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NEWS Updates - 21
April 2009 |
* We've not
entered Kashmir: Taliban
‘If We Decide, No Power On Earth Can Stop Us’
*
Kawdara
protests CRPF ‘atrocities’
* Kashmiris didn't vote for K-resolution: Survey
*
Khaigam migration deferred by a day |
We've not entered
Kashmir: Taliban.
‘If We Decide, No Power On Earth Can
Stop Us’ : Islamabad, Apr 20: Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan on Monday dismissed the reports that its cadres
had entered Jammu and Kashmir, saying that it had
nothing to do with parliamentary elections being held in
India.
In an exclusive interview with Greater Kashmir, the
chief spokesman of Tehreek-e-Taliban, Haji Muslim Khan,
strongly refuted the reports that the Taliban had
entered Jammu and Kashmir.
“We fail to understand why India has unleashed a
propaganda that Taliban had entered the Kashmir Valley.
By such tactics, India wants to harass Kashmiris,” he
said, adding that they only wanted to enforce the will
of Allah (Islam) all over the world.
“If we decide to fight the Indians in Kashmir, no power
on earth can stop us,” Khan, however, asserted.
“Elections in India are not a matter of Taliban’s
interest. We are fighting for a bigger cause. Why should
Taliban enter Kashmir to disrupt the Indian elections,”
he asked.
Khan wondered why Muslims were waiting for Taliban to
enforce Islam everywhere instead of rising to the
occasion themselves.
He said Pakistani leadership had stopped aiding Kashmiri
militants. “But they cannot dampen their faith nor deter
their resolve for attaining their right to
self-determination. Whether or not Pakistan supports the
militants, they should continue their struggle for the
cause,” he said.
“Fight for territory is not Jihad. The real Jihad is to
enforce the divine law based on justice, which breaks
the shackles of human slavery,” Khan said.
Khan said India and America had been justifying the use
of gun for themselves and not for others. “And, when
Muslims use it (gun) in self-defence, it is viewed as
dangerous,” he said. "If use of gun by India and the US
is justified, why not by the Muslims, in self defence,"
he asked.
It may be recalled recent media reports had suggested
the presence of Taliban militants in Kashmir.
Subsequently, the reports were denied by the
authorities. The Army chief, Gen Deepak Kapoor, said
last week that there were no traces of Taliban presence
in Jammu and Kashmir. |
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Kawdara protests CRPF ‘atrocities’ :
Srinagar, Apr 20: Protests against
alleged CRPF atrocities continued to
rock the old city for second consecutive
day, Monday.
Outraged at the CRPF troopers “barging
into their houses” on Sunday night,
residents of Kawdara took to the streets
this morning demanding removal of the
bunker from there.
“After the protests subsided yesterday,
the troopers entered our houses and beat
us up for protesting during the day.
They broke window panes and ransacked
our houses,” protesters alleged. “They
have unleashed a reign of terror in the
area.”
Raising pro-freedom slogans, the
protesters including youth and women
demanded removal of the CRPF bunker from
the area. The protests took a violent
turn when the troopers used force to
quell them. The youth retaliated by
pelting stones triggering clashes. The
pitched battles continued for several
hours.
When contacted, the public relation
officer of the CRPF, Prabhakar Tripathi,
denied that troopers had barged into the
houses and had thrashed the inmates.
He said that CRPF bunker in the area was
strategically placed and had been set-up
in consultation with the police. “If
locals have a problem with the bunker,
they can consult the officials and we
can then consider their demand,” he
said, adding, “Resorting to violence is
not the way to demand its removal.”
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Kashmiris didn't vote for K-resolution:
Survey :
‘Elections Not Coerced
Though Held In Atmosphere Of Insecurity’
: Srinagar, Apr 20: People of Kashmir
voted for development in the recent
assembly elections, as distinct from
voting for the resolution of Kashmir
dispute, reveals a survey conducted by
the civil society. More importantly, it
maintains that the elections were not
coerced although held in an atmosphere
of insecurity.
The survey conducted by the Independent
Election Observers Monitoring Team of
the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil
Society states that majority of people
exercised their franchise for basic
amenities of life.
In a sample of 5423 respondents, the
survey report said, 78 per cent had cast
their vote because of promise of
development. The remaining 658
respondents (22 per cent) gave varying
reasons linking their participation to
be a step toward democracy and desire
for civil government, it states.
The survey states that 1320 respondents
(40 percent) who voted felt that these
elections would not have any impact in
determining a resolution of the
conflict. Similarly, the 944 respondents
(35 percent) who boycotted gave similar
response.
On the other hand, among those 1235
(fifty percent) who boycotted believed
that these elections will have some
impact on the Kashmir dispute.
“This offers some crucial insights.
Those who voted were less sanguine about
the assembly elections in so far as the
resolution of the J and K conflict was
concerned. They saw polls more in terms
of affordable tangible improvements in
their material existence and security.
In contract those who heeded the call
for boycott perceived elections to have
some impact on the conflict.”
“Thus to believe that the Assembly
elections amounted to an endorsement of
Indian rule stands negated by the sheer
fact that an overwhelming majority (91
percent) believed that the conflict
awaits resolution. Yearning for a
democratic closure of the 61-year old
dispute united the boycotters and the
voters,” it adds.
The survey states two months before the
polls 80 people were killed with at
least 2000 injured (of which nearly 600
suffered bullet injuries) hospitals were
attacked by troopers, electronic and
print media was banned, journalists were
beaten and their movement was curtailed.
“Under these circumstances questions
remain over the representative
characters of an Assembly which is
elected through a process guarded by a
security force considered hostile by
people. Besides the Assembly has no
mandate to decide the future
dispensation of J and K. It is powerless
to demilitarize the State. It even lacks
authorities to release political
prisoners without sanctions of the Union
of India. Notwithstanding the absence of
what can be considered a democratic
process, do not belittle the formal
conduct of elections.”
The survey states that 4737 respondents
categorically rejected coercion as
reason for either voting or not voting.
It states that 2793 respondents (52
percent) out of 5423 considered the
process to be free and fair whereas 40
percent said the polls were coerced.
“A 12 percent difference between the two
cannot be wished away especially as
because of crackdowns on boycott
campaign or restrictions placed on
press, were fairly well known features.
Yet if majority of respondents
considered the polls to be free and
fair, then does it mean that perhaps
there was tacit endorsement for the
crackdown or perhaps such measures were
considered so common that they ceases to
be a consideration among those who
wanted to cast their vote,” it states.
It points out that 15.56 candidates per
constituency participated in the 2008
polls as compared to 5.88 in 2002
respectively. “This is intriguingly high
turnout of candidates, most of them
belonging to parties which have no
presence in the state.”
Stating that there was considerably less
coercion than in previous elections, the
report maintains that a significant
number of underage and bogus voters were
ferried to the polling booths.
The survey highlights use the force to
quell the anti-poll demonstration.
“While canvassing for votes was financed
and promoted by the Government and its
various agencies, the campaign for
boycott was nipped in the bud,
pro-freedom leaders arrested and all
public protests against elections were
coercively put down.”
It states that except the polling
constituencies, the rest of the area
were put under harshest curfew. “And in
violation of guidelines of the Election
Commission of India, the armed troopers
frequently entered into the polling
booths.” |
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Khaigam migration deferred by a day :
Srinagar, Apr 20: Residents of Khaigam,
Pakherpora, on Monday deferred the mass
migration move by a day after the
district administration persuaded them
to discuss their demands in a meeting on
Tuesday.
The Coordination Committee of the
village had set April 20 as deadline to
remove the camp of G-company of 181
battalion, CRPF, whose troopers were
involved in the killing of a carpenter,
Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Malik, in his rented
house on March 18.
Sources said as per the program the
residents had decided to start mass
migration from Monday in the event of
government’s failure to shift the camp.
However, after the intervention of the
deputy superintendent of police, Pulwama,
the CC agreed to defer the move and meet
the deputy commissioner on Tuesday.
Apart from the CC members and DC,
sources said, the meeting would be
attended by senior superintendent of
police and other district officials.
“Though the district administration is
willing to shift the camp, it is likely
to be delayed till the end of
parliamentary elections,” sources said,
adding the meeting would try to convince
the CC members to wait till that time.
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NEWS /
Articles are reproductions of Local News
Papers (Greater Kashmir & Others)
So the legal rights are with there
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