Amnesty urges full Internet access as Kashmiris remain in the dark about coronavirus outbreak

Kashmir is back to a strict lockdown-like environment after the revelation of a coronavirus infection.

But the region reels from lack of information as communication has never been restored fully in the disputed region. Now people fear coronavirus outbreak would hurt them gravely with very little or no access to the latest information due to much slower Internet access.

New Delhi has allowed only 2G speed access in Kashmir since India lifted some of the communication restrictions imposed in August last year, when the BJP Government- widely criticized for its exclusionary Hindutva ideology – went ahead with enforcement of a Parliament-passed order to revoke the region’s autonomy.

“In wake of the #coronavirus pandemic, Government of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir must restore full access to internet services in the region of Jammu & Kashmir, and ensure that people have full access to health & safety related information,” Amnesty International said in a Twitter post.

The slow speed of the net means very patient waiting for many of Kashmir’s eight million people since social media surfing or download of the government messages on the COVID-19 pandemic upsets them.

Kashmiris do have access to TV channels, which air different programs.  Officials have released some video messages about information on prevention against the virus but they are not easily accessed on the Internet.

Now after months of blackouts since August 5, 2019 revocation of its autonomous status, Kashmiris have some rights restored. India has also started releasing some high-profile political prisoners but thousands of those jailed outside of the region in Indian jails remain in prisons.

Many people complain that the traditional new platforms like radio and TV  do not necessarily catch up with the latest developments all the time as the virus affects countries in the region and around the globe. Several countries in the world have now 5G Internet speed with swift access to updates and the latest preventive measures against the pandemic.

A Kashmiri man has tested positive for coronavirus, raising alarm among the people, who have already gone through much suffering.

India and neighboring Pakistan have reported relatively lower proportions of coronavirus infections compared with China, where Wuhan remained epicenter of the virus for several month.