The Syrian government is finally asking people to quarantine in their homes. But after nine years of carpet bombing, this rubble is what remains of their homes. Because Russian & Syrian bombers targeted hospitals, there is no healthcare infrastructure to handle any outbreak of coronavirus.
It’s estimated that every American taxpayer will shell out $18,000 for coronavirus relief to corporations & in return will receive bailout of $1,200. Many have lost their jobs & don’t have the option of unemployment benefits so, given the exorbitant cost of living, $1,200 is chump change. As I write this, I am keenly aware that most working people in the world, especially those in a sweatshop economy, do not have any kind of social security & if they cannot work they & their children will not eat. Capitalism is a labyrinth of social inequalities.
The exploiting countries are hogging coronavirus protective equipment & letting the exploited countries fend for themselves. Many of those exploited countries have no healthcare infrastructure because of IMF mandates & millions of people will be adversely affected or will die.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/world/coronavirus-equipment-rich-poor.html?
Those who believe the coronavirus pandemic is solely medical & not political need to explain the disproportionate number of slum dwellers, homeless, political prisoners, & Black Americans who are contracting the virus. It is exposing the fault lines of capitalism where inequality is the fundamental social relation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/coronavirus-race.html?
This is a good article about the campaign to release Kashmiri political prisoners because of the extreme threat of the coronavirus in squalid, overcrowded prisons. Inexplicably, it shows a photo of Omar Abdullah as an example of a political prisoner when we know from his tweets that he was forcibly detained in a swanky health spa debating whether to stay in pajamas or put on sweat pants.
As India has released a number of prisoners to stem the spread of Covid-19 in the country, Kashmiri political prisoners continue to languish in detention
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/coronavirus-india-kashmir-seek-release-political-prisoners?
In the absence of appropriate protective gear, a Kashmiri doctor wears a biker helmet to consult with patients at the casualty ward in Sopore Hospital. If this is how key medical personnel are forced to improvise, consider the protection afforded patients under India’s lockdown.
#kashmirlockdown #KashmirCovid19
(Tweeted by Peerzada waseemMaple leaf(پیرزادہ وسیم) @waseemjourno)
As part of a general campaign for the release of political prisoners, there needs to be an international defense campaign for Kashmiri Yasin Malik who was arrested in February 2019 on 30 year old terrorism charges. He is incarcerated in Tihar prison in India where he is subjected to brutal torture. There is increasing fear that India will execute him.
These are three useful articles about Yasin & his case:
Yasin’s political development in his own words:
http://www.kashmirlit.org/long-live-resistance-long-live-freedom-an-open-letter/?f
On the denial of a trial:
On the torture he is subjected to:
https://nation.com.pk/04-Aug-2019/yasin-malik-put-on-slow-death-trial-in-indian-jail?
(Photo of Yasin Malik)
“This fascist crony capitalist regime and its minions at the state level have no intention of feeding the poor and are clearly using COVID 19 and the lockdown to commit mass genocide of the poor!”
–Uma V Chandru
https://www.newsclick.in/index.php/COVID-19-Poorest-Poor-Roaming-Streets-Food-Fuelin-Bihar?
Choice Is Yours!!
#covid_19 #medicalcare #vaccine #ventilator #chemicalweapons #guns
By Mir Suhail Qadiri
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern is receiving high praise from several sources for her management of the coronavirus. Maybe yes, maybe no. Maybe she’s just a master of public relations. But many of us still can’t get past her over-enthusiastic support for India’s lockdown of Kashmir last August–a lockdown that continues to endanger the health & wellbeing of millions of Kashmiris. Is she at least now willing to join with others in demanding India increase internet speeds in Kashmir from 2G to 4G so they can inform themselves of coronavirus protocols? Or does she still think the lockdown of the internet is necessary to fight terrorism?