Hundreds of Kashmiri-Americans Sunday staged a demonstration in front of the Indian Missions to the United Nations in New York to condemn the killings of protesters, and called on the U.N. to implement it resolutions on the longstanding dispute.
India has imposed curfew and banned publication of newspapers in the disputed territory it controls as unrest spread over killing of a separatist leader Burhan Wani, and subsequent deaths of more than 40 protesters.
“Kashmiri Lives Matter,” “India: Out of Kashmir”, “We Want Freedom From India”, Wake Up, Wake Up—UN”, “Kashmir: Nuclear Flashpoint” and “India: End Bloodshed” read messages the protestors in New York displayed on placards.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported Sunday newspaper editors in Indian administered Kashmir are angry, terming the New Delhi-ordered shut down of newspapers in the strife-torn state a full-blown information war.
The ban on newspapers came on top of the shutdown of cable TV operators and private cellphone service, actions imposed by the government as it struggles to control angry street protests against the killing of a popular Kashmiri leader 10 days ago.
“This is information blockade. Newspapers are not a threat to peace. We are not parasites,” Shujaat Bukhari, editor of the Rising Kashmir newspaper in Srinagar, was quoted as saying in a dispatch from New Delhi.
“Newspapers are responsible institutions. We publish corroborated, verified news. In its absence, what are people relying on? This ban is not helping the situation at all here.”
“Kashmir gagged,” said the headline in the Indian Express newspaper on Sunday in New Delhi. On Sunday, the Indian Journalists Union said this was “unacceptable in a democracy.”
Indian officials, for their part, have failed to explain the use of force against civilians and crackdown against the media, and are trying to link the eruption of Kashmiri protests to terrorism.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has asked Indian authorities to credibly and impartially investigate police use of force during protests in Jammu and Kashmir.
Since the killing of Burhan Wani and two other Hizb-ul-Mujahedin militants in an armed exchange with government forces on July 8, 2016, demonstrations have occurred in various parts of Kashmir and protesters have hurled rocks. State security forces have responded by firing pellet guns, teargas, and live ammunition.
“Rock-throwing at demonstrations is serious but does not provide police a free pass to use force against protesters,” Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said
“The Indian authorities need to send a clear message that lethal force is only an option when a life is at imminent risk, and those misusing force will be held accountable.”
“A major grievance of those protesting in Kashmir is the failure of authorities to respect basic human rights,” Ganguly said. “Ensuring that rights are protected and prosecuting those responsible for abuses would be an important first step.”
