Turk NGO Appeals To UN To Check Indian Terror In Kashmir

A representative of student rights group in Turkey delivers a stinging rebuke on Indian assassinations of Kashmiri rights activists.

GENEVA, Switzerland-A Turkish NGO made a touching appeal to world diplomats gathered at the Human Rights Council in Geneva today, urging UN’s highest rights body to “ensure the rights of the people of Indian-occupied Jammu Kashmir.”

The statement was made by Altaf Hussain Wani, an activist for the Turkey-based International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations, IIFSO, which is an NGO registered with the UN in Geneva.

UN’s Human Rights Council is designed along the lines of UN Security Council in Geneva without the powers.

Mr. Wani’s statement came amid heightened activity by pro-Kashmir groups attending the 16th session of the Human Rights Council. Major NGOs attend the session along with governments and diplomats. The Council has recently suspended the membership of Moammar Gadafi’s government.

India’s position on Kashmir received a setback earlier in the day when 17-year-old Aneesa Nabi stunned government and NGO delegates with her appeal to her locate her abducted father. She addressed a seminar at Palais de Nations describing the gory details of how Indian soldiers killed her mother and severely injured her toddler younger brother. Diplomats pledged to contact the Indian government to help locate her father if is alive.

The Turkish NGO representative addressed government delegates in the main meeting hall of UN Human Rights Council. “Despite the tall Indian claims of zero tolerance toward human rights violations, the spree of killings continued in 2010 without a stop,” said Mr. Wani, reading a prepared statement during the general debate at the 16th session of the council.

The NGO drew the council’s attention to the miseries that rights defenders in Kashmir find themselves in.

“Peaceful demonstrations … have been met with unchecked violence by Indian security forces,” said Mr. Wani, adding, “The right to freedom of assembly and expression has been muffed. Indian authorities are deliberately silencing human rights defenders and muzzling the media to keep people in the world ill-informed about the ground situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir.”

“In this scenario, human rights activists … face the danger of losing credibility as human rights defenders” because India stops them from monitoring violations in Kashmir, the Turkish NGO said.

The point that caused the most consternation among delegates were the details of how India has physically eliminated Kashmiri rights activists who used to travel abroad to expose Indian genocide in Kashmir.

The IIFSO representative delivered a stinging comment on Indian assassinations of Kashmiri rights activists.

“Particularly we can mention the names of H. N. Wanchoo, Dr. Abdul Ahad Guru, Dr. Farooq Ashai and noted human rights activist Jalil Andrabi and Pir Hisam-ud-Din,” said Altaf Wani.

“During the last 20 years of conflict, over 100,000 Kashmiris have been killed, over 10,000 disappeared, over 9,000 women raped by Indian soldiers, and all due to immunity enjoyed by military and para-military forces due to draconian laws,” Wani said.

He specifically referred to four Indian laws that allow soldiers to escape with the worst crimes against Kashmiri civilians. These four laws are: Armed Forces Special Powers Act [AFSPA], Public Safety Act [PSA], Jammu and Kasmir Disturbed Area Act [JKDAA], and National Security Act [NSA]

Major international rights organizations, such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have issued special advisories on Indian violations in Kashmir, making India liable to international action on human rights violations, he said.

Kashmiris accuse Obama of double standards

* Hurriyat leader disappointed Obama did not condemn rights abuses in IHK

SRINAGAR: Pro-independence leaders in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) on Tuesday accused US President Barack Obama of double standards for criticising India’s silence on rights abuses in Myanmar while ignoring oppression in their region.

“The US president should have also criticised Indians for killing innocent and unarmed protesters in Kashmir,” said a senior leader of the pro-independence Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Javed Mir.

“Here we also have peaceful protests that have been met with brute force but Obama choose to remain silent on that,” said Mir, a militant-turned-politician.

During an address to India’s parliament on Monday, Obama chided his hosts for repeatedly having “shied away” from condemning rights abuses in countries like Myanmar.

“When peaceful democratic movements are suppressed, as they have been in Burma (Myanmar), then the democracies of the world cannot remain silent,” Obama said.

“For it is unacceptable to gun down peaceful protesters,” he added. Hurriyat leaders like Mir argued that Obama’s description was a perfect fit for the recent unrest in IHK which saw 100 people killed in street protests, most of them shot dead by security forces.

“We are sad he chose to remain silent on grave human rights violations being committed by Indian troops in Kashmir,” said influential Hurriyat politician Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

“We had high hopes he would condemn the brutal use of force against peaceful protesters in Kashmir and we are disappointed he didn’t,” Farooq said.

For more than three months, thousands of protesters, fought pitched battles in the disputed territory.

Troops spreading reign of terror in IHK: Mirwaiz

Kashmir Media Service

Srinagar, In occupied Kashmir, the Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has demanded stern punishment to the police men and paramilitary troopers who have killed three young boys in Islamabad town on June 29. “Our youth are being killed by Indian troops and police with impunity. Eleven youths have been killed since June 11. This is a dangerous trend. We feel that Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into a police state, where there is complete lawlessness,” he said.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while taking to media men in Srinagar, said the Hurriyet Conference supports the demands of people of Islamabad town for bringing the accused to book. “Hurriyet will leave no stone unturned to press for punishment to the killers of the innocent youth,” Mirwaiz vowed. The Mirwaiz said the ongoing protests in the disputed state against the killing of civilians in indiscriminate firing by Indian troops and police on peaceful protests were justified. “Peaceful protests will continue till Indian troops pull out from civilian areas,” he said.

“The troopers and policemen have spread reign of terror in the entire valley and the Islamabad district has been turned into a garrison and people are being harassed without any provocation,” he said. “No election, administrative changes or economic packages can be a substitute for the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people,” the Mirwaiz told a news conference in Srinagar, according to the Kashmir Media Service.

The Mirwaiz pointed out that execution of innocent Kashmiris was going on according to a conspiracy hatched by New Delhi to crush their peaceful movement. “Through brutal use of force, India will not succeed to suppress Kashmiris’ liberation struggle which is based on the principles of justice and international law,” he added.

He said Kashmiris were not averse to talks with India but before starting the dialogue process it should release Kashmiri political prisoners, withdraw its troops and revoke black laws in the disputed state. The APHC Chairman said that the government and people of India should accept the realities and the time had come that the Kashmir dispute should be resolved in proper manner, adding that the Kashmir dispute should be the focus of the upcoming talks between India and Pakistan. “New Delhi should understand the fact that it can’t hold Kashmir by force for long. It will be in India’s national interest to resolve the dispute once and for all,” he said.

Indian army’s atrocities in Kashmir

The recent incident in which a serving India Army Major from 4 Rajput Regiment assigned a Special Police Officer (SPO) to trap three unsuspecting youth from Nadihal village to Indian Army Camp in Jammu & Kashmir, on the promise of jobs and money but were murdered. Later they were projected as hard core militant. This is not the first incident of its kind as there are over 800 such incident so far reported Kashmiris are suffering since 1935, first it was Dogra Army under the patronage of British imperialists and now Indian Army has taken the charge. If we recall, on March 20, 2000, Indian media projected that a group of Lashkar-e-Tayyiaba (LeT) militants massacred 35 Sikhs in the village of Chittisinghpora in Anantnag district. In a mere five days, the Indian Army claimed that elements of its Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police killed all the five foreign militants involved in the incident in a joint operation at a place called Pathribal. Ironically, Army claimed that bodies off the entire militant were burnt to unrecognizable degree and have been buried in a mass grave. Interestingly, it came to light at a later stage that elements of RR had killed the Sikhs to spread communal hatred among the Kashmiris. In the mean time, immediately after the massacre of the Sikhs, five local Kashmiris got missing. Their relatives also lodged report in the Anantnag police station about the disappearance but after the publication of news about Army operation in which five militants were killed, the relative requested for exhumation of the bodies. Interestingly, the family members and the villagers identified the bodies and reveled that they were simple people and had nothing to do with militancy or LeT.

It is generally observed that the Politicians in New Delhi usually get disturbed over the reaction of Kashmiri leaders over pity issues. They view that when Indian centre has already done enough for the development of Jammu and Kashmir state then why majority of the Kashmiris are not satisfied and look for opportunities to protest and create law and order situation. One would like to remind them pre-independence period when Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and other communities in India were doing the same to get rid of the imperialist intruders. Today there is a clear message for India to get out of Jammu and Kashmir state. One wonders that if New Delhi has any doubt in its mind, Kashmiri Hindu Pandits and Sikhs may be asked whether they would like to become part of India or otherwise. If in India failed to attract Hindu and Sikh minorities living in Jammu and Kashmir state to become part of Indian union, New Delhi should not have any doubt about the Kashmiri Muslim majority. It is open like a book that majority of Kashmiris want to join Pakistan while a small percentage look for complete independence.

It is sad to observe that despite all the advertisement about Human Rights and presence of International law and statues like Hague and Geneva Conventions, no action has been taken against Indian Army. One wonders why so far no one is able to file case against the Indian Army for committing war crimes. In this civilized world, the genocide of Kashmiris is openly taking place by Indian security forces and its intelligence units but no one is there to stop them. The notorious Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is being used as a shield by Indian authorities to provide indemnification to war criminals for their atrocities committed in the line of duty, or so called good faith. Last week, top Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani was arrested from special prayer meeting convened by him at Hazratbal Shrine and is booked under section 151 and 107. He is presently confined at Central Jail Srinagar. The highhandedness of Indian authorities can be judged from the fact that Syed Ali Geelani was also arrested last month and released under court orders but he has been again arrested. It worth mentioning that Indian authorities are waiting for the deaths of top Kashmiri leaders like Syed Ali Geelani so there is no one to take the name of Kashmir Movement.

However, the people of Pakistan including people of Jammu and Kashmir pray for their long life and life of sons and daughters of leader like Syed Ali Geelani. Kashmiris throughout the state are observing “Bandh” and protests. All shops, markets and business centres remained closed and traffic was off the roads. Protesters pelted stones on security forces but Indian authorities instead of realizing their crimes started using coercive methods to bring things back to normal. The recent brutalities by the Indian forces are yet another example how India has been dealing with Kashmiris since 1931.

Pakistan-India water Dispute- An Invitation to Nuclear War

By: Abdul Razzak

WEST MUST NOT SLEEP AS HYPOCRITES

The U S President Abraham Lincoln decided to abolish slavery in the country; in consequence of which there was a civil war, but his determination was absolute. Thus U S Congress passed the 13th Amendment to the constitution on 13th January 1865 to abolish slavery in the USA. In 1846 the British Government legalized slavery of people of Jammu & Kashmir and sold them to Gulab Singh Dogra in exchange of Rs. 7,500,000-00. Slavery was promoted in Jammu &Kashmir part of the world by the then Super Power, the Great Britain; while slavery was abolished by the United States of America in their country just nineteen years after, the British act of enslaving the people of Jammu & Kashmir. So begins the suffering of the Kashmiri people and the exploitation of the people and the region… JAMMU & KASHMIR.

After WW-II the leaders of USA emphasized over the Great Britain to give independence to the people of Indo-Pak subcontinent as a result of their freedom movement; before it converts to guerilla war. The British had to succumb to the freedom movement and India and Pakistan were granted freedom on 14/15 August 1947, through the Indian Independence Act 1947 passed by the British Parliament. According to 3rd June plan of Lord Mountbatten (that was subsequently enacted as Indian independence Act 1947) accepted by Indian National Congress and All India Muslim League; the Muslim majority provinces/princely states were to become Pakistan and Hindu majority provinces/princely states were to form India. There is no third option. Jammu & Kashmir is a Muslim majority state beyond any doubt. It is geographically attached with Pakistan and all the Rivers; i.e. River Jhelum, River Chenab, River Ravi, River Sutlej, River Bias and River Indus that are flowing into Pakistan originate from Jammu & Kashmir. These waters are the only source for agriculture in Pakistan, or in other words the lifeline for the very survival of Pakistan.

The British Viceroy in India Lord Mountbatten, when he was the Governor General of independent state of India had wrongfully annexed Jammu & Kashmir with India by use of military force.

India and Pakistan fought wars in 1948, 1965, and 1971 basically on the issue of the liberation of Jammu & Kashmir from India and securing the waters that are legitimate right of Pakistan. War is still lurking over India and Pakistan, now two nuclear power countries equipped with sophisticated delivery system. The dispute is same: Liberation of the people of Jammu & Kashmir and securing legitimate right of Pakistan over the waters sourcing from Jammu & Kashmir.

The UN resolutions exist and are yet to be enforced to grant the right of self determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan related to the distribution of Waters sourcing from Jammu & Kashmir also exists. According to Indus Waters Treaty1960, Pakistan has exclusive right over the waters of River Indus, River Jhelum and River Chenab while India gets the waters of Rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej with some exceptions. Details of these exceptions are laid down in the treaty. An Indus water commission is to supervise the enforcement of the treaty and the World Bank is the guarantor. India violates UN resolutions and the Indus Waters Treaty.

Is the world community going to enforce UN resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir as was done recently in case of Kuwait, Bosnia and East Timur? Would the world community prevail upon India not to violate the Indus Waters Treaty? Unfortunately it is to the contrary. The world community supports every illegal and illogical act of India that is directed against Pakistan. India has started a policy of war phobia and harassment of Pakistan. India had en-massed her armed forces at Pakistan borders in December 2002 and stayed there for a year and again in November 2008 till to-date without provocation by State of Pakistan. The world community has yet to condemn India. Instead the government of India is pampered and provoked against Pakistan. U S Secretary of Defense, Mr. Robert Gates’ statements from India in February 2010 are the recent examples of such provocations.

There is an ongoing struggle and a liberation movement in Jammu & Kashmir that has turned into guerilla warfare. It is indigenous by the people of Jammu & Kashmir. India has deployed Seven hundred thousand troops, to crush the liberation movement but has not been successful despite killing more than hundred thousand innocent people. The Indian armed forces committed genocide and rape of the women. The genocide and rapes are is still continued unabated and the people of Jammu & Kashmir are committed to their struggle for liberation since past sixty years.

The world community is doing nothing to help save the people of Jammu and Kashmir. When world community is not coming to the rescue of the people of Jammu & Kashmir then the only way left for the liberation fighters is to deny the resources of Jammu and Kashmir to India. This is the only weapon that brought the defeat of great powers by weaker nations. It has become inevitable for the people of Jammu & Kashmir to blast away all the dams and engineering projects that benefit their enemy India. That is the only way to deny the resources of Jammu & Kashmir to India.

Once these resources are blasted off and denied to India, then it will be un-affordable and futile for India to prolong her occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. India would then be seen running around the world, requesting world community for help and rescue from that kind of situation. Then it will be India asking world community for an urgent settlement through negotiations. Only then Jammu & Kashmir will be liberated from the clutches of slavery of India.

India has almost completed many dams and engineering projects to divert the course of rivers which are the legitimate right of Pakistan; like the dam under construction on River Chenab just 70 Km away from Pakistan borders and the world community did nothing about it. Pakistan is a peaceful and responsible country. Pakistan has adopted a policy of restraint from armed conflict and is looking to the world community to prevail upon India for settlement of the disputes of Jammu & Kashmir, stealth of waters of Pakistan by India and other disputes. India refuses to negotiate on self generated pretexts. The policy of restraint by the Government of Pakistan, is read by India as weakness.

The people of Pakistan are growing impatient by every passing day. They are demanding from the government to blast off those dams with missiles that are built by India to steal the waters that are meant for Pakistan, according to Indus Waters Treaty 1960. Agriculture in Pakistan has already suffered a great deal and as of now Pakistan is facing a draught like situation due to denial of waters by India. People of Pakistan only think that it is better to die as result of a nuclear war then die of hunger. Let the world community know that there exists an inevitable cause for a nuclear war between India and Pakistan. Water disputes and liberation of the people of Jammu & Kashmir are the cause. India’s denial for a peaceful solution of disputes with Pakistan has further fueled the situation to become worst. Unless the basic cause is removed, the nuclear war in South Asia can not be ruled out.