Civilians massacred
In the last 2 months alone more than 100 people have lost their lives because they dared to express their opposition against a regime that has denied them their basic rights. They were killed because the Indian state could not answer their genuine questions. Kashmir has lost thousands of its children in this struggle for fundamental rights.
Army in the Valley
India has amassed nearly 7 lakh soldiers in Kashmir since 1990. In the pretext of fighting terrorism, they have instilled terror in the hearts of Kashmiris in an attempt to silence them. Kashmiris have fallen victims to inhumane use of force. From fake encounters to custodial deaths, disappearances to rape, violations of human rights abound. It is a parody that there seems to be no security in the region with the highest density of security forces.
AFSPA is the Law
The Indian government has promulgated the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives the army unlimited powers. They can shoot to kill, arrest at will and invade the privacy of homes without warrant or showing any reason. This has resulted in innumerable cases of human rights abuses as the army fears no law. In fact, in Kashmir the Army is the Law.
Fundamental Rights denied
India claims to be the largest democracy, but in Kashmir, Freedom and Democracy are words without any meaning. The people cannot freely express their dissent, their protests and even funeral processions are fired upon by security forces. Though the Constitution of India guarantees to all its citizens, the freedom to express, assemble and associate, Kashmiris, it seems can claim no such rights.
In the recent period AFSPA is being discussed in the public and political forums. Some of the “know-all professors” who refuse to understand the everyday plight and suffering of the people of Kashmir are advocating the inevitability of AFSPA. Capitalist media is voicing and propagating the irresponsible view of the upper middle classes ‘India Jingoism’, by this conspiracy campaign they have denied Kashmir and the Kashmirs the fundamental democratic rights.
The hitherto much acclaimed “apolitical” Defence establishment of India, which was engaged in covert lobbying, has this time openly opposed any dilution or withdrawal of AFSPA, this has further strengthened the prevailing ultra nationalist prejudice across the country.
Azaadi from Capitalism
All political parties and forces who represent the Indian ruling classes are en-block standing against the Kashmiris ‘right to self determination’, they are shedding crocodile tears and are trying to woo the people of Kashmir with futile & out of place economic package, jobs and higher education facilities, but nothing of these is likely to quell the anger of youth in Kashmir. Be it all party delegations, fact finding teams or interlocutors which are all ‘time gaining’ machinations is bound to fall flat. None of these high drama will ever deter the youth of Kashmir from their rightful demand of AZADI
Five wars have been fought between India, Pakistan and China. Thousands have perished, lakhs displaced and the ‘Paradise on Earth’ has been left mutilated. But the voice of Kashmir has never been heard. There can be no resolution to this conflict, no end to this blood bath until the free will of Kashmiris is heard, recognized and accepted.
The Imperialist powers cannot provide a solution to the people of Kashmir. Only a united struggle by the working class of India, Pakistan and China along with the people of Kashmir can provide a just solution.
Let us form an united platform and struggle for
* The repeal of AFSPA and the end to Army deployment in North East and Kashmir
* The Withdrawal of all central paramilitary forces from these regions
* The independent investigation of all acts of security excesses, encounter killings and other human rights violations
* A just political solution on the foundations of the inalienable right of self determination of the people of Kashmir and North East
* Towards a confederation of socialist states of South Asia