“What’s more painful than a moment when I am asked to prove my identity to the strangers on my land.”
#Kashmir
–Rizwan Raheem
Monthly Archives: October 2019
Synopsis of a brutal occupation by nearly one-million troops.
This video is a response to an election campaign video released by the Bharti Jantya Party (BJP), the ruling party of India (https://twitter.com/BJP4India/status/1112560352976429056), highlighting the economic growth and development that took place under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is a facade.Here is what they did not tell you: The Indian State has administered an inhumane occupation of Kashmiris since 1947. While Kashmiris are under a complete communications shutdown, this video aims to inform global audiences regarding the physical, psychological and political persecution of Kashmir. As well as the long struggle of the Kashmiri people for the right of self-representation and self-determination against all odds. The Indian State has granted the Indian Armed Forces complete impunity in the region under Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). The act allows for arrests and search without warrant, destruction of property and use of lethal action even if it causes death. The Act further allows India Officers complete immunity under “good faith” which has empowered them to commit human rights transgressions such as torture, state abductions, mass rapes, use of pellet guns with intent to blind, targeting minors, and administering multiple civilian massacres over the years.The impact of such state overreach in the most militarized region in the world has been immense: Kashmiris have suffered economic losses, for example $1.4 billion in just the last two months. Children have lost school days, as parents refuse to let children attend school in times of high tensions. Kashmir faces frequent medical shortages, as curfews and telecommunication blackouts makes access to healthcare facilities difficult. Around 45% Kashmiri adults have been diagnosed with distress, 50% of Kashmiri women suffer from depression and 22% suffer from PTSD, meanwhile Kashmir only has one psychiatric hospital. To hide its criminal activity, the Indian state has suppressed all political representation of indigenous Kashmiri movements, abducted journalists, and regularly shut down internet and mobile services in the region to limit information. As the Indian State heads towards a local body “election” in Kashmir on the 25th of October 2019, political leadership, bar that of the Indian ruling party, either remains under arrest or has boycotted the election as a sham. We call on the viewers to play their part by adding their voices and efforts to the cause of Kashmir. Case4Kashmir is a collective of artists, academics, and activists dedicated to amplifying the voices of Kashmir. If you would like to work with us in any of these capacities contact us on: case4kashmir@gmail.comResearcher: Aimun FaisalEditor/Post: Yasir ChangeziProducer: Aatir SohailExecutive Producer/Creative: Mohammad Jibran NasirApple Don’t Blink Video:Link: https://twitter.com/apple/status/773604633008680964?lang=enMusic Credits: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2-5se94M2I)Song: Tiger RhythmArtist: SurkinPhotography Credits:Photo at 00.26: Danish Ismail/ReutersPhoto at 01.57: Matt Brandon (https://thedigitaltrekker.com)References:India imposes lockdown Kashmir puts leaders house arrest.- Al Jazeerahttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/india-imposes-lockdown-kashmir-puts-leaders-house-arrest-190804174841241.htmlImpact of Violence on Children of JK – JKCSShttp://jkccs.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-Impact-of-Violence-on-Children-of-JK-JKCCS.pdfIndia revokes Kashmir special status – latest update – Al Jazeerahttps://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/india-revokes-kashmir-special-status-latest-updates-190806134011673.htmlMEDIA PORTRAYAL OF KATHUA RAPE-AND-MURDER CASE – Dr. Ruheela Hassan http://www.researchdirections.org/Management/articleupload/article662.pdfKashmir’s Mental Health Crisishttps://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/06/kashmir-mental-health-crisis-160620085520339.htmlKashmir children are being brutalised – TRT World:https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/kashmir-s-children-are-being-brutalised-17207Will India identify bodies in Kashmir’s mass graves, like it did in Iraq – TRT Worldhttps://trtworld.com/magazine/will-india-identify-bodies-in-kashmir-s-mass-graves-like-it-did-in-iraq–17044Report on the situation of Human Rights in Kashmir – Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/PK/DevelopmentsInKashmirJune2016ToApril2018.pdf
Posted by Case4Kashmir on Tuesday, October 22, 2019
It’s a great blessing in life to care about the suffering & humanity of others. It’s not a blessing that should be squandered but should be, as Che Guevara put it, ‘transformed into acts’ to ‘become a living force’.
We’re waiting with great anticipation all the photos from today’s Kashmiri Black Day commemorations. Vigils, speak-outs, rallies will be held in dozens of cities. In his recent interview, Kashmiri human rights leader Parvez Imroz said Kashmiris under blockade have no idea what is going on elsewhere in Kashmir, let alone about these solidarity events all around the world. It will go a long way in their recovery from this horrific trauma to learn that all along they no longer stood alone. Please express solidarity with Kashmiris in some form or another today, if only by posting a meme announcing Black Day, October 27th, 2019.
Just read an academic paper which referred to Burhan Wani as ‘the pin-up boy of Kashmiri separatism’. However critically one views the strategy of guerrilla warfare, that is a demeaning & contemptible representation of a man who died for Kashmiri freedom & of the momentous & historic character of the Kashmiri freedom struggle. Such characterizations are on a par with, if not as comedic as the Indian nationalist journalist who blithered about Pakistani sponsored ‘Sharia Bolsheviks’.
Today Kashmiris commemorate Black Day to mark 72 years since October 27th, 1947 when India forcibly & illegally laid claim to the adjoining state of Kashmir. It is a day of grieving & of resistance to colonialism & military occupation. Kashmiri activists use this day to educate about the character of their struggle through social media campaigns, vigils & protests around the world, & now to build the emergent & massive solidarity movement.
We should take a moment to honor all who have died in this historic freedom struggle & commit ourselves to standing in solidarity with Kashmiris until they have achieved self-determination & azaadi. The voices of Kashmiris within Kashmir have been silenced so their supporters must amplify their voices as Kashmiris even under occupation have always stood for the oppressed.
End the occupation. Self-determination for Kashmir.
(Photo by Danish Ismail/Reuters, 2017)
“Get them by their balls, hearts and minds will follow”: such a grotesque motto at this prison camp explains so much about the sexualized violence used by Indian forces in Kashmir against women, girls, & prisoners.
Demand the immediate, unconditional withdrawal of all Indian troops & the immediate release of all Kashmiri political prisoners.
(Photo time & place not identified except that it is an Indian prison)
Vandalizing Kashmiri property is one way Indian forces use to ‘win the hearts & minds’ of Kashmiris under occupation. The bikes were parked at a campus in Srinagar where students had organized a protest against the rape of a small child.
(Photo by Dar Yasin/AP, May 2019)
An interview with renowned Kashmiri human rights lawyer & activist Parvez Imroz of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society where he discusses the siege & says ‘there is no doubt’ that 20,000 to 30,000 Kashmiris have been arrested since August 5th.
