely disrupted. The appeal calls for an immediate removal of the blockade.
Expressing concern over the insecurities of the Muslim minority in Jammu, they have blamed the government for its ineffective handling of the situation. They have also blamed the Hindutava groups like BJP, RSS and VHP for instigating people in Jammu. The appeal has also condemned the brutalities including incidents of open firing by security forces on protestors.
The appeal has called for UN's immediate attention and also suggested some measures for defusing the situation. The appeal calls for immediately end of the economic blockade and ensuring that goods and services, including emergency medical and food supplies, can move in both directions along the Srinagar-Jammu border. It also calls for opening the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, a promise repeatedly reiterated by successive governments of India and Pakistan, though never implemented. This would ensure that the current crisis situation is not repeated as well as mark a concrete step forward in addressing injustices and the peace process. It further suggests immediate action to stop the violence against the Muslim minority in Jammu and bring those responsible to justice and putting an end to ongoing human rights abuses by Indian forces and pro-India militias as repeatedly promised by the Indian Prime Minister and expected of democratic governments. It also calls for steps for a long-term resolution of the conflict.
The signatories to the appeal maintain that their work and conscience connects them to Kashmir and its people and that they hold no political affiliations. Some of the signatories are Angana Chatterji, Shubh Mathur, Mridu Rai, Dr. Geraldine Forbes, Sandeep Vaidya, Feroz Ahmed Wani, David Wolfe and Pei Wu.

‘We’ll cross LoC soon’

2008-08-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

Leaders Announce At Eidgah; Lakhs Join Sheikh’s Funeral

Greater Kashmir:
ZULFIKAR MAJID

Srinagar, Aug 12: Amid tears, sobs and defiance, tens of thousands of people participated in the Nimaz-e-Jinazah (funeral prayers) of Hurriyat Conference leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, and another person killed in Rainawari, at Martyr’s Graveyard Eidgah here on Tuesday where leaders announced that Kashmiris would cross the LoC in coming days.
Aziz and four others were killed in Chahal, Uri, on Monday when police and paramilitary CRPF troopers opened fire on a large procession, on a day when fruit growers had called for a march to Muzaffarabad to export their rotting produce.
Defying curfew, people chanted pro-freedom, pro-Islam and anti-India slogans. They marched from all parts of Srinagar and nearby areas towards Eidgah. Imam of Central Jamia Masjid, Molvi Syed Naqashbandi, led the Nimaz-e-Jinazah of Aziz. He was later laid to rest with lakhs demanding freedom from India.
Earlier, hundreds of people assembled outside the Hyderpora residence of Syed Ali Geelani and took him along. Policemen deployed outside Geelani’s residence to prevent him from coming out couldn’t stop the people. The veteran pro-freedom leader reached Eidgah with tens of thousands of people.
Another huge procession broke the three-tier security cordon in place to keep Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest. Mirwaiz led a procession from Nageen towards Jamia Masjid and Eidgah.
Muhammad Yaseen Malik also reached Eidgah with thousands of people.
Another procession was led by Aga Syed Hassan from Budgam district headquarters.
At different places in Shahr-e-Khas people had arranged beverages and other food stuff for the protesters.
Before funeral prayers, Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik addressed the people and appealed them to remain united and calm in this hour of tragedy.
“Observe August 15 as Black Day and also observe complete blackout from 8 pm to 9 pm on that day. There would be three day mourning from today. Leadership would devise a strategy during these days and come up with future course of action on August 15,” the leaders announced.
Mirwaiz alleged that Sheikh Aziz’s killing was “target” killing. “Sheikh Aziz Sahib was murdered by the Indian troops as it was a target firing. This government has made a plan to eliminate pro-freedom leadership.”
He appealed the people and pro-freedom organizations to follow the programs of Coordination Committee only. Mirwaiz warned the government that people of Kashmir would cross the LoC in coming days. “We would once again march towards LoC. Hindu fanatics like VHP, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and BJP can’t keep us at ransom for ever,” he said.
Mirwaiz said that whereabouts of senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah were unknown. “Shah Sahib who was with protesters at Chahal yesterday is missing. We don’t have any information regarding him.”
Appealing the people to continue with peaceful struggle, Geelani said, “Don’t give oppressor any chance to use brute force. Our peaceful, organized and controlled struggle would continue till we would achieve freedom from the clutches of India.”
He also appealed the people to protect the non-Muslim brethren at any cost. “Even if fanatic Hindus are targeting Muslims in Jammu and elsewhere, we should safeguard our non-Muslim brethren, as Islam teaches us,” he said.
Yasin Malik in his speech also appealed people to remain calm. “Don’t give troopers any chance to shower bullets on you.”
The leaders appealed the people to stay away from August 15 functions. “Don’t send your children to official functions,” they appealed.

Funeral prayers in absentia
Across the Valley, lakhs of people who could not reach Srinagar due to curfew, offered funeral prayers in absentia for Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

People attack NHPC station:Greater Kashmir

2008-08-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

Threaten to snap power export

FAHEEM ASLAM

Srinagar, Aug 12: For the second consecutive day Tuesday, thousands of people from several areas in Uri forced their entry into the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s station at Gingal, demanding immediate stoppage of power supply to outside state.
Reports and eyewitnesses said that more than 5000 people from Gingal, Dwaran and Bijhama areas marched toward the outlet, asking the authorities to stop the power supply to outside or face the consequences.
“The marchers made several attempts to stop the power supply, but the police and paramilitary troopers prevented them,” said Muhammad Ashraf, an eyewitness.
Reports said the protesters gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the authorities to snap all power supply lines to outside. “If the authorities would fail to cut the power supply, we’ll be forced to stop it ourselves,” Ashraf added.
The NHPC presently generates 2400 MWs of power in India and out of it, 1600 MWs is being developed only in Jammu and Kashmir. “If the fanatics in Jammu can enforce blockade to Kashmir, why can’t we retaliate by snapping their power lines?” questioned the protestors. “We will fight the blockade tooth and nail.”
They threatened that on Wednesday they would march towards the power plant and snap the power export amounting to 88 percent of the total production. “We Kashmiris have been getting mere 12 % share while the major portion of power goes outside. The power plant is on our land, it works on our water resources. Why should we allow others, who have left us starving, to use our power?” shouted the people.

پہلے آشیانوں کو جلاڈالا اور اب مگرمچھ کے آنسو،جموں میں 300مسلمانوں کے مکان نذرآتش

2008-08-12T11:31:00.000-07:00

سنگھرش سمیتی اور دیگر تنظیمیں متاثر مسلمانوں کی ہمدردیاں حاصل کرنے کیلئے سرگرم

جان محمد

جموں// جموں صوبے میں جاری امرناتھ شرائین بورڈ سنگھرش سمیتی کے جھنڈے تلے جاری احتجاجی مظاہرہ جو گذشتہ ڈیڑھ ماہ سے جاری ہے'کے دوران لگ بھگ300کے قریب مسلمانوں کے گھروں کو نذر آتش کیاگیا اور کروڑوں کا مالی نقصان پہنچایاگیا۔ ڈیڑھ ماہ سے جاری مسلمان آبادی کی اس تباہی کی حکام کو کوئی خبرنہیں ۔گوجربستیوں پرقیامت برپاکی جاتی رہی لیکن یہ بستیاں میڈیا کی نظروں سے بھی اوجھل رہیں۔اب'روزنامہ اطلاعات' میں شائع رپورٹ کے بعد جہاں سرکاری انتظامیہ حرکت میں آگئی ہے وہیں امرناتھ سنگھرش سمیتی اور اس کی دیگر ساتھی جماعتوں و تنظیموں نے بھی اب مسلمانوں کے تئیں ہمدردیاں دکھانا شرو ع کر دی ہیں۔امرناتھ سنگھرش سمیتی نے اپنے نمائندوں کوجموں کی نوتشکیل شدہ مسلم فرنٹ جموں کیساتھ ہر جگہ جہا ں جہاں مسلمانوں کیساتھ زیادتیاں ہوئی ہیں وہاں موقعے پر جاکرنقصانات کاجائزہ لینے اور وہاں کے خوف و ہراس میں مبتلا مسلم کنبوں میں اعتماد بحال کرنے اور وہاں کی ہندوآبادی کوانہیں تحفظ دینے کیلئے زوردارمہم شروع کر دی ہے۔امرناتھ سنگھرش سمیتی ،آل جموں و کشمیر راجپوت سبھا جموں کے عہدیداروں اور مسلم فرنٹ جموں کے عہدیداروں کی یہ ٹیم لگاتار11اگست سے اُن مقامات کادورہ کر رہی ہے جہاں مسلمانوں کے گھروں کو نذر آتش کیاگیا ہے، لوٹاگیا ہے اور جہاں انہیں تشدد کا نشانہ بنایاگیا ہے۔مسلم فرنٹ جموں کے چیف پٹرن پروفیسر ظہور الدین ہیں ،پیٹرن انجینئر عبدالغنی کوہلی ،صدر حمید چودھری اور نائب صدور میں چودھری بشیر احمد کھٹانہ اور عاشق حسین خان شامل ہیں۔فرنٹ کے پیٹرن عبدالغنی کوہلی نے 'اطلاعات'کوبتایا کہ گذشتہ روز وہ جوڑیاں گئے اور ان کے ہمراہ راجپوت سبھا کے صدر ٹھاکرنارائین سنگھ، سنگھرش سمیتی کے ایم ۔ایس ۔کٹوچ،ایم ایس جموال،راجیش جین ،موہن سنگھ چوہان ،سردار وریندرجیت سنگھ صدر انٹرنیشنل سکھ یونین شامل ہیں۔اُنہوںنے مزید بتایا کہ جوڑیاں میں ہندوانتہاپسندوں کی جانب سے مقامی مسلم بستی پربرپا کی گئی قیامت صغری بارے انہیں آگاہ کیاگیا۔واضح رہے اکھنوراور مڑھ میں مجموعی طور پر109کنبے متاثر ہوئے ہیں۔راجپوری منڈی ،مڑھ،کانہ چک، گکوال اور جوڑیاں کے دورے کے بعد کل یعنی منگل کو اس ٹیم نے سانبہ کے اُن علاقوں کادورہ کیا جہاں مسلم بستیوں کو نذر آتش کیاگیا ہے۔اس سلسلے میں سانبہ کے رائے پور علاقے میں ایک میٹنگ منعقد کی گئی میٹنگ میں مسلم فرنٹ جموں کے پیٹرن عبدالغنی کوہلی،نائب صدر چودھری بشیر احمد کھٹانہ ،راجپوت سبھا کے ٹھاکر نارائین سنگھ، سنگھرش سمیتی کے ایم ۔ایس ۔جموال کے علاوہ لگ بھگ 200کے قریب مسلم طبقہ کے لوگ اور70سے80کے قریب مقامی ہندوآبادی کے لوگ موجودتھے۔اس موقعہ پرمسلم طبقے کے نمائندوں نے ہندوبلوائیوں کی کاروائیوںکی کڑے الفاظ میں مذمت کی اور سنگھرش سمیتی کو دوٹوک الفاظ میں کہا کہ وہ اُن کیساتھ ایسے کسی بھی مسئلہ پر ساتھ نہیں دیں گے جہاں مذہبی اقدار کوٹھیس پہونچے تاہم جموں کیساتھ ناانصافیوں و بھیدبھائو جیسے معاملات میں مسلمان جموں کیساتھ ہے اور اپنے حقوق کی لڑائی میں وہ اُن کیساتھ ہے تاہم اگر اُنہیں کوئی یہ کہے کہ وہ 'بم بم بولے کے نعرے لگائیں تو یہ قابل برداشت نہیں ہوگا۔مقامی مسلم راہ نما محمد شفیع نے صاف طو رپر کہا کہ وہ ہندوئوں کی ایجی ٹیشن کیخلاف نہیں لیکن اُن کیساتھ جو حرکت کی گئی ہے وہ قابل افسوس ہے۔اس موقعہ پر راجپوت سبھا کے صدر ٹھاکر نارائین سنگھ نے صاف طور پر کہا کہ انہوںنے امرناتھ سنگھرش سمیتی کو یہ بات واضح کر دی ہے کہ اگر جموں کی اقلیت کو تحفظ فراہم نہیں کیاگیا تو سمیتی کسی بھی طرح سے اپنے مقاصد میں کامیاب نہیں ہوگی اور وہ ایسی سمیتی کو خیرباد کہہ دیں گے۔اُنہوںنے ہندوئوں کو خبردار کیا کہ وہ یہاں کے مسلمان بھائیوں کیساتھ آپسی بھائی چارہ کیساتھ رہیں اور شر پسندعناصر کی سازشوں کوناکام بنائیں۔انہوںنے کہا کہ یہ لڑائی سچ اور جھوٹ کی لڑائی ہے اسے ہندو اور مسلمانوں اور جموں اور کشمیر والوں کی لڑائی بنایا جارہا ہے اور ایسے منصوبے مفاد پرست عناصر بنا رہے ہیں۔تاہم جموں کے مسلما ن ہندوشرپسندوں کی جانب سے ان کے گھروں کونذر آتش کئے جانے سے کافی خفااور خوف و ہراس میں مبتلا ہیں اور اب ان کوششوں کو اہمیت کی حامل قرار دینے کیساتھ ساتھ سوال اُٹھارہے ہیں کہ ہندئوں نے پہلے ان کے گھرجلادئیے اور ان کی قومیت جاننے کیلئے 'اگنی پریکشا'یعنی ان کے بسیروں کو راکھ کے ڈھیر میں تبدیل کر دیا اور اب بھائی چارہ کاراگ الاپتے ہوئے ان راکھ کے ڈھیروں پرآنسوبہاناشروع کردئے ہیں۔سانبہ میں کل27گھروں کو نذر آتش کیا گیا ہے۔

Martyrs Graveyard flooded:Rising kashmir

2008-08-12T11:28:00.000-07:00

2 lakh Kashmiris brave bullets, offer Aziz’s funeral prayers
No contact with Shabir Shah: Mirwaiz
Open Jhelum Valley road, construct Mughal road: Geelani
Peoples’ power stronger than military might: Malik
Pak flag hoisted

Abid Bashir/Hakeem Irfan
Srinagar, Aug 12: Defying curfew and braving bullets and tear smoke canisters that police and troopers showered at them everywhere in the city, around 2 lakh people flooded the Martyr’s Graveyard at Eidgah to offer funeral of three people including senior Hurriyat (M) leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz.
The funeral was led by Imam Hai of Jamia Masjid, Sayeed Ahmed Syed.
Flanked by the thousands of people, Hurriyat (G) Chairman Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF Chairman, Muhammad Yaseen Malik also managed to reach Martyrs Graveyard Eidgah amid pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans.

Besides, prayers for the three slain, special prayers in absentia were also offered for all those who were killed since Monday.
Breaching the security cover, scores of people reached Geelani’s Hyderpora residence and Mirwaiz’s Nigeen residence and accompanied them to the Martyr’s Graveyard. Both the leaders were under house arrest.
Later, Aziz, Ghulam Hassan Shangla, a resident of Rainawari, who was killed earlier Tuesday morning and a resident of Zoonimar, Muhammad Rafiq were buried next to each other amid tears and sobs.
Addressing a massive gathering at the Martyrs Graveyard, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said Aziz was not killed in Police firing but he was deliberately targeted to weaken the Hurriyat.
“Aziz was a strong pillar of Hurriyat. He was brutally murdered. We are not going to buy the police claim that he was killed in cross firing. He was made a soft target,” Mirwaiz said.
He asked people to continue protests till August 14 and to observe August 15 as a black day to mark the protest against “unjustified Indian aggression”.
Terming the killings of Kashmiri people a “worst form of Indian terrorism”, Mirwaiz said: “We (both factions of Hurriyat Conference, JKLF, traders and chamber of commerce) stand united at this crucial stage. People should follow the directions and no action should be taken unless a program for that is announced by us.”
Mirwaiz informed that the senior Hurriyat (M) leader Shabir Shah, who was leading the ‘Muzaffarabad March’ along with the slain Hurriyat leader Sheikh Aziz, was missing. “We don’t know where Shah is. Who knows whether, he (Shah) too might have been killed,” Mirwaiz said.
“In case BJP sticks to its August 14 mass agitation and blockade call, we will cross all points leading to Muzaffarabad,” he said.
Hurriyat (G) Chairman, Syed Ali Geelani extended full support to Mirwaiz and said, “I would like to add two things to what Mirwaiz already said. People should hoist black flags on their houses on August 15 and from 8 pm to 9 pm observe a complete black out.”
Geelani said that the people should take care of the life and property of non-Muslim brethren living here. “Besides Jehlum Valley Road should be thrown open and Mughal Road constructed immediately,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, JKLF Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said that people’s power is stronger than any military might.
Malik said: “We have to be disciplined enough to achieve our ultimate goal of freedom.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of women were offering cold drinks to the marchers outside Eidgah.
Children of the Tibet Colony outside Eidgah were seen carrying water glasses and giving them to the processionists who had come all the way from Budgam, Ganderbal, Tangmarg, Beerwah and almost all nook and corners of the Valley.
Thousands of people from Tangmarg and Beerwah reached Eidgah after the funeral prayers because of the blockades laid by police and troopers at various places. The residents offered them food and tea and invited them to stay at their houses here in Srinagar.
The people also hoisted Pakistan flag at the Martyrs Graveyard and raised pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-Indian slogans.

3 killed, 75 injured in Kishtwar clash

2008-08-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hindu civilians lob grenade, open fire on Muslim procession

Rising Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 12: Army was called out in the mountainous Kishtwar district of Chenab region in Jammu on Tuesday immediately after an alleged armed assault by Hindu activists on a Muslim procession left two demonstrators dead and scores others injured. The incident took place when a group of Muslim youth defied curfew and tried to take out a procession in support of the ongoing ‘Muzaffarabad Chalo’ movement in Kashmir Valley that started Monday morning.

The residents of the predominantly Muslim Kishtwar in a show of solidarity had staged demonstrations at various places in the district on Monday during which some Hindu activists had launched an unprovoked stone-pelting attack on the Muslim demonstrators near Haryaal Chowk.
Locals said the Muslim did not retaliate and dispersed. But, according to Nehru, the Muslims of the area took a unanimous decision of observing shutdown and staging demonstrations on Tuesday against the killing of Hurriyat leaders Sheikh Abdul Aziz among others. Fearing trouble during these demonstrations the authorities clamped curfew across the district. But the Muslim youth defied curfew and took out a massive procession from the main bus stand and reach Haryaal Chowk at 9:45 am.
“The Hindu activists tried to provoke the demonstrators by pelting stones. When the Muslim youth ignored them a Hindu activist who was standing near Jagdeep Medical Shop lobbed the grenade which exploded with a big bang. The splinters wounded at least fifteen Muslim youth some of them critically,” local social activist Asghar Ali told Rising Kashmir over phone from Jammu where he was accompanying the injured in GMC.
A respectable local journalist, Haq Nawaz Nehru said that following the grenade attack local Chandra Kant, medical assistant in Health department, took out his pistol and fired upon the mob injuring many more. Infuriated, the mob set ablaze at least half-a-dozen vehicles including a lorry of R&B department.
“When the people were giving vent to their anger after grenade and firing from civilian Hindus, PSO of a BJP leader Suneel Kumar opened direct fire at the mob”
In all these assaults at least three civilian Muslims have been killed and seventy five others injured some of them critically.
Those dead include Gazanfar Sheikh and Maqbool Killam of Kishtwar and Gufraan of Thakrai.
However, when Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda was asked who fired upon the procession, he said paramilitary CRPF and Police were deployed there and that they tried to control the mob.
In the neighboring Doda district people held protests and demonstrations in almost all areas. Later, large number of people assembled in the central market and held in-absentia funeral for those killed including Hurriyat leader Sheikh Aziz and others in Kashmir.
Local leaders including Khalid Najeed, Syed Hanief Hashmi and Muhammad Shafie Rangrez addressed the gathering.

All in a days work : Rising kashmir

2008-08-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

21 killed

1. Imtiyaz Ahmed Bhat son of Abdul Gani of Lasjan
2. Abid Sheikh son of Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh of Lasjan
3. Imran Qayoon son of Abdul Qayoom Wani of Baag-e-Mehtaab
4. Kamraan Sheikh of Bemina
5. Owais Majeed of Rainawari
6. Javaid Ahmed Mir son of Ghulam Ahmed Mir of Methan
7. Mumtaz Ahmed Bhat of Paribal Bandipore
8. Ali Muhammad of Paribal Bandipore
9. Muhammad Shafiq Ganai of Paribal Bandipore
10. Mehraj-ud-Din Ganai of Paribal Bandipore
11. Javaid Ahmed of Manasbal
12. Muhammad Shabaan of Manasbal
13. Showkat Ahmed Najar of Marhama Bijbhera
14. Muhammad Rafiq son of Muhammad Ashraf of Zoonimar
15. Muhammad Saleem Shah son of Peer Muhammad Shah of Naibasti Islamabad
16. Muhammad Imran Mir of Baghi Mehtab
17. Muhammad Aslam Khatana son of Abdul Rashid Khatana of Kokernag
18. Sajjad Ahmad of Rohama, Rafiabad
19. Gazanfar Sheikh of Kishtwar
20 Maqbool Killam of Kishtwar
21 Gufraan of Thakrai

21 dropped dead in JKP’s ‘maximum restraint’

Srinagar, Aug 12: At least 21 persons were killed and dozens injured, some of them critically as police, paramilitary and army personnel opened fire on peaceful protestors at several places in Kashmir on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses said that personnel of 15 Rashtria Rifles opened fire on a strong mob near Paribal, Bandipora on Tuesday morning. Raising pro-freedom, pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans, the protestors were marching from Aloosa to Bandipora when the army personnel intercepted them at Paribal and fired indiscriminately towards them.
They said that three persons were killed on spot and 23 others sustained bullet injuries. The injured were shifted to Sub District Hospital, Bandipora where from some of the critically injured were referred to Srinagar. One of the critically injured succumbed to injuries in the hospital.
The deceased were identified as Mumtaz Ahmed Bhat, Ali Muhammad, Muhammad Shafiq Ganie and Mehrajudin Ganie, were killed when troopers fired upon a procession near Paribal area of Bandipora where the
People alleged that the troopers fired on the ambulance carrying the injured to the hospital. “We were on the way to Srinager hospital and at Qamarwari, CRPF personnel without any provocation fired upon an ambulance," said Dr. Asif on phone.
At Lasjan, Srinagar, police, CRPF and army personnel opened fire on a strong gathering of people, who were marching towards martyrs graveyard Iddgah, Srinagar amidst raising of pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Srinagar. The procession was intercepted by the troopers near Main-Chowk, Lasjan.
Eye witnesses alleged that the troopers fired indiscriminately on them, killing two of the protestors and injuring several others. The deceased were identified as Imtiyaz Ahmed Bhat son Abdul Gani of Lasjan and Abid Sheikh son of Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh of Lasjan.
In Mansbal, two persons died after CRPF fired on peaceful protestors raising anti-India and anti-government slogans. The deceased were identified as Javaid Ahmed and Muhammad Subhan, all residents of Manasbal.
Police sources said in Islamabad a massive gathering of people were marching towards Iddgah, Srinagar to participate in the funeral prayers of slain Huriyat leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz. Chanting pro-freedom slogans the procession crossed two police check posts without any interception. The procession was intercepted by the CRPF troopers near Nai-Basti and indiscriminate fire was opened killing two persons namely Muhammad Saleem Shah son of Peer Muhammad Shah on spot and injuring hundreds.
In Bijbehera town, police and CRPF personnel fired from automatic weapons towards a strong mob of people, killing a protestor. The deceased was identified as Showkat Ahmed Najar of Marhama, Bijbehara.
The cops also fired on protestors at Islamabad, killing a youth and injuring 41 others. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Aslram Khatana son of Abdul Rashid Khatana of Kokernag. The injured were hospitalized.
In Rainawari a group of protesters clashed with police and CRPF personnel, who prevented them from moving towards Iddgah. The protestors tried to attack the residence of NC MLA, Mohammad Sayed Akhoon. The troopers repulsed the attack and fired on the protestors, killing one of them, who was identified as Owais Majeed son of Abdul Majeed of Rainawari. Several persons were injured in the clashes.
A police official of Police station Chanapora said that CRPF personnel opened fire on a group of protesters at Baghi Mehtab, killing one Javaid Ahmed Mir son of Ghulam Ahmed Mir of Methan.
Meanwhile, a protestor was killed in Zoonimar when CRPF troopers intercepted a huge group of protesters and fired randomly at them. The deceased was identified as Muhammad Rafiq son of Muhammad Ashraf of Zoonimar.
Meanwhile, a protester collapsed to death while 40 others were injured in firing and teargas shelling at Rafiabad in Baramulla district.
Eyewitnesses said that thousands of people defied curfew restrictions and took out a peaceful march from Rafiabad. They aid that the protestors marched towards Panzla police station to set free detained Huriyat leader, Nayeem Khan. The police fired in air and lobbed tear smoke shells towards the people. One person identified as Sajad Ahmad of Rohama, Rafiabad fainted on spot and was declared brought dead by doctors at Baramulla hospital. Later, the police set free Nayeem Khan.
Defying curfew restrictions thousands of people took to streets at Ushakwara Baramulla. Police and CRPF men fired on protesters, which left seven persons included two women injured.
Police again resorted to firing on protesters at Janbazpora Rafiabad when thousands of people were marching towards Baramulla. The incident left three persons critically wounded.
Four persons were wounded in police firing and teargas shelling in Sopore town throughout the day. Early morning police fired teargas canisters and resorted to firing when mob attacked police post Bomai.
One woman was critically wounded in firing at Sopore township. Protesters also tried to torch the house of Congress leadr Abdul Gani Vakil at Nowpora Sopore. However, police foiled their attempt.
Police also fired on protesters in district hospital which created chaos and confusion with patients, doctors and attendants running for cover.
Medical Superintendent of Baramulla hospital Dr Muhammed Shafi Saraf told Rising Kashmir more then 24 injured persons were brought to the hospital till the evening. "Five of them had sustained bullet injuries," he added.
Three more persons were killed in Kishtwar.
Eight persons were also killed on Monday. However, officials confirmed the death of only six persons on Monday.

Police firing on peaceful protests in kashmir

2008-08-12T05:55:00.000-07:00

At least 14 people including a local Television journalist killed in police firing so far in Kashmir valley since morning and over 300 have received serious bullet injuries . even the journalists are not spared many of them have been beaten and also attacked by CRPF and police ,according television reports many journalists are injured, which includes CNNibn camera man Bashir Ahamd ,and Sahara televesion cammera Raashid. protests are going on from all the corners of Kashmir valley and two districts of Jammu region against the economic blockade ,and its aftermath killing of eight people including the killing of a slain Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz. With the tension increasing on streets of valley, police and army are using any kind of force to kill innocent kashmiris .this is Indian democracy?

خونی لائن روندنے کیلئے تاریخی خونین مارچ

2008-08-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

11 August, 2008 08:15:00فونٹ سائ

لاکھوں افراد پر مشتمل جلوسوں پر فائرنگ، شیخ عبدالعزیز خاموش کردئے گئے

اشفاق تانترے، شاہ عباس، شاہد علی

بارہمولہ سرینگر

کشمیر کے دوحصوں کو جدا کرنیوالی خونی لکیر یا کنٹرول لائن کو روندنے کی کوشش میں کل وادیٔ کشمیر کے کئی علاقے خون انسانی سے لالہ زار ہوئے۔ کنٹرول لائن سے لگ بھگ تیس کلومیٹر دور چہل کے مقام پر لگ بھک دو لاکھ لوگوں پر مشتمل لوگوں کے ایک جم غفیر پر پولیس اور فوج نے فائرنگ کی جس میں کم ان کم چار افراد جاں بحق ہوگئے جن میں سینئر حریت لیڈر اور سابق عسکری کمانڈر شیخ عبدالعزیز بھی شامل ہیں۔ فائرنگ کے دیگر واقعات میں سنگرامہ میں دو اور قمرواری (سرینگر) میں ایک شخص شامل ہیں۔ مظاہرین پر فائرنگ کے درجنوں واقعات میںتین سو سے زائد افراد زخمی ہوئے ہیں جن میں کئی ایک کی حالت نازک ہے۔ شہراور قصبہ جات کے اسپتالوں میں ضروری ادویات کی کمی کی وجہ سے ہلاکتوں میں اجافہ ہونے کا خدشہ ہے دوسری جانب پولیس نے کم از کم دومرتبہ صدر اسپتال کے کیجولٹی بلاک پر حملہ کیا ، ٹیئر گیس اور گولیاں چلائیں جس کی وجہ سے زخمیوں کو طبی امداد پہنچانے میں مشکلات پیدا ہوگئیں۔ حریت لیڈروں نے عالمی اداروں سے ''سرکاری دہشت گردی''روکنے اور ادویات کی سپلائی بھیجنے کی اپیل کی ہے۔

''یہ ایک انقلاب تھا۔ سڑکوں پر لوگوں کا ایک ٹھاٹھیں مارتا ہوا سمندر امڈ آیا اور آزادی کے نعرے بلند کرتا ہوا مظفر آباد کی جانب مارچ کرنے لگا''، یہ الفاظ اعجاز احمد نامی ایم بی اے طالب علم کے تھے جو سوپور سے اس تاریخی جلوس میں شامل ہوا۔ انکے مطابق جلوس میں زندگی کے تمام شعبوں سے وابستہ لوگ شامل ہوئے ۔ ایک عینی شاہد نے اطلاعات کو بتایا کہ جونہی لوگوں کا سمندرچہل نامی بستی کے نزدیک ملٹری پوسٹ کے نزدیک پہنچا تو فوجی اہلکاروں نے ایک گولہ نزدیکی پہاڑی کی جانب داغ دیا ۔ ابھی جلوس کے شرکاء صورتحال کو سمجھ ہی نہیں پائے تھے کہ اہلکاروںنے اندھادھندکولیاں چلائیں اور برا ہ راست جلوس کے قائدین شبیر شاہ اور شیخ عبدالعزیز کو نشانہ بنایا۔ ''فوجی اہلکاروں نے تقریباًدو گھنٹے تک رک رک کر فائرنگ کا سلسلہ جاری رکھا۔

اطلاعات کے فوٹو گرافرسجاد راجا نے شیخ عبدلعزیز کے ساتھ گولی لگنے کو بعد اسوقت گفتگو کی جب انہیں ایک ٹرک میں سوار کرکے بارہمولہ کی طرف لیجایا جارہا تھا۔راجا کے مطابق شیخ نے انہیں کہا کہ وہ ٹھیک ہیں لیکن خون مسلسل انکے جسم سے رس رہا تھا۔ کئی گھنٹوں کی مسافت طے کرنے کے بعد جن انہیں پانچ بجے کے قریب صدر اسپتال پہنچایا گیا تو کافی مقدار میں خون ضائع ہونے کی وجہ سے انکی موت واقع ہوگئے۔اس واقعے میں بشیر احمد ملہ اور عبدالحمید بٹ ساکن مائکروویو کانلی باغ بھی جاں بحق ہوگئے۔

ہمارے نامہ نگاروں کے مطابق وادی کے طول وعرض میں مظفرآباد جانے والے قافلے میں شامل ہونے کی کوشش کرنے والے لوگوں اور پولیس کے درمیان جھڑپوں کے دوران مظاہرین پر ٹیرگیس شیلنگ اور فائرنگ کے واقعات میں 300سے زائد افراد زخمی ہوئے ہیں جن میں پولیس کے کئی آفیسر، کئی خواتین ، ایک دولہا اور سی آرپی ایف کے نصف درجن افراد شامل ہیں۔پولیس کا کہنا ہے کہ پتھراؤ کے دوران کم از کم ایک سو اہلکار بھی زخمی ہوئے ہیں۔ مختلف مقامات پر مشتعل مظاہرین نے پولیس کی کئی گاڑیوں کو نذرآتش کرنے کے علاوہ نصف درجن بنکروں کو منہدم کردیا۔ تفصیلات کے مطابق فروٹ گرورس کی طرف سے 'مظفرآباد چلو' کال جسے حریت کانفرنس کے دونوں دھڑوں کی حمایت حاصل تھی ، کے تحت کل مظفرآباد مارچ کی شروعات فروٹ منڈی سوپور سے کی گئی۔ اتوار شام سے ہی اس پروگرام کے تحت میوہ تاجروں نے میوہ بردار ٹرکوں کو سجا کر رکھاتھا اورہزاروں افراد رات بھر منڈی میں ہی قیام پذیر رہے۔ پولیس اور فوج نے کل شام سے ہی سوپور فروٹ منڈی کو اپنی تحویل میں لے لیاتھا اور 6بجے کے قریب ناکہ بندی کے دوران مظفرآباد کی طرف روانہ کی جانے والی میوہ بردار ٹرکوں اور دیگر گاڑیوںکا پنکچر کیاگیا اور اس دوران پولیس نے منڈی پر دھاوا بول کر وہاں موجود آل ویلی فروٹ گرورس اینڈ ڈیلرس ایسو سی ایشن کے عہدیداروں کی گرفتاری عمل میں لائی ۔ چنانچہ اس موقعہ پر پولیس اور فروٹ گرورس ایسو سی ایشن ومقامی لوگوں کے درمیان مزاحمت ہوئی جس کے جواب میں پولیس نے ان پر لاٹھی چارج کیا اور اشک آور گیس کے درجنوں گولے داغے ۔ پولیس کارروائی کی خبر جنگل کی آگ کی طرح پھیل گئی جس کے فوراً بعد سوپور اور اس کے ملحقہ علاقوں میں مساجد کے لائوڈ اسپیکروں پر لوگوں کو واقعہ سے آگاہ کیاگیا۔ اعلان سنتے ہی سوپور اور اس کے ملحقہ علاقوں کے مرد وزن گھروں سے باہر آئے اور دیکھتے ہی دیکھتے ہزاروں کی تعدادمیں لوگ فروٹ منڈی کی طرف دوڑ پڑے۔ اس بیچ حریت کانفرنس کے سینئر لیڈرشبیراحمد شاہ اور شیخ عبدالعزیز بھی فروٹ منڈی میں نمودار ہوئے اور اس طرح وہ بھی جلوس میں شامل ہوئے۔30میوبردار ٹرکوں پر مشتمل قافلے کے ہمراہ لوگوں کا بھاری جلوس منڈی سے باہر آکر سنگرامہ کی طرف بڑھنے لگا جس کے دوران سوپور کے ملحقہ علاقوں جن میں امرگڈھ، پتو کھاہ ، واگورہ اور دیگر علاقوں سے بھی ہزاروں افراد پر مشتمل جلوس آرہاتھا اور سنگرامہ کے قریب یہ جلوس بھی فروٹ منڈی سے آنے والے جلوس میں ضم ہوا۔ اس طرح سے لوگوں کا یہ سیلاب جونہی سنگرامہ کے قریب پہنچا تو وہاں پولیس اور فوج نے پہلے ہی رکاوٹیں کھڑی کی تھیں اور پولیس نے اس موقعہ پر جلوس کو روکنے کی کوشش کی تاہم جلوس میں شامل لوگ ''خونی لکیر توڑ دو ، آر پار جوڑ دو، فرقہ پرستی منظور نہیں، فرقہ پرستوںکو لگام دو'' کے نعرے بلند کرتے ہوئے آگے بڑھے۔ پولیس نے مشتعل لوگوں کو منتشر کرنے کیلئے لاٹھی چارج کیا اور اشک آور گیس کے درجنوں گولے داغے لیکن مشتعل ہجوم نے اس موقعہ پر وہاں کھڑی کی گئی رکاوٹیں ہٹالی اور سی آر پی ایف کے ایک بنکر کو منہدم کردیا۔اس موقعہ پر جلوس کو قابو کرنے کیلئے پولیس نے گولی چلادی جس کے نتیجے میں طارق احمدلون ولدنذیراحمد ساکن لالڈ سوپور موقعہ پر ہی ہلاک ہوگیا جبکہ 20دیگر افراد شدید زخمی ہوگئے جن میں سے 4کی حالت تشویشناک بتائی جاتی ہے۔تاہم 12بجے تک سوپور اسپتال میں موت وحیات کی کشمکش میں رہنے کے بعد عرفان احمد ولد بشیراحمد ساکن کرانکشون کالونی سوپور نامی زخمی زندگی کی جنگ ہار کر جاں بحق ہوگیا۔ پولیس فائرنگ سے ہوئی ہلاکت کے بعد لوگ مشتعل ہوئے اور انہوں نے پولیس پر زبردست پتھرائو کیا اور وہاں موجود ایس پی بارہمولہ اور اے ایس پی بارہمولہ کی گاڑیاں نذرآتش کردیں۔ جلوس میں شامل لوگوں نے طارق احمد کی لاش ان کے ہمراہ ٹرکوں کے قافلے میں چڑھادی اور بارہمولہ کی طرف کوچ کیا ۔جلوس تمام رکاوٹوں کو عبور کرتا ہوا جونہی خانپورہ بارہمولہ پہنچا تو وہاں پہلے سے ہی موجود20میوہ بردار ٹرکوں، 35مسافر بسوں، 10ٹریکٹروںاور100کے قریب دیگر چھوٹی بڑی گاڑیوںمیں لوگ سوار ہوئے اور جلوس آگے بڑھتا گیا۔جلوس3بجکر 15منٹ پر نوشہرہ اوڑی پہنچ گیا جہاںچہلا پوسٹ کے مقام پر پولیس اور فورسز نے پہلے ہی خندق کھودی تھی اور سی آر پی ایف اہلکار مورچہ زن ہوگئے تھے۔ اس موقعہ پر پولیس اور فورسز نے جلوس کو روکنے کیلئے اندھادھند فائرنگ کی جس کے نتیجے میں حریت لیڈر شیخ عبدالعزیز سمیت40سے زائد افراد زخمی ہوگئے ہیں اور شدید فائرنگ کے نتیجے میںوہاں قیامت کا سماں پیدا ہوا اور لوگ زخمیوں کو اسپتال پہنچانے میں جٹ گئے ۔حریت کانفرنس(ع) کے ایگزیکٹیو ممبر شیخ عبدالعزیز کو شدید زخمی حالت میں سرینگر کے صدراسپتال پہنچایاگیا جہاں آپریشن تھیٹر میں ڈاکٹر کافی جدوجہد کے بعد انہیں بچانے میں ناکام رہے اور وہ جاں بحق ہوگئے۔ ادھر اوڑی کے کمان پوسٹ اور بونیار سے آگے کئی کلو میٹر تک فوج نے جنگلی حکمت عملی کے تحت سڑک کاٹ کرخندقیںتیار کرلی ہیں تاکہ جلوس کے ساتھ گاڑیوں کو سڑک کے پار نہ پہنچایا جاسکے۔ اس کے علاوہ فوج نے جگہ جگہ درخت کاٹ کر سڑک پرڈال دئے ہیں جبکہ کئی جگہوں پر بلڈوزروں کے ذریعے سڑک پر پسیاں اور بھاری چٹانیں گراکر رکاوٹیں کھڑی کردی گئیں ہیں۔تاہم آخری اطلاعات ملنے تک چہلا اوڑی کے مقام پر ہزاروں افراد دھرنے پر تھے اور اوڑی کے عوام نے جلوس میں شامل لوگوں کیلئے طعام کا انتظام کیاتھا جس میں مشروبات تقسیم کی جاتی تھی جبکہ بارہمولہ کے راستے جلوس میں شامل لوگوں پر شیرینی پھینکی جارہی تھی۔شام گئے مظاہرین نے بارہمولہ اور شیری میں پولیس تھانوںپر حملہ کیا اور دونوں تھانوں میں آگ لگادی، مشتعل ہجوم نے ایک پولیس افسر خورشید خان کے رہائشی مکان میں بھی آگ لگادی۔ لوگوں کا الزام تھا کہ مزکورہ افسر مظاہرین پر گولیاں چلانے میں ملوث تھا۔ ادھر پروگرام کے تحت کل صبح شہر سرینگر کے متعدد علاقوں سے لوگ جلوس کی صورت میں مظفرآباد چلو کال کے تحت جلوس کی صورت میں فروٹ منڈی پارمپورہ کی طرف بڑھنے گے۔ راجوری کدل سرینگر سے ایڈوکیٹ شاہد الاسلام اور جاوید احمد میر کی سربراہی میں جلوس نکلا جو پائین شہر کے کئی علاقوں سے گذرتا ہوا قمرواری چوک پہنچ گیا۔ اس بیچ ٹینگہ پورہ اور اسکے ملحقہ علاقوں سے لوگوں کی ایک بڑی تعداد بھی جلوس کی صورت میں بمنہ بائی پاس سے ہوتا ہوا جونہی قرواری چوک کے قریب پہنچا تووہاں موجود پولیس اور فورسز کی بڑی تعداد نے مظاہرین کو منتشرکرنے کیلئے اشک آور گیس کے گولے داغے اور لاٹھی چارج کیا۔ تاہم مشتعل ہجوم آگے بڑھتا رہا اور پارمپورہ کے قریب ہجوم کو بے قابو ہوتا دیکھ پولیس نے گولی چلادی جس کے نتیجے میں ایک نوجوان اشفاق احمد کینا ولد غلام محمد ساکن قمرواری گولی لگنے سے جاں بحق ہوگیا جبکہ ایک درجن کے قریب زخمی ہوگئے۔ اس جلوس میں ٹریڈرس فیڈریشن اورفروٹ گرورس سے وابستہ لیڈران شامل تھے۔ ادھر فروٹ منڈی پارمپورہ کو اتوارشام سے ہی پولیس نے تحویل میں لے لیاتھا اور وہاں فروٹ گرورس کی طرف سے نصب خیمے کو اکھاڑ دیا اور کل کسی بھی گاڑی کو سوپور کی طرف جانے کی اجازت نہی دی گئی ۔ دریں اثناء شمالی کشمیر کے ہندوارہ ،کپوارہ ، ترہگام ، ریگی پورہ، لنگیٹ ، گوشی، ماور، کرالہ گنڈ،وترگام میں مظفرآباد چلو پروگرام کے تحت جلوس نکالے گئے جس کے دوران کرالہ گنڈ لنگیٹ اور ریگی پورہ کپوارہ میں پولیس اور مظاہرین کے مابین زبردست جھڑپیں ہوئیں اور ان جھڑپوں میں 2درجن افرد زخمی ہوئے ہیں جبکہ کپوارہ قصبے میں ریگی پورہ اور مین چوک کپوارہ میں پولیس نے مظاہرین پر اشک آور گیس کے گولے داغے اورہوا میں گولیوں کے درجنوں رائونڈ چلائے۔ مظاہرین اور پولیس میں جھڑپیںہوئیں جس کے دوران 9پولیس اہلکاروں سمیت21افراد زخمی ہوئے جن میں سے ایک کی حالت نازک بتائی جاتی ہے اور اسے شدید زخمی حالت میں سرینگر کے صورہ اسپتال منتقل کیاگیا۔ ادھر جنوبی کشمیر کے شوپیاں اور پلوامہ اضلاع کے متعدد علاقوں میں جلوس نکالے گئے اور پروگرام کے مطابق فروٹ منڈی شوپیاں سے میوہ بردار ٹرکوں سمیت لوگوں کا ایک بڑا جلوس سرینگر کی طرف روانہ ہوا اور کاکہ پورہ کے قریب 100گاڑیوں پر مشتمل ہزاروں کا قافلہ جونہی وہاں پہنچا تو پولیس نے انہیں منتشر کرنے کیلئے اشک آور گیس کے گولوں کے ساتھ ساتھ فائرنگ کی بھی کی جس کے نتیجے میں سبزار احمد ، جاوید احمد ، محمد اشرف صوفی ،شبنم وگے اور ایک خاتون سمیت10افراد گولی لگنے سے زخمی ہوگئی جنہیں فوری طور پر پلوامہ اسپتال پہنچایاگیا جہاں ان میں 5کی حالت نازک بتائی جارہی ہے۔ زخمیوں میں سے 8دن کا دولہا بھی شامل ہے۔ ادھر میمندر شوپیاں میں نکالے گئے جلوس پر گاگرن کے قریب سی آر پی ایف اہلکاروں نے فائرنگ کی جس کے دوران وہاں مظاہرین اور فورسزا ہلکاروں کے مابین جھڑپیں ہوئی جن میں سی آر پی ایف اہلکار سیف الدین بیلٹ نمبر060721627 ساکن بہار سمیت 10افراد زخمی ہوئے۔ اس دوران پنجورہ شوپیاں سے آنے والے جلوس کا ٹکرائو نالہ رمبی آرہ پل پر تعینات پولیس اہلکاروں کے ساتھ ہوا اور مظاہرین نے وہاں سنگباری کرکے 5اہلکاروں کو زخمی کرکے بنکر کو منہدم کردیا جس کے جواب میں پولیس نے آنسو گیس کے گولے داغے اور ہوائی فائرنگ کی ۔ ادھر کیگام شوپیاں میں بھی پولیس نے مظاہرین پر فائرنگ کرکے 20افراد کو زخمی کردیاجس کے جواب میں مظاہرین نے دریائے جہلم پر قائم پولیس پوسٹ کو نذرآتش کردیا۔ ادھر سامبورہ پلوامہ اور ٹہاب پلوامہ میں بھی مظاہرین اور پولیس اہلکاروں کے درمیان جھڑپوں میں 40افراد زخمی ہوئے جن میں سے کئی ایک کی حالت نازک بتائی جارہی ہے۔ تاہم اننت ناگ میں جلوس پرامن رہے اور مین چوک اننت ناگ میں بہت بڑا جلوس نکلا جو فرقہ پرستوں کے خلاف نعرے بازی کرتا رہا۔ دریں اثناء چرار شریف سے میںصبح لوگوں کا ایک ہجوم جونہی فروٹ منڈی چرار شریف کے قریب پہنچا اور پولیس نے انہیں آگے بڑھنے کی اجازت نہیں دی جس کے نتیجے میں جھڑپوں میں پولیس کے کئی اہلکاروں سمیت درجنوں افراد زخمی ہوئے۔ ادھر جموں کی مسلم آبادی نے پروگرام کے تحت کل پونچھ راولا کوٹ کے راستے کنٹرول لائن کی طرف مارچ کیا۔(مشمولات کے این ایس

Kashmir back to 1990 as 1.50 lakh join march to Muzaffarabad:DAILY EXCELSIOR

2008-08-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

Police Station, 4 Police vehicles torched
300 injured in clashes, firing on rallies
Hurriyat leader Sheikh Aziz among 7 killed
Curfew clamped on Srinagar, all towns in Valley

From Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Aug 11: Kashmir fruit traders’ call of "Muzaffarabad Chalo"—supported by both factions of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, Syed Salahuddin-led United Jihad Council (UJC) and Mehbooba Mufti’s People's Democratic Party (PDP), which continues to be a constituent of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre—today pushed the Valley back to the turbulent era of 1990 as it was first time in the last 17 years that over 1,50,000 Kashmiris participated in a pro-Azadi rally and a senior Hurriyat leader was among 7 persons killed in firing of Police and armed forces. Authorities have imposed curfew on Srinagar and all major towns in the Valley immediately after the People's League Chairman, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, alongwith three others, succumbed to the injuries he had sustained in Police firing on his procession on Baramulla-Uri section of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road. Late in the evening violence erupted in Baramulla where angry mobs torched Police Station of Sheeri as well as SHO Sheeri’s residence at the district headquarters in an apparent reprisal of the killing of the Hurriyat leader and two others.

Notwithstanding the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s statement here on Sunday that it would not happen, march to Muzaffarabad began from Fruit Mandi of Sopore in the forenoon today when two senior leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, namely Shabir Ahmed Shah and Sheikh Abdul Aziz, shared leadership of the 10,000-strong rally with about a hundred of prominent fruit growers and traders of Sopore-Baramulla belt. Even as most of the Hurriyat leaders had been placed under home detention since Saturday last, Shah and Sheikh succeeded in reaching Sopore yesterday. Sources revealed that SHO Sopore took Shah into custody but he was let off on the orders of a senior Police officer late last night.

Leaving Shah and Sheikh free to mobilize the participants, authorities had overnight detained most of the prominent fruit traders including Bashir Ahmed Beig, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, Irfan Hafeez Lone and Mukhtar Ahmed Wani. Unfazed by laying of Constantine wire barriers at several places in and around Sopore, hundreds of people had begun to gather at Fruit Mandi since last evening. It was around 0945 hours today that nearly a 10,000-strong procession was taken out on Sopore-Sangrama-Baramulla-Uri Road.

As it began swelling to a massive rally with joining of thousands of peoples on way, some of the youth removed the Police barriers forcibly at Sangrama Crossing. According to eyewitnesses, few youth attacked a CRPF bunker. Soldiers manning the pillbox opened fire that left one person dead on the spot and 15 others wounded. Twenty-year-old student, who died at Sangrama, was identified as Tahir Nazir Lone S/o Nazir Ahmed Lone R/o Thindam, Kreeri. The processionists roughed up two SPs and torched both of their Gypsies on the spot. Reports awaiting official confirmation later said that one of the critically injured, namely Irfan Ahmed S/o Bashir Ahmed R/o Krankshivan Colony, Sopore, died at a hospital in Sopore.

Carrying the dead body of Tariq Nazir Lone, the procession of thousands of common people and fruit growers besides more than 200 vehicles, including 30 fruit-laden trucks, marched towards the garrison township of Baramulla. It further swelled at the Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz’s residential village of Khanpora on the highway where more than 20 fruit-laden trucks and over a hundred medium vehicles joined the rally. It was around 1315 hours that District Magistrate, Baseer Khan, imposed curfew on the highway beyond Sheeri but Police and security forces failed to stop or break down the rally of over one Lakh people.

Even as the Valley’s separatist circles claimed that 300,000 people participated in the march and the authorities confirmed a crowd of nearly 100,000 people, independent watchers put it at 1,50,000. Fruit traders and political leaders had called and supported the march to press their demand of opening Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road for exchange of trade between two parts of J&K and Pakistan. Citing examples of attacks on some Kashmiri drivers and their fruit-laden trucks on the traditional Srinagar-Jammu highway, they have been complaining of "economic blockade" of the Valley in Jammu and Punjab.

However, the rally turned completely political when the processionists carried green Islamic flags and shouted the 1990-model slogans like "Aay jabiro, aay zaalimo Kashmir hamara chhor dou", "Ham kya chahte: Aazadi" and "We want freedom". While there were few pro-Pakistan slogans, the processionists yelled against BJP, Shiv Sena and "communalists", holding them responsible for the "economic blockade" on the highway in Jammu. The primary slogans included "Naka bandi tod dou, Jhelum Valley Road khol dou". After the shootout at Sangrama, people were also heard shouting a martyr’s death was a nation’s life.

Apparently perturbed over the civil and Police authorities’ failure in stopping and dispersing the march on 30 Kilometres of the road, Army felled massive trees, demolished patches of road and created many other barriers on the highway from Rampur to Uri to block the march. When the front end of over 8 Km long rally reached Chehal, close to the brigade headquarters of Rampur, Police and armed forces opened fire to disperse the sea of humanity with the use of force. Over 50 people are believed to have sustained injuries in the firing and resultant stampede.

While 26 of the injured were treated at District Hospital of Baramulla, five people with critical injuries were rushed to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar. Four of them later succumbed to injuries. They included Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who was a resident of the saffron-rich township of Pampore. Three others killed in the Chehal shootout were identified as Abdul Hameed Bhat S/o Dr Abdul Majeed Bhat R/o Kanlibagh, Baramulla, Bashir Ahmed Malla of Khanpora and Manzoor Ahmed Akhoon of Sheeri, Baramulla.

Immediately after the news of Sheikh Aziz’s death spread like a wild fire, District Magistrate of Srinagar, Kachoo Isfandyar Khan, imposed curfew on the Capital city as also in its rural peripheries. Police vehicles fitted with public address system advised people to remain indoors and announced till late in the night that curfew had been imposed in Srinagar district. As tension spread throughout the Valley, authorities imposed curfew on all major towns in Kashmir.

An official spokesman said that all educational institutions in Kashmir would remain closed till August 14th. With this development, there will be no school children in this year’s Independence Day parades in the Valley—first time in last 16 years. The spokesman said that identity cards of hospital staff and air tickets of all incoming and outgoing passengers would be treated as curfew passes. He was, however, silent about the I-cards and curfew cards of mediapersons.

With the mushroom sprouting of rallies throughout the Valley and reports of clashes with Police and firing on demonstrators pouring in from several places, Baramulla remained the maximum disturbed district. Notwithstanding the shootout at Chehal, separatist leader Shabir Shah refused to retreat. Reports from the telephonically not-reachable area said that Shah held the fort with over 20,000 people near Sheeri. Angry crowds later attacked Police Station Sheeri and set it on fire. While the Police personnel ran for safety, records and furniture were destroyed in the blaze.

At the district headquarters of Baramulla, angry crowds swooped on the house of SHO Sheeri, Khursheed Ahmed Khan, in Sherwani Colony, ransacked it and finally set it on fire. The house was destroyed completely alongwith two adjoining houses as Fire Brigade failed to move out and anarchy prevailed on the garrison town. Late in the evening, demonstrations came out in three different localities of old town Baramulla. Crowds attacked and damaged a CRPF bunker on Baramulla bridge. Police, with the support of paramilitary forces, were trying to disperse the crowds with the use of tearsmoke and firing in the air.

Here in the Capital city, some traders, separatist activists Javed Ahmed Mir and Shahid-ul-Islam, besides a group of the activists of Dukhtaraan-e-Millat, led by Asiya Andrabi, mobilized people in some interior localities and later led a 10,000-strong procession towards Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri Road. At Qamarwari, Police and CRPF used intense tearsmoke shelling and baton charge in an attempt to break down the procession. When the rally refused to disperse and a group of youth rushed straight to attack a picket, Police opened fire. Official sources said that one person got killed and about a dozen others sustained injuries. However, independent sources, corroborated by SKIMS officials, said that about 30 persons, including 21 women, sustained injuries.

One person, killed in the aimed firing at Qamarwari, was identified as Ashfaq Ahmed Keenu S/o Ghulam Mohammad Keenu R/o Bilal Colony, Qamarwari. SKIMS officials said that they treated 23 of the injured and all of them were stable and likely to be discharged. Doctors at SMHS Hospital said that Dukhtaraan-e-Millat chief, Asiya Andrabi, was among five persons under treatment this evening.

When scores of the injured kept pouring in for treatment at SMHS Hospital, some angry youth shouted slogans and attacked a CRPF picket followed by an attack on Police Station Karan Nagar. About a dozen others are estimated to have sustained injuries in this particular clash. Eyewitnesses and the hospital staff said that Police fired a number of tearsmoke shells inside the Casualty wards and used baton charge to scare away the crowds. They said that a number of patients ran for safety from both surgery and medicine wards.

Trouble in the capital city remained limited as Police had placed most of the separatist Hurriyat leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Bilal Gani Lone and Maulvi Abbas Ansari, under house arrest. Some of the PDP leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti, Abdul Aziz Zargar and Nizam-ud-din Bhat, also claimed that they were under "house arrest". It was not, however, confirmed by the authorities.

Reports from Kupwara said that 20 demonstrators and 12 Police personnel sustained injuries when ding dong clashes took place in the authorities’ attempts to disperse a rally at the district headquarters. In another rally, 15 demonstrators and 5 Police personnel sustained injuries at Kralgund in Handwara area. Reports said that each of the rallies were joined by more than 5,000 people. Reports of thinner rallies poured in from Ganderbal, Sumbal and Bandipore as also from Ompora, Chadoura and Beerwah in Budgam district.

In South Kashmir, over two thousand people appeared at the district headquarters of Anantnag. They shouted slogans and expressed solidarity with the fruit growers and later dispersed peacefully. Consequently, march of holy Mace from Srinagar to Pahalgam, with Puja rituals en route at Bijbehara and Mattan passed on peacefully.

While Kulgam remained peaceful with minor processions in Khudwani and Redwani, Shopian district remained disturbed as a local Hurriyat activist mobilized people and led a 5,000-strong rally to Pulwama-Pampore-Srinagar Road. At Shirmal, in outskirts of Shopian town, people clashed with Police when authorities attempted to break down the march with force. About 20 of the demonstrators and over a dozen Police personnel sustained injuries. The mob damaged the vehicles of SHO Shopian and AC Revenue of Shopian before setting a Police vehicle on fire.

As four rallies poured into Pulwama town from different routes, groups of demonstrators attacked a Police Station at Murran Chowk. After a number of demonstrators and Policemen sustained injuries in the clashes, a small crowd attacked the Police guards, manning a picket protecting the members of the minority community. However, nobody made any attempt to harass or attack the protected cluster of Pandits.

Yet another clash took place between the demonstrators and Police when authorities attempted to disperse a 6,000-strong rally at two places between Sambora and Kakapora on Pulwama-Pampore Road. Reports said that 20 more people sustained injuries in these clashes in which a mob also torched a vehicle of Fire Services Department.

According to reports, available from all district headquarters, six civilians got killed and about 200 sustained injuries in today’s demonstrations, clashes and incidents of firing in the Valley. An official spokesman was non-committal about the number of civilians injured but he confirmed that more than 100 Police and CRPF personnel sustained injuries.

Khakhi mayhem in Srinagar hospitals: Kashmir Times

2008-08-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

Musavirr Wani & Shabir Ibn Yusuf

SRINAGAR, Aug 11: Police today fired bullets and teargas shells inside the
emergency and causality wards of Valley’s premier hospital Shri Maharaja Hari
Singh (SMHS) Hospital where large number of injured were being shifted for
treatment who fought injuries in police firing at various places during march
towards Muzaffarabad. They had moved in various parts of Srinagar city to cross
the LoC and police opened fire upon them.
The firing, tear gassing and cane charge caused panic in the hospital with
doctors, paramedical staff and attendants of people running helter and skelter.
Some of the injured also became victim of police action. The other injured
remained in the hospital unattended for a long time.
Earlier one Ishfaq Ahmad Qanna of Qamarwari succumbed to his injuries in SMHS
hospital. Till late hours no one had the exact data how many were injured by the
brutal police action in various parts of the city. While talking to the hospital
management they also failed to keep a count of the injured persons.
When dozens of injured people were carried in ambulances, trucks, light motor
vehicles local police opened fire on the gate of SMHS hospital where hundreds of
people were carrying the injured persons for treatment.
People had also reached the hospital to donate blood before police opened
firing. According to the eyewitness, police fired at the people and lobbed
teargas shells towards hospital which caused panic in the hospital. From
patients to their attendants everyone was helpless and running for life.
Muneer Ahmed, attendant of a patient said, “I went outside to get medicines for
my mother who is admitted here for last 4 days. Hundreds of people were being
carried towards the hospital for the treatment and when civilians were helping
them the cops of Karan Nagar police station with nearest battalion of CRPF
opened fire and lobbed teargas shells towards the masses. Everyone was running
for life and I did the same”.
He added, “I do not know from where something strong hit my right leg and I fell
down. When I checked my leg it was profusely bleeding and due to stampede my
wounds t started aching. When I was made to rest on bed then I came to know a
bullet had hit my leg”.
Doctors of the hospital were very in a state of shock and absolutely helpless.
The brutal police action inside the hospital premises had sparked anger.
Talking to The Kashmir Times, a senior doctor in-charge in SMHS causality said,
“Local Police have shown the real meaning of Indian democracy. Is this the
democracy which they are always talking about? Which bravery medals are they
going to receive from Kuldeep Khoda for firing on civilians and that too inside
the hospital. We had never thought about this brutal act which police indulged
in inside the hospital. Without any provocation people were helping the injured
ones here and police opened fire to kill them for helping their brethren who
were injured and killed at other places in Srinagar”.
He also added that maximum patients had injuries on their abdomen and legs which clearly proves that police has not fired in air but directly on protesters. Eye-
witness also said, “Pro- Pakistan slogans, anti-India, anti-police and anti- BJP
slogans were raised inside the causality ward by doctors, patients and their
attendants against the police action.
He also said that several window panes of different hospital wards were also
broken by the teargas shells which pierced through the windows. Number of
patients were shifted from those wards to other wards.
Adil Ahmed who had come with his cousin brother from Parimpora where his cousin was injured by a police bullet was also severely injured at the gates of SMHS. He said, “I was coming in a Maruti with my cousin to the hospital. As soon as we got him out of the car I heard a bullet sound and within fraction of a second it pierced into my right thigh. I was in confusion who will carry my cousin and who
will carry me, but within few seconds a group of youngsters came and shifted us
to the causality. It is terrible that our own police fired on us when we were
carrying our beloved ones who were injured”.
Maximum patients who were referred to SMHS belonged to Parimpora, Qamarwari, and Safakadal. Police had opened fire on the procession which had a strength of around 20,000 people in these areas. Among the injured, several Hurriyat activists were also injured. Talking to Nissar Ahmed who had injuries on both his knees said, “I do not know how many have been killed by the police. Unhonein khuley aam goliyan maari, inka maksad kuch nahi tha, khaali Kashmiri aur Kashmiriyat ko khatam karma tha” (These people fired on masses without any
hesitation. Their plans were obvious to finish Kashmiri people and put an end to
Kashmiriyat).
Talking to another doctor who was performing duty in the causality ward said, I
was outside when police fired on people outside hospital. I escaped a bullet
which landed just an inch away from my belly. This is the worst picture of
democracy. I am confused why the same police were hesitating from firing in
Jammu when they crossed every limit and for helping our brothers here they
simply fired on us. This is the turning point in Kashmir history and we all are
ready with our brothers who are marching towards LoC”.
Syeda Asiya Andrabi, head of Dukhtaran-e-Milat was also among the injured. She
alleged that SHO Parimpora detained them in a room, beat them with gun butts and lathis.
Meanwhile, the eyewitness in the hospital and the management of SMHS said that
shortage of cramer wire, adhesive tape, bandages, medicines and pain killers
have crippled them and the injured ones are facing the brunt. All the doctors
and paramedic staff of SMHS are wearing black bands as mark of protest against
the brutalities and atrocious behaviour of police inside the hospital.
Mobs also attacked the Karan Nagar police station just outside the gate of SMHS.
The police were seen begging for their lives and at the end police called CRPF
battalion for help. CRPF once again opened fire and lobbed teargas shells on the
masses that were outside the gate of SMHS.
A similar situation was noticed in the Bones and Joints Hospital Srinagar where
around four dozen injured were brought from various parts of the valley. Maximum patients referred here belonged to Pulwama, Parimpora and Qamarwari.
While talking to a senior doctor of Bones and Joints Hospital, Dr. Ramzan said,
“We have medicines and cotton only for next 24 hours. We have borrowed cotton
and X-ray films from some international agency. If the situation will remain
same I fear that we will be totally helpless. Authorities added that around 7
rubber bullets were taken out of 5 patients,”he said.
All the doctors were called on emergency basis and keeping this war like
situation in view all the leaves have been cancelled and they have been asked to
report back. Reports from SKIMS Soura also said that around one dozen patients who had critical injuries were shifted from SMHS. But the lack of medicines, bandages and other important aids are unavailable and can cause several deaths.
Meanwhile, the mob destroyed the CRPF bunker which was inside the SMHS. The mob warned CRPF personnel to evacuate from the bunker but they showed resistance and bashed up several youth. At the end CRPF vacated the bunker and the mob destroyed it.

Hospitals running out of medicines, blood reserves :Rising Kashmir

2008-08-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

‘We’re facing a grave crisis, graver than 1947 situation’
Shabir Dar/ Baba Umar
Srinagar, August 11: The hospitals in Kashmir valley, which on Monday received hundreds of people injured in police firing are facing acute crisis and almost all are running short of essential equipments, medicines and blood.
At least four persons were killed and over 300 injured in police action on the processions which were heading to cross the Line of Control to protest the blockade of Srinagar-Jammu highway by the rightwing parties.

The doctors at the city’s premier hospital SHMS said there is shortage of blood, cotton, medicines (only Siploxine injection is available in abundance), and angiocath as the hospital has received more than 80 injured among which three died.
“In case the situation prolongs for few more days, we will be in a limbo,” doctors at the SMHS said.
“Our hospital is short of all basic drugs and equipments necessary for conducting operations and treating critically injured. If the situation continues for a few more days, we will face an acute crisis,” said a senior doctor who is operating injured patients since Monday morning.
There has been such a rush of injured to the Bone and Joint Hospital that the cotton stocks, blood reserves and other necessary surgical equipments would last just for one more day.
Chief Medical Officer Bone and Joint Hospital, Burzulla, Dr Farooq said whatever medicine stock and other necessary equipment the hospital had is being put out for use.
Meanwhile, Medical Superintendent Bone and Joint Hospital, Burzulla, Dr Muhammad Ramzaan said: “As of now, we have enough of cotton and blood. But if the situation prolongs we would definitely run short of these essential items.”
He said that the hospital could face an acute crisis if the clashes and strike continues for two more days. “We had asked the government for the supplies and the hospital is waiting for them to be airlifted to the Valley.”
The rush of injured to the Valley hospitals has occurred at a time when the rightwing parties are enforcing blockade of Srinagar-Jammu highway and disrupting supplies to Kashmir.
Dr Ramzaan said owing to the crisis situation in the Valley for the past 20 years, the Bone and Joint hospital has many times written to the government about purchase of a traumatic van so that the injured could be ferried immediately from the spot to the hospital. “However, nothing happened. Many injured die while being rushed to the hospital,” he said.
Other hospitals too are unable to handle the rush of the injured.
Medical experts termed the situation as ‘grave’, graver than the 1947 crisis.
“Kashmir is heading towards the worst-ever human crisis after 1947 turmoil. If the crisis prolongs it will be the worst scenario, more awful than the 1947 massacre of Kashmiri Muslims in Jammu,” said Medical Fair Price Shopkeepers Association (MFPSA), General Secretary, Muhammad Aslam.
Meanwhile, Principal Government Medical College (GMC), Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Shah told Rising Kashmir that the city hospitals have sufficient stock, but was quick to add that today’s situation is much difficult for hospitals to cope up with.
“We have been dealing with the crisis in the Valley for the past 18 years. But, the large number of injured that city hospitals are receiving today may affect the patient care,” he said.
Principal GMC said that if the present condition continues for more days, hospitals would be under tremendous pressure and the supplies may fall short.
About the trauma vans, which all hospitals lack in the Valley, Dr Shah said that the present crisis demands more and more trauma vans.
“But we don’t have any full fledged trauma van in the Valley, which is necessary at this point of time to save the lives,” he said.
Adding to woes, the patient care is being badly hit with paramilitary CRPF and police lying siege of the casualty ward of the SMHS hospital.
“Bullets and tear smoke canisters are being fired into the ward. We have management for patients but the injured are coming in batches and groups that too is being interrupted by the uniformed terrorists who are firing in every direction,” said a doctored.
He said army barged into the casualty, ransacked everything and fired at the patients and the hospital staff.
“They have violated the Geneva conventions. They are committing war crimes. What they failed to do in Jammu they are doing it here,” he added.
Meanwhile, the government issued fresh orders to outside medicine companies for airlifting medicines and other surgical equipment.
However, Head of Government’s Disaster Management Cell, Aamir Ali told Rising Kashmir that the government is ready to face any such crisis.
“We have asked for more supplies from All India Pharmaceutical Distributors Association (AIPHDA) Bombay. It will reach us in a day or two. In case of any emergency, we can airlift more supplies from outside,” he added.

It was a revolution’:Greater Kashmir

2008-08-11T20:30:00.000-07:00

NASEER GANAI/ALTAF BABA

Chahal (Uri), Aug 11: It was a revolution on the roads. For 20 kms we couldn’t sight the road. There were people—shouting pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans.
In the morning we moved from Srinagar to Sopur to cover the march to Muzaffarabad. But police stopped us at Mirgund, in the city outskirts. They didn’t allow any media person to move ahead. “There are orders not to allow anyone, not to even a media person to move ahead,” said the policemen on duty. We returned and took the Hajan route to reach Sopur.
On the way people were cooperative, showing way to the press vehicle.
At Amargard, at 11:00 a.m, people were already on the streets shouting pro-Azadi slogans. The presence of two press vehicles was too little and too late for them. “Where were you?” shouted a youth. He was bursting with anger. He said police in Sangrama fired at peaceful protesters who were marching towards Muzaffarabad. “Two Suporians were killed by police and STF,” the youth said. We heard him and assured him that we would write about it. This mellowed him down to an extent and he gave us passage.
But soon we were among a sea of people. It had no end and no beginning. Near Sangrama chowk we saw two police gypsies destroyed by people and the bunker, empty. “They killed two civilians here. Police fired at the march without any provocation,” an aged and angry Ghulam Nabi Hajam of Sangrama told us. And in the meanwhile some marchers occupied rooftop of our vehicle. The speed of the vehicle slowed down, but not the sprit of people who were marching ahead on foot.
Incidentally, a boy fell from a truck carrying people. Blood was profusely coming out of his head and the people kept him in our vehicle. It gave us a chance to speed up our vehicle. But we couldn’t move at the desired speed. “It is million-man march,” said a young boy who was with the injured.
Thousands and thousands of women were moving along with marchers, shouting pro-Azadi and pro freedom slogans. There were children too, upbeat. At Kanispora Varmul we asked a small boy where he is going. “To Muzaffarabad. My family is also with me and I am from Pathukah,” said Abid Khaliq, a 5th class student.
Somehow we reached Varmul and took a left turn to drop the injured person in Varmul hospital. We kept vehicle in the hospital yard and went ahead along with marchers on foot. In Varmul town the Army on seeing the sea of marchers, shouting pro-freedom slogans, left the scene. Significantly, no one was shouting slogans against the Shrine Board.
In Varmul some youth entered the KMDA Bus Terminal and Food Supplies Office and themselves drove out the parked vehicles. Some people boarded these buses, food supplies vehicles, tractors, scooters, and moved on. It seems they had decided to stop at Muzaffarabad. And we marched along with them on foot. Some 400 buses carrying people were moving on the road mostly used by the Army. There was no army vehicle on the road and the army bunkers were empty.
Interestingly, we saw Sheikh Aziz on a tractor like a commoner when the people were near Sheeri Varmul. And when he waved at us, we didn’t know it would be his last wave to us. All along the way— there were residents ready with eatables, fruits and water for the marchers.
And when we reached, along with these countless people, near Nowshera Boniyar, we had lost sense of time. On our way we continued to spot empty bunkers and no police on the way.
But the march had its first halt at Chahal. Sheikh Aziz waved at the police and the CRPF post there, perhaps wanting to convey them that the march is peaceful. But they ignored the peace gesture and fired at people, including Sheikh Aziz.
“I saw a young boy hit by bullet on the road. His intestines and other vitals were out,” a journalist, who was at the exact spot, some 150 yards from us, said. The police and CRPF had taken positions as if there was a war and were targeting the people by firing at them. People started calling ambulances from Varmul. The ambulances came, but the youth were driving the ambulances themselves. There was a 100-yard difference between the people and the police and CRPF personnel at Chahal. The firing left many people injured, including Sheikh Aziz. But people were not moving back. They stopped there and were cleaning the blood of injured; some of them later expired on way to hospital. Some marchers frightened by the firing retreated, but others continued to march towards Uri.
We were told that police had dug the road at Chahal with GCB.
At about 6 p.m, we decided to return. On the way people were shouting pro-freedom slogans on seeing the ambulances carrying the injured and the dead. In Varmul town people were shouting slogans when the Kashmir Police Chief was present there on the bridge. Police opened fire, injuring a young boy. But the residents told us that the boy died on the spot. Police left the scene after the firing, but people attacked bunkers, burning one and razing down another. The CRPF personnel, who were more in number than the protesters, were watching the fury of people. “Ham Pakistani Hain” (we are Pakistanis), the protesters were shouting in front of the CRPF personal.
On our way back, when we reached Mirgund, we heard Sheikh Aziz has achieved martyrdom and curfew has been imposed in Srinagar and Pulwama.

SLOGANS GET BULLETS, 8 DEAD:Greater Kashmir

2008-08-11T20:24:00.001-07:00

SHEIKH AZIZ AMONG KILLED; POLICE, CRPF UNLEASH BRUTALITY; HUNDREDS INJURED

ZULFIKAR MAJID

Srinagar, Aug 11: At least eight persons, including senior Hurriyat Conference leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz, were killed and hundreds injured today when police and para-military CRPF troopers unleashed unprecedented brute force on unarmed and peaceful people across the Valley, on a day when fruit growers had called for a march to Muzaffarabad to export their rotting produce. The Muzaffarabad chalo call was given in the wake of economic blockade of the Valley by fanatic groups in Jammu.
Reports said Sheikh Aziz and other senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah were marching towards LoC along with hundreds of thousands of people, when police and CRPF opened indiscriminate firing on them near Chahal Uri, killing Aziz and three other persons on the spot. “At least 10 others also received bullet injures.” Reports said Shabir Shah was arrested few kms short of Uri.
The other two persons killed in the incident have been identified as Manzoor Ahmad Akhoon son of Haji Abdul Shaban of Khanpora Varmul and Abdul Hamid Bhat of Kanlibagh, Varmul.
Eyewitnesses said Aziz received bullet injuries in stomach and was rushed to SMHS here, where doctors declared him dead.
Doctors at SMHS hospital confirmed that Aziz died of a gunshot wound.
Immediately after news about Aziz’s death spread, curfew was imposed in entire Srinagar city. Official sources said curfew would be imposed in other districts and tehsil headquarters as a precautionary measure.
The marchers had reached Chahal, just 40 kilometres from the LoC, despite repeated efforts by police and paramilitary forces to break up the demonstration with tear smoke canisters and firing at different places.
“Troops again opened fire at Bonyar (Uri) after the procession surged ahead braving curfew restrictions and road blocks created by police and army. One more person died in the firing at Bonyar,” reports pouring in from Varmul said.
With casualty figures rising, emergency has been declared in hospitals in Srinagar and Varmul, official sources told Greater Kashmir.
Meanwhile, chairmen of both the factions of the Hurriyat, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq who are under house arrest have appealed to the people to continue Muzzafarabad march on Tuesday also.
Elsewhere in the Valley, protests, firing and clashes were reported throughout the day, in which one person died in Srinagar and two in Sopur.
Director Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Dr Abdul Hameed Zarger said that 17 injured were brought to the hospital till 5 pm. “One among them has bullet injury while rest have been injured by tear smoke shells,” he said.
Medical Superintendent, SMHS Hospital, Waseem Quershi said that 75 injured have been brought to the hospital since morning. “Two among them died in the hospital,” he confirmed.
In the evening, announcements were made in masjids across the Valley asking people to offer funeral prayers in absentia for Sheikh Aziz and others killed in police firing. Thousands of people participated in such prayers.

SRINAGAR
Thousands of people led by Hurriyat (M) leaders, Shahid-ul-Islam and Javed Ahmad Mir tried to march towards Muzzafarabad from Rajouri Kadal in Shehr-e-Khas early in the morning. Eyewitnesses said that as soon the procession reached Cement Bridge, Qamarwari, police fired tear smoke canisters to disperse the rally.
However, the processionists continued to move towards Parimpora Fruit Mandi, after which police fired on the protesters resulting in death of at least one person and injures to dozens others. The dead has been identified as Ishfaq Ahmad son of Ghulam Muhammad of Qamarwari.
Ishfaq was brought to the SMHS hospital, after he received two bullets, where he was declared dead.
Hurriyat (M) leader, Hakim Abdur Rashid has also been reportedly injured in the police action.
Another procession led by Hurriyat (G) leaders Masrat Alam, Ghulam Nabi Sumji and General Musa, which started from Tankipora was also fired upon near Qamarwari in which dozens of people were reportedly injured.
The processionists were raising slogans against the economic blockade and attack on Muslims and Kashmiri drivers and others in Jammu.
The JKLF (R) leader Muhammad Saleem Nanaji and his supporters were stopped by the police at Karan Nagar while they were marching towards Muzzaffarabad, reports said. Police fired tear smoke canisters to disperse the rally.
Similarly, police used force to disperse a procession of Dukhtrran-e-Millat at Qamarwari. Several women activists of DeM were injured in the police action, eyewitnesses said.
They said that police broke the windowpanes of the vehicle in which DeM activists were traveling.
People at Batmaloo alleged CRPF troopers entered houses and beat up inmates and damaged household besides windowpanes.
Police also fired at protesters in Khanyar area of Shehr-e-Khas, in which two people including a lady have been reportedly injured.
The police and CRPF troopers had sealed fruit Mandi Parimpora and trucks laden with fruit were either seized or their tyres deflated, reports added.

GHULAM MUHAMMAD ADDS FROM SOPUR
Two persons were killed and more than 20 injured when police and paramilitary troopers opened fire on protesters near Sangrama in north Kashmir’s Varmul district.
Reports said that thousands of protesters took to streets of Sopur on Monday morning, shouting anti-government and pro-freedom slogans.
Police and CRPF had very tough time to control them, who were also joined by chairmen of Muslim League Mushtaq-ul-Islam and Islamic Students League Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi.
Mushtaq and Bakshi were later taken into custody along with their supporters.
When the protesters reached Sangrama, police resorted to tear smoke shelling besides fired indiscriminately on the protesters, killing two persons and injuring 22 others.
The dead were identified as Tahir Nazir Lone son of Nazir Ahmad of Thenam Kreeri, Pattan and Irfan Ahmad War son of Bashir Ahmad of Krashun Sopur.
Reports said that the protesters broke all barricades placed by police in and around Sopur town, particularly around the Fruit Mandi, where thousands of fruit growers were camping from Sunday night. They also burnt down two vehicles of SOG.
Eyewitnesses said the police cordoned off the Fruit Mandi area during the night besides arrested 10 members of the Fruit Growers Coordination Committee.
The protests in Sopur were joined by thousands of people from its adjoining areas, who later marched toward Muzaffarbad.

ALTAF BABA reports FROM VARMUL
In Varmul town, curfew like situation prevailed since early this morning with forces guarding the deserted streets on both sides of the road.
People were being advised by the forces to remain indoors because of curfew. A large number of troops were deployed on the Srinagar-Pattan-Varmul-Uri road since Sunday night.
However, when the processionists from Sopur reached Varmul, thousands of people from different north Kashmir areas, including Sangrama, joined them.
The processionists reach Sheri, seven kms from Varmul on way to Uri where thousands of people were waiting for them.
More than 45 injured have been admitted in District Hospital Varmul while clashes between police and protesters continued till late in the evening.
Reports said the protesters burnt down the house of SHO Gantamulla, Khurshid Khan at Khawja Bagh Varmul. The protesters alleged that Khan was involved in the firing on protesters near Chahal in which Sheik Aziz and two more persons were killed.
The protesters later in the evening also attacked police station Varmul and in retaliation police fired gunshots and tear smoke shells. Clashes were on till late in the evening in entire town.
Earlier in the day people in the town served the processionists with food and beverages.

SHAHID RAFIQ REPORTS FROM KUPWARA
Thousands of people in this frontier district tried to march towards Muzzafferabad, but police thwarted the moves. More than 50 people were injured while reports said that 15 policemen were also injured in the ding-dong clashes throughout the day.
The Army near Zangli Gate stopped a procession of some five thousand people coming from Lolab, reports said. “The Army closed the Zangli main gate and didn’t allow the marchers to move towards Kupwara.”
Police fired tear smoke canisters and also fired in air to disperse a procession in main Kupwara chowk in which dozens of people were injured.
Eyewitnesses said that police smashed windowpanes of nearby house and thrashed several people including women after the clashes.
In Handwara, reports said that about 10 thousand people with 100 fruit trucks tried to march towards Varmul, but were stopped at Langate by the police. Police used force to disperse the procession.
In remote areas of Mawar and Rajwar thousands of people tried to march towards Bangus valley to cross LoC. However, the police and Army, reports added, stopped them in Nowgam sector.
Clashes between protesters and police were reported from other areas of the district also till late in the evening.

KHALID GUL REPORTS FROM ISLAMABAD/KULGAM
Thousands of people assembled in Lal Chowk, Islamabad and started a foot march towards Muzaffarabad. However, the march was not allowed to proceed forward at Khanabal Bridge as all the entry and exit points to the district were blocked with huge contingent of Army and paramilitary troopers. They had also put barricades at various places on Islamabad-Srinagar highway.
The protesters then proceeded towards Sarnal chanting pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. They also protested against the economic blockade and attack on Muslim community in Jammu by the fanatics. There was huge deployment of troops and police in almost all parts of the town throughout the day.
When the protest reached near General Bus Stand there was a confrontation between some youth and the CRPF troopers. However, the situation was bought under control after intervention from some elderly persons.
Earlier, the fruit growers here alleged that they were threatened by notorious government gunman, Sheikh Tahir, of dire consequences if any one of them tried to march towards Muzaffarabad.
Later, in the evening as soon as the news of firing over the march in Varmul spread, the angry youth pelted stones on the police and troopers. They also ransacked the Punjab National Bank at Lal Chowk.
Pitched battles were going on between police and people till late evening. The protest was led by District President Tehreeki-Hurriyat; Hafizullah, Mirwaiz Islamabad, Qazi Yasir, Mahaz-I-Azadi president; Muhammad Iqbal Mir and District President APHC (M); Fayaz Ahmad Saudagar.
Elsewhere in the district protests were also held in Bijbehara, Shangus and Achabal.
After news about Sheikh Aziz’s death spread, about 10,000 people assembled in Lal Chowk Islamabad and were protesting till late evening. Reports said that Qazi Yasir was put under house arrest later in the evening.

KULGAM
Undeclared curfew was imposed here early in the morning with huge deployment of troopers and police, curtailing the movement of the people.
However, in the afternoon people defied the curfew and carried a massive protest which was dispersed by the troopers and police by resorting to cane charge and tear gas shelling. Reports of protests were also received from Yaripora and Qazigund.

AYUB JAVAID reports FROM PULWAMA
50 persons were injured 10 of them critically in ding-dong battles between police and protesters at Samboora, Patlibagh, Muran, Trichal, Pulwama town, Keegam, Gagren and Nallah Rambiara in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Monday. Doctors at district hospital confirmed bullet injuries to nine civilians during the violent incidents that rocked areas of Pulwama and Shopian during Muzaffarabad Chalo rallies on Monday.
Nearly 5000 persons boarded trucks at Pulwama town this morning and started marching towards Srinagar for Muzaffarabad. However on reaching Samboora, troops and policemen dispersed them by resorting to baton charge and tear smoke shells. Eyewitnesses said that the troops also fired gunshots to quell the protesters. During the dingdong battle, 20 persons received injuries.
In the nearby village of Kakapora, demonstrators set ablaze a Gypsy and smashed the bunkers on Kakapora Bridge. The wards of district hospital were filled-up with injured and the cries of ailing relatives.
At Muran village police opened fire on the mob leaving two civilians injured. Doctors at District Hospital told Greater Kashmir that among the 32 injured nine had received bullet injuries.
The Trichal hamlet also witnessed a battle between CRPF and a procession trying to sneak into the town from villages of Litter, Tahab and Tumlahal. Reports of peaceful processions have also come in from villages of Ichgoze, Keller, Bamnoo, Pinjora and Imamsahab.

SHOPIAN
Violent demonstrations rocked places like Gagren, Rambiara Bridge and Keegam villages of this south Kashmir district left 10 persons injured. The angry protestors attacked the vehicle of SHO Shopian at Rambiara and threw it into the nallah. Bunkers on the bridge were set on fire during the incident.
At Gagren a constable of 166 BN Saifudin was injured in stone pelting by mob while Keegam was the worst hit where the people torched gypsy of SP Shopian and also caused damage to the vehicle of ACR Shopian.
12 persons including six policemen were injured on the spot that lasted for two hours. Earlier fruit growers and locals assembled at Fruit Mandi Shopian and marched on roads to support the Muzaffarabad Chalo call.

Curfew
In the wake of mounting public anger and massive protests after firing on peaceful protesters across the Valley, the administration imposed indefinite curfew in Srinagar and major towns in the evening.
In city areas, policemen were seen making announcements about the imposition of curfew, urging people to stay indoors. But the announcements were met with public rebuke everywhere in the city.

Thousands defy curfew
Thousands of people tonight defied the curfew restriction and took to streets in different parts of the valley, protesting against the killing of Sheikh Abdul Aziz and others in police firing today.
As the body of Sheikh reached the historic Jamia masjid, thousands of people, including women and children, reached there from different areas.
A resident from Shar-e-Khas told UNI over phone that thousands of people inside the mosque, raising pro freedom and anti government slogans.
Nobody is inside their houses as people are on roads, protesting against the police firing on peaceful processionists, he said.
Reports of late night demonstrations were also received from entire old city, including Chota Bazar, Habba Kadal, Kani Kadal and Khankah-e-Moula.
People also defied restrictions and raised pro freedom and religious slogans in the outskirts.
A report said thousands of people also took to streets at Pampore, the home town of Sheikh.

LoC march blocked, Hurriyat leader among five killed in police firing: Indian Express

2008-08-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

Muzamil Jaleel

CHAHAL (SRINAGAR-MUZAFFARABAD ROAD), AUGUST 11: For 17 km, the tarmac was not visible as men, women and children - many on foot, others in trucks, buses and on bikes — packed the highway today, attempting to cross the Line of Control in protest against the “economic blockade” of the Valley by those leading the Amarnath land transfer agitation in Jammu. At Chahal, ahead of the Rampur Brigade barricade, police opened fire, felling five persons, including Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz who later succumbed to injuries.

At least five persons were killed and some 200 injured as protestors, attempting to march to the LoC and then on to Muzaffarabad, clashed with police at several places. Baramulla district hospital officials said 40 people had been brought in with bullet injuries. Of these, 25 who appeared to be in critical condition were shifted to Srinagar.

Curfew was imposed in Srinagar city and Pulwama. Although the march to the LoC was stopped at Chahal, thousands are still camping there. Hurriyat leader Shabir Shah too is there.

In Srinagar, police stopped a procession at Qamarwari Chowk. When the protestors hit back, police opened fire, killing a youth. Pitched battles continued throughout the day.

The march towards the LoC, however, began from Sangrama where police said nearly 30,000 people had come in processions from Sopore and adjoining areas. The crowd attacked a police contingent, which had put up barricades to prevent the march, and burnt two police vehicles. An Additional Superintendent of Police was injured and policemen were forced to retreat.

Baramulla SSP Anand Jain told The Indian Express that as per their estimate over 1.5 lakh people were in the procession. “It was massive. People were joining the procession from every locality after it started out from Sopore. After the attack on the police team at Sangrama, we decided to let them go and stop them at a place where it is manageable. If we had stopped them anywhere near Baramulla or any other town, they would have burnt everything. There was a lot of anger.” He said there were more than 700 trucks in the procession. “We didn’t count the other vehicles.”

Vehicles of all kinds packed the road and there were people everywhere till Khanpora, a kilometre ahead of Baramulla town. To avoid any confrontation, the Army even vacated its bunkers along the highway. The police too were not visible. The procession halted for half-an-hour at Khanpora and then headed towards Uri. “This procession makes it very clear what people of Kashmir really want,” said 24-year-old Ashfaq Ahmad from Sangrama. “People are facing a lot of problems (due to the blockade). This is the only alternative.”

For 21 km, there was no stopping the procession. But at Chahal, the police and the CRPF were waiting. A moat had ben dug, slicing the road to halt the march. When teargas shells failed to scatter the crowd, police opened fire. Hurriyat leaders Shabir Shah and Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who had managed to evade arrest, appeared on the scene.

Minutes before he was shot, Aziz told The Indian Express that he was going to try and pacify the crowd. Waving their hands, Aziz and Shah walked ahead but suddenly Aziz fell, brought down by a bullet. The crowds retreated and Aziz, bleeding profusely, was carried away. He later died in a Srinagar hospital.

In Baramulla, as the injured were brought to the district hospital, violence erupted on the streets. Police opened fire, leaving at least six injured. SSP Jain said the protestors were targeting everything in sight. He said a small group tried to attack Shalputri and Hanuman temples but the CRPF opened fire and pushed them away. “They burnt the police station at Sheeri near Chahal. Then they burnt the house of our Station House Officer,” he said.

Police backing rioters in Jammu: Kashmiri driver : Rising Kashmir

2008-08-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

‘We were beaten in front of cops’

Wasim Khalid
Srinagar, Aug 10: Alleging that police and paramilitary personnel were backing the rioters in Jammu, the six Kashmiri drivers who managed to reach Srinagar were ‘ruthlessly beaten’ by the rightwing activists.
“The rioters continue to block Srinagar-Jammu highway and don’t allow Kashmiri drivers to ply their vehicles on the highway,” said injured Jan Muhammad Khan, a Kashmiri driver from Kakapora Pulwama.
He had received burn injuries and on his arrival to Kashmir was shifted to SMHS hospital, where he was attended by doctors. He was discharged from the hospital on Sunday.

Narrating his woeful tale to Rising Kashmir, Khan said that he stranded at Punjab border. “The Punjabis were very compassionate to us. They provided food to us for three days,” he said adding, “After remaining in Punjab for three days, we were signalled by Jammu and Kashmir to march towards Srinagar as the highway was secured”.
He said, “As we crossed Lakhanpur, a mob of 500 people carrying sharp edged weapons and stones started chasing us. They pelted stones and petrol bombs on our vehicles”.
Feeling entrapped, he said, “We sought help from police and para-military personnel. They refused to provide security cover to us and left us on lurch”.
Khan said that the mob over-powered them and beat them up mercilessly. “They also damaged our trucks,” he said.
Another driver Ali Mohammad Sofi from Kakapora said the rioters hurled petrol bombs, acid and gunpowder on their trucks. “When we sought help from police, they ridiculed us. They gave them free hand in attacking us. As a result, scores of drivers were injured and our vehicles damages,” he said, adding, “Some of the drivers fled to Punjab border”.
Sofi said that some of the vehicles were completely damaged in the attacks carried out by rioters.
Fayaz Reshi, another driver said that Punjab police escorted them up to five kilometres inside the Jammu Kashmir border.
“Afterwards, we drove during midnight to ensure that nobody can attack us. However, the mobs confronted us even during the dead of night and pelted stones on us. The police and paramilitary personnel were watching as silent spectators and did not react,” he said.
The six drivers, who returned back after the horrible trip are finding it hard to come out of the trauma. “The drivers said that from Udhampur to Lakhanpur, Kashmiri drivers are not safe. There is no security at all and road has completely been taken over by the rightwing Hindu activists,” said the drivers.
They added, “We would not go back until there is settlement on the issue. We are really shocked to see things in Jammu”.

Hurriyat stronger after row, Kashmir admn tells team led by Patil: The Indian Express>Monday August 11 ,2008

2008-08-10T21:54:00.000-07:00

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 10

Muzamil Jaleel

: The Kashmir administration today told the visiting all-parties delegation led by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil that the June protests against the land transfer to Amarnath Shrine Board were “by and large spontaneous” across Kashmir Valley and the “Yatra was not affected by the protests and no harm was done to any Yatri in Kashmir”.

The detailed power-point presentation given by the Kashmir administration, however, emphasised that the separatist Hurriyat Conference emerged “stronger and more confident” which had “otherwise witnessed an erosion in its credibility in recent years”.

On the impact of the land transfer row, the administration said that besides the fall of the elected government, there was “decline in (mainstream) political activity” and “loss to the tourism industry which had witnessed an unprecedented arrival of tourists (prior to the crisis)”.

Listing immediate priorities, the Kashmir administration said “the disruption of the National Highway in Jammu and Punjab should not be repeated” and “safe passage must be provided to merchandise and transporters moving from the Valley to the rest of country and vice-versa”. The administration,
however, warned that if the “economic blockade” was not lifted, the problem will be “exploited by both factions of the Hurriyat, there will be an attempt to march to Muzaffarabad by fruit-growers which may lead to further complications besides attempts by separatists to catch attention of the international media”.

In the calendar of events that fuelled the crisis, the Kashmir administration quoted the then Chief Executive Officer of Amarnath Shrine Board Arun Kumar saying “that the land transfer was permanent and not temporary” during a press briefing on June 17. Besides, it also quoted the public mobilisation call given by Hurriyat leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

The Kashmir administration’s presentation came a day after a similar briefing by the Jammu administration. A comparison reveals the different prisms through which the civil and police administration of the two provinces view the recent developments. Consider these:

•The Jammu administration terms the protests in Jammu as an “agitation” while the Kashmir administration calls the demonstrations in Kashmir a “crisis”.

•The Jammu administration emphasised that the “land revocation order has hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus of the State... the agitation has assumed the dimension of a mass movement... manifestation of perceived discrimination with the Jammu region for the last 60 years”. The Jammu administration stressed that “there is a very urgent need to find some solution to the vexed issue which will be acceptable to the people of both the regions”. The Kashmir administration, however, prioritised the need to end “disruption of the national highway” and “safe passage for merchandise and transporters” to the Valley. It said the protests were “spontaneous” and people did not “follow the detailed programme given by the Hurriyat-sponsored Action Committee against Land Transfer”.

•The Kashmir administration said the crisis had strengthened the separatist Hurriyat and if there was no amicable resolution, the Hurriyat would exploit the situation. The Jammu administration kept silent on the role of Sangh Parivar and even the few arrests made by it during the agitation.

•The Kashmir administration said the green flag displayed by the crowd at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on June 27 were an Islamic banner and not the Pakistani flag. But the Jammu administration said that the “Awami Action Committee flags which resembled the Pakistani flag were hoisted at Lal Chowk”.

The tale of two regions: Greater kashmir

2008-08-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

Who is responsible, who discriminated?

CRISIS BY FARHAT SYED

This refers to the economic blockade of Kashmir initiated by extremist elements of Jammu region. Reportedly, miscreants, hooligans and mischief mongers have been hired from other states to create disturbance and perpetrate violence in Jammu. Kashmiri drivers are beaten or killed day in and day out in broad day light. Vehicles are burnt, hutments are damaged and people of a particular community harassed. Economic blockade is a war crime. Atrocities on Gujjars is a tyranny. Asking Muslims to leave Jammu is absurd and ridiculous. Neglecting injured patients of a particular community by some hospitals is a human rights violation. Attack on GK office at Jammu is highly condemnable. Boycott of Kashmiri goods is not going to help.
Raising trivial issues on communal, regional or racial grounds is frivolous. Kashmir is not Palestine to accept the hegemony, economic blockade and hooliganism of a section of fanatic elements from Jammu. If some people think of creating a situation like 1947, they are living in a fool’s paradise.
Seven lakh armed troops could not succeed in weakening or breaking our determination. When whole might of India could not subjugate and intimidate Kashmiris, how can a few fanatic Hindu elements do it? We sacrificed thousands of youth during our freedom struggle. We have been sacrificing our economic and educational interests to achieve the right of self-determination. We have exhibited highest degree of moral standard and tolerance. But this should not be construed as our weakness.
We have been betrayed by politicians like Farooq Abdullah, Mufti M. Sayeed, Muzafar Beg, Qazi Afzal, and of course Azad. More than that Congress party has always been more detrimental to Muslim interests than the Sangh Pariwar because it stabs from the back. Babri Masjid was demolished during Congress regime at the centre. Several communal rites have taken place during congress regimes. Kashmir dispute is itself a creation of Congress. The irony of fate is that Muslim majority state is run by non-Muslim policy makers and administrators. Not even a single IAS or IPS Muslim officer is given an important portfolio though they have better merit and abilities than others.
Administration applies double standards when it comes to tackling riots in Jammu. Otherwise, how can Army and other security forces feel helpless in restoring law and order in Jammu? Curfew appears to be a mockery – a friendly football match. Contrary to this, even peaceful demonstrations in Kashmir are silenced by bullets. This shows highly partisan attitude of Security forces and civil administration. The attitude of Indian media is equally biased and partisan. Even major events in Kashmir are either ignored or projected in a wrong perspective. Smaller things happening in Jammu are blown out of proportion. What a paradox?
The Civil Society of India is conspicuously silent. They are watching the suffering of Kashmiris (due to economic blockade) as mute spectators. Hindu fanatics of Jammu cannot take J&K state at ransom nor can they take Muslims of this state far granted. Kashmir, Doda, Poonch, Rajouri and part of Udhampur is rich in resources. Even Jammu region is running its business and sustains because of our resources. Some Jammuites may have facilitated grant of State Subject status for non state subjects and allowed them to reside at places like Gandhi Nagar, however, this cannot change the demography of Muslim majority state. Two and a half districts with limited resources can find its way by opting out of the state if they wish so. They cannot thrust their unreasonable and unjustified opinion on the majority of this state.
Jammuites have always raised false hue and cry about discrimination. Let some sane elements critically analyze the development and growth of two regions. Many hard facts will come to surface. Jammu is almost a metropolitan city and Kashmir lacks even the basic infrastructure like roads, electricity and water supply, not to speak of large business establishments.
Resources of the state (including electricity, tourism, handicrafts, fruit, agriculture, etc) are mainly generated by Muslim dominated area. What do we get? If Jammu is dependent on our resources they ought to realize it and have a reasonable approach. Instead, they take the lion’s share and want to browbeat Kashmiris.
Snagh Parivar should realize that they cannot repeat Godhra (Gujarat) in J&K to win elections. There are decent ways to win elections. Do not construct mansions over the dead bodies of innocents. Do not disintegrate India. Do not disintegrate J&K. The message is loud and clear. Do not push peace loving and hospitable people of Kashmir to the wall. We still believe in tolerance and moral superiority. But we also know how to defend every millimeter of our land. Let wisdom prevail in Jammu.

(Feedback at farhatsyed@yahoo.com)

Two tales of two cities :Rising kashmir

2008-08-10T21:47:00.001-07:00

The state response to public fury in Kashmir as well as in Jammu has been ideological rather than constitutional.

By Riyaz Masroor

Thanks to the state’s complicity in an avowedly anti-Muslim rioting across Jammu, the ‘iron curtain’ the successive governments in J&K had drawn around the frontiers of J&K’s Muslim regions over past decades is falling away. And with this the incipient feelings of aversion to Pakistan have once again cocooned into a stigmatic shell. Interestingly the state’s ideological response to the land row at Baltal has rekindled separatist Muslim aspirations in Pir Panjal (Rajouri, Poonch, Gool Gulab Garh, Arnas) and Chenab (Doda, Bhani, Bhadarwah, Kishtiwar, Rambhan, Banihal) regions.

Jammu is also Kashmir!
Poonch-based Muslim United Welfare Forum has loudly expressed these aspirations. “We demand that Rajouri, Poonch and Doda should be merged with Kashmir because these areas are similar to it (Kashmir) culturally, religiously and geographically,” the Forum spokesman said in a statement on August 5.
The statement carried a subtle caveat as well. “Before the Muslims are asked to leave form Bishnah, Bhatandi and Jammu, let those refugees leave Poonch who have occupied the Muslim properties since 1947.”
Earlier, Muslim veterans of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda convened an all-party session in Rajouri on August 4 in which Muslims from all sects and social strata participated. The session, according to a news report in Urdu daily Kashmir Uzma, concluded on the consensus that people of these regions would forge a “political accession” with Kashmir Valley and would extend active support to Kashmiris’ struggle for freedom.
Then there were reports of skirmishes between Hindu rioters and Sikh citizens in Poonch. On August 4 a group of rightwing Hindu activists stormed a locality in central Poonch and pulled down the life-size portraits of some Sikh soldiers who had participated in India’s 1971 war to slice Bangladesh off Pakistan. Local newsgathering agency News Today reported on August 5 that the Hindu activists demolished Brigadier Preetam Singh’s statue by the Hindu rioters. This evoked reaction from Sikh residents who later clashed with the rioters. From Indian point of view, Sikh reaction should have been appreciated because it was manifestation of respect for a war hero who had laid down his life while ‘punishing’ Pakistan in Bangladesh. But in contrast the reports from Jammu suggest the worst degree of state’s culpability in the crimes the rioters are perpetrating against the minorities, both Muslims as well as Sikhs.

Litany of Woes
On July 1 when the controversial order about the transfer of 99 acres of land to SASB near Baltal was revoked by G N Azad’s minority cabinet, Jammu began to simmer. The rightwing BJP and its allies termed it Governor N N Vohra’s ‘surrender’ before ‘Islamists’. But the significant aspect of Jammu’s reaction to this ‘surrender’ is that there was no spontaneous reaction in winter capital, although the BJP activists would stage intermittent demonstrations under a coalition of political and religious groups Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (AYSM).
On July 23, three weeks after government revoked the order, Kuldeep Kumar, a 33-year-old shopkeeper from Talab Tuloo showed up in a gathering the AYSM had sponsored at Parade ground. Kumar, who according to Jammu’s leading daily Excelsior had allegedly consumed some poisonous substance at home before reaching the venue, was badly under debt. He had reportedly raised a loan to set up his business and was upset over his inability to liquidate the loan money in view of the mounting interests. He is right now projected as the ‘first martyr’ of Jammu’s ‘Jihad’ against J&K Muslims.
The government has already ordered an inquiry into the incident. But the investigators would be hard-pressed to probe the death without the mandatory autopsy report. In fact, the Police despite hard efforts could not conduct the autopsy on Kumar’s body as the ferocious agitators had snatched the body.
As against the standing facts, Kumar’s death was mischievously reported as a “protestor’s suicide during agitation” and the Police received constant brickbats for ‘mishandling’ the issue. Several Police officials including a senior officer were transferred. Emboldened, the sponsors went out to whip up passions across Jammu’s Hindu heartland setting a chain reaction in Bishna (Kuldeep’s native Town), Kathua, Akhnoor, Udhampur and other areas. The rioters grew so much used to defy the curve and army deployment that the JKLF leader Muhammad Yasin Malik termed the curfew as a “friendly match” between the army and the rioters.
While the rioters put the entire region upside down and vandalized public property, the authorities appeared to have given enough leeway to the rioters after the Kumar’s death. The administration marked its first ‘action’ against the rioting only on July 26 when some Sangh leaders and office bearers of the Samiti were arrested and later released. While the agitation was visibly spawning into a vengeful racist campaign against Muslims and reports of harassment of Muslims, as also burning down of Gujjar dwellings in Samba, R S Pura and Marh, were pouring in, the administration wasted another four days and opened a dialogue with the sponsors of the agitation only on July 30 . The talks proved futile, the crisis deepened.
The BJP ideologues including Uma Bharti, Ratimbara Sadhwi and Swami Dinesh Bharti (Swami Dinesh openly called for Muslim massacres) had reached Jammu to boost the rioters’ ‘morale’. In an incident, reported widely in Jammu press, a mob chased away the Police contingent that had held a Samiti leader Chandra Prakash Ganga under house arrest at his residence near Sarore and got him released. The violent mobs tried to force their entry into Raj Bhawan but could not breach the Iron Gate. The mob stormed the Police headquarters and torched a police lorry. By now the closure of Lakhanpur entry point had been enforced and a complete economic blockade was in place, leaving the Valley in the lurch. The rioters not only chased the officers and cops of Jammu and Kashmir Police but also, at times, attempted to snatch the weapons from the Inspector rank officials.
On August 1, when according to IGP Jammu, the army had taken over the most sensitive Samba Town to prevent mob violence, frenzied fanatics set ablaze almost entire government infrastructure including the Dak Banglow and Tehsil office. The army somehow saved the deputy commissioner’s office. During a protest rally at Samba, the rioters held hostage the deputy commissioner Sourabh Baghat. An Excelsior report said on August 1 that Baghat was rescued by Army. The situation was more like a total anarchy and the army had to take full control of DC office and other vital installations. It was during this frenzy, which was marked by prolonged clashes between Police, CRPF, Army and the rightwing activists, that two persons who were amongst the rioters were hit by bullets and died on spot. The Police maintained that their death was actually the outcome of an inter-gang rivalry. But the administration removed the local SSP Vijay Kumar and asked SSP Prabhat Singh to take charge. However Mr Singh again fell in the trap of rioters on August 4 when fearing that the mob would lynch his cops he ordered fire in self defense. The firing killed two rioters and injured eight others. Police would have certainly expected a mob backlash but it is yet to be explained how two Gujjar cops of JKP were hacked to death in Jhorian village of Akhnoor.
Ideology overtakes constitution
You need not be a rocket scientist to compare the administrative response to public anger in Jammu and Srinagar. Can any protestor dare to look at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar? Is it possible to defy curfew in Kashmir even if only CRPF troops dot the streets? How many ‘suspects’ would be arrested if a police officer or deputy commissioner is held hostage? Can a Kashmiri mob however furious lynch two cops amidst army’s flag March and curfew orders?
The death of the 19-year-old Asif Me’raj of Maisuma is an unambiguous answer to these questions. This poor dropout, who was working with a local car dealer, Highland Automobiles, was killed when JKP cops fired a volley of tear-smoke canisters toward a group of protestors, who were demonstrating against the harassment of Muslims at Maisuma.
Asif is actually the eighth death ever since the protests broke out in Kashmir on June 23 (the strike and protests lasted only 9 days). Earlier six persons died during Police action while a girl of Maisuma, already ailing from Bronchial infection, died of suffocation after the Police barraged the area with dozens of smoke shells.
Calculate the costs
In the colonial times even the brute monarchs would detest the discrimination between the subjects. The state response to public fury in Kashmir as well as in Jammu has been ideological rather than constitutional. In Kashmir an unwritten policy appears to infuse among troopers and cops a sense of being deployed in ‘enemy territory’ while in Jammu the same policy gives them a feeling that they are in a ‘friendly territory’, which has to be used against the ‘enemies’. At both places, the constitution is put to shame. If it is not really happy with the concept of Muslim Kashmir, New Delhi should calculate the costs of anarchy that usually follows the defiling of constitution.

In Kashmir an unwritten policy appears to infuse among troopers and cops a sense of being deployed in ‘enemy territory’ while in Jammu the same policy gives them a feeling that they are in a ‘friendly territory’, which has to be used against the ‘enemies’. At both places, the constitution is put to shame.

Police must act responsibly : Rising kashmir

2008-08-10T21:45:00.001-07:00

Police can not adopt two different methods to deal with the protesters in Jammu and in Kashmir, writes Dr. Farooq Ahmad Peer

In the modern society, everybody desires to live in a peaceful and congenial atmosphere. The people in the modern world of development wish to go with the tide of progress and success and like to live in harmony with others so as to combat the challenges of life in a galvanized way.

The people want to have a moral code of conduct to uphold moral values and rightful activities and wish to have a strong law maintaining agency so that discipline in the society with social and communal harmony and order is maintained. In order to maintain law and order and keep the society under discipline, we have a force called as police in every governmental and social set up whose job is to impose laws and maintain peace and order and not allow any anti social person or organization to take law for a ride and make it a slave to anybody’s whims. The role of the police force is difficult and it has serious responsibilities. It has to see that no individual or organization or party representing a particular sect be allowed to do whatever it wishes and goes on oppressing and victimising others who are thought to be in minority and are weak also. In case police does not play its role honestly and permits law to become hostage to the will and desire of any agency or a group, it does injustice to the society as well as to the system that they belong to. A civilized state and society, is directed towards the welfare of its citizens and its police force is responsible to maintain law and order at any cost. The police has to keep in mind certain codes of conduct while maintaining the law and order as also to curb and prevent crimes in the society. But while doing their duty, the force has to satisfy itself that the rights of the common man are not violated and its actions and activities are more directed towards protection rather than suppression. The police has to display several characteristics to fulfill its role effectively and has moral obligation to act in such a way that people feel it is their helper rather than tormentor. The police has the duty to see that all communities, irrespective of caste, color, creed, religion, and position are treated in just and equal manner. It is the duty of the police to deliver its duties with social consciousness and conscience and commitment to the constitution of the country which guarantees security to all sects, communities and religions. It needs to deal with mobs, criminals, rioters, according to law and not allow anybody to take law in his own hands. It requires establishing healthy and sound relations with every community in the society and not allow any community to be targeted and victimized for no fault of theirs.
The public uprising in Kashmir against the land transfer order made the government of J&K state to revoke the order and the aftermath of which was the political crises and subsequently, downfall of the government and imposition of the governor’s rule in the state. The revocation of order is being opposed by certain groups and political parties in Jammu and they demand cancellation of the revocation order. The protest and agitation is continuing since twenty days and it looks that the situation is getting out of control. The people of Jammu have every right to protest in case they feel some wrong has been committed but they have no right to target a particular community and ignore the age old traditions of brotherhood and harmony in the state, and lead the situation towards communal crises in which innocent lives can be lost. The common people of Jammu have always kept good relations with the valley and whatever is happening is unlike of Jammuites. The Muslims have been living with them in Jammu in peace and harmony and they have never harmed each other in the past. We witness that nowadays the Muslim community is at the receiving end and rioters, hooligans and anti social elements of particular groups and parties are setting ablaze houses and looting their property. In case the protesters of Jammu would not communalize the situation, and the protests would continue in a peaceful manner as it continued in Kashmir, it would be good for everybody. It is unfortunate that the police allows the rioters to move freely and do everything as they wish. If an officer of the rank of a Deputy Commissioner and police officers and police cops are manhandled, beaten and killed, what is the position of a common man in such a scenario? During the agitation in Kashmir, no non–Muslim was victimized and harassed and it is heartening that yatris and tourists were hosted during the strike in the valley. Recently, a pundit girl having no parents was married by the Muslims of Habba Kadal and surprisingly but admirably, the guests of the bride were hosted by the Muslims. These actions of the Kashmiris speak that they are not communal and it is a reply to those communal forces who are trying to destroy age old relations between the Hindus and the Muslims in the state. It is all the more sad that poor drivers of are beaten to pulp and their vehicles are damaged. The Jammu-Srinagar Highway is blocked to impose economic restrictions on Kashmiris and thereby create a drought like situation in the valley. But the agents who are involved in such activities forget that the valley is the backbone of their business and the economy of Jammu is dependent to a large extent on Kashmir. During Darbar Move lakhs of Kashmiris visit Jammu and stay there for months and all the money which is spent by Kashmiris goes to the business of Jammu. During summer, lakhs of yatris and tourists visit valley through Jammu and the markets and hotels of Jammu thrive only because of the attraction of the Kashmir valley. The peace loving people of Jammu must know that they have no tourism potential as compared to Kashmir and excepting a few heritage buildings, Jammu can not be a center of any tourist attraction. The economic blockade which is being used against Kashmiris is going to prove counter productive in the long run and the imposed blockade will, in the long run, create economic problems for their own community which is living on along the highway in lakhs and earns its livelihood only due to the vehicular movement to Kashmir.
In the present crisis police have to come up to the expectations of every body and it can help in normalizing the situation and save the state from any catastrophe. The police have a big role to play in avoiding the situation to get worsened and it is their responsibility to safeguard the minority community at any cost and respect the laws and democratic values of the country. They can not be expected to act in a discriminative way and they are bound by law to be considerate with all and uphold the concept of basic human dignity.

KHANDURA: When it blew sky high : Rising Kashmir

2008-08-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

It was the 11th day of August, 2007 when fire broke out in the army depot of Khandura fanning out death and destruction into the adjoining villages, M. Khalid Gul reminds us of the great disaster

It was 9 ‘0’ clock, Saturday, 11th of August, year 2007, an insidious sound gripped the whole surrounding; a truckload of boulders being unloaded or perhaps a jet flying over us! It showed no signs calming down. My mobile rang up. My relative was telling me that the depot has caught fire and people are fleeing.

The apprehensions of a fire in the depot had been the worst nightmare for the local population. As soon as the news broke out every one ran to save his life. As I came out of my house I saw a mad rush of people; jam packed lorries, sumos and mini buses.
Within moments the whole area was blanketed by black smoke. With it there was a loud bang and the series of explosions rocked the area. My younger brother had gone to a local army school of which he was a student and as a matter of good luck he had not yet entered the premises of the school. He came back running and shouted at us from a distance "run, run". He along with my imbecile granny, who is suffering from osteoarthritis, went to a safer place at a distance.
Red alert was sounded in the whole district Islamabad and traffic movement was restricted by authorities at various entrances to the district. As was expected the services of BSNL- Disconnecting India - were first to fail, followed by electricity. It was so chaotic that hardly people could locate their loved ones for days together.
The local army school was just a few miles away from the barrack where the fire had erupted first. Parents rushed to the school to rescue their wards. Where are you going? It is quite dangerous to go their. "No I have to go; my sons are at the school". "I have to rescue them at any cost", said a parent Riaz Ahmed Khan, who happens to be my father's close associate. It is pertinent to mention that he located them after a day at Mattan, Islamabad, some twenty kilometers away from the actual scene of event. As a matter of good luck the students had been evacuated. But they had been left in utter chaos. They didn't know where to go. While I was out of my house watching people fleeing, I saw some twenty students from army school, hailing from Islamabad, rushing away to places they never knew.
Hameed, a local shopkeeper, was the first victim of this fire. It really pains me to say that his body was left unattended for days together; such was the situation in the area. It pains me even more to tell the readers that Hameed was busy rescuing two students of army school, Salik Mujhtaba Khan and Zulfain Nisar, when a mortar shell hit him in the back of his neck causing an instant death due to spinal damage, reveals the post mortem report conducted by Dr Javaid Hassan, Assistant Surgeon at SDH Shangas. He was holding our hands, a blow came from no where; he was knocked down and then he covered his eyes with his arm, the two shocked school kids narrate.
What was ridiculous, and strange as well, to find out was that even army officials didn't know how devastating the ammunition in the depot could be and how to control things if any thing went wrong. While I had been a student of army school during my secondary education period I once had a glimpse at an ammunition barrack and had reported the event to my parents. I remember that they had told me that God forbid if it catches fire whole of the Islamabad will be reduced to ashes. Almost every one from the villages; Sombrun, Nowgam, Kothar, Pohloo, Pushroo and Shangas fled away leaving all their belongings. I saw a dozen of parents who had no whereabouts of their wards for a day or two. I and my father stayed back home but finally there was no other choice than to flee the area. We stayed at Uttersoo, some ten kilometers away from ground zero for a night, but it was as if we had been exiled.
All through the day explosions rocked the area and no one could dare to remain within he radii of almost five kilometers. The series of explosions continued without any pause and I could comprehend that almost three to four explosions went off every second. The biggest of all explosions occurred at around 8:50 pm. I and my friend where watching the smoke billowing out from a place that was overlooking the area, nearly ten kilometers from the depot. First entire area was illuminated; it seemed as if sun had emerged in the midst of night. The intensity of the blast was such that I felt my ear drum burst. The night was really dreadful, its memories will never fade. As the night passed, the explosions continued; unabated. However it happened all of a sudden, I could get it from my watch that it was 1:30 am that explosions stopped. Grim silence prevailed for quite a time.
As the morning approached every one was eager to return back to the area. I, with my few relatives, managed to be back and come and witness the things on ground zero. As I entered my abode, broken window panes gave a stiff resistance. Marching towards Sombrun and Pohloo, the worst hit hamlets, was not less than walking on a sword edge. One could see some ten to fifteen mortar shells and fuses in every compound. Many houses, shops and other establishments had been raised to ground. No one could enter his compound owing to the presence of live shells that could explode any moment. Live shells were littered everwhere; on roof tops, in rooms, paddy fields, orchards, school class rooms, in shops –everywhere. Many cattle had been killed by the shells that had hit them. "Almost 30 cattle, 200 poultry birds of a poultry farm at Pohloo, 12 sheep were killed and many more lost in the incident", says Dr G M Rather, the Block Veterinary Officer Shangas. "There was none in the houses, especially at Pohloo and Sombrun; even we closed and bolted the main gates of many houses". "The scattered shells and fuses gave tough time to my team and at various places we really walked on a sword edge", adds Dr Rather.
Till today people recover the shells that still are live and can cost them their lives. Almost ten persons were disabled, losing their limbs. Many of them were busy in taking their belongings out and clearing the debris from their houses. People fear to work in their fields that are in the vicinity of the depot and explosions occur on every other day.
All the houses in the area are now absolutely unstable. Their foundations and the walls are terribly weakened. Come an earthquake and majority of the houses in the area will be flattened. "Once strolling in my room, located on the first floor I felt that the walls are set into resonance", says Mir Aejaz, a resident of Sombrun. "Our house has developed many cracks and it can collapse any moment", Aejaz adds.

The role played by administration was completely disappointing. On the very first day of the catastrophe, when every concerned official should have reached the spot, there was none in the area to take stock of the situation.
An aged pandit from Sombrun- Moti Lal Ambardar, over hundred years, and his wife couldn't flee the area. They were trapped inside a cowshed for one complete night. It was their son Ramesh Ambardar, working in Radio Kashmir, who came all the way from Srinagar to rescue his parents the next day. "It was the good luck of my parents that they survived; I am really sorry I couldn't rescue them on the very first day. I rushed to my place Srinagar on the very first day of the event but couldn't reach here as bombs, fuses and Bofors shells didn’t allow any movement into the village, besides being disallowed by the security forces.”
The area was cut off from the rest of the world for days together. No vehicular traffic was allowed from Achabal onwards, towards the area as the road stretch was covered with live fuses, mortar shells and other explosive material. People of villages, especially Sombrun and Pohloo, put up at two relief camps; one at Shangas and another at Mattan. They couldn't enter their places for over a month. In this hour of grief and pain people of other areas came forward to help the homeless inhabitants of the tragedy struck areas. People of other villages generously offered their help. The help came not just from Muslims but from other communities as well. It is pertinent to mention that even Sikhs had set up a relief camp at Mattan for their Muslim brethren.
It is really very difficult to put in words the amount of tragedy that fell on the area.
Since that day people are demanding that the depot be shifted to some safer place. But instead of shifting the depot, army is grabbing more and more land. “It is pertinent to mention that Farooq Abdullah erstwhile CM sold a chunk of forest land known as Rakhi Kotheir for a mere 2.5 crores to the then commanding officer Col Sood", recollects Ab. Rehman Bhat, an aged man from Nowgam. To realize their dream of shifting the depot an Action Committee was formulated which had met the then chief minister Gh. Nabi Azad who had promised an action in due course of time. People are waiting for that ‘action’.

Feedback at khalidmohdgm@yahoo.co.in

MUZAFFARABAD MARCH TODAY,Rising kashmir

2008-08-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

* Uri residents promise warm reception to processionists
* Finalize arrangements to cross LoC

Umer Maqbool Dar
Uri, Aug 10: With Muzaffarabad March call evoking tremendous response in this heavily fortified town, the Uri residents on Sunday said they would give a warm reception to the processionists on way to Muzaffarabad.
"We will welcome them here and carry them on shoulders and if they (administration) will create barricades on main road we will show them passes of crossing over this border as we are familiar with them," says Nazir Ahmed, resident of Uri town.

On Sunday people in entire north Kashmir were seen busy preparing for their innovative marches to Line of Control (LoC) in protest against the highway blockade enforced by the rightwing political parties.
If all goes well, pro-India political parties, pro-freedom parties, lawyers, businessman, growers, students and everyone else will join the Muzaffarabad March here in buses, trucks and on foot Monday morning.
Arrangements finalized
President of Fruit Growers Coordination Committee for Muzaffarabad March, Ghulam Rasool Bhat said that the arrangements for crossing the LoC with fruit-laden trucks have been finalized.
"We have given final touches to our program. Thousands of growers will commence their march Monday morning from the Fruit Mandi with thousands of vehicles from nook and corner of state," he said.
President of United Fruit Growers Association (UFGA), Irfan Hafiz Lone said that they will start their march from Sopore Mandi at 9 am.
Making passionate appeal to people join the march, Lone said that they will not allow fanatics to keep Kashmiris hostage.
Fruit trucks adored with banners
About the preparations for the march, he said that the trucks had been adored with banners and have been full loaded with fruit. “Eight trucks are decorated and others are also ready,” said Muhammad Amin, a local.
PDP to march
Senior Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Muhammad Dilawar Mir said he will start his journey from Dak Bungalow Baramulla Monday morning with his activists.
"We will cross the LoC as Hindu rioters have attacked our vehicles in Jammu," he said adding that they will travel in vehicles to Jammu.
Lawyers also will join
Baramulla Bar Association President, Hilal Ahmed Wani said lawyers will proceed in vehicles towards Muzaffarabad.
“It is a national issue. We will give befitting reply to those who tried to stop our supply line," he said adding that the attempts to thwart their journey will have dire consequences.
‘We will brave bullets to cross LoC’
"We will face bullets but will cross Line of Control (LOC)," Wani added. Traders community is also joining the march from all major towns of twin districts.
President of Sopore Traders Federation Ghulam Nabi Khan said that being member of coordination committee they are also marching from Sopore Monday morning.
Engineer Rashid a social activist from Mawar Langate told Rising Kashmir over phone that they will start their march in Tata Sumos from the area Monday morning.
"We will meet processionists in Baramulla and will go with them from there," he added.
The youth who were engaged in ding-dong clashes with police since the land row started are also enthused in Baramulla Township to take part in March.
The big day
"It is big day for us tomorrow. We will also be part of this big event which will repeat Kashmir history," said Nazir Ahmed of old town Baramulla.
The call has also generated tremendous response among the village lying on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road in Baramulla as the people are eager to join processionists.
Meanwhile truckers from Maqbool Bhat’s native village, Trehgam are also joining the march to Muzaffarabad.
"We cannot tolerate brutal torture at the hands of fanatics in Jammu. Our sufferings will end with this march," they said.
Longing for relatives
With Muzaffarabad March call evoking tremendous response in this heavily fortified town, residents here are eager to join the march and cross the Line of Control (LoC) which has separated them from their relatives, living just few kilometers away, for the past six decades.
With just 22 km from Chakoti, the first border town on the Pakistani administered Kashmir (PaK) side, people of this Babul Kashmir (Door of Kashmir) and erstwhile part of Muzaffarabad district before partition of subcontinent, are upbeat to join Muzaffarabad March on Monday.
Fed up with the procedural wrangles in boarding the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus and unable to meet their near and dear ones for the past 60 years, they see the Muzaffarabad march as a ray of hope to meet their separated relatives.
"We will march to Muzaffarabad at any cost and this bus service has been farce as we couldn’t meet our separated relatives," said Peerzada Ahmedin of Nambla Uri.
Ahmedin said that his two nephews in the other Kashmir are on plum posts.
"One of my nephews Peerzada Muhammad Shafi is Director of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) and other is Professor teaching Economics at Rawalakote University," he says.
Reminisces of trade with Muzaffarabad
Recalling the days when this route was a hub of trade activities, Haji Ali Joo, who is in his eighties, said that before 1947 small lorries used to ply on this road.
"Uri was a hub of commercial activities. The land which is today under the Army brigade was part of the market,” he said. "I still remember the day when two parts were separated by troopers of Mahraja in 1947. When they were fleeing they dropped 17 bombs on the bridge now know as N-S bridge to stop tribals," he said adding that Uri was self-reliant even before 1947.
"Even as we produced many things locally, Pakistani clothes were famous here," Joo said.
NC too will join
Qazi Muhammad Shiekh, a National Conference (NC) activist of Kamalkote Uri said keeping political leanings aside, people will join Muzaffarabad March.
"We have to find alternative to this economic blockade. We will be the first to lead the march from here," he added.
Qazi said Uri was part of Muzaffarabad district till 1947.
“Till 1957 when I was reading in National High School Baramulla I would write Muzaffarabad as my district," he says.
‘Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service failed’
People generally feel Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service started by India and Pakistan has failed to reunite the separated families here, he said.
"It is cumbersome to travel by Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus. Few people from last three years have been able to board this," said Nazir Ahmed, a local.
Traders of Uri who have pinned hopes on revival of market with opening of trans-LoC bus service three years ago told Rising Kashmir that the bus service has not in any way impacted or increased their trade.
"As this bus doesn't stop here, we do not get any benefits," said Ghulam Jeelani Mir demanding free movement of people and goods on the road.
Dilawar Mir attacked
Meanwhile, senior PDP leader Muhammad Dilawar Mir was attacked by people in fruit market Sopore on Sunday evening.
Mir visited the fruit market Sopore at around 7:10 pm to take stock of the situation and to talk with fruit growers about Monday’s Muzaffarabad march.
As he entered into the premises of the market, the fruit growers and other people present there raised objection about his presence.
To their surprise Mir started to address a small bunch of people who gathered around him.
This infuriated the fruit growers who raised anti-PDP, anti-India, pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans.
People also pelted stones at Mir and his associates. However, he was whisked away by his escort immediately.
Reports said that heavy deployment of police, paramilitary troopers and army had been stationed on the Srinagar-Uri road.

Fighting a Monster

2008-08-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

Kashmiris have learnt the ways to defeat the monster of oppression, writes Asgar Qadri

Kashmir has again witnessed the expression hidden passions. It is not a sudden appearance but reflects the continuity of resistance. This collective cry of Kashmiris is not the first one. When I delve into my memories I find Kashmir stained with tragedies.

When I first began to understand and assign meaning to the uncertainties of the world, I saw my people fighting a monster that was trying to devour them. It was the spring of year 1991. I was a 5th grade student, too young to understand the rationale behind things as complex as revolution. On that particular day I was walking up to my school, one with nature as hummingbirds and bumblebees, when I found myself in the middle of a massive procession, one of the many happening during those days, announcing the arrival of armed resistance against the Indian occupation. Leading this procession was an elderly man from my village, accompanying him were my father, my brother and hundreds, if not thousands, of other young and old from the same locality. When I saw my brother thundering the air with pro-freedom slogans I also began to add to the hundreds of other similar voices that were reverberating around me. It was for the first time I experienced the rush of adrenaline in my veins. I arrived late at my weathered school building, tried to give explanations to my teacher.
A few days later when my brother was returning home after attending his tuition classes a patrolling party of Indian paramilitary forces fired at him; bullet missed him, may be because they fired from little far or may be he was destined to live on. A woman who was known to my family sheltered him in her house. After almost half an hour when the paramilitary force personnel left the area the same woman accompanied my brother home. My brother was still in the grip of horror, not able to speak and explain what exactly had happened. "Your son has cheated the death": this is what that woman cried out to my mother. I still remember my sisters, my mother and grandmother all hugging my brother with tears flowing down from their eyes. This was for the first time my family experienced this form of fear and shock and above all we realized that the monster has arrived at the gates.
By now a full scale armed rebellion against the Indian occupation was on in the valley and India wasted no time in deploying a mammoth military system to crush it. What followed was brutal repression and misery unleashed by Indian military on Kashmiri people.
The policies adopted by Indian state to crush the rebellion were typical of a colonizer. Perpetuating the suffering of natives while thinking that they mean nothing to them; it was something which Europeans had done when they colonized Africa during 18th and much of the 19th century. The geographical structure of Kashmir only facilitated Indian imperial policies to flourish in the valley. Kashmir to India has been like a skull island: a mythical island in Hollywood movie King Kong in which a movie producer (Jack Black) forces the crew of hired ship to travel to the Skull island which hides behind its high rising walls a monstrous ape called Kong. The representatives of Indian state, behind the high rising walls of Peer Panchal and Himalayas, did everything they wanted- be it the ruthless killing of Kashmiris or assault on honour. This brutal repression coincided with the era of globalisation, which arrived in India at the dawn of 1990s, the same time when insurgency broke out in Kashmir. India, since its independence, made it sure that Kashmir has no negative impact on its economic growth and development, as it always knew that Kashmir's integration with it was something that was achieved through deceit and coercion and therefore developing Kashmir economically could have only meant detriment to Indian occupation. As economy always determines polity, and as Kashmir meant nothing to India economically, this only allowed the Indian state to plunder Kashmiris more and more and continue brutal imperial laws and policies in the valley.
Nirad Chaudhuri, in his book-The Continent of Circe, writes about the Hindu sense of loss associated with the Himalayas: the cold regions the Aryan settlers of north India had come from. This sense of loss was much more deeper in Nehru whos "partiality for Kashmir", as he himself said, came to shape the Indian attitudes towards Kashmir well after his death.
By the mid 1930s Nehru had become the unchallenged leader of Indian National Congress under the patronage of Ghandi and this was the time when Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, the charismatic Kashmiri leader, led the first organised opposition against Maharaja's rule in Kashmir. Abdullah found himself supported by the leaders of Indian National Movement in his fight against the Maharaja, especially by Pandit Nehru. Abdullah could never realize the sinister ambition behind this support- the ambition of Hindu revivalism, of gaining control over Himalayas towards which Nehru, a Brahmin himself, had a deep pantheistic feeling.
Nehru's ancestors came from Kashmir, and had moved to the north Indian city of Allahabad just a few decades before his birth in 1889. The ambition of possessing the land of his ancestors coupled with his longing for Himalayas only strengthened his resolve to integrate Kashmir with India at any cost. By the time Abdullah could realize this, it was too late for him. In 1953 when he revived the idea of independent Kashmir, Nehru dismissed his government and threw him in the prison for the eleven years. By now Nehru's sense of possessiveness and his fear of losing Kashmir had become India's National imperative, which its representatives after Nehru continued to exhibit and execute with a much greater zeal.
Kashmir with out Abdullah, as brilliant Indian writer and journalist Pankaj Mishra quotes, "reverted to being what it was for centuries under the Mughal rule: a dependency, its fate controlled by a distant greater power whose representatives could do what they wished to as long as no one was there to rock the boat". Kashmir’s political life came to be dominated by small men with small ambitions of personal empowerment and enrichment.
India continued its colonial policies in Kashmir at a much greater pace, effectively using the policy of divide and rule, creating a native bourgeoisie which continued to execute its imperial rule in Kashmir, something which British had employed with great success when they colonized India.
As Frantz Fanon writes in his masterpiece, The wretched of the earth, "In order to fight against the colonizer the colony must fight against itself". Kashmiris couldn't fight against the corrupt native bourgeoisie that was created and nurtured in the valley during the decade of 1960s, 70s and most of the 80s. In fact most of us embraced it and as a result this native bourgeoisie, always loyal to India, controlled all the power and continued to keep Kashmir in the grip of imperialist hands.
It was in 1984 when Mrs Ghandi appointed Jagmohan as the governor of Kashmir. Her sense of possession for Kashmir was much more blatant than her father’s. Jagmohan who was already known as a pro-Hindu bureaucrat was inspired, like many Indian nationalists, by the resettlement policies of Israeli government in the occupied territories during 1970s. He did everything that he could to undermine the Kashmiri culture and change its demography.
But by 1989 the level of Indian oppression, which was so far more insidious than direct, had crossed the limits and Kashmiris had subconsciously realized that if they don't rock the boat now they will be crushed for ever. Now Kashmiris rose in revolt together, banishing the colonial structures and raising the slogans of freedom.
Before this there were many men who rose in revolt against the Indian imperial rule but some of them were crushed with brute force, some simply gave up while as others were lured by the small aim of personal enrichment.
But now Kashmir was burning, the revolution was on and hundreds of thousands of Indian army personal were deployed in the valley to kill as many Kashmiris as they could, which they have continued to do till today. As the armed resistance against Indian occupation continued and entered different phases the suffering of Kashmiris at the hands of Indian military forces got worse and worse. Every moment in the time came with fear and insecurity of being taken by Indian army, killed and your dead body thrown on the road.
I still remember those terrorizing nights when Indian army personal would knock at our door and all of us in the family would cringe in some corner, neither able to cry nor keep silent; watch helplessly as the army men would plunder everything upside down. The magnitude of this pain, which Kashmiris have suffered over the last two decades, is impossible to grasp with a single imagination. One needs to divide time into parts to understand its vastness.
When Jagmohan was appointed as the governor of Kashmir, India started to unleash another colonial policy that is to plant the settlers and exploit at the same time. The recent transfer of land to SASB is not the first such event, it is the continuity of decades old colonial policy which India has been executing in Kashmir since It gained the physical control of it in 1947.
But now Kashmir is no more the Victor Jacquemont's Kashmir: a French botanist who travelled to Kashmir in 1831 and described it as the most wretched in the entire subcontinent.
More than half a century old Indian imperial rule has created a new breed of leaders, intelligentsia and educated youth who are well capable of deconstructing and exposing the Indian colonial ideology. It has happened in the past, where the colonizer inevitably creates and nurtures the individuals who later lead the movements to dismantle its rule. To mention a few, Ghandi, Nehru, Tagore all were the products of British colonial rule who after getting access to the modern world through western education came to lead the Indian freedom movement against British.
Our fight will continue as our sacrifices will only strengthen our endeavour towards our freedom. This is what my belief is; as I continue living away from home, dislocated and captivated, mourning the death of Feroz, Farooq, Sameer and others killed in police firing last month.

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Generation Afraid

2008-08-01T11:08:00.000-07:00

Harsh Mander

July 31, 2008

First Published: 21:06 IST(31/7/2008)

Last Updated: 21:15 IST(31/7/2008)

Hindustan Times.

The Kashmir valley is wrenched by a terrible hopeless sorrow. It is wearied by 19 unrelenting years of fear, bloodshed and helpless rage. “We are children of conflict more than anything else,” a Kashmir University student tells me. “The conflict defines who we are. It is all that we have witnessed throughout our lives.” Special: Kashmir moves on

Another student adds: “Our earliest childhood memories are of violence, of gunshots, firings, grenades, land-mines, crackdowns, raids and searches. Death has become normal for us.”

I met a large number of young people: university students and school drop-outs; youngsters from elite city enclaves, slums and the countryside; carpet-weavers, domestic workers, vegetable sellers and farmers. Another fear is to be on the streets without an ID card. If you cannot show your ID card, you are arrested. And even if you do, they may keep it for ‘further investigation’.

Above all, I was struck by how universal their despair was. I couldn’t find one resident who was not directly touched in one way or the other by a two-decade cycle of violence. I held these dialogues as an invited member of the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indian Administered Kashmir, convened by Parvez Imroz and Angana Chatterji with young activists like Khurram Parvez. The convenors themselves have been under official attack.

The overwhelming memory of growing up in Kashmir — which every young person talked of — is of fear. Faiyaz, a 25-year-old shawl-weaver elaborates: “We always carry fear in our hearts. Fear that firing will break out, fear that grenades will be thrown; fear that the army will catch up with you and ask for ID cards, ask where you’re from, claiming that you are not a Kashmiri but a militant from outside, that you are giving shelter and food to militants.”

“I am still frightened of leaving my home after six,” confirms one student. “But I am also frightened about what will happen inside my home.” Every home is lined with thick curtains to ensure that not a sliver of light escapes after dark, as it may attract security personnel to their homes.

Another fear is to be on the streets without an ID card. Armed security-men are stationed every few hundred metres ready to ask for proof of identity, often frisking people for weapons. It’s worse if you have a beard. If you cannot show your ID
card, you are arrested. And even if you do, they may keep it for ‘further investigation’.

Each day one has to wait for hours outside the army camp, begging for the return of ID card. Sajjad, a young village tailor, is often thrashed even after showing his ID card. Aijaz, a school drop-out who weaves pashmina shawls, says, “We were never allowed to travel far or to play after dark. All our mothers wanted was to see us before their eyes.” It was a cramped and cloistered childhood.

The dread is also of being caught in a crossfire. A young man tells me of how he was walking home from college with his friends, when they were suddenly dragged by soldiers who were ambushing militants holed up in a house. The soldiers used him and his friends as human shields, forcing them to walk ahead as they showered bullets at the house. The militants finally surrendered and were shot dead. If they had not so chosen to hold their fire, the ‘human shields’ would have fallen instead.

An English word that every single Kashmiri knows and dreads is ‘crackdown’. It has a specific meaning for the people of the valley. A crackdown begins with a terrifying knock on every door of a village or urban settlement at dawn. What follows is a rough peremptory command by a menacing contingent of uniformed soldiers to all men, women and children to gather immediately in an open space. The women and men, often still half-asleep, are separated.

Then the young men are formed into groups, and each youth is identified by informers and interrogated, to confirm if any of them are ‘outsiders’. If they are, they are presumed to be militants. No one is permitted to go out during a crackdown.

Hours pass — often without water and food — as homes are searched. Sometimes the terrified women and girls are returned home. Crackdowns were sometimes repeated every week, or even more often.

They continue even today.
It’s worse if you are picked up in one of these crackdowns. Aijaz told me how his father was arrested by security forces many times, charged falsely each time as being a member of a militant group. He used to be returned battered but not broken; a case could never be built against him. So Aijaz gave up his dreams of becoming a doctor and joined his mother in carpet-weaving.

As a teenager, Faiyaz was picked up once and driven to an army interrogation centre. For an hour, he sat outside the chamber, his hands tied behind his back, listening to screams of men inside who were being tortured. “I almost died hearing those screams, thinking that it was my turn next. That one hour was more than qayamat (the Day of Judgement) for me.”

Fortunately, he was let off with just a few slaps. He wryly quoted an Urdu poem to the effect that in the times they lived in, qayamat came not once, but every day.

(Harsh Mander is Convenor, Amar Biradri)

Dialogues in suffering

2008-08-01T11:06:00.000-07:00

BAREFOOT

HARSH MANDER

Youth across Kashmir give voice to feelings of loss, anguish and despair.

Photo: Nissar Ahmad

Learning to live with violence: Kashmiri youth being frisked in Srinagar.

My earliest memory is waking up one night suddenly to find strange men in uniforms with guns had broken into my parents’ bedroom, where I was also sleeping,”’ recalls a university student from Srinagar. “I was only seven then,” she adds, “but my childhood ended from that day. My mother tried to run towards me to protect me, but the soldier stopped her harshly warning, ‘Don’t move, or you will be shot. You will die like a bitch’. These were his exact words. I tried to still go to my mother, but the soldier grabbed me by my hair. Thirteen years later, I can still feel the pain of his rough grasp of my hair. It burns my soul. My father was enraged to see the soldier pull my hair, and tried to run towards him. The soldier raised his rifle to his chest, and pulled the trigger. The gun jumped, and my father was barely saved. I feel terrified when I remember this to this day.” They were all dragged out of the house, charged with giving food and shelter to militants. For a year, the nightmare continued, with one or the other adult being arrested, and constant raids and searches in their home. Her uncle worked with the United Nations, and his intervention finally eased the pressure. But very few are as well-connected as her family.

These are sombre themes — of suffering, loss, fear and despair — that were to recur in many dialogues I held with young men and women of the Kashmir valley, in universities, cottage industries and farms; I was invited as part of International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir, convened by human rights activists Parvez Imroz and Angana Chatterji. Many youth talk of mass graves and custodial killings: of fathers who were “disappeared” by security forces and the family’s aching wait for those who would never return. A young shawl maker, Shafi, speaks of three brothers in his village whose father “disappeared”, and all the boys became thieves. “Without fathers to guide them, so many boys have become awara lafanga (vagabonds),” adds another. One college student said that his father was for long stretches in custody, because he was suspected of sympathy with militant groups. “As a child, I was often angry with my father, because I felt he had brought us so much suffering. I would not even talk to him. But now in college, I endorse his beliefs.” They spoke also of despair breeding a culture of drugs, and the culture of lawless violence ensured that drugs were freely available at every street-corner.

Horror stories

A college student Imran’s father was hurt in a grenade attack in 1992, and went through five major surgeries. In his three years in bed, there was none to feed the family. His uncle suffered a psychiatric breakdown, and has still not recovered. Another student recalls that her entire family was dragged out of their home on the charge that they fed and harboured terrorists. She was a child, and saw that a badly wounded man covered with crimson blood was dragged out of a jeep, and asked to identify them as a family that gave them shelter. The critically wounded man insisted that they were strangers, and they beat him on his head with rifle butts.

Parents of means sent their children out of Kashmir, so that they could study safely. There they would observe the carefree life of college youth with envy and consternation, and realise wistfully how much they had lost. “They would talk of girls, weekend getaways and discotheques; our life was about escaping bombs and crackdowns.” But after the Gujarat carnage of 2002, many parents feared for their safety in other parts of India, and recalled them.

It was not possible for poorer parents to send their children out of Kashmir, and they simply dropped out of school. Their fathers and elder brothers would either be picked up for long periods, or were too frightened to go out for work, so there was no money to pay for their school fees or books. Mothers would also ask children to drop out of school, because there were grenades and gunfire every other day. Shafi said that he walked eight kilometres to school, but school was open, on an average, just two days a week. His mother felt he was safer at home. He soon started adding to his mother’s earnings by working as an apprentice tailor. “There were nights when we had to beg our neighbours for food. In times like this, studies are furthest from one’s mind,” affirms Shafi. “I topped the class 12 in science. I was interested in bio-technology. Instead, I am weaving shawls.” “Life is long,” I try to comfort him. But he counters: “There is still no light visible in these dark times.”

Out of school

Girls were pulled out of school even earlier, and often married off at an early age. In a slum in Srinagar, an NGO had started non-formal classes for girls, and we could see that the fair-faced but begrimed adolescent girls, with pretty shy smiles and graceful head scarves, longed desperately to study further. “But our parents would never risk sending us out to the city to study. It is no use for us to even think about it.”

Young people in a water-locked slum in the middle of Dal Lake in Srinagar said they were often picked up only because they could not speak any language except Kashmiri, and security men misunderstood their answers. They felt bitterly trapped. The violence had anyway almost extinguished their livelihoods, as tourism and trade were in shambles. No one could study: the slum has not a single graduate today. At night, escaping armed militants would arrive in shadowy silent shikaras and stop over in their homes, demanding food, money and a place to rest. They had no option except to concede, or to lose their lives. The next morning, the army or CRPF would be in their homes, thrashing and arresting them for harbouring militants. It is customary to stock their homes with grain when it is cheap, but the soldiers would see their filled stores and insist that this was to feed the militants.

Soldiers everywhere

Even in small towns, you encounter even today bullet-proof tanks stationed on busy market squares, and surly soldiers armed with deadly weapons at every turn. The soldiers themselves dread their postings to Kashmir. Separated from their families, they tell me: “We are lonely. We detest the winter cold, and the long hours. We are forced to stand at our posts with our guns from early morning till late into the night. But worse still is that the local people hate us so much. We are therefore always worried for our lives.”

A young college post-graduate speaks with the controlled, deceptively calm rage of someone twice her years, “My father was an engineer, but he was killed, and the next day the papers carried the claim of the army that he was a Hizb commander. But it is not just my father I mourn. Every person they kill is my father, my brother, my son.” She recites a poem she wrote after her father was killed. It continues to haunt me: ‘I lose myself in pieces, when I lose you in your fullness...’

Ghosts Of 9/11: Muslim Nationality Movements or Pan-Islamic Jihad?

2008-07-31T22:45:00.000-07:00

By Wajahat Ahmad

29 July, 2008

"O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other" (The Holy Quran (49:13)

Post 9/11, significant sections of Western media have tended to misrepresent Muslims as a monolithic nation, a supposedly unified Global community of believers- sharing a national consciousness that subsumes their diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic, national, racial, or territorial identities under an all encompassing identity of the "Ummah".

The disparate Muslim nationality movements of Palestine, Kashmir and Chechnya are being clubbed with fringe pan-Islamic militant movements like Al-Qaeda and seen as part of a putatively wider 'Global Islamic Jihad' against the West. These nationality movements are either the legacy of British colonialism—when arbitrary boundary creation of post colonial States failed to take into account national aspirations of peoples like Kashmiris in South Asia and Palestinians in the Middle East— or as a result of imperial expansion of States like Russia which forcibly included many nationalities in her expanding frontiers.

The international discourse on 'war against terror' has tended to conflate the political violence in regions like Palestine, Kashmir and Chechnya with Islamic militancy as exemplified by Al-Qaeda. The idea of 'war against terror' trumpeted by George Bush Inc., given currency by some conservative and influential sections of the western media, has tried to link the distinct nationalist struggles of different Muslim ethnic groups to an emerging wave of 'Islamic fundamentalism' or 'Islamic terrorism'.

Writing in Times Online, British Conservative MP, Michael Gove, in an article, dated May 2, 2007 and titled, The real darkness at the Heart of Islamist terror, averred, "And when it comes to foreign policy, when we choose not to intervene, when we decide that we shan't get involved, whether in Bosnia, Chechnya or Kashmir, we are not respected for our modesty and restraint on the world stage. We are damned again, for not acting in accordance with Islamist ambitions."

The discourse has been reinforced and used by States like Russia, India and Israel to delegetimize the nationalist movements of Chechens, Kashmiris and Palestinians respectively and also to ward off any possible international opprobrium in response to their repressive policies in these occupied regions.

The goals of pan-Islamist movements like Al-Qaeda and those of Muslim nationalists in Palestine, Chechnya or Kashmir are widely divergent. The nationalist leadership—both insurgent and non-violent— of these regions has repeatedly distanced themselves from the ideas of Al-Qaeda and affirmed that their struggles are essentially aimed at achieving Statehood for their Stateless nations and not for the realization of any pan-Islamic idea.
The Palestinian struggle is avowedly nationalist in character, seeking a homeland for Palestinians, denied to them by an expansionist Israeli State. It is largely a struggle between two national identities-Israelis and Palestinians-which claim the same territory. Though Al-Qaeda leaders like, bin Laden, Ayman Al Zawahri etc. have made many rhetorical pronouncements that harp on the theme of 'liberating Muslim homelands' like Palestine, the Palestinian leadership including that of Hamas -an organization with strong Islamic moorings- have firmly dissociated themselves from these rhetorical declarations of the so called Pan-Islamic 'Jihad'.

Even the Arab States- locked in fratricidal conflicts with one another- have refused to sacrifice their national interests at the altar of the Palestinian struggle. Not surprisingly most Arab States pay only lip service to the Palestinian struggle. One of the largest Arab States, Egypt, prioritizing her national interest over Arab Muslim concerns regarding the Palestinian Question, has since her defeat in the 1973 War, bought a long peace with Israel and refused to be the frontline State for the Arabs in the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Another Arab Muslim nation, Jordan enjoys friendly ties with Israel. Not surprisingly, Jordan played a key role in crushing the Palestinian militants during the Black September episode of 1970, when she enjoying active support from Pakistani and Iraqi military, launched a military offensive –led by the late Pakistani military General Zia-ul-Haq, who at that time was a Brigadier and head of the Pakistani training mission in Jordan-against Palestinian guerrillas in Jordan, forcing them to flee to other Arab countries.

After 9/11 Israel has used the 'war against terror' discourse as a shield to increase and legitimize its military repression in Palestine and label the Palestinian resistance as 'mindless terrorism' to delegitimize it. The recent Palestinian Intifada is a completely indigenous uprising which has not seen any participation of the warriors of the supposedly ubiquitous 'Islamist International' of Al-Qaeda & Co. One of the new avatars of the Palestinian political struggle, the Hamas, may employ Islamic imagery in Palestinian political mobilization or swear by an Islamic code of conduct, yet its aims are firmly restricted to achieving Palestinian statehood. Islam remains an important marker of Palestinian ethno-national identity but the contours of the 'Palestinian Jihad' are circumscribed by a territorial nationalism, which is far removed from any global Jihadi agenda.

Similar are the cases of Chechnya and Kashmir. The Chechens like many other nationalities in North Caucasus were subjugated by a bloody Czarist imperial expansion carried out by Russian Rumanovs, which succeeded only after overcoming a long and fierce Chechen resistance from 1816 to 1856. In 1944 the Chechens were deported enmass to Central Asia by Stalin's regime in the name of Russian 'national interest'.

The recent Chechen national liberation movement (1994 to 1996, which still drags on), started and lead by Chechen progressive nationalist leaders like Dzokhar Dudayev and Aslan Maskhadov, needs to be seen in the context of a long history of Russian imperial expansion in the Caucasus and the resistance of various mountain peoples to it. Even though the latter breed of Chechen guerrilla commanders like Shamil Basayev, Salman Rudayev etc. ,have made an increasing use of Islamic symbols and imagery-Islam being an important marker of identity of Muslim nationalities- in their fight against Russia, but their primary goal has been the realization of an Independent State for Chechens. The Russian contention that Chechnya is an extension of the larger militant - Islamist network has not attracted many buyers but Russia has definitely taken advantage of the post 9/11 international scenario -which has seen a drastic decline of international community's tolerance for violent ethno-nationalist movements across the Globe- to subjugate the Chechens through the use of harsh military means.
Kashmir existed as an independent kingdom until 1947 when the nation-states of India and Pakistan were created in August 1947 by a division of 'British India'. India and Pakistan went to war over Kashmir in late 1947, which left Kashmir divided and under the control of the two countries. In both parts of Kashmir a historic movement for self-determination has been going on since the 1950s. The U.N resolutions on Kashmir -determined by the State centric positions of India and Pakistan -rendered only two possible political choices for Kashmiris viz. accession with India or accession with Pakistan. Contrary to Kashmiri popular aspirations - espoused by Plebiscite Front of "Pakistan-administered-Kashmir" and the one led by Afzal Beigh in Indian-administered-Kashmir -, which sought an independent nation-state, the option of an Independent Kashmir was not included in the U.N resolutions. Internationally Kashmir continued and still continues to be largely viewed as a territorial-ideological dispute between India and Pakistan. Kashmiri nationalism got a partial international recognition only after the Kashmiri mass uprising of 90s.

Pakistani militants' presence in Kashmir has been more a result of Pakistani State's historic involvement in Kashmir Conflict, than merely a result of any ambitious Islamist agenda pursued by the Pakistani militants. The marginalization of Kashmiri Muslim nationalists in the Kashmiri liberation movement was largely due to Pakistan's bear hug than due to any mass appeal in Kashmir to the Pakistani theory of 'shah-rag' misrepresented by groups like "Jamaat-i-Islami Kashmir" as a religious imperative for Kashmiri Muslims.
Riding the wave of the 'war on terror', India like the United States passed draconian anti terror ordinances in the quick aftermath of 9/11. India tried to portray the Dec 13, 2001 attack on her parliament as her version of 9/11 and observed a day 'against world terrorism'. India tried to lump the insurgency in Kashmir with the Al-Qaeda International. Kashmiri separatist leadership denied it as a gross distortion of the historic Kashmiri struggle of self-determination. Syed Salahuddin, commander of largest Kashmiri insurgent group, Hizbul Mujahidin and chairman of the United Jehad Council, repeatedly distanced the armed struggle in Kashmir from the so called pan-Islamic 'Jihad' of Al-Qaeda. Kashmiri separatist leaders like Yaseen Malik of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) have also publicly stated that 'Al-Qaeda is unwelcome in Kashmir'.

In the backdrop of increasing Islamphobia post 9/11, significant sections of Western media have tended to misrepresent Muslim nationality movements as extensions of global Islamist projects. On the contrary these movements have been waged by Stateless nations struggling for creation of nation-states of their own. For the peoples of Chechnya, Kashmir and Palestine the grand ideologies of many Internationalist isms are either irrelevant or at most secondary to their sentiments of nationalism.

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Kisse Vakil Karen Kis se Munsifi Chahen :Greater kashmir

Hawk Geelani says he’s ‘sole’ azadi leader, then apologises:Indian express

Independence Day for Kashmir:Times of India

کشمیر: ہلاکتوں پر ہر جگہ ماتم

End blockade, or patients will die: Chemists :Greater Kashmir

عوامی انقلاب

Ration depots, retailers run out of stocks:Greater kashmir

ALL ROADS LEAD TO PAMPORE :Rising kashmir

World wakes up to Kashmir crisis:Greater Kashmir

Police, CRPF take their Valley crackdown to even ambulances, hospitals:The Indian Express

عوامی بغاوت پر فورسز کا قہر

Midnight protests rock Srinagar, Governor says replacing CRPF IG: The Indian Express

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36 killed in 3 days :Rising Kashmir

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13 Muslim protesters killed in Indian Kashmir: INTERNATIONAL Herald Tribune

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Fifteen killed as Kashmir land row boils

Intellectuals appeal to UN on Kashmir blockade

‘We’ll cross LoC soon’

People attack NHPC station:Greater Kashmir

پہلے آشیانوں کو جلاڈالا اور اب مگرمچھ کے آنسو،جموں میں 300مسلمانوں کے مکان نذرآتش

سنگھرش سمیتی اور دیگر تنظیمیں متاثر مسلمانوں کی ہمدردیاں حاصل کرنے کیلئے سرگرم

Martyrs Graveyard flooded:Rising kashmir

2 lakh Kashmiris brave bullets, offer Aziz’s funeral prayersNo contact with Shabir Shah: MirwaizOpen Jhelum Valley road, construct Mughal road: GeelaniPeoples’ power stronger than military might: MalikPak flag hoisted

3 killed, 75 injured in Kishtwar clash

Hindu civilians lob grenade, open fire on Muslim procession

All in a days work : Rising kashmir

21 killed

21 dropped dead in JKP’s ‘maximum restraint’

Police firing on peaceful protests in kashmir

خونی لائن روندنے کیلئے تاریخی خونین مارچ

لاکھوں افراد پر مشتمل جلوسوں پر فائرنگ، شیخ عبدالعزیز خاموش کردئے گئے

Kashmir back to 1990 as 1.50 lakh join march to Muzaffarabad:DAILY EXCELSIOR

Khakhi mayhem in Srinagar hospitals: Kashmir Times

Hospitals running out of medicines, blood reserves :Rising Kashmir

It was a revolution’:Greater Kashmir

SLOGANS GET BULLETS, 8 DEAD:Greater Kashmir

LoC march blocked, Hurriyat leader among five killed in police firing: Indian Express

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Police backing rioters in Jammu: Kashmiri driver : Rising Kashmir

Hurriyat stronger after row, Kashmir admn tells team led by Patil: The Indian Express>Monday August 11 ,2008

Muzamil Jaleel

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Two tales of two cities :Rising kashmir

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2 lakh Kashmiris brave bullets, offer Aziz’s funeral prayers
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Open Jhelum Valley road, construct Mughal road: Geelani
Peoples’ power stronger than military might: Malik
Pak flag hoisted