Kashmir Bulletin 05 July 2013
Muslim League condemns police action against Human Rights activist
Srinagar, July 4: (GNS) Strongly castigating Jammu and Kashmir Police for its high handedness against veteran Human Rights activist Parvez Imroz Muslim League Jammu Kashmir on Thursday said the government does not even spare human rights activists here.
“What would be fate of common masses in a state where those who work for human rights are oppressed and manhandled by Police and authorities,” Muslim League Chief Organizer Feroz Ahmad Khan in a statement issued to Global News Service on Thursday said, adding that this is the worst example of state terrorism.
He appealed all local, national as well as international human rights organizations to seriously take cognizance of the human rights violations taking place in Kashmir and press for the release of all pro-freedom leaders including Dr Muhammad Qasim Faktoo, Dr Shafi Shariati, Mushtaq ul Islam and others who have been languishing in various jails in and outside the Valley.
ML Chief Organizer while paying rich tributes to youths killed in Tral said that India has to leave Jammu and Kashmir one or the other day and the struggle for right to self determination will continue till freedom from illegal occupation from India is achieved. (GNS)
Killings will continue with or without AFSPA: Geelani; Calls for peaceful protests, absentia funeral prayers after Friday prayers
Srinagar, July 4: (GNS) Chairman Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani while reiterating his appeal for peaceful demonstrations on July 5 against Markandal killing incident has called that all activities will remain suspended and business establishments closed from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. He said that during this period Friday prayers and funeral prayers in absentia will be observed for martyrs.
“The peaceful and symbolic protest against state terrorism will be held at all places after the prayer and as per the program, peaceful protest rally would be organised at Jamia Masjid Srinagar and Hamza Masjid Lalchowk,” Geelani in a statement issued to GNS has said.
He said whether AFSPA remains or is revoked, killings and Markandal like incidents will continue to happen and we can no longer remain silent over such incidents. “It is our religious and moral obligation to register our protest against these gruesome events.”
Geelani said that as a matter of fact, AFSPA is not an issue for us and we least bother about the stance adopted by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with respect to its revocation. “We believe that violations of human rights and killing of innocent people will continue there till last Indian trooper remains on the ground. Whether AFSPA remains or is revoked, the ground reality will remain unchanged and it will not make any difference in already prevailing tense situation.”
Hurriyat Chairman said that India and its forces treat Jammu and Kashmir as their colony and they can even kill entire population to continue their illegal occupation. “The freedom movement of Jammu and Kashmir is in its crucial stage and since last 65 years, India with its full might is trying to crush the ongoing freedom struggle.”
Commenting over the role played by pro-Indian political parties, Syed Ali Geelani said that Omar Abdullah and other pro-Indian politicians are extending their full cooperation to India. “There are only two options for people of Jammu and Kashmir, either they have to surrender and agree to slavery forever or to remain committed with freedom struggle and forbid every kind of bargaining.”
He said that nations with self esteem and honour never make compromise with slavery. “They rather prefer death in a dignified way and I am sure that new generation would exhibit their commitment with regards to freedom movement despite all odds and difficulties.” (GNS)
Will forgive India after achieving freedom: Shabir Shah
Srinagar, July 4: (GNS) In a significant move of its kind Chairman Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Ahmad Shah Thursday said that if India grants the people of Kashmir the right to self determination we will forget all the attrocities inflicted upon us by it.
“I assure Indian government that after Azadi we will forget all the oppression that they have inflicted on us. We will have better relation with them on the basis of humanity and hope that Indian people will impress upon their leaders to accept the right to self determination of Kashmiris,” Shah in a statement issued to Global News Service on Thursday said.
Terming the South African National Congress leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela a political hero Chairman Democratic Freedom Party Shabir Ahmad Shah Thursday said there are many similarities between the resistance movement of Africans and Kashmiris. “The only difference between the two is that Africans have achieved the freedom while Kashmiris are still fighting for it.” Shah said and prayed for the speedy recovery of African leader.
Shah said that under pressure from the international levels Nelson Mandela was released in the year 1990 after being in jail for about 27 years and negotiations were started between the apartheid government and the black resistance leaders. “The negotiations went on for four years and the government ultimately had to bow before the human values and political wisdom that Mandela had inculcated in himself. Nelson Mandela was elected president of the country with huge majority through free and fair elections.”
Shah said Nelson Mandela brought a government where there was no place for any kind of discrimination between the humans on any basis whether colour, creed, language or any other basis.
Meanwhile, Democratic Freedom Party spokesman has apologized to Sikh Students Federation for the inability of Party Chairman in participating in the Shimla Conference as he is under continuous house arrest. (GNS)
Omar’s ‘changing AFSPA stand’ indication of his failure: PDP
Srinagar, July 4: (GNS) Expressing dismay at the chief minister’s disowning the case related to the killing of two youth in Markandal Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Thursday said Omar Abdullah cannot claim to be the chief minister and yet wash his hands off innocent blood spilled in the state.
In a statement issued to Global News Service, PDP chief spokesperson, Naeem Akhtar said the chief minister has taken the unusual mix of his arrogance and incompetence to the next level after having expressed his helplessness in April this year on the floor of the house over a similar incident in Baramulla.
“By arrogantly asking the newsmen to inquire from army about the status of investigation into the killing of Sonawari youth, Omar Abdullah has not just conveyed his abdication of responsibility but has insulted the chair he is occupying,” Akhtar said.
Referring to the news report that many government organisations in the state were headless, Akhtar said the state government could in view of CM’s outright abdication of his duties also be declared as headless.
“The CM’s position in J&K can easily be declared as vacant till it is held by Omar Abdullah,” Akhtar observed. He said the chief minister instead of pleading helplessness should have set example of probity by taking action against those involved in cold blooded killings over last five years and cannot claim impunity under AFSPA.
PDP chief spokesperson said the shifting stands on the revocation of AFSPA have reduced the chief minister’s position to a mockery of the system in which we operate.
He said the latest observation of chief minister “I won’t talk about AFSPA right now” indicates that he (CM) has finally given up on it as “life’s mission.”
Akhtar said the CM had announced revocation of AFSPA “within two or three days” on October 21st, 2011 in the aftermath of Haji Yousuf’s death in suspicious circumstances that had related it to the goings on in the Abdullah family.
He said after that the chief minister has been regularly diluting his stand on this important issue which was initially brought up by him to divert attention from the controversy arising from Haji Yousuf’s death.
“It is now obvious from his (CM’s) Wednesday’s remarks that he has related the issue of fundamental rights to events that can generally be attributed to the disastrous governance that Omar has presided over during last five years,” Akhtar said adding Omar continued to raise AFSPA as slogan to cover his failure on every front and has apparently dumped it for good now.
Reiterating PDP’s stance on the draconian laws like AFSPA, Akhtar said their revocation was a prerequisite to any progress on the political resolution of J&K problem.
He said the PDP would continue its struggle with the support of people for the restoration of civil liberties and fundamental rights in the state as were available to people in rest of the country.
He said strengthening of democratic and civil institutions without interference from security forces was inescapable for ensuring rule of law in the state.
Meanwhile, PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and party president Mehbooba Muft have greeted people on the auspicious occasion of Guru Har Gobind Ji’s birthday.
In their message the leaders termed Guru Har Gobind Ji as an apostle of peace and tolerance and hoped the occasion would strengthen bonds of love, brotherhood and togetherness. (GNS)
