A quite cogent article on calling Indian colonialism & occupation of Kashmir a genocide, a term often used without hesitation by Kashmiri activists. The abrogation of Article 370 suggests they ‘knew whereof they spoke’.
http://theconversation.com/call-the-crime-in-kashmir-by-its-name-ongoing-genocide-120412?
More photos of the #StandWithKashmir rally in Bellevue, Washington organized by Pakistan Association of Greater Seattle. Whatever one may think about the role of the Pakistani government regarding Kashmir, Pakistanis are protesting in large numbers in Pakistan & have been an integral part of protests elsewhere expressing a strong commitment to Kashmiri self-determination & to #Azaadi.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/PakistanAssociationOfGreaterSeattle/photos/?UCH-R
Shutting down telecommunications so that Kashmiris outside Kashmir are unable to contact their family members living in a war zone is a human, democratic, civil rights, & war crime under the rubric of “cruel & unusual punishment.”
In Kashmir Shutdown, Families Struggle to Contact Relatives | The Quint
#Article370 Abrogated: The #Kashmirifamilies are not allowed to get out of their homes and due to clampdown on communication services, they are not able to get in touch with their children and relatives living outside J&K.Click here for more: https://bit.ly/2yRdsOE
Posted by The Quint on Saturday, August 10, 2019
Because of the telecommunications lockdown in Kashmir, it’s very hard to know which photos, videos, & media reports are reliable. We don’t have resident Kashmiris on social media to confirm for us what is real & have to rely on Kashmiris outside Kashmir based on their familiarity with events. There are foreign & Indian reporters in Kashmir who, according to this article, are filing very different accounts of what is happening. What we do know from reliable accounts is that there are scattered protests including the one of thousands yesterday, the Indian Army is using excessive force against them, including with pellet guns & rubber bullets, & that despite the massive repression of human, democratic, & civil rights, the Kashmiri spirit of #Azaadi is undaunted.
Our commitment is to remain steadfast & continue to organize a #StandWithKashmir political response demanding India immediately & unconditionally withdraw all its troops & immediately release all Kashmiri political prisoners.
Zachariah Barghouti, representative of Palestinian Youth Movement, speaking at the NYC #StandWithKashmir rally.
Thank you Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM)- حركة الشباب الفلسطيني for coming out to today's NYC! Stand with Kashmir Protest! Zachariah Barghouti, representative of PYM, delivers a strong message that underscores the relationship between #Kashmir and #Palestine: "His [Modi's] foreign imposition of Indian nationalism on a people and land who have long fought for their national autonomy is a denial of the right to self-determination – as much as the Zionist state's actions are a denial of our right to self-determination to reclaim our homeland as Palestinians. We firmly stand with the people of Kashmir and their struggle for liberation, as they continue to bravely resist occupation on their land. From Kashmir to Palestine – occupation is a crime." ✊🏾
Posted by Stand With Kashmir on Friday, August 9, 2019
REMINDER of #StandWithKashmir rally in Toronto today, August 10th.
A Kashmiri solidarity movement is being born. There are #StandWithKashmir protests in Paris, Pennsylvania, other places we don’t know about, & this impressive one in Bellevue, Washington.
Pakistani Association of Greater Seattle organized a protest rally to show solidarity with kashmiris and to draw attention of political leaders to this matter of critical importance. PAGS is an all inclusive organization and partners with local organizations to arrange events/rallies/seminars of common interest.
Posted by Pakistan Association of Greater Seattle on Saturday, August 10, 2019
This will make your heart sing: a Jewish Voice for Peace video of NYC #StandWithKashmir rally yesterday:
Powerful chanting at the Kashmir solidarity rally in NYC: "From Kashmir to Palestine, occupation is a crime" Jewish Voice for Peace-New York City
Posted by Jewish Voice for Peace on Friday, August 9, 2019
We haven’t received full reports back from the #StandWithKashmir rallies. Videos from one friend show the NYC rally had several hundred protesters & in McAllen we had about 30, which is impressive for an emergency call in an area with relatively few protests. There were Kashmiris, Pakistanis, one activist from the anti-border wall & immigrant rights struggle, one Imam who helped organize the Rohingya solidarity rally, & others who fully understand what is going on in Kashmir. From meeting each other at this protest we may be organizing a public forum for students to understand the importance of the Kashmiri freedom struggle.
There are other protests in Europe & the US today & we encourage others to organize emergency rallies if you can. Once again, if there are mosques or student groups in your area, contacting them is the easiest way. Don’t be afraid to stand alone with a placard since it was one lone Palestinian protester against the 1967 War who drew me into Palestinian solidarity. You never know who you will reach with one placard demanding India get out of Kashmir.
REMINDER of #StandWithKashmir rally today in Berlin: