South Asia Citizens Web

Kashmir Diary: Where do We Go from Here?

Tapan Bose — 2010-08-31T11:38:00Z

Instead of calling on the youth to stop violence, New Delhi should unilaterally release all the Kashmiris from detention, set up a transparent justice commission on the lines of the “Truth and Justice Commission” of South Africa and request the people of Kashmir to come forward, appoint several task forces to address all the political, social and economic issues that have been agitating the minds of the people. These should be done in an open and transparent manner throughout the Valley. The task forces must be empowered not only to make recommendations but to implement their recommendations. As these task forces will begin to meet and discuss all issues in an open manner with the people in the districts and tehsils we will perhaps begin to see the contours of a solution emerging from the darkness that engulfs the region of Kashmir today. This will go a long way in establishing trust and substantive democracy in Kashmir. But the question is: Is anyone in New Delhi listening? - Human Rights / Kashmir, Human Rights, Press Release

Preliminary Findings & Recommendations - The National People's Tribunal on Kandhamal

2010-08-29T11:04:00Z

The jury observes that communal forces have used religious conversions as an issue for political mobilisation and to incite horrific forms of violence and discrimination against the Christians of SC origin and their supporters in Kandhamal. The object is to dominate them and ensure that they never rise above their low caste status and remain subservient to the upper castes. The jury observes, with deep concern, that a range of coercive tactics have been used by the communal forces for conversion or re-conversion of a person into the Hindu fold, including threat, intimidation, social and economic boycott and coercion, as well as the institutionalization of humiliating rituals. The state and district administrations have, on no occasion, intervened to protect the freedom of religion and freedom of expression.

The jury observes, with concern, the institutionalised communal and casteist bias of state agencies, and their deliberate dereliction of constitutionally mandated duties, their connivance with communal forces, participation in and support to the violence and a deliberate scuttling of processes of justice through acts of commission and omission.

- Communalism Repository / Orissa, Violence / Conflict, Law and Justice, Far Right, Minorities

In solidarity with Rayana R. Khasi under threat from Muslim fundamentalists in Kerala

2010-08-28T14:53:56Z

Victimization of Rayana R. Khasi has been going on for the last one year, yet no serious note was taken by the authorities to uphold her democratic rights. We are sure Rayana is not the only girl receiving threats for not following their diktats but she is one strong and vigilant individual who decided to stand by what she believes in and not to let any fundamentalist forces to take her freedom of expression lightly. Being a citizen of a democratic country she has all the freedoms including what she wants to wear, how she wants to live, what she believes in.

ANHAD demands from Kerala government to provide her full security because any harm to her would be considered as an assault on secular and egalitarian ethos of Indian constitution.

- Women's Rights / Press Release, Kerala, Far Right

The Indian nation is alienated from Kashmir

Ashok Mitra — 2010-08-27T17:39:41Z

The Kashmir valley is now reduced to a sullen tract. Anger and resentment against India have accumulated over a hundred issues. Sometimes these explode in sporadic bursts of violence, including destruction of public property and incessant stone-pelting of police and security personnel. Phases of such violence have a cycle of their own. After a while, the riots die down and relative quiet descends on the valley. But dissatisfaction with the state of things does not abate. - Citizens Action and Concerns for Peace in South Asia / Kashmir, Human Rights

A peoples campaign against India's UID project

Insaf — 2010-08-23T05:36:03Z

The UID project envisages recording ten finger prints and iris scan of all people residing in India, allocating a unique number to each individual whose biometric data is captured, and storing it in a database with other basic information such as: name, parent's name, date of birth, gender, and address. Clearly, the UID project will affect everyone residing in India. To ensure proper implementation it is important to carry out a detailed study of the project's viability and feasibility. That the project has been launched without such a study is a matter of grave concern. - Human Rights / India, Technology, Accountability, Privacy

The Engineering Failures Behind the Floods in Pakistan

Mushtaq Gaadi — 2010-08-20T21:15:55Z

THE devastating floods in Pakistan have once again ignited public debate [ . . . ] in the country. A closer analysis of the present flood and flood-related events experienced at/around Taunsa barrage furnishes us with some counter-intuitive, and indeed, scandalous evidence: the very structures meant to control flooding have partially caused and definitely exacerbated the flood problem itself. - Environment, Health and Social Justice / Dams, Pakistan, Floods

Backlash Against Feminist Writing in India

Mrinal Pande — 2010-08-20T07:40:13Z

Vibhuti Narayan Rai, a retired Indian Police Service officer who is currently the Vice-Chancellor of India's only Hindi university, the Mahatma Gandhi International University at Wardha in Maharashtra, has created a furore in the world of Hindi writing. In a recent interview in Naya Gyanodaya, a Hindi magazine run by the Bharatiya Jnanpith Trust (the body that awards the Jnanpith award annually for the best literary writing in Indian languages), he lashed out at the trend of frank autobiographical writing by Hindi women writers. Using astoundingly crude words, Mr. Rai rubbished some best-selling woman authors in words that conveyed the image of sex-hungry women with loose moral values competing against each other in recording graphic details of their promiscuity in order to attract attention to their writings. It was, he said, as though there was a veritable festival of pornographic writing by women in Hindi. - Women's Rights / Literature, Sexuality, Patriarchy

Statement Released by Women and Mothers on Killings in Kashmir Valley

2010-08-15T08:21:18Z

There is a sound in Kashmir that resonates longer than the staccato of the gun. There is a sound in Kashmir that wants the violence to stop. There is a sound in Kashmir that doesn't care about politics. There is a sound in Kashmir echoing: STOP, Enough! It is the sound of mothers crying as they wait for their children to return knowing that they may not. Wailing, as they wonder why their young ones were killed. - Human Rights / Kashmir, Human Rights, Violence / Conflict, Press Release

Supreme Court of Pakistan issues notices to Federal, Sindh governments on petition for detained Indian fishermen

Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research — 2010-08-13T18:02:27Z

Karachi, Aug. 12, 2010: The constitution petition, filed by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) as well as five under detention Indian fishermen as well as four under trial Indian fishermen, on behalf of all the 582 Indian fishermen in the jails of Sindh province of Pakistan was heard on Thursday in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Islamabad by a bench of three honorable judges headed by Mr. Justice Tassaduq Hussain Gilani, Mr. Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Mr. Justice Asif Khosa.

After hearing of the arguments of the counsel of the petitioner, Sayed Iqbal Haider, senior advocate of the Supreme Court, the bench issued notices of this petition to both the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of foreign Affairs of the Government of Pakistan and Home Department of Government of Sindh, requiring them to explain under what lawful authority were the Indian fishermen arrested, prosecuted and convicted. They were also asked to disclose the law under which Indian fishermen have been detained. The court has also directed the Government of Sindh to file their concise statement, stating all the facts and laws. The court has also issued a notice to the Attorney General of Pakistan for assistance of the court.

- Citizens Action and Concerns for Peace in South Asia / India, Pakistan, Press Release, Borders / Frontiers, prisoners, Fishermen

Appeal for donations to the Pakistan Peace Coalition Flood Relief Fund

Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research — 2010-08-11T12:37:24Z

Taking note of the conflict situation between the two countries, Peace activists in Pakistan and India decided to start a Peace Caravan to mobilize masses against war and put pressure on their respective governments for initiation of peace and cooperation. The Caravan in India left on 28th July from Mumbai and will reach joint Wagah-Attari on 14th August, the independent day of Pakistan.

Given the situation of flood and rains, this peace caravan has also decided to collect funds for flood affectees in Pakistan and fund called “PPC Relief Fund” has been established. Indian friends have also agreed to collect funds during caravan's journey.

- General / Pakistan, Displaced People / Refugees, Floods