KASHMIR IN CRISIS, CIVILIANS HOSTAGE TO SECURITY FORCES

KASHMIR IN CRISIS, CIVILIANS HOSTAGE TO SECURITY FORCES

 

A Dharna to register protest against killings of Innocent Civilians in

Kashmir at Jantar Mantar was organised by ANHAD. The dharna was two

hour long where representatives from various civil society groups

gathered to demonstrate their solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

Following people expressed their views in protest: Shabnam Hashmi

(ANHAD), Harsh Kapoor (South Asia Citizens Web), Navaid Hamid

(Member,NIC), Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy (JNU), Prof. Anuradha Chenoy

(JNU), Tanveer Hussain Khan (ANHAD), Indu Prakash (IGSSS), Madhu

Chandra (North Eastern Helpline), Divya (YWCA), Sanjay Kumar (AAA),

Amitabh Pandey (Free Lancer), Ravi Himadri (The other Media), Prof.

Rizwan Kaisar (Jamia Millia Islamia), Swami Agnivesh, Mansi Sharma

(ANHAD), Seema Duhan (ANHAD). The following statement was released to

the Media.

 

It is a matter of grave concern and anguish that no sensitive measures

have been taken by the Central Government in response to the ongoing

deaths, injuries and killings in cold-blood of civilians in Srinagar

and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir, including young girls and

boys, most of them innocent, peaceful protestors, or even just

bystanders. And consequently both North and South regions of the

valley are on flame. To make matters worse, the Army, along with

para-military forces, have been issued orders to shoot at sight to

uphold the almost relentless curfew -- basically to block protests

against the continuing spiral of non-stop and indiscriminate killings

of innocent civilians. The presence of army and security forces

dominates the Valley and reinforces the deep-rooted angst of people.

The reality is that democracy is under severe strain and is almost

absent in many parts in this state, despite an elected government

backed by the Centre holding the reigns of power at Srinagar.

 

ANHAD and many other concerned civil society groups in India want the

governments in the state and Centre to come out clean -- urgently and

immediately -- and explain if this is indeed a democratic and

constitutional method of handling a manifold and multiplying crisis in

a highly sensitive region. Obviously, the establishment thinks that

branding it as mere law and order problem and repression and killings

would 'calm down' the situation as sensitive and grim as that of Jammu

and Kashmir. This will be like choking tens of thousands of people

into the silence of absolute suffering and blind rage. Will this

violence ever stop, and will we ever find the root causes for a

political solution based on consensus, understanding, mutual harmony

and human rights?

 

Tuesday began with protests against one death which led to the second

death and then suddenly, Srinagar was back under curfew. The cycle of

violence has spun out of control all over again. Last week witnessed a

similar series of killings taking its toll in Anantnag district where

people were killed in clashes with security forces since they were not

allowed to protest against the killings of civilians. This has become

a tragic and vicious circle of hopelessness.

 

Instead of issuing any statement of sympathy or concern or wisdom, our

highest offices of governance in the country, are only pushing for an

escalation in the number of deployment of security forces. This

clearly indicates the callous attitude of the governments in Delhi and

Srinagar. Such acts of brutality are in complete violation of the law

of the land and constitutional rights of the people that have resulted

in mass outrage and alienation of large sections of the civilian

population in Kashmir.

 

These are unarmed, non-violent citizens, who are being treated with

such blatant and indiscriminate use of military force -- why? Is there

no other way to negotiate with civil unrest? And what is the root

cause of this civil unrest if not the brutalities executed by the

police and para military forces? And what about cases of atrocities

committed on people who are not even protesting?

 

There is no excuse for such cruelty. Despite repeated assurances by

the central and state governments of zero tolerance towards human

rights violations, the fact remains that little has been done to

punish those responsible for such heinous and gross violations. This

organised insensitivity and vacillation to act firmly against such

elements is bound to put a question mark on the credibility of the

State and its track record in terms of human and democratic rights of

the people, as enshrined in the Indian Constitution. Mere rhetoric and

institution of official enquiries is not enough to restore the

shattered and shaken confidence of the people. It is imperative that

the central and state authorities take firm and visible action against

those responsible for unleashing this brutish violence on innocent

people. Any delay will only compound the alienation and anger of the

people -- resulting in irrefutable damage to the peace process in the

Valley and elsewhere in the state.

 

ANHAD expresses serious concern over the absolute antipathy and lack

of political initiative displayed by the UPA-led central government in

response to the situation in the valley. They should learn some

lessons from history. People cannot be won over or suppressed at gun

point. Certainly, the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a more

rational, humane, visionary and sensitive response from the Indian

State.

 

We demand from the Central and the State governments to:

 

Take immediate action to prevent further loss of life and property

Put an end to the violence perpetrated by the security forces with

immediate effect.

Immediately appoint an independent and impartial time bound Commission

of Enquiry to look into the killings of peaceful civilians & human

rights violations

Initiate an inquiry into instances of attacks on ambulance services

Ensure security of the journalists both of local and national media

Ensure freedom of expression and press

Immediately start a political dialogue with various stake holders

 

Endorsed By:

 

1. Aashima Subberwal- Delhi University

 

2. Abeer Gupta - filmmaker

 

3. Adnan Nabi – Kashmir

 

4. Alana Hunt – Artist

 

5. Ali Asghar – Social Activist, Hyderabad

 

6. Amit Sengupta, Journalist, Delhi

 

7. Amrita Nandy – SANGAT

 

8. Anil Choudhury- Peace

 

9. Aniruddha Dutta, Jadavpur University , Kolkata

 

10. Anjali Thomas – Student DU

 

11. Anjum Rajabali, Cinema Script writer

 

12. Ankita Dash – Student DU

 

13. Appu Esthose Suresh - The Sunday Guardian, Delhi

 

14. Aqsa Anjum – Delhi

 

15. Arindam Jit Singh – Team Nishan

 

16. Arun Kumar Tiwari – Anhad

 

17. Aslam Khan – Student, Jamia Milia Islamia

 

18. Astha Rajan – Anhad

 

19. Atique Farooqui – Lucknow

 

20. Avinash Kumar-Oxfam India

 

21. Biju Mathew – Professor of Business, Rider University, NJ, USA

 

22. Bindia Thapar - Architect/Illustrator, New Delhi.

 

23. Bobby Kunhu – Researcher and Writer

 

24. Colin Gonsalves-Human Rights Law Network

 

25. David Devadas - Senior Journalist

 

26. Dev Desai – Gujarat

 

27. Dhananjay Tripathi – South Asians for Human Rights

 

28. Dunu Roy – Hazards Centre

 

29. Fahad Shah, journalist, Srinagar

 

30. Faizen Haider Naqvi - Businessman, Delhi

 

31. Gauri Dasan Nair – Senior Journalist, kerala

 

32. Gowher Nabi Gora – J and K

 

33. Harsh Dobhal- Human Rights Law Network

 

34. Harsh Kapoor – South Asia Citizens Web

 

35. Inder Salim – Activist

 

36. Indu Prakash Singh- IGSSS

 

37. John Dayal- General Secretary, All India Christian Council

 

38. Kallol Bhowmik - Spl Correspondent Ajir Dainik Batori and Eastern Chronicle

 

39. Kalpana Tikku –

 

40. Kashif-ul-Hoda - Editor, TwoCircles.net

 

41. Madhu Chandra - All India Christian Council & North East Support

Centre & Helpline

 

42. Madhura Chakrvoraty – Student Jadhavpur University, West Bengal

 

43. Maia Barkaia – JNU student

 

44. Manas Arora – Student, IP College of Engineering

 

45. Manisha Sethi – Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association

 

46. Manisha Trivedi – Anhad Gujarat

 

47. Manjit Singh Roperia – Student Hissar

 

48. Mansi Sharma-Anhad

 

49. Moggallan Bharti – JNU student

 

50. Mohan Kumawat- Anhad

 

51. Mohd. Ali - Delhi Correspondent of news website TwoCircles.net

 

52. Mudassir Kawa, Activist, Srinagar

 

53. Mukul Manglik – Historian Delhi University

 

54. Murli Natarajan, South Asia Solidarity Initiative, USA

 

55. Mushtaq Koka, Activist, Srinagar

 

56. Naazim Mohammed – Social Activist, Bangalore

 

57. Nadim Nikhat - Centre for Social Justice, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

 

58. Navaid Hamid -Social Activist

 

59. Neha Dhole, Aman Trust, New Delhi

 

60. Praful Bidwai- Columnist and Writer

 

61. Prasad Chako- NCDHR

 

62. Pratap Singh Negi, Anhad

 

63. Prativa Thomas – Amnesty International, UK

 

64. Prem Dangwal – Anhad Mumbai

 

65. Prof Anuradha Chenoy, JNU, Delhi

 

66. Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU, Delhi

 

67. Prof. KN Panikkar, Historian

 

68. Raj Gopalan – Trivandrum, Kerala

 

69. Ram Puniyani – Ekta, Mumbai

 

70. Rashid Ali – Freelance Journalist

 

71. Rima Aranha

 

72. Rohit Sinha – Student DU

 

73. Rupal Oza, South Asia Solidarity Initiative

 

74. Sabir Hussain – Jammu and Kashmir

 

75. Sachin Pandya – Anhad Gujarat

 

76. Sania Hashmi – Anhad

 

77. Sanjay Sharma – Anhad

 

78. Sanjeev Mahajan, CA, USA

 

79. Saqib Sana - Mumbai

 

80. Seema Duhan-Anhad

 

81. Shabir Hussain – Srinagar, J &K

 

82. Shabnam Hashmi- social activist, Anhad

 

83. Shahnawaz Malik – Lucknow

 

84. Shaweta Anand, Journalist and Researcher

 

85. Sheeba Aslam Fehmi – Researcher JNU

 

86. Shesh Narain Singh-Senior Journalist

 

87. Shoaib Khan – Srinagar, J&K

 

88. Shrish Chandra – Lucknow University

 

89. Shweta Tripathi – Programme Officer, SHRUTI

 

90. Sohaib Niazi – Student, Jamia Milia Islamia

 

91. Sohail Hashmi-Social Activist

 

92. Sonam Gupta - Anhad

 

93. Sonia Jabbar- Independent Filmmaker

 

94. Tanveer Hussain Khan -Anhad Kashmir Coordinator

 

95. Thulasi Kakkat – Photographer, Kerela

 

96. Uma Chakravarty- Academician

 

97. Vijayan- Delhi Forum

 

98. Vrinda Grover- Human Rights Lawyer, Supreme Court

 

99. Waqar Kazi – Anhad Mumbai

 

100. Wasim Khan, NJ, USA

 

101. Yasmeen Qureshi, Human Rights Activist, CA, USA

 

102. Zafar Abbas – journalist, Delhi

 

103. Zafar Agha, journalist, Delhi

 

104. Manasi Pingle – Student, DU

 

--

Thanks & Regards

Sonam Gupta.

 

--

Thanks & Regards

Sonam Gupta.

 

--

Thanks & Regards

Sonam Gupta.

 

--

Thanks & Regards

Sonam Gupta.

Done