|
India Thinkers Net Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
| << March18, 2005 - India Thinkers Net |
March19, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net] Baby Oil, Medicine costs >> |
|
1] From: Sukla Sen <suklasen@yahoo.com> Date: Sat Mar 19, 2005 0:14am Subject: Kashmir Solidarity Day on April 20 Dear friends, On 20th April 2004, Aasia Jeelani, a JKCCS activist got killed in a landmine blast while performing her duties as an election observer, during Indian parliament election of 2004 in Lolab valley. In memory of all those who lost their lives, their dignity, people who got disappeared and those who continue to be suffering, in the last 15 years of the movement for self-determination, the JKCCS executive council has decided to observe 20th April 2005 as a day of solidarity with the martyrs and disappeared. We would like those who believe in the right of self-determination of all people to express their solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. And, on 21st April 2005, the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons, one of the constituents of JKCCS, intends to lay the foundation stone of the memorial in the memory of the disappeared persons of Kashmir. We appeal to friends everywhere to either join the march in Srinagar or organize solidarity manifestations wherever they are. We are hopeful that the Civil Society groups and democratic minded people in the world would affirm their support for the right of Kashmiri people for self-determination. The participants who travel to Srinagar will be provided local hospitality from 19th to 22nd in Srinagar. President Parvez Imroz <p_imroz@y...> Parvez Imroz President J&K Coalition of Civil Society The Bund Amira Kadal, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190001 Tel: - ++91-194-2482820 fax: - ++91-194-2478464 Tel: - 91-194-2482820 Fax: - 91-194-2478464 Email: - ccs@j... Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society The Bund Amira Kadal, Srinagar - 190001, Jammu and Kashmir Website: www.jkccs.org Concept Note The past 16 year armed conflict in Jammu & Kashmir has affected the entire society. There has been no let-up in the situation. The confrontation between the armed groups and more than half-a-million Indian security personnel engaged against each other in the Valley has resulted in massive human rights violations, which continue unabated. According to the official figures, since May 1990 to May 31 2003, 34,709 persons have got killed while as All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), a conglomerate of pro-independence group, says 90,000 people have died. About 20,000 women have been widowed while another 1000 are living, as 'half-widows' since the fate of their husbands, who disappeared in custody, is not known. The number of victims of enforced or involuntary disappearance, mostly non-combatants, is pegged at 8,000. However, officials say 3,931 are missing from May 1990 to May 2003. More than 25,000 children have been orphaned. Thousands of Kashmiri youth have been reduced to a psychological wreck by systematic torture. According to studies, most Kashmiris today suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and are in need of urgent treatment. As against 1,762 patients registered during 1990 at Government Psychiatry Diseases Hospital in Srinagar (the only one of its kind in Kashmir Valley), the number of patients who visited the hospital in 2000 went up to a staggering 38,696. In 2002 the figure further rose to nearly 48,000. Shockingly, the figures have already crossed 48,000 up to September 2003. It is worthwhile to mention that before the eruption of conflict in Kashmir in 1989 there was hardly any case of PTSD. Suicide rates particularly among the women and youth have also gone up. This, the experts say, is sufficient to ring the alarm bells. The Kashmir imbroglio has assumed serious dimensions particularly after the nuclear explosions by the two belligerent neighbours, India and Pakistan in 1998. The South Asia has become the nuclear flashpoint causing worry to the people in the region and elsewhere. Of and on, the bellicose statements from the leaders of both the countries have further threatened fragile peace in the region. The Indian armed forces have been granted impunity under the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The Government of India refuses United Nations role on Kashmir, it refuses the third party mediations, even facilitation by US and tries to convince the international community that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. The Kashmiri pro-freedom groups and the people of Kashmir have been boycotting the Indian parliamentary elections and State Legislative Assembly since 1989 when the armed conflict broke out in the Valley. The separatists believe that elections under Indian constitution are no substitute to their struggle for right of self-determination. The change of Government had led to an impression in a section of the people that the "reign of terror" in Kashmir would be over soon, at least human rights violation will minimise and according to the Common Minimum Programme the government will seek accountability from the perpetrators and repeal the draconian laws. But with the passage of time, the PDP government has proved as helpless as its predecessors. Seemingly, it has been rendered ineffective by the Indian security forces who continue to indulge in alleged human rights abuses and are not within the mandate of the State. In its 26-month rule (November 2002 - January 2005), nothing has improved. Till date more than 141 cases of custodial disappearances have been reported in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, there have been 78 cases of alleged extra-judicial executions and other human rights abuses. The authorities ordered inquiry in 63 cases to probe into the excesses, but the findings in almost all the cases are withheld. At present, India and Pakistan are engaged in the confidence-building measures and have shown interest in resolving the contentious issues including Kashmir. The Government of India is eager that the other issues be decided first and Kashmir last while as Pakistan and people of Kashmir fear that the Kashmir issue would be kept in backburner as has been done in past. There have been several agreements between India and Pakistan for resolving Kashmir imbroglio but the Indian government has not engaged in the meaningful and the purposeful dialogue for resolving it. There is lurking fear in Kashmir that even if there will be a settlement between India and Pakistan, it would be what suits them and will be imposed on Kashmiris. Kashmiris have generally welcomed the genuine dialogue process between India and Pakistan but at the same time are anxious for not taking them as the third party in the present dialogue process. On the one hand the so-called CBM's are continuing, but on the ground there is no let up in violence. There are many civil society initiatives happening between the Indian and the Pakistani civil society. There is interaction of human rights activists, journalists, students, the business community, women activists and others. But unfortunately in these programmes a people to people initiative, business, improving relations, Baghliar and many other things are discussed but there is hardly any initiative been taken to address the Kashmir dispute which is the root cause of conflict between India and Pakistan. It is in this regard the JKCCS wishes to organize civil society initiative from Kashmir and for Kashmir, which will help in highlighting the self-determination movement of Kashmiris. And, also to honour the martyrs and pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for truth. This is for emphasizing the need for the global civil society to engage itself for the peaceful and the non-violent resolution of the Kashmir dispute according to the wishes of the Kashmir people, which will culminate into the peace in South Asia. -------------------------------------------------------------- 2] Protests against Unjust and Inhuman Evictions Continue National Alliance of People??™s Movements Chemical Mazdur Sabha, Haji Habib Building, I Floor, 182 Naigaon Cross Road, Dadar (E), Mumbai ??“ 400014. Delhi Contact: Ph. 26680883/26680914 /9818147740/9818492340 Press Note/ March 16, 2005 SECOND DAY OF PROTESTS BY DAM-AFECTED & SLUM DWELLERS AGAINST DISPLACEMENT; DEMAND TO STOP EVICTION, PROTECT RIGHTS. Camp Delhi: March 16: Over 1000 displaced people from the Sardar Sarovar Dam in the Narmada valley and evicted slum dwellers from Mumbai continued their dharna on the second day on March 16 (Wednesday) in Delhi, in front of the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The people made their way through the gates of the Ministry on March 15 and are staying put there to protest against both the unjust evictions and to demand stoppage of all further displacement activities till proper, just resettlement for all those hitherto evicted, is rightfully given. For the first time the displaced people from the river valley and from the urban settlements had come together for a joint struggle and asked the government to restrain the continued ordeal of submergence, demolition and asserted that there should be no displacement without resettlement acceptable to the people and which protects their legal and human rights. The 400 people from Narmada and 700 people from Mumbai are fighting a common battle against displacement and right to life, livelihood, resources and dignity. They have already met the Union Minister of Social Justice, Mrs. Meira Kumar and will be meeting the Planning Commission members, National Human Rights Commission and National Commission of SC/ST, apart from other ministers. Only Assurances Mrs. Meira Kumar sympathized with the plight of evicted slum dwellers in Mumbai, in a meeting with the delegation of the Zopadpatti Bachao Samyukta Kriti Samiti, on Tuesday. She assured to take up the matter with other concerned ministries and in the party forum also. In a memorandum, the Samiti demanded immediate stoppage of further demolition, compensation for destruction of houses, allowing the people to build the houses in the same place, providing cheap alternative housing and amenities, along with the preparing the development plan of the area with the participation of the people and their organizations. They have demanded a meeting with the Union Minister for Urban Development also. The minister also met the Narmada Bachao Andolan delegation on Wednesday (March 16). People pointed out the serious lacunae in the resettlement of already displaced people up to 110 meters of the height of the Sardar Sarovar dam and the altogether totally false action taken reports (ATRs) submitted to the Central Government by all three governments to facilitate further increase in the dam height, even when the people even below the 80-90 meters are languishing without resettlement and land. They have also pointed out the latest Supreme Court judgment of yesterday was a victory for the affected people since the court has upheld the right of major sons to 2 hectares land each and of temporarily affected families who lose their entire crops and livelihoods due to the temporary submergence, to be rehabilitated right away. The demands placed by the NBA before the Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, which were accepted were that the Secretary, Mrs.Sarita Prasad will soon visit all regions of the valley including submergence zone, resettlement sites to monitor the status of rehabilitation. They also accepted the demands that illegal cash compensation disbursement and illegal ex-parte (one-side) land allotment should be stopped. It was clearly stated by the NBA that no attempt should presently be made to raise the height of the dam to 121 metres, since at lease 25,000 families remain to be rehabilitated under this height. The Narmada oustees will also meet the Minister for Water Resources about this. Various organizations from Delhi, particularly the people from the Delhi slums supported the dharna and demands of the displaced people. Ramdas Athavale, the president of the Republica Party of India and a Member for Parliament, the leader of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha, C.K. Janu, the president of PUCL Rajinder Sachar, senior social worker Swami Agnivesh, former Commissioner for SC and ST Dr. B.D. Sharma, noted writer-crusader Arundhati Roy, filmmaker Sanjay Kak, senior lawyer Sanjay Parikh joined in the dharna and expressed their solidarity. Narmada Embroglio About the continued Narmada tragedy, village representatives made it clear the Union government should not agree to the attempts to increase the height of the Sardar Sarovar up to 121 meters, while there is no possibility of resettling over 11,000 families affected by the present height of 110.64 meters. The intervention by the PMO led to the decision to have the Minister of Waters resources and the Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment visit the valley and assess the situation, before any permission is granted. That has not happened till date, while there is also much work undertaken on identifying, allocating land to those entitled to. Meanwhile, however, the Ministry for Environment and Forests has granted permission to raise the dam height from 110.64 to 121.92 meters. The continued submergence resulted in loss of crops, river-silting. Yet the people re there in villages against all odds, snake bites, to impact on health with hardly any service by the government working. The corruption is rampant resulting in purchase of bad lands and allotment. Recently 37 officials in the Narmada Valley Development Department, in Badwani, M.P. Were suspended. In the light of above all, the people demanded that - The M.P. State government must IMMEDIATELY stop the process of cash compensation, and instead to give people cultivable land and a house plot in a developed R&R site. As per the Prime Minister??™s orders, the Minister of Water Resources, Mr. Dasmunshi and the Secretary of Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, Mrs. Sarita Prasad are to visit the Narmada Valley to personally judge for themselves the situation of rehabilitation, before the dam height is raised to 121 metres. Entire list of families claimed to have been rehabilitated to be made available in the public domain and to all affected families and their organizations, for them to comment on the same. And the dam height NOT to be raised at this stage, when thousands of families remain to be rehabilitated below the height of 110.64 metres. Latest Court Ruling: The Supreme Court ruling on March 15, 2005 is a slap in the face of such irresponsibility. The Court has ordered that even those affected temporarily by Sardar Sarovar Project at 110 mts would be entitled to alternative cultivable land allotment by all three states. The Court also ruled that each adult son of Project Affected Family (PAF) would be entitled to separate land allotments at alternative sites in addition to the land allotted to the PAF. Raju Bhise Rajendra Ravi Kamla Yadav Medha Patkar |
|
| << March18, 2005 - India Thinkers Net |
March19, 2005 - [India Thinkers Net] Baby Oil, Medicine costs >> |
|
India Thinkers Net Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
|
Archives powered by Zinester's Mailing List Service
Details on India Thinkers Net |
Browse for more newsletters at Zinester's Ezine Directory
Managed by Zinester's Mailing List Management |