[Reader-list] 'Men in uniform are Kashmir's problem, not solution'

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Rakesh
 
Thanks for your valuable comments. 
 
The conversation with Inder was my questioning his suggestion (automatic assumption) that the Shopian-Rapes were committed by the Army (security forces).
 
In that context therefore, your comments are misplaced, valuable as they are. 
 
Unless of course you too have automatically assumed that the Shopian-rapes were the handiwork of the Army (security forces). 
 
In that case I would say to you what I said to Inder  "I thought guilt had to be established by evidence. Or, are there varying ethical standards for different situations?" 
 
It could very well be that the Army (security forces) are the ones who Raped & Murdered. It could also very well be that they are not.
 
Kshmendra

 
--- On Mon, 6/15/09, Rakesh Iyer <rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com> wrote:


From: Rakesh Iyer <rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] 'Men in uniform are Kashmir's problem, not solution'
To: "Inder Salim" <indersalim at gmail.com>
Cc: "reader-list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Monday, June 15, 2009, 11:26 PM


Dear Kshamendra

The first lesson our Indian army needs to be taught is to respect women, not
rape them. It's not just Kashmir where this is happening. Even the sensitive
North-East shows that the army doesn't respect women, and infact misuses
AFSPA to do what it wishes. And now, through the Salwa Judum, we have come
to the point where the militia colludes with the paramilitary forces and
other divisions to torture women through rapes and killings.

This is not what the army is meant for. While politicians have misunderstood
the problem and have sent the armed forces in certain areas, the army does
not have the right to misuse the power they have been granted in their
hands. With power comes responsibility, and it's a massive one, to ensure
that people are not targetted and in particular women are not targetted.

Whoever is a rapist or committing crime against women, whoever he is,
whichever party and ideology he belongs to, deserves punishment and the army
men are not exceptions to this rule I believe in. It's high time such army
men are brought behind bars, and our army must be warned about this. The
army is not sent to enjoy women at places they are stationed for their
sexual needs; it's sent to protect the nation (or the borders in this case
or ensure law and order) and they should do that. Otherwise they should stop
being in the army and become gigolos or male prostitutes.

Regards

Rakesh
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