[Reader-list] Kashmir Fact Finding

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

And, who gets to decide about the spade ? :P

On 8/27/08, Aarti Sethi <aarti.sethi at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> but of course it is communal propoganda!... And they do sound like clones.
> It always amazes me that the diversity of expression and opinion that is
> evident amongst others on this list like shuddha and sonia for instance, who
> often disagree with eachother, and sometimes Kshamendra, is completely
> absent in anything chanchal, radhikarajen or prabhakar choose to say. I
> could happily interchange their ramblings and it would make no difference at
> all. Come to think of it aditya, i find it very interesting that you would
> choose to defend this sort of patently racist and offensive language...
>
> I, unlike you Aditya, have no trouble calling a spade a spade...
>
> On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 7:32 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul <kauladityaraj at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> I quote Aarti. They are clones. :) Communal propaganda...isn't it ?
>>
>> On 8/27/08, radhikarajen at vsnl.net <radhikarajen at vsnl.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > Were you in II world war with hiter and his propaganda machine or did
>> you
>> > get any transplant from those ?
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Khurram Parvez <khurramparvez at yahoo.com>
>> > Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:03 pm
>> > Subject: [Reader-list] Kashmir Fact Finding
>> > To: SARAI <reader-list at sarai.net>
>> >
>> > >
>> > >      People's Union for Democratic Rights, Delhi
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > PRESS RELEASE, 26th August 2008
>> > >
>> > > Findings of an Investigation Conducted From 22 to 25 August 2008
>> > >
>> > > A six-member team from four human rights organisations conducted
>> > > an investigation into the "economic blockade" in Kashmir and its
>> > > aftermath. The team toured the districts of Srinagar, Budgam,
>> > > Baramulla, and Bandipora. The team spoke to victims of the
>> > > violence and their families, people who were part of protests,
>> > > doctors at the SMHS hospital, journalists, the Kashmir Chamber of
>> > > Commerce, and office bearers of many social and political
>> > > organisations. However, the fact finding was disrupted as the
>> > > state announced an indefinite curfew from the morning of 24th
>> > > August. The release also addresses the second round of curfew
>> > > currently in force. The total loss of life during the two periods
>> > > of curfew stands at over 35.
>> > > The main findings of the team are summarized below:
>> > >
>> > > 1.  Azaadi is the primary demand in Kashmir
>> > > The team arrived in Srinagar on 22 August and witnessed the
>> > > massive protest meeting at the Idgah grounds. People gathered
>> > > there publicly declared their primary demand for azaadi (freedom)
>> > > at the meeting venue and through numerous street processions in
>> > > various streets of Srinagar on 22 and 23 August. During our
>> > > interviews with individual families and with groups, people voiced
>> > > the same demand. A wide range of social and political
>> > > organisations have also reiterated this demand.
>> > >
>> > > 2.  Use of curfew to create a confrontation
>> > > Curfew was imposed from the evening of 11 August and again from
>> > > the morning of 24 August. The first time it was imposed hours
>> > > after the security forces opened fire at many places on an unarmed
>> > > procession heading to the Muzaffarabad border killing at least __
>> > > people. It was expected that people would come out in the
>> > > following day to protest against the killings. Curfew thus became
>> > > an instrument to prevent people from assembling and gave security
>> > > forces the power to use force against unarmed protestors.
>> > > The second time curfew was imposed with the express purpose of
>> > > preventing the dharna at Lal Chowk. The previous gathering at
>> > > Idgah, where this dharna was announced, had been peaceful.
>> > > Therefore curfew became the means by which a confrontation was
>> > > created, which could have been easily avoided. The clamping down
>> > > on media and the brutal attacks on journalists happened while the
>> > > team was still there. Arrests of leaders, raids of homes and
>> > > intimidation of local residents by the army and CRPF are happening
>> > > even now. On 24th itself, our team issued an appeal to the central
>> > > government to lift the curfew to prevent loss of life.
>> > >
>> > > 3. Deliberate blockade of supplies and its indifferent handling.
>> > > While our team has not investigated the happenings in the Jammu
>> > > region, its impact on Kashmir has been confirmed through our
>> > > interviews. Protests in Jammu, which started from early July, took
>> > > a more violent turn from the beginning of August. This led to
>> > > severe restriction on the movement of goods and people on the
>> > > Srinagar-Jammu highway and even into Punjab. Records at the
>> > > highway check points, as reported in the Economic Times (21.8.08),
>> > > confirm the substantial lowering of goods traffic in July and its
>> > > worsening in August. Shortages were created as a result: of oils
>> > > and cooking gas in the rural areas, of cereals and medicines in
>> > > the urban areas. Given the fears of Kashmiri transporters and
>> > > drivers, the impact was far worse in traffic moving out of
>> > > Kashmir. This has led to substantial losses for fruit growers as
>> > > well as handicrafts and carpet manufacturers and transporters.
>> > > Fruit could be found rotting at many places and handicraft
>> > > manufacturers report
>> > > cancellation of export orders for the ramazan season and fears
>> > > for the Christmas season. The team was told that till 23rd August,
>> > > 80 % of the trucks were not leaving the valley for fear of attacks
>> > > and only some 15-20 trucks were able to carry the apples out of
>> > > the valley after assurance of safe passage from the government.
>> > > The loss—over 75% of the fruit are rotting in the Sopore mandi. In
>> > > Seer Jagir, a village in Sopore tehsil, the team met small farmers
>> > > with average land holding of 4-5 acres, which produces on an
>> > > average 3000 boxes of apples per annum. The 30 farmers in this
>> > > village reported that they have lost on an average Rs 2 lakh this
>> > > season. Therefore, the total loss of this small village account to
>> > > nearly 60 lakh. The government's lackadaisical attitude in
>> > > ensuring supplies and its attempt to deny the 'blockade' led to
>> > > feeling of ill-will in Kashmir.
>> > >
>> > > 4. Firing incidents (11-14th August) were unprovoked and aimed to kill
>> > > The team investigated 15 cases of deaths that occurred on account
>> > > of firing by CRPF and JK police between 11 and 14 August. The
>> > > actual death toll is estimated to be above 30. The findings show a
>> > > clear pattern: (a) The firings were aimed to kill. This was
>> > > evident from eye witness accounts which showed that the firings
>> > > were indiscriminate and aimed directly at the crowd. At Paribal,
>> > > near Bandipura town on 12th August the RR and JK police fired on
>> > > the crowd from above the hill where the 15 RR camp is located. (b)
>> > > A large number of deaths resulted from injuries in the abdomen,
>> > > chest, head or upper or lower back. The same was confirmed by
>> > > hospital records. (c) In some cases, as at Lasjen on 12 August,
>> > > protesters were deceived into by an assurance of allowing peaceful
>> > > procession and then resorting to firing. Three people were killed
>> > > including one 50 year old woman and six others received bullet
>> > > injuries.
>> > >
>> > > 5.  Attacks on those Injured
>> > > The total number of people injured in the period between 11 and 14
>> > > August is not clearly established. However, at SMHS hospital
>> > > alone, over 500 patients were admitted in the same period. The
>> > > team met families and those injured and killed in the attacks. We
>> > > were repeatedly told that the security forces never tried to reach
>> > > the injured to hospital. Worse, vehicles carrying injured to
>> > > hospital were routinely attacked. Hospital sources claim that a
>> > > number of ambulances were attacked. The same is confirmed by news
>> > > reports today and the health department has threatened to stop
>> > > ambulance services given the injuries received by ambulance
>> > > drivers. Our team was told that in Lasjen, even those carrying
>> > > dead bodies back from the hospital were attacked on 12th August.
>> > > Elsewhere, in Bandipora the same was reported. The van carrying
>> > > Mehrajuddin Kakh, injured in the Bandipura killing on 12 August,
>> > > was attacked by CRPF and STF at Parimpora. Not only were the occupants
>> > > attacked, Mehrajuddin's thigh injury was brutalized by twisting a
>> > > lathi in it. He died the same night. Equally, Imran Ahmed Wani who
>> > > was injured in the Bagi Mehtab firing on 12 August was
>> > > deliberately refused ambulance service for nearly two hours. In
>> > > fact, when he did get into one, it was attacked at Rambagh Pul. He
>> > > was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.
>> > >
>> > > 6.  Attack on the SMHS hospital, Srinagar
>> > > What is unbelievable is the attack on SMHS Hospital on 11 and 12
>> > > August successively. The SMHS hospital received the largest number
>> > > of casualties. When doctors were trying to conduct emergency
>> > > operations at break-neck speed in order to save lives, the
>> > > Casualty was attacked with tear gas shells followed by firing live
>> > > bullets. The firing was again repeated on 12 August. It is the
>> > > dedication of doctors, paramedic staff, ambulance drivers and
>> > > timely arranging of bandages, gauze and cotton by the medical
>> > > representatives, at the risk of their own lives, that managed to
>> > > save a large number of lives. The doctors also confirmed that the
>> > > help received by the ordinary people in saving the lives of those
>> > > injured was remarkable. People helped the medical staff in
>> > > transporting the wounded to the OT, aided in tending treatment in
>> > > the Casualty and arranged vans and ambulances to carry them to the
>> > > different hospitals in the city and elsewhere.
>> > >
>> > > 7.  Attacks on Funeral Processions
>> > > Funeral processions were repeatedly attacked in many places as
>> > > large numbers of people marched with the bier to the graveyards.
>> > > The team was told that the funeral procession of Ishfaq Ahmed
>> > > Kana, shot dead at Qamarwari Chowk, Srinagar on 11 August, to the
>> > > Idgah Martyrs Memorial was attacked by the CRPF with lathis and
>> > > rubber bullets. In Baghi Mahtab, Javed Ahmed Mir's funeral
>> > > procession was attacked and one person was killed in the firing.
>> > > Other protest demonstrations protesting against the killings were
>> > > also attacked. For instance, the protest demonstration following
>> > > the shooting of Owais Majeed Zarga in Rainawari, Srinagar on 12th
>> > > August was attacked by the Kashmir police stationed outside the
>> > > office of the local MLA, Mhd Shahid. Two boys were injured in the
>> > > firing.
>> > >
>> > > 8.  Raids and Attacks on Residents:
>> > > During the evening of 13 and 14 August, security forces engaged in
>> > > an indiscriminate and large-scale attack on houses in localities
>> > > close to the firings, thrashing people and smashing window panes.
>> > > At Safakadal, Srinagar, residents showed how their houses and a
>> > > nearby mosque were attacked by the CRPF. At Lasjen, JK police and
>> > > CRPF personnel entered houses to thrash people. Relatives were
>> > > forcibly prevented from accessing homes of deceased and women
>> > > relatives at the house of Imtiaz Rahim, who died in the firing,
>> > > showed us the marks of brutality at the hands of the security
>> > > forces.
>> > >
>> > > 9. FIRs: Refusals and Distortions:
>> > > In most cases, the families have not registered any FIRs against
>> > > the security forces as they fear going to the police station or
>> > > that it would invite further violence. Where families of those
>> > > killed were able to go to police stations after many days, they
>> > > found that FIRs were already lodged stating that the protestors
>> > > attacked security forces who in turn were forced to open fire.
>> > > When families tried to get their version recorded, the same was
>> > > refused. Complaints are rejected. In the case of the Bagi Mahtab
>> > > killings where the families of the deceased (Javed Ahmed Mir and
>> > > Imran Ahmed Wani) were given a totally false version of the
>> > > happenings in the FIR. When challenged, the police said that the
>> > > families must come ten days later with 4 eye witnesses to
>> > > corroborate their story. This refusal even to receive complaints
>> > > is tantamount to making the security forces judges of their own
>> > > actions.
>> > > 10. Present Curfew and Developments
>> > > On 24 August, Kashmir was greeted by indefinite curfew when it
>> > > woke up in the morning. Within a few hours four media persons, on
>> > > their way to office had been badly beaten up at Rambagh by the
>> > > CRPF. The identity cards and passes issued during the last phase
>> > > of curfew presented by the journalists were rejected. Mr Bilal,
>> > > bureau chief of Sahara Samay was admitted to the Bone and Joints
>> > > hospital and later to the SMHS hospital. By evening, security
>> > > forces opened fire in Dal Gate area killing one person and
>> > > critically injuring another. Homes of political leaders were
>> > > raided and some arrested. In the rural areas, the army threatened
>> > > local imams, nambardars and chowkidars on 24 August that they
>> > > would be held responsible if people dared to join in the
>> > > procession to Lal Chowk. Over the last two days, the curfew has
>> > > lad to at least seven people being killed in firing by security
>> > > forces and over 275 injured in various parts of Kashmir valley.
>> > > Essential supplies to Srinagar city, such as medicines, water
>> > > tankers and milk, have been blocked and this 'blockade' has been
>> > > done at the instance of the CRPF. The entire control of land and
>> > > order in Srinagar city has all been handed over to the CRPF and
>> > > news reports have suggested that the local police have also been
>> > > beaten by the CRPF.
>> > > CONCLUSION
>> > > The investigation team is of the opinion that the firing,
>> > > brutality, loss of life was not only wholly avoidable but done
>> > > deliberately. The disruption of road traffic to Kashmir needed to
>> > > be recognized by the government and addressed. The resort to
>> > > curfew after the firing on 11 August denied the people a right to
>> > > protest and be heard. Additionally, the curfew provided the
>> > > security forces the power to open fire with impunity. A number of
>> > > extremely inhuman crimes were committed by the security forces by
>> > > denying and obstructing medical aid to the injured, attacking the
>> > > injured and most seriously by launching an attack on the SMHS
>> > > hospital. No existing law in the country provides immunity to
>> > > police and security forces for such crimes. The lack of any action
>> > > against these forces even where the crimes are established by eye-
>> > > witnesses and reported in newspapers, makes people lose whatever
>> > > faith in the government that may have remained after decades of
>> > > army rule.
>> > > Despite these happenings, the people of Kashmir have shown
>> > > exemplary restraint and ensured that all processions and public
>> > > gatherings after the lifting of curfew remain wholly peaceful.
>> > > This situation should have been utilized to initiate political
>> > > dialogue instead of the visit by the National Security Advisor.
>> > > The imposition of curfew to prevent another such pre-declared
>> > > peaceful mass gathering can only be seen as an invitation to
>> > > another bloody attack on protestors and serves as a message to the
>> > > people of Kashmir that the Indian government would not tolerate
>> > > peaceful and unarmed protest.
>> > >
>> > > WE DEMAND
>> > > 1.             Immediate lifting of the curfew and restoration of
>> > > ample space to people to peaceably collect and voice their demands.
>> > > 2.             Criminal charges be registered against those
>> > > responsible for attacks on injured people, ambulances and
>> > > hospitals as well as widespread damage to houses.
>> > > 3.             Peoples complaints concerning arbitrary and
>> > > indiscriminate use of fire by security forces be registered and
>> > > the culprits brought to book.
>> > > 4.             Law and order duties be immediately restored to the
>> > > police in Srinagar and all forces be made ot work 'in aid of civil
>> > > power' as required by law.
>> > > 5.             The situation of the peaceful expression of peoples
>> > > demands be utilized to initiate a political dialogue, the
>> > > political establishment is duty-bound to do so when people in such
>> > > large numbers are voicing these.
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > Harish Dhawan
>> > > Secretary, PUDR
>> > > On behalf of
>> > > People's Democratic Forum (PDF), Karnataka
>> > > Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC), Andhra Pradesh
>> > > Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), Jammu and Kashmir
>> > > People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), Delhi
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > _________________________________________
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