(source: Kashmir Media Service)
HRW asks India to repeal Black Law in IHK
World human rights body, Human Rights Watch has said that Indian leaders should seek the immediate repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and a transparent probe into rights abuses in occupied Kashmir.
The Human Rights Watch in a statement in New York said that the authorities should release the findings of its inquiry into allegations of excessive use of force during the ongoing protests in Kashmir.
Referring to the AFSPA, Human Rights Watch said that the immunity this law gave to the Indian forces not only lead to its widespread abuse, but also protected the members who commit crimes.
Valley turned into a virtual prison: Syed Ali Gilani
In occupied Kashmir, veteran Kashmir Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani has said that the occupation authorities have turned the Kashmir Valley into a virtual prison and waged a war against unarmed Kashmiris to suppress the ongoing movement.Syed Ali Gilani, talking to mediamen at his residence in Srinagar said, “The Valley has been turned into a prison and marshal law has been imposed to suppress the aspirations of Kashmiris.
In prison, the inmates are allowed basic amenities. But in the Valley, the troopers and cops are leaving no stone unturned to confine the Kashmiris to their homes and starve them to death. This is the worst form of state terrorism.” He said that the troopers and policemen at the behest of New Delhi and the puppet administration were behaving in such an aggressive way with unarmed Kashmir as if they were fighting a super power in the Valley.
He condemned hampering of medial emergencies, supply of milk and essential supplies across the Valley. “The troopers and cops are so frustrated that they have been spilling the milk on roads. The newborn babies are sufferings for want of milk and medicines. This has exposed the façade of India’s so-called democracy,” he added. He appealed the child rights organizations particularly the UNICEF to take cognizance of sufferings of newborn babies and impress upon India not to hinder the essential supplies particularly baby food, medicines and milk. Syed Ali Gilani denounced the killing of innocent civilians and curbs imposed by the authorities on media to prevent coverage of atrocities on people by the occupation forces. “On one hand, India shows concern to save the Tiger and other endangered animals and on the other is treating Kashmiris worst than animals just for suppressing their aspirations. The international community must take note of India’s hypocrisy,” he said.
The veteran leader castigated the authorities for launching propaganda against the program announced by him in connection with the Quit Kashmir Movement for staging sit-ins near the camps of troops and paramilitary forces on September 21, Tuesday. “I want to maintain that the objective of our program is to remind the Indian forces that they might be serving the national interest by performing duties, but their presence in Kashmir has no legal or democratic sanction. We want to awaken the conscience of the troopers that in the name of national interest they are committing rapes, killings and torturing Kashmiris,” he said.
Syed Ali Gilani deplored that while Kashmiris were sacrificing their lives for withdrawal of troopers from the Valley, the authorities were planning to establish an Army camp on 18 kanals of land in Pazalpora in Sopore. He Expressed concern over the situation in Tangmarg and said that after the Monday’s shootout, nobody was being allowed to go there to know the condition of people. He pointed out that the ongoing movement had reached a decisive phase and even the people living in heavily militarized areas of the territory had extended their support. He rejected unconditional dialogue with New Delhi and maintained that the ongoing movement would continue until the five demands put forth by him were implemented on ground.
IHK people deprived of newspapers for 6th day
In occupied Kashmir, amid indefinite curfew for the 6th day, today, not a single English or Urdu daily newspaper was published in the valley. The non-publication of the about 50 local newspapers has affected the ”Surkhiyan”, a morning programme on Radio Kashmir, Srinagar, based on headlines of newspapers.
The occupation authorities have also banned the telecast of 30-minute news on local cable channels and also stopped airing Pakistani channels. Most of the local newspaper offices remained closed, as the employees, including reporters who could not make it to their offices because of curfew.
Leading newspapers, including Greater Kashmir continued to update its Internet edition. The newspaper in its Internet editions said that the Srinagar print edition of Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma failed to hit the stands today due to severe restrictions and curfew. »
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