Sunday, January 31, 2010

The call of Kashmir

How this troubled corner of the Himalayas has gone from war zone to ultimate ski destination
Wow, life really can be a bummer. It's 14 January and I'm sitting on the Heathrow Express, reading in the paper that Scotland is buried under snow, its ski resorts rejoicing in the best conditions for a decade. Meanwhile, Scandinavia has epic amounts of powder, the Alps are having a superb month and there's so much of the white stuff in London that people are skiing on Hampstead Heath. And this is the year I choose to go all the way to India, to ski in the Himalayas where, for the first time in 15 years, there's no snow. Well almost none. At the airport Jon, the photographer, fills me in on the grim situation. Bizarre as it seems, the Highlands' gain seems to have been the Himalayas' loss – the same dominant northerly weather system that brought the Arctic cold to Britain has meant India's peaks have been getting dry north winds from across parched expanses of Russia and the 'Stans, instead of wet snow-packed clouds from the Arabian Sea. I succeed in being philosophical about this for about eight minutes, then drown my sorrows courtesy of Qatar Airways to such an extent that the inflight showing of Gavin & Stacey has me sobbing my eyes out.
Twenty hours later, I emerge from Srinagar airport, blinking in the bright sunshine. Even without the hangover, the scene would be surreal. Before me is a huge billboard that says "Welcome to Kashmir, Paradise on Earth" above a scene of lakes and snow-capped mountains so pretty it would have you humming jolly ditties about lonely goatherds, were it not for the fact that beneath the poster is a machine gun emplacement, from which Indian army commandos peer through camouflage netting. More soldiers are on patrol outside the arrivals hall, toting machine guns and looking on as our group, a dozen skiers in bright puffa jackets, sunglasses and luminous bobble hats, wander out and start to hoist skis onto the roofs of taxis. It's a sight the soldiers are getting increasingly used to. A couple of years ago stories about Kashmir started to spread through the ski bars of the Alps, rumours of a powder paradise, where a metre of fresh, light snow falls like clockwork every week throughout the winter. And could there be a more compelling subject for a traveller's tale? Kashmir has been romanticised by everyone from the 16th-century Mogul emperor Jahangir (who, when asked on his deathbed if he wanted anything, whispered "Kashmir, only Kashmir") to Salman Rushdie (who spoke of "the lush valleys, the lakes, the streams, the saffron meadows – the intense physical beauty and culture of enormous harmony") and Led Zepellin ("Ooh my baby, let me take you there").
Add the spice of danger, the years of violent border disputes between India and Pakistan that have kept it off limits, and you have the delicious prospect of a beautiful forbidden valley at the edge of the world's highest mountains. Compare that with the familiar, never-changing Alpine round of chalets and fondues, lift queues and après-ski, and it's little surprise that keen skiers weary of St Anton and Val d'Isère are making the long pilgrimage here. Our procession of jeeps with skis and snowboards piled on the roofs leaves the airport through multiple army checkpoints, swerving around barbed wire-encrusted barricades and then heads out through the dusty, grey, dirt-poor villages. We feel like some over-privileged colonial-era hunting party, pursuing not big game but our prized powder snow. An hour-and-a-half later we arrive at Gulmarg, India's leading ski resort, and the feeling of returning to the days of the Raj only intensifies. Sitting on a plateau at 2,600m, Gulmarg grew up as a hill station in the 19th century, when British civil servants and soldiers would come up to escape the summer heat, hunt and play golf. By the early 20th century there were three golf courses here, including one for women only, and in the middle of the fairways was St Mary's Anglican church, which still stands today.
"Here the happy fugitive from the sweltering heat of the lower regions will find a climate as glorious as the scenery – he can enjoy the best of polo and golf, picnics and scrambles on foot or on horseback, coming home to wind up the happy day with a cheery dinner and game of bridge," wrote one visitor, a Major TR Swinburne, in 1907. We are staying at the Hotel Highlands Park, opened in 1966 by retired cavalry officer and golf fanatic Major Benjie Nedou. Though it is now owned by his granddaughter and her husband, who gave up legal and banking careers in London to return to Kashmir, Benjie would still feel very much at home. In the dining room hangs the bear that he shot after it attacked someone in the village, a sign by the lounge politely asks guests to leave weapons at the door, while the wood-panelled walls are covered in watercolours of St Andrews and plaques, medals and pendants presented by his friends in various Indian and British regiments (plus, strangely, one from Oldham Rotary Club). Today, though, the lounge is filled with ski bums, not top brass. Around the fireplace there are dreadlocks, baseball caps, and big North Face down jackets. They're peering into laptops, poring over the latest weather forecasts. And no one is looking very happy.
Next morning I'm woken by a rustle in the bedroom. It's Ahmed and Mushtaq, who tiptoe in to leave a tray of sweet milky chai and stoke up the bukhari, the wood-burning stove in the corner of the room. The hotel is made up of several wooden cottages scattered along a ridge, each with a few rooms, and each with a couple of staff who are modelled on the army officer's batman, right down to the olive green and burgundy wool uniforms. It's a brilliant morning and monkeys are playing on the grass terraces just beyond our verandah. To the right, above the forest, the summit of Mount Apharwat is sparkling in the early sun. Even Ahmed telling us that there is usually snow up to the eaves at this time of year, and that the hotel has to keep a team of five on round-the-clock shovelling duties to keep the paths clear, can't dent our spirits. And so we're off to see Gulmarg's main claim to fame – its ski lifts. Well actually, its ski lift. Gulmarg has only one serious lift (the other three are tiny, ancient drag lifts for beginners). Building work for the main lift, the Gulmarg Gondola, began as far back as 1989, but after a major escalation in violence Gulmarg effectively shut down for almost a decade and construction was put on hold. The gondola was finally completed in 2005, taking skiers up to 3,979m, just below the summit of Apharwat, making it the world's highest ski lift. (There are two higher lifts in China but neither is in an ski resort, while higher lifts in Venezuela and Bolivia have shut down.)
The locals are, unsurprisingly, proud of this fact and around the resort are posters showing the lift with catchlines like "Gulmarg Gondola – a tryst with nature", "Gulmarg Gondola – a step closer to heaven", and "Gulmarg Gondola – a masterpiece of French engineering". The reality is a little less awe-inspiring. The gondola is French-built, made by lift company Poma, but given the 16-year construction period, it isn't what you'd call state of the art. As we queue up inside, the signs become more prosaic ("spitting or scratching inside the gondola is strictly prohibited") and a man scrambling in the machinery above our heads opens the doors of each cabin with a kick. The racks are too small for today's fatter skis, so we have to stick them half in, half out of the cabins, which means the doors can't close properly. The lift also breaks down regularly, doesn't open much before 10am, and won't run in high winds. We make a few nervous gags about it getting us a bit too close to heaven and decide not to think about it too much. On the upside, it is cheap – 150 rupees (£2) up to the mid-station, 250 rupees to the top – and as we ride up, we can see there is some snow around. Nick Parks, our British guide, explains that so far in this freakish winter there have been only two snowfalls, one in November and one on New Year's Day, dropping a total of about 90cm. This is a monumental challenge to my positive mental attitude. On one hand we are going to be able to ski, it's sunny, we're in India, I haven't got ill yet and we've seen a monkey. On the other, there is less than half the snow here than they have in the Cairngorms!
Disembarking at the top station (which seems to be made largely from corrugated iron) we see our first, fabulous Himalayan panorama. Here, above the haze that hangs in the valley, we spin around to take in the chain of peaks that stretches around the horizon, from Pakistan into India and north to China, with Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest peak, dominating the view. We take a few runs, and though the snow is old and crusty rather than the fabled powder we've come searching for, we can quickly see the potential of the place. Apharwat is a big, wide, whale-backed mountain, with a dozen or so ridges coming off the front face at right angles, like the teeth of a comb. The top lift station is bang in the middle and so from it you can traverse left or right along the top, and choose to ride any of the ridges or drop into any of the bowls and gullies between them. Only a small central section is avalanche-controlled, patrolled and prepared; the rest of the mountain is off-piste. Glass half full: this is an amazing place, the perfect skiers' mountain, and in a normal year you could spend all week lapping the lift and riding every gully in a glorious frenzy of powder. Glass half empty: it's not a normal year.
Thankfully, Nick has a plan. At lunch in the Kongdori restaurant at the gondola mid-station (my first curry above 3,000m), he explains that instead of repeatedly taking the lift and skiing the front side of Apharwat, we'll head over the top and explore the back, looking for unskied routes, hunting out stashes of powder, and attaching sticky skins to our skis so we can climb up slopes and press out into the wilderness. On day two we put the plan into action. From the lift we climb for 40 minutes to the summit of Apharwat, at 4,124m, ski down into a deserted valley, then trek up to another col, first on foot, clambering up through bushes, then on skis. From the top we can make out a strange, distant line in the snow, stretching away across every mountain we can see – the barricades that mark the start of the demilitarized zone before the "line of control", India and Pakistan's disputed border. From here we begin our descent, first on open slopes, then into glades of paperbark trees, a type of pink-tinged birch. No one has been this way for at least three weeks – the snow is untouched, in places hard and icy, and in others deliciously powdery. Then the paperbarks start to blend into the forest of Himalayan pines, colossal trees shooting straight up for 30m or more. The trees are so old and tall they seem to suck up the sound as well as the light, and we dart through them shouting at each other so as not to get lost.
Then suddenly we pop out, back into the sunlight on an open slope which Nick calls Snow Leopard Couloir because of the animal's tracks he's seen in the snow there. (We never manage to spot one, but we do encounter its more common relative, the Himalayan Leopard – two of them skinned on the walls of the Highlands Park, one alive, seen by some of our group in the lights of a taxi at night.) The snow in the couloir is a delight, turned sugary because it has sat untouched on the hill for so long, and we whoop as we ski down it, stopping occasionally to take photos, before we eventually reach a snow-covered road in a forgotten side valley. It's a military track off-limits to the public, used by soldiers heading for their border look-out posts. As we take off our skis to begin the hour-long walk back to town, there's a distant rumbling and a khaki truck lumbers around the corner, the three soldiers in the cab looking bemused at the skiers standing in the road before them. It's as if a wormhole has opened up between the frivolous slopes of Courchevel and this troubled corner of Asia, which Bill Clinton once dubbed "the most dangerous place in the world". I'm not sure whether we should ignore them, run away or just smile, but Imtiyaz, a local who's come with us for the day, flags them down with a winning smile and pleads for a lift. The driver looks unsure, but then, with a wobble of the head, breaks into a huge smile, and we run round the back and clamber inside. We have done only one run in the whole day, but it's been more memorable than any day's skiing I've ever had.
"There's no polish here, this is a wild mountain," says Yaseen Khan, 54, owner of the Kashmir Alpine Ski Shop, a 12ft-square Aladdin's Cave that is the de facto hub of the resort. Inside it's dark but the walls are lined with ski gear, some ancient and battered hand-me-downs, others surprisingly new. In the back, Yaseen's son is repairing my skis by melting plastic onto them with a candle, while his father discusses how the resort's prospects have ebbed and flowed according to the intensity of India's border disputes with Pakistan and China, and the activity of Kashmir's insurgents and terrorists. Now, after four years of relative calm, some are daring to dream about a new golden era for the resort. Plans for a second gondola are advanced, and a group of New Zealanders are planning to start a heli-skiing operation here next winter, catapulting Gulmarg into a new league, where the super-rich will pay more than €6,000 a week to avoid the temperamental gondola and the skinning uphill.
Yaseen is not keen. "If heliskiing comes it will be hell – far too much noise. People come here because it is so natural, so wild, and it should stay like that." So is it safe? The Foreign Office says no, warning against travel to "rural areas" of Kashmir, and its website lists numerous clashes in Srinagar between protestors, insurgents and the police. Of course, everywhere "feels" safe until you get into trouble, but it's hard to imagine much harm coming to a tourist in Gulmarg, high up on its secluded plateau. In fact, it is one of the most relaxed, convivial places I've ever been in India. There are no beggars, hawkers, or hassle. Indian and Western tourists mix, and the ski patrol and avalanche forecast team is a happy international blend of Canadians, Kiwis and Indians. Even the soldiers from the big army base on the edge of the village look like they are having fun, as they have their first faltering goes on the nursery slopes.
And so the week continues, in some ways like a normal ski holiday, in others totally different. The sunset stroll is accompanied by the call to prayer, we eat curry, not raclette, every night, we spot bear and leopard tracks in the snow, ski past monkeys and watch huge birds of prey circling. One afternoon, we ski down to find the village full of Indian tourists from Gujarat coming up to see snow for the first time. Dressed in rented fur coats, they sledge along the paths, screaming with glee, then make each of us pose with them for photographs. But the biggest difference, the strangest thing of all, is the sense of space, the lack of people. On this vast mountain, there are perhaps 50 skiers per day, and as we push out into distant corners of the range, we only ever catch glimpses of them. "This is the worst year I have ever seen here, but, you know, it makes you change your rythym, adapt," says John Falkiner, a guide from Verbier who first came here in 1989. "Places like Chamonix and Verbier are getting ridiculous these days. There are so many people you just feel like another number. "Here you get to know everyone else on the mountain – you'll probably play backgammon with them in the bar. It reminds me of growing up in Australia and going to the local ski club. It's not about ripping up as much powder as possible – the skiing is just the vehicle that lets us experience this exotic place."
And so we convince ourselves to stop yearning for snow, to forget about the long runs down to the valley-bottom villages of Drang and Babareshi that are impossible because of the snow drought, and we start to relish the trip. The group bonds, we relax, we take après-ski tea with Yaseen, chat with Ahmed and Mushtaq, and have the most interesting, unusual, fabulous ski trip. Perhaps the glass really is half full after all. And then, literally as we get into the taxi to start the long journey back to Srinagar, Delhi and London, it starts to snow. Big, heavy, Himalayan snow flakes. Positive thinking flies out the window. Life really can be a bummer.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

2010: January records rise in violence

Srinagar, Jan 30: Although Finance minister Abdur Rahim Rather has expressed hope that 2010 would turn out to be most peaceful year in the State, the first month of the year has witnessed a steep increase in infiltration, encounters, grenade explosions and trooper killings.
Infiltration
According to army sources, 25 infiltration bids have taken place since January one through various sectors in the State. “As per our assessment, at least 42 militants have sneaked into this side of fence since January 1. Most of them preferred international border (IB) for the cross over. The infiltration attempts through IB have increased by 30 per cent,” army sources told Rising Kashmir. They feared summer this year would be full of challenges for security agencies. “The infiltration attempts may increase and more militants would try to cross over to this side of LoC,” they said. According to army statistics, 499 infiltration incidents were registered in Jammu and Kashmir in 2009.
Cease fire violations, flag meetings
Army sources said five ceasefire violations have taken place on LoC this year so far. “The violations have occurred in Poonch and Samba sectors of Jammu province”. They said two major flag meetings have taken place, wherein army has registered serious protest with Pakistan officials for violation of ceasefire.
Encounters, shoot outs
Police sources said 15 encounters, a fidayeen attack and two shoot-outs have taken place in the State so far since January 1. “Five gunfights took place in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district while Sopore area in North Kashmir accounted for four encounters,” they said. A fidayeen attack, first in over two years, took place in city’s commercial hub, Lal Chowk on January 6.
Escape incidents
Militants managed to give slips to security men during the search and combing operations. “Seven such incidents have taken place in the State since the onset of 2010. Two major escapes of militants took place in Jammu region—one in Mendhar and another in Kishtwar yesterday, where four Hizbul Mujahideen militants managed to give slip to troopers after killing two army men. In Kashmir, the militants managed to give slip to troopers in Abhama and Kalampore villages of Pulwama district. They also escaped from troopers cordon at Qaimoh in Kulgam district.
Militants killed, arrested
According to police statistics, seven militants were killed in different militancy related incidents in the State in this month so far. Four of the slain militants belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba and three others owed allegiance to Hizbul Mujahideen. Police sources said three militants and three of their over ground workers were arrested during the same period.
Civilian killings
According to police sources, three civilians were killed since January one. One of them was killed in Lal Chowk fidayeen attack, while another was killed in IRP firing at Pattan area and recently a 32-year old civilian (father of three) was allegedly killed by troopers at Kalampore, Pulwama.
Former militants killed
Two former militants were killed by unidentified gunmen in January. One of them was killed in Kulgam district and another in apple town of Sopore.
Trooper casualties
Four army men were killed in separate militant attacks since January 1. Two army men were killed in an encounter with Hizbul Mujahideen militants on January 14 at Kulgam while two others died in militant attack at Tandar village in Dachan area of Kisthwar district on January 29.
Grenade attacks
Police sources said six grenade attacks have taken place in January so far. Two of the bombs failed to explode and were defused by experts of bomb disposal squad.
IED explosions
An IED blast took place at Tral area of Pulwama district. Two IEDS were also defused.

Lal Chowk freed!

M Ashraf
For the first time in last 19 years no flag was hoisted by Paramilitary in Lal Chowk. If they have called it a day, the other side too needs to respect the truce! M Ashraf The historical square named after the Red Square of Moscow by BPL Bedi, the author of Naya Kashmir, had become a bone of contention between the security forces and militants during last two decades. After the first flag hoisting by Murli Manohar Joshi of BJP in early nineties, the paramilitary forces had made it a point to hoist the National flag with big fanfare on every Republic/Independence Day. The ritual had no official sanction but was just a continuance of BJP agenda by the paramilitary. At the time of the first hoisting the entire valley had to be put under siege. In spite of the strictest security measures, militants were able to fire some rockets towards the venue of flag hoisting. In fact, over last few years some confusion has been created about the exact spot known as Lal Chowk. In reality, it is the spot in front of Palladium Cinema. It used to have a circular podium which had a flag post, which used to carry the State Flag.
Later on a clock tower was built near the Tyndale Biscoe School. The flags have always been hoisted at this spot. The original podium at the place of the true Lal Chowk has been totally erased. Lal Chowk has been a historical spot for Kashmiris’ struggle for freedom. About 63 years back Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru embraced Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah at this place. Sheikh Abdullah recited a Persian verse, "Man tu shudam, tu man shudi; Ta Kas na Goyed, man degeram tu degeri" It can be translated as: "I became you and you became I; so none could say you are separate from me".......... Nehru gave a pledge to a mammoth gathering of Kashmiris that they would be free to decide their future. Incidentally, the official website of J&K Government carries photographs of this gathering and reproduces Pandit Nehru’s words, “India will never let down Kashmir!” In regard to all the political movements in Kashmir Lal Chowk is the emotional and sentimental heart of the valley. Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah must have addressed dozens of rallies at this spot. All the national and international dignitaries who have visited Kashmir from time to time have been taken to this spot. It has the same importance for Kashmir as the Red Square has for Russia. It figures in every historical epoch connected with Kashmir since 1947. There used to be frequent peaceful rallies at the spot. During the peak of militancy it had become probably the most violent town centre in the world. This was because of some paramilitary bunkers located around the spot. These were the prime targets of militant grenade attacks. These attacks were more done for media mileage than to cause any major harm. Any news about trouble in Lal Chowk would get instant coverage through all channels. In most of the incidents, the greatest sufferers have been innocent civilians caught in the cross fire. While as the struggle for dominance of the spot has carried on between the opposing parties, it has in the meantime, become the business hub of Srinagar. A number of hotels frequented by tourists and businessmen are located here. Before 1990, all rallies by different political parties as well social organisations were mostly held in Lal Chowk. Because of militancy, the venue of all public rallies organised by the mainstream parties had been changed to Sher-i-Kashmir Park. This is a better manageable place for security agencies. It can be easily cordoned off and sanitised. There have been violent incidents even here but the collateral damage has been minimal. Similarly, the opposite camp has also preferred to hold their gigantic rallies in Eid Gah. That place can accommodate massive crowds without any problem. Lal Chowk came again into limelight during 2008 Amarnath and Muzaffarabad Chalo agitation. After massive rallies in Tourist Centre Grounds, and Eid Gah, a call was given for Lal Chowk Chalo. The Government became panicky and virtually Lal Chowk was hijacked. It was put under complete cordon and the whole valley was put under “undeclared” curfew. This gave the opposite camp an easy handle to embarrass the government. Every time they wanted the valley to be put under siege, they would give a “Lal Chowk Chalo” call. The government panicked every time and prevented a massive gathering in this historic Chowk. They were scared and unnerved by the massive marches for “Azadi” during those days. Having a similar gathering at this spot where India’s greatest leader had given a promise to Kashmiris may have been a huge embarrassment. It would be a total reversal of history. However, this repressive measure put Lal Chowk in more limelight and resulted in many militant attacks. The last one which took place very recently resulted in the destruction of a hotel apart from the human loss. The stoppage of flag hoisting on the plea that it was not an official function appears to be an admission by the government that dominance of civilian areas by paramilitary is not the correct path to peace. Such actions have only acted as a red rag to the bull! It vindicates Kalhana’s contention in Raj Tarangni that Kashmiris cannot be subdued by the force of arms. The measures of neutralising Lal Chowk as a battle field need to be taken to the logical end by totally demilitarising the spot. In addition, the procedure needs to be repeated for all civilian areas, especially the popular shopping and business centres. The other side should also not take it as their victory. The main consideration for the action seems to have been the promise of demilitarisation given to the local people following their threat of an indefinite shut down of all markets in the area because of harassment during the recent encounter. For a change it may be worthwhile to declare Lal Chowk as a zone of peace and allow it to function as a tourism and business hub. One may get the feeling that the Lal Chowk has been finally “set free” but it will be so only when both sides honour the tacit truce. Common people surely deserve some respite in the unending atmosphere of turmoil and uncertainty. They are pinning for peace. Will they get it? Well, that surely is a million dollar question!

Deforestation: a threat for ecology of Kashmir

Zafar Iqbal
Yousaf Butt, 56, of Keran village in Neelum Valley at Line of Control in Pakistani Kashmir is worried about his job because of the government decision to ban on the cutting of trees. Yousaf and his colleagues fear the decision would stop the operation of their employer, Azad Kashmir Logging and Saw Mills, (AKLAS) - a semi government firm which deals with the extraction of timber wood from Pakistani Kashmir and its supply to across Pakistan. "Jungle is everything for us. My wife brings fodder and fuel wood and children collect mushrooms from nearby forest", says Butt. He is not aware about the devastating consequences of the ruthless felling of trees in his area, nor do his bosses consider the great loss caused by the depletion of forests. Yousaf and his villagers are glad on rapid melting of the snow as since last few years its level is decreased. So they have to store less fuel wood for winter, compared to previous years when life ceased for months because of heavy snowfall.
According to the State forest laws, government can sale only damaged trees after necessary assessment by forest officials, however, powerful timber mafia under the cover of extraction of sick or fallen trees also illegally chop and smuggle green trees. This act poses a threat to forests ecosystem, and has resulted alarming decline of forest cover of the region. Sometimes, forests are put on fire by timber mafia to justify the damage of trees which also has caused enormous loss to local forests and wildlife habitats. The officials admit that over the last twenty years more than five percent of the forests have vanished.
Located in the North of Pakistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is in the foothills of the Himalayas and plays vital role in the economy of Pakistan. AJK is commonly known as a forestry state which has over 56,700km area , from total 13,297 square kilometres, under the control of local forest department which makes 42.6 per of the land.
This eco-region is a prime location for endangered plant and animal species. The evergreen forests of conifers, locally with some admixture of oak, dry zone deodar; Pinus gerardiana (Chalghoza) and/or Quercus ilex are the main species in these temperate forests. Most of the wood is sold to Pakistani furniture and flooring firms, which make products for consumers in Europe and the United States.
Three main rivers of the region-Poonch, Jhelum and Neelum flow from Azad Jammu and Kashmir towords Pakistan and play a vital strategic role in the economy of the country and livelihood of people as these rivers are constituent of the largest irrigation system of the world which heavily relies on Turbela and Mangla Reservoirs.
With 3.5 million populations, Azad Jammu and Kashmir is a densely populated area with the ratio of 264 persons per Sq Km. More than 88 per cent of the population lives in rural areas and depends upon natural resources like forests for fuel wood, timber, grazing and water. Eighty nine percent of households in AJK use wood for cooking and space heating, 94.1 percent in rural areas and 50.4 per cent in urban areas. 98 per cent of rural population depends on forests for grazing animals partially or completely, while 87 percent completely.
The majority of the income of the area comes from remittances of overseas Kashmiris working mostly in the UK and Middle East, and form of revenue of timber and royalty of Mangla Dam located in southern Mirpur district. The unemployment rate is from 35 to 50 percent. Average per capita income is estimated to range from $ 5000 US to $ 600 US. Besides human loss, natural resources of the region suffered irrecoverable loss during the tragic earthquake of October, 2005 when more than 1000 small and larger landslides damaged a large number of diversified flora and fauna of the region. Officials believe that growing deforestation also escalated the damage to the natural resources. The International Union of Natural Conservation (IUCN) estimates that the damage caused by landslides in lower Neelum Valley of AJK is calculated around PKR 72 million (US$ 1 million) , where as the rehabilitation cost for the damaged forest has been estimated PKR 1 million (US$17 million). Currently, AJK government is conceiving measures of forest conservation to protect the natural resource, including imposing complete ban on cutting of green trees, which was initially enforced in 1997, but unfortunately not implemented because of lack of political will and alleged benefits gained by government functionaries who are accused for corruption and involvement in timber trade.
Similarly, government is facing immense resistance from employees of the AKLAS who believe that implementation of this ban would turn into complete end of timber industry. Local traders have similar concerns about the government measures for conservation. "By imposing bar on the cutting of trees government wants to make three thousand people jobless who earn their daily bread from timber business", fears trader Shafiq Khawaja. On the other hand, environment campaigners and ecologists have hailed the plan and demand protection of forests.
'Plenty of timber wood is waiting for transportation in the jungles and lugging depots since many years, which is enough to meet the public requirements", said Naseer, community worker who suggested that the surplus staff of the disband corporation could be adjusted in forest and agriculture departments. Ecologist Ejaz Rehman says that authorities should do more to clamp down and should continue efforts to stop illegal and unsustainable logging. To shut down institutions is not the solution to control cutting of trees. There should be co-operation among institutions and local people. Best solution is to strengthen and equip institutions both AKLAS and Forest Department.
Forest decline is a complex and tragic disorder. If the government wants to protect forest and vegetation of the area, it should provide alternative fuel resources to the local communities and must enforce international and local forest protection laws to stop this depletion of great environmental heritage. (The writer is a freelance journalist and social activist hailing from Pakistan Administered Kashmir.

The roots of dispute

Kashmir problem and problems of Kashmir
DR.MIRZA ASHRAF BEG
Kashmir problem, an unfinished agenda of the partition of India, has without any doubts given birth to innumerable problems of Kashmir. Looking retrospectively on the events that followed the patrician of India one can easily see that many a people many a times tried to address the Kashmir issue from their own perspective. Some thought the delay in the implementation of UN resolutions will dissolve the issue while others considered creating confusion is the solution. At the end of the day we can see we are where we were in 1947 with thousands of lives lost, orphans and widows all around besides both India and Pakistan badly bruised. The resulting uncertainty has pushed Pakistan in the grip of militancy and India in to the lap of poverty. In this blame game both have lost their credibility with loads of problems from garbage disposal to rabid dog menace facing the state.
Undoubtedly for the last few years there are covert and overt attempts to address the Kashmir issue once again. That is why we hear the music of track two diplomacy and offers of mediation from different countries. The statements from world dignitaries such as president Obama, prime minster Gordhan Brown and Gadafi besides ticklish irritations from our neighbors like China seem to be a component of the same game. So it appears international community has become conscious of the impending dangers of unsolved Kashmir issue in presence of nuclear threats between India and Pakistan. Back home in the state we hear a lot about NC’s autonomy, the self rule, status co cry of congress and its siblings besides restoration of article 370 etc; etc; and BJP’s sob for a long march against any logical solution. On top of all that the activities of New Delhi’s working groups to sort out a long term relationship with the sensitive J&K indicate that the government in New Delhi is keen to involve all the factions of Huriat Conference in the secret dialogue process. All these parameters add to the fact that the ball has been set rolling to find a feasible solution to the tricky and delicate Kashmir problem.

Having said that, we have seen during the last sixty years of ambiguity a class of political jugglers has cropped up in the state who believe that they have attained an expertise to solve the Kashmir problem as well as address the problems of Kashmir. In this erroneous belief these pseudo patriots and their political organizations have unfortunately turned in to private limited companies with the aim to earn profits for themselves and their corporations at the cost of the suffering masses of the state. That is why we see Kashmir problem unsolved and that is why we see heaps of garbage in our towns and cities. That is why we see thousands of our educated youth roaming aimlessly on our streets. That is why we see our education system and health care in shambles. That is why we see our politicians enjoying in warm sunshine and snow clad ski resorts while our poor are shivering in biting cold for want of electricity and drinking water. That is why there are humiliating crackdowns for our innocents plus fake encounters against unarmed resulting in unidentified graves. Enough is enough the time has come to address these issues and denounce this exploitation. Long ago I heard a political leader addressing a gathering and he said, ‘No doubt building schools, roads, industries and hospitals will not solve Kashmir problem but to address these problems while we are looking for a solution to Kashmir problem is equally important –if not more.’ I am talking of the days when politics too was reverence and politicians were sincere. Time has proved that the wise man had foresight and I hope many of us will see the prudence in his perception and will not leave the field of politics for conjurers to play their gimmicks. The present generation of J&K is a witness to the fact that though all the main stream political originations (barring a few) contested previous parliamentary elections and ballot vote to the state assembly with the jingle that the elections were only for the developments of the state yet we see all these political organizations boast of being in the fore front for the solution to the Kashmir issue. Apparently one is bound to agree with the wise who pronounce this publicity-stunt a political jugglery that has resulted in confusion and chaos in the state. No doubt people were wooed and came out in large numbers to cast their votes for the developmental programs that was tactfully highlighted and orchestrated by different candidates and their political organization yet we cannot ignore the underlying current for a feasible solution to the core issue. In view of this it is mandatory to remind that memories of ‘Uri Chalo’ following the Amarnath land row are still reverberating in our ears. This base line of Kashmir psyche is bound to rebound with curfews hartals and human rights violations over and over again till we leave Kashmir unsolved. Despite ups and downs in the security situation present political scenario in the state indicates that there are efforts to involve the Hurriats in a meaningful- delicate- unpredictable and time consuming dialogue process. At the same time one needs to understand that Hurriats are a shattered house of cards and are totally confused at the moment. Thus it is likely to take some time to glue its constituents before it can take some logical steps. Under the circumstances it remains to be seen if the civil society will leave the political jugglers to fish in the troubled waters or find ways to combat in the forth coming civic elections to address the problems of the state while efforts for a lasting solution to the core issue are in the pipeline.

A boy walks past the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar with Zabarwan hills in the backdrop


Plantation chokes Wullar

Srinagar, Jan 30: Experts have recommended immediate dredging and uprooting of trees planted by various government departments in and around the Wullar, Asia’s largest freshwater lake, to restore its pristine glory.“The plantation activity has firmed up the silt deposits and given them the character of permanence and subsequent deposits have drastically changed the water circulation and navigation. The very activity of plantations been done in the water expanse makes it a man-made intervention rather than a natural feature of Wullar,” said Aijaz Rasool a hydraulic engineer, who is also a member of Committee of Experts, on Wullar, Tso-Morari and Mansar-Surinsar lakes under the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan for Jammu and Kashmir.He said winter was right time to remove the trees and undertake dredging activities.The Government recently constituted the Wullar Development Authority to streamline the conservation measures for the lake. A few decades ago Wullar acted as a huge absorption basin for the annual floodwaters, maintaining a balance in the hydrographic system of the Valley. The lake with its associated wetlands was an important habitat for migratory water birds within Central Asian Flyway and supported rich biodiversity. Due to massive encroachments and siltation, the lake’s area has been reduced from 273 kms to less than 70 sq kms.“Raising of willow plantations in the water expanse of the lake is akin to encroaching upon the water body. If the trees are uprooted, it won’t cause any euthrophication or adverse change in hydrology or interfere with original vegetation features,” Aijaz Rasool maintained.He said deforestation of the Wullar catchments in early 90s led to heavy influx of silt into the water body. “This led to drastic reduction of the lake’s bed and severely affected its flora and fauna. Winter is the best time for undertaking dredging due to lean water discharge. Simultaneously conservation activities like soil erosion control, integrate grassland management, prioritization of critical micro water sheds can also prove beneficial,” he said.He underscored the need to improve lake’s hydrological connectivity with existing marshes. “It will help in water absorption capacity of the wetland system to control flooding and increase retention capacity of Wullar,” he said.Official figures state that nearly 69,072 kanal of converted land of Wullar have been occupied illegally by various government departments, including Social Forestry department. The problem was compounded by continuous influx of silt from nearby catchments which has turned a large chunk of the water body into a land mass.Aijaz Rasool, who has served as a consultant of the Wetlands International-South Asia, has also formulated water management part of the Comprehensive Management Action Plan (CMAP) for restoration of Wullar lake, recently approved by the Central Government for implementation.He pointed out that Wullar has also lost the capacity to regulate water flows due to wetland conversions for agriculture and willow pastures, reclamation, siltation and interventions to enhance drainability of water for upstream mitigation.He said the Wullar had lost the capacity to regulate water due to reclamation, siltation and interventions to enhance drainability of water for upstream mitigation. “If the Government is serious to restore the lake, it needs to adopt the Critical Path Method. In the project we have identified the works to be executed. The executing agency only needs to strictly work according to it,” Aijaz said.But he maintained that despite all measures, only 40 per cent of Wullar water retention capacity would be restored. The CMAP estimated at Rs 380 crore would focus on the lake’s land and water resources management, bio-diversity conservation, livehood improvement and institutional development. The plan emphasizes on eco-tourism as a potential tool to conserve lake and its rich bio-diversity while providing economic incentives to the locals.Experts said Government must make the lake dwellers part of the conservation measures. “It is important to make them aware about the need to preserve Wullar” they added.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Kashmir Mujahideens kill two Indian soldiers

SRINAGAR — Islamic militants killed two Indian army soldiers during a mountain gunbattle in Kashmir.The fighting erupted late Thursday in the mountains of southern Kishtwar district, army spokesman Biplab Nath told AFP. Troops have launched an intensive search to "arrest or eliminate" the militants, he said. "Reinforcements have been rushed to the area," he added. The attack came hours after suspected rebels shot and wounded Ismail Lone, a senior official of the Communist Party of India in southern Kulgam district, a police spokesman said. Lone's nephew was also hurt in the shootout. Rebels often attack pro-India politicians and their workers in Muslim-majority Kashmir where Islamic separatists have waged a two-decade revolt against New Delhi's rule.
Kashmir had been relatively stable in recent months but violence has spiked in the past few weeks. Earlier this month, Indian commandos stormed a hotel in Kashmir's main city Srinagar and killed two militants who had been holed up in the guesthouse for nearly 24 hours. A civilian and a policeman also died in the siege. Attacks and clashes have continued since the siege. The insurgency has claimed more than 47,000 lives, according to an official count.

Kashmir marks 20 years of conflict, peace still distant

Jan 25, 2010 : One of the world’s longest-running separatist insurgencies, one that has killed tens of thousands of people in Kashmir, completed two decades last month. The strife-torn region witnessed a period of relative calm, but a recent spate of rebel attacks is a grim reminder of the tensions in Kashmir at the heart of enmity between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan. A series of skirmishes across Kashmir’s border between the South Asian rivals, which claim the disputed region in full but rule in parts, also underline decades of mistrust between two countries which have fought two wars over the region.
With diplomatic limbo between India and Pakistan and stalled peace talks between New Delhi and region’s separatists, peace seems a distant dream. Yasin Malik, one of Kashmir’s most influential separatist leaders, recently told Reuters in an interview that the region risks a return to militancy and violent protests if India fails to push a stalled peace process After two decades of campaign, little headway is visible for resolution of Kashmir which New Delhi calls the crown of India, while for Islamabad it is Pakistan’s jugular vein. “For God’s sake, don’t give our next generation a sense of defeat. If you are giving them a sense of defeat, you are pushing them for another revolution,”It’s again an uneasy time in Kashmir, stunningly beautiful but one of the world’s most militarized regions.
Increase in rebel incursions into Kashmir from Pakistan, near daily gun battles, anti-India protests and rights violations allegedly by security forces: is this a re-run of 1989? Is Kashmir, a near-forgotten conflict, spinning off into another 20 years of violence?

حکومت کی غفلت شعاری سے سلک فیکٹری تباہ

راجباغ سرینگر میں قائم گورنمنٹ سلک فیکٹری حکومت کی عدم دلچسپی کی وجہ سے تباہی کے دہانے پر پہنچ گئی ہے جس کےخلاف ہزاروں کی تعداد میں ملازمین گزشتہ کئی برسوں سے حکومت کےخلاف سراپا احتجا ج ہیں۔اس دوران فیکٹری کےلئے مخصوص اراضی پر غیر قانونی طور دفاتر قائم کرنے کی وجہ سے یہ صنعت بری طرح متاثر ہورہی ہے۔ اطلاعات کے مطابق مہاراجہ ہر سنگھ کے زمانے میں سرینگر میں سلک فیکٹری کا قیام عمل میں لایا گیا تھا اور ماہرین کے مطابق جب یہ فیکٹری قائم کی گئی تو اسوقت قریباً00 ملازمین مذکورہ فیکٹر ی میں کام کررہے تھے جسکے بعد آہستہ آہستہ ملازمین کی تعداد بڑھ گئی اور ساتھ ہی ساتھ اس نے ایک صنعت کی شکل اختیار کی لیکن ملازمین اور مختلف طبقہ ہائے فکر سے وابستہ شخصیات کے مطابق ریاست جموں و کشمیر میں جو بھی حکومت آج تک قائم ہوئی انہوں نے اس صنعت کو نظر انداز کرکے اس کی طرف کوئی توجہ نہیں دی جس کی وجہ سے آج یہ صنعت آہستہ آہستہ دم توڑ رہی ہے ۔ راجباغ سلک فیکٹری میں کام کررہے ملازمین کے صدر دین محمد خان نے بتایا کہ اس کا وجود سال936 میں لایا گیا اور اس فیکٹری کے قیام کےساتھ ہی ملازمین نے انتہائی لگن اور محنت کیساتھ کام شروع کیا اور یہ فیکٹری 36 ہزار میٹر ریشمی کپڑا مہینے میں تیار کرتی تھی ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ یہ فیکٹری مہاراجہ ہری سنگھ کے دور میں بھی قائم تھی اور اسوقت کم سے کم 600 ملازمین اس فیکٹری میں کام کرتے تھے۔ ان کا مزید کہنا تھا کہ حکومت کی عدم دلچسپی کی وجہ سے فیکٹر ی میں نصب کی گئی مشینیں زنگ آلودہ ہوکر رہ گئیں ہیں اور بیشتر مشینیں پوری طر ح بیکار ہوکر رہ گئیں ہیں جس کی وجہ سے فیکٹری کے کام کاج پر زبردست اثر پڑا ہے اور جس کا خمیازہ براہ راست فیکٹری میں تعینات ملازمین اٹھارہے ہیں۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ملازمین کے مطالبات کو آج تک پوری طرح نظر انداز کیا گیا ہے ، گزشتہ کئی برسوں کے دوران ملازمین کے حق میں کوئی بھی الائونس واگزار نہیں کیا گیا جبکہ سلک فیکٹری کے ملازمین کیساتھ سوتیلی ماں کا سلوک کرکے حکومت نے چھٹے پے کمیشن سے بھی انہیں محروم رکھا۔ دین محمد کا مزید کہنا تھا کہ سلک فیکٹری میں تعینات ملازمین کے بچے فاکہ کشی پر مجبور ہوگئے ہیں جبکہ کئی ملازمین کے بچوں کو فیس ادا نہ کرنے کی وجہ سے سکولوں سے نکالا گیاہے جبکہ حکومت اس حوالے سے مسلسل چشم پوشی کا مظاہرہ کررہی ہے۔ انہوں نے انکشاف کیا کہ سلک فیکٹری کےلئے مخصوص اراضی پر انکم ٹیکس اور پاسپورٹ آفس کی عمارتیں تعمیر کی جارہی ہیں اور حد تو یہ ہے کہ سلک فیکٹری کا شو روم بھی اب ان سے چھین لیا جارہا ہے جس سے اندازہ لگایا جاسکتا ہے کہ حکومت بلند بانگ دعوے کرنے کے باوجود بھی سلک فیکٹری کے بارے میں اسقدر سنجیدہ ہے اور حکومت کے عہدیداران کھلے آنکھوں سے اس بات کا مشاہدہ کررہے ہیں کہ سلک فیکٹری کس طریقے سے آہستہ آہستہ دم توڑ رہی ہے۔ انہوں نے حکومت سے مطالبہ کیا ہے کہ اگر سلک فیکٹری کے ملازمین کے مطالبات اور مسائل حل کرنے میں سنجیدگی نہیں دکھائی گئی اور ساتھ ہی ساتھ سلک فیکٹری کو تباہی سے بچانے کےلئے سنجیدہ اقدامات نہیں اٹھائے گئے تو وہ ریاستی حکومت کےخلاف احتجاجی مہم چھیڑ دیں گے۔

Another temple to reopen in Srinagar after 20 years

Srinagar, Jan 28: Encouraged by the active support of members from majority community, yet another temple, closed in early 90s after the eruption of militancy, will reopen tomorrow in the downtown city.
According to president of the Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS) Sanjay Kumar Tickoo, an organization of Pandits who stayed in Kashmir when the entire community migrated to different parts of the country, it has been decided to reopen all temples closed two decades ago.
This, he said, was decided due to full support extended by the Muslims. He said with the active cooperation of the local Muslims, the Puran Raj Bhairav temple at Sazgaripora, Hawal, will reopen tomorrow after a gap of more than 20 years.
Tickoo said renovation and cleaning of the temple has been completed and a special ‘puja’ (prayers) will be organized tomorrow on the occasion in which Pandits from different parts of the Valley will take part.
He said more than a dozen temples, closed after the outbreak of violence in early 90s, were so far reopened in the Valley. “We are planning to reopen other temples also,” he said and expressed thanks to local Muslims for extending full support to the community. However, he expressed concern over the state government’s failure to extend any support to Pandits living in Kashmir.

Sopur seeks administrative district

Sopur, Jan 28: Just a week after announcement of separate police district for Sopur, the long pending demand for separate administrative district is back in this north Kashmir town. The residents of Sopur and adjoining areas told that formation of separate district would end the ‘discrimination and injustice’ faced by region at the hands of successive regimes, and would also empower them administratively. “From the time of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah we have been demanding separate district but our repeated pleas have fallen on deaf ears. We have knocked the doors of Chief Ministers, but except hollow assurances nothing has been done,” says Sopur Traders Federation President, Ghulam Nabi Khan.
According to the local residents, the denial of district for Sopur for being in proximity with Varmul district headquarters holds no ground, as other districts carved out in 2006 have lesser distance with neighbouring districts. “The distance between Varmul and Sopur is 17 kilometres and some districts formed in 2006 are nearer to their adjoining district headquarters,” says Nazir Ahmed Bhat, a resident of the town.
Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during his tenure had created eight new districts in the state in July 2006, with four each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions. The residents justify their demand by the fact that Sopur is the fifth largest town in the state, and Asia’s second largest fresh fruit market is here with trade running into crores of rupees.

اے پی ڈی پی 2 اپریل کو اجتماعی قبروں کا بین الاقوامی دن منائے گی

گمشدگان کے عزیز و اقارب کاخاموش احتجاج
سرینگر//2 اپریل کو اجتماعی قبروں کا بین الاقوامی دن کے طور پر منانے کا اعلان کرتے ہوئے گمشدہ افراد کے لواحقین کی تنظیم ”اے پی ڈی پی“ نے آج اپنے لا پتہ عزیز و ا قا رب کی بازیابی کیلئے لالچوک میں خاموش احتجاجی دھر نا دیا۔انہوں نے کہا کہ گمنام قبروں کے حوالے سے پیش کی گئی رپورٹ کا احکومت نے ابھی تک جواب نہیں دیا جس سے انسانی حقوق پاسداری کے حوالے سے ان کے دعوے کھوکھلے ثابت ہورہے ہیں۔ اطلاعات کے مطا بق آج بعد دوپہر قریب ایک بجے پر ویز امروز کی قیادت والی ”اے پی ڈی پی“ میں شامل در جنوں لواحقین شیر کشمیر پارک سرینگر میں جمع ہوئے جہاں انہوں نے دوران حراست لاپتہ کئے گئے اپنے عزیزوں کی بازیابی کیلئے حکومت کے خلاف احتجاجی دھرنے پر بیٹھ گئے ۔ احتجاجی دھرنے میں شامل افراد مطالبہ کررہے تھے کہ ان کے لخت جگرو ںکو بازیاب کر نے کیلئے ایک جنو بی افریقہ کی طرز پر ایک با اختیار کمیشن کا قیام عمل میں لا یاجائے ۔ دھر نے پر بیٹھے افراد نے ہاتھو ںمیں کئی پلے کارڈ اور بینر اُ ٹھا ر کھے تھے جن پر’ گمشدہ افراد کو بازیاب کر و، ’انسانی حقوق پامالیوںکو بند کرو،ہما رے عزیز و اقارب کہا ں گئے “ کے نعرے درج تھے۔اس موقعہ پر نامہ نگاروں کیساتھ بات کرتے ہوئے اے پی ڈی پی کے عہدیداروںنے کہا کہ2 دسمبر 2009 کو انٹرنیشنل ٹریبونل آف ہیومن رائٹس اینڈ جسٹس نے گمنام قبروں کے حوالے سے وزیر اعلیٰ عمر عبداللہ کو ایک رپورٹ پیش کی گئی اور ان سے استدعا کی گئی کہ وہ گمنام قبروں میں مدفون افراد کا پتہ لگانے کےلئے اقدامات اٹھائیں۔ تاہم اے پی ڈی پی نے کہا کہ اتنا عرصہ گزر جانے کے باوجود بھی ابھی تک حکومت نے اس حوالے سے کوئی اقدامات نہیں اٹھائے باوجود اس کے نیشنل کانفرنس ممبر پارلیمنٹ محمد شفیع اوڑی نے بھی یہ معاملہ پارلیمنٹ میں اٹھایا تھا اور اس حوالے سے حکومت کی توجہ مبذول کرائی تھی ۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ حکومت کی خاموشی کی وجہ سے انسانی حقوق پاسداری کے حوالے سے ان کے دعوے کھوکھلے ثابت ہورہے ہیں۔اس سے قبل دھرنے پر بیٹھے عبدالطیف روف ولد غلام محمد ساکن جامع مسجد سرینگر نے اپنی روداد بیان کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ 8 برس قبل نئی دہلی میں گوترنی ساوتھ آف کتب مینارکے مقام پر دہلی پولیس کی خصوصی سیل سے وابستہ اہلکاروں نے اُن کے گھر کے 4افراد خانہ کو گرفتار کرلیا گیا ہے اوراتنا عرصہ گزر جانے کے باوجود بھی ان کی گرفتاری کی وجوہات نہیں بتائی جارہی ہے اور نہ ہی ان کی رہائی کے حوالے سے کوئی خاطر خواہ اقدامات اٹھائے جارہے

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

More than 19000 arrested under TADA in 17 years

SRINAGAR, Jan 27: Nineteen thousands and sixty persons have been arrested under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) in 17 years from 1990-2007 in Kashmir. According to the police records, the largest numbers of such arrests have been made in 1992 with 2677 persons arrested under TADA substantive law, while least of the same were made in 2001, which recorded 92 such arrests. The number of arrests under TADA have witnessed declining trend from 1996 onwards.In the year 1990, 2360 persons were arrested under TADA, in 1991, 2449 persons were detained under this law. In 1993, 2004 were arrested, 2126 in 1994, 2200 in 1995, in 1996, 475 persons were arrested. Two hundred and ninety four persons were arrested under TADA in 1997,457 persons in 1998, 417 persons in 1999, 322 persons in 2000, 92 persons in 2001, 165 persons in 2002, 607 persons in 2003, 453 persons in 2004, 726 in 2005, 874 in 2006 and 362 persons in 2007. Originally enacted in 1985, the act was amended in 1987 and made applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir shortly after its initial passage. It has been since widely used in Kashmir against persons suspected of links with militant groups and against persons who are perceived to be opponents of central government’s policy in the state. The act as amended authorises the administrative detention without formal charges or trial up to one year. Under TADA anyone who knowingly facilitates commission of any disruptive activity or any act preparatory to a disruptive activity shall be punishable with imprisonment which shall not be less than three years in term but which may extend to the term of life time and shall also be liable to fine. Under TADA, a person may be detained upto one year prior to being charged. This lengthy periods of detention before trial however violates Article 9 of international covenant which provides that anyone arrested or detained under criminal charge shall be brought prominently before a judge or other officer authored by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trail within a reasonable time or to release”Nevertheless, this black law has been used to perpetuate human rights violations in the valley since more than two decades now.“There is no doubt that it is a black law. Firstly, the victim can be detained without trial. Additionally, the police officer has the authority with regard to the statements of the victim which many a times are misleading,” said Advocate Gowhar.He added that in TADA, the police officer records the statements of victims confession and the same statements are presented before the court which otherwise does not happen in other criminal cases“Because of this, it is sometimes seen that there are inaccuracies and incoherence in the statements. These statements sometimes are different from the writte

What’s the cost of Kashmir conflict?

54 lakh Valleyites suffering from PTSD
British author-journalist Justine Hardy has watched Kashmir over the last 20 years and witnessed the impact of the protracted conflict on the mental health of people. Hardy, who under the auspices of her 'Healing Kashmir' project, brought alternative therapists from the UK to treat trauma patients recently, spoke to Sameer Arshad of Times of India.What has been the cost of conflict in terms of mental health?The conflict has caused long-term mental damage to a high percentage of the population. There was one psychiatric hospital in the Valley, where doctors would have perhaps one patient a day in 1989. By 1994, the doctors were seeing up to 300 patients a day. One of the highest costs of the conflict to the government would be the budget for mental health and most specifically the varied disorders associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD makes a whole range of people either roll their eyes or argue that this is a modern invention, a by-product of our softening society. The doubters have probably not witnessed war: they've not seen their children being blown up; they haven't had their son delivered to their doorstep, his body barely recognisable.Can't they just pull themselves together and get on with their lives?They can't. The shock often results in a nervous breakdown, reducing the individual to a barely functioning state. Several psychiatrists claim that up to 90 per cent of the Valley's population of around six million has been affected by some PTSD level. It's impossible to rebuild a society that is only functioning partially on a mental level. The government response was to medicate the problem, literally, with very high doses of tranquillisers, sedatives, anti-psychotics and anti-depressant drugs. The side effects of many of these high doses have been as difficult to manage as the disorders.An integrated approach is needed for these people to recover and allow the society as a whole to progress and heal. The idea of combining conventional and alternative therapies was the route I wanted to pursue, but on the condition that it could be done with the participation of local doctors. But most of the psychiatrists I spoke to in Kashmir barely had time to breathe.How different is your project?Our aim is to treat patients with a combination of conventional and alternative medication and therapies for the fullest recovery. In November 2009, 'Healing Kashmir' brought four alternative therapists from the UK and treated patients in both the clinical environment and villages. The average number of treatments was between four and seven sessions that included counselling, homeopathy, physiotherapy, cranio-sacral therapy and Reiki. The results were dramatic. Kashmiris have felt very isolated during the course of the conflict, so just the arrival of foreign therapists in itself had a positive effect. Most patients are used to two minutes with a doctor or psychiatrist in crowded, noisy and chaotic hospitals. We were treating patients individually in a quiet room, for up to an hour at a time.

شمیمہ آزاد کو لل دید ایوارڈ

سرینگر//ریاست کی نامور گلوکارہ شمیمہ دیو آزاد کو لل دید قومی ایوارڈ سے نوازاجائے گا جبکہ بالی وڈ کے معروف شاعراور ہدایت کار گلزارکو بھی انعام سے سرفرازکیاجائے گا۔ ایک بیان کے مطابق شمیمہ دیو آزاد کو ریاست جموں وکشمیرمیں غریبوں، ناداروں کی ا مداد کرنے ،تہذیب، ہنر اور سماجی و اقتصادی اصلاحات کے اعتراف کے طور پر 30جنوری2010کو لل دیل نیشنل ایوارڈ سے نوازا جائے گا۔قابل ذکر ہے کہ شمیمہ دیو آزاد کو 26جنوری2010کو سٹیٹ ایوارڈ سے بھی نوازا گیا جبکہ اس سے قبل انہیںپدم شری، دختر آندھرا پردیش اور ریاستی کلچرل اکیڈمی کے اعزازات سے بھی نوازا گیا ہے۔ شمیمہ آزاد نے کشمیری زبان کے علاوہ دیگر کئی زبانوںمیں بھی اپنی آواز کا جادو جگایا ہے اور ان کے کئی نغمے مقبول خاص و عام ہیں۔ اس دوران ممتاز شاعر گلزار کوپونے مہاراشٹرا میں سنت نام دیو نیشنل ایوارڈ دیاجائے گا۔

پونچھ کی جواں سال طالبہ اپنی عصمت بچاتے ہوئے زندگی گنوا دیانسانی

سرینگر// سرحدی ضلع پونچھ کی ایک باغیرت لڑکی شمیم اخترنے زندگی پر اپنی عصمت کو ترجیح دیتے ہو ئے موت کو گلے لگایا۔ فوجی اہلکاروں کے چنگل سے اپنی آبرو بچانے والی18 برس کی شمیم اختر رات بھر چنڈک گاﺅں میں چھپتی رہی اور جب مذکورہ اہلکار شمیم کو ڈھونڈنے میں ناکام ہو ئے تو انہوںنے گاﺅں پر گولیوں کی بوچھاڑ کر دی جس کے نتیجے میں شمیم اختر جاں بحق ہو ئی۔ اس حوالے سے انسانی حقوق کمیشن نے لواحقین کے حق میں اگر چہ فیصلہ بھی سنایا مگر آج تک اس پر عمل درآمدنہیں ہوا اور نہ ہی شمیم کے قاتلوں کےخلاف قانونی کاروائی کی گئی۔
واقعہ کی روداد
انسانی حقوق کے سماجی کارکن کمل جیت سنگھ کے مطابق پونچھ ضلع کے چنڈک گاﺅں کی ایک جواںسال لڑکی شمیم اختر دخترمحمد عبداللہ وانی دسویں جماعت کا امتحان دے چکی تھی اور مزید تعلیم حاصل کر نے کی کوشش میں مصروف کبھی کبھارپونچھ قصبہ بھی آیا کر تی تھی۔ شمیم اختر جب گھر سے باہر نکلتی تھی تو اہلکار اس پر فقرے کستے تھے۔ قتل کے روز 21نومبر 1998رات ساڑھے آٹھ بجے ، محمد عبداللہ کے گھرمیں فوج اور اُن کے ہمراہ بطور فوجی گائیڈ SPO'sداخل ہوئے۔ محمد عبداللہ اعوان جو گھر میںتھا ، فو جی اہلکار اُسے اپنے ساتھ لیکر نزدیک ہی ایک مکان میںاسے بند کیا اور واپس آکراسکے گھر میں داخل ہوئے اور شمیم اختر کابازوزبردستی پکڑ کر گھر سے باہر لائے اور اپنے ساتھ لے جانےکی کوشش کرنے لگے۔ شمیم اختر نے مزاحمت کر کے کسی طرح اپنا بازو چھڑایا اور اندھیرے میں بھاگنے میں کامیاب ہوئی۔ فوجی اہلکاروں نے اس پراندھادھندگولیوں کی بوچھاڑ کردی جسکے نتیجے میں اس کی پیٹھ میں گولی لگی اور وہ بری طرح زخمی ہو ئی۔ مگر اس کے باوجود شمیم اختر نے اپنے آپ کو فوجی اہلکاروں کے ہاتھوں نہ لگنے دیا۔ اور اس رات فائرنگ کی وجہ سے گاﺅں میں خوف و دہشت کا ماحول پیدا ہوا۔ کمل جیت سنگھ کے مطابق شمیم اختر کے والد کا کہنا ہے ”میری بیٹی نے زخمی حالت میںتین چار گھروں کے دروازے کھٹکھٹائے لیکن مذکورہ فوجی اہلکاروں نے دہشت کا اس قدرماحول پیدا کیا تھا کہ کو ئی بھی شمیم اختر کی مدد کےلئے نہیں آیا،آخر شمیم بھاگتی بھاگتی ایک مکان جو زیر تعمیر تھا، میں داخل ہوئی ، جس میں کوئی نہیں رہتا تھااور وہاں زخمی حالت میں چھپ گئی لیکن اپنی عزت بچا نے کی کوشش میں زندگی سے ہا تھ دو بیٹھی۔ تلاشی کے دوران فوجی اہلکاروں نے جب شمیم اخترکی لاش دیکھی تو وہ طیش میں آئے اور انہوں نے لاش دور پھینک دیا۔ لواحقین نے اس معاملے کو لیکرانصاف کےلئے سٹیٹ ہیومن رائٹس کمیشن میںایک عرضی دائرکی۔

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Hey, stop! ……. Problem hogi

Republic Day with a difference

SRINAGAR, Jan 26 : January 26 has got to be one of the most dreaded days for Kashmiris in Srinagar. The previous day, well-meaning colleagues at work and concerned friends warned me to stay home like it was the Ides of March. “Don’t come to work. It’s not safe,” said one. Seniors were slightly more encouraging, “Are you bravely going to set foot outside tomorrow?” To this, I replied, “Most journalists do, don’t they?” – puzzled at the fact that everybody was expecting the worst. Another colleague cracked me up when she said she would show up only if I sent a chopper for her! After I stepped out of the office, I asked a friend, what exactly it is that people here fear on India’s Republic Day, he said, “It’s just not safe. Anything can happen anytime.” Is that not true of any given day in Kashmir? My friend added after observing my obstinacy, “If you have decided to go to work, leave home after noon – around 1 or 2 pm – after the parade.” Meanwhile, people continued to narrate their experiences while stepping out for household chores on that day years ago. I still was not able to get the point. All through Monday, we heard sketchy reports of house searches and stop-and-search operations all over the city. Still, I wasn’t feeling edgy. That evening, a friend and I trudged over the footbridge in pitch dark, and were warned about the barbed wire on it by the security forces. “They will all go back to their barracks tonight and will be deputed on the streets after midnight,” he mumbled. The rest of the walk was nothing out of the ordinary. Finally, January 26 had arrived. 8 am: Both my cell phones don’t work. Jammers activated, I guessed. I had to call home to tell them I would be attending office today and not celebrating Republic Day like them. The family I reside with was surprised that I was actually attempting to step out. In fact, a fresh hot water bottle was ready for me after tea, as they assumed I’d stay indoors. I told them not to worry and soon, I left around noon. As I stepped out, and the streets didn’t look too bad – empty, yes, but not eerie. Saw some people on the streets, 99% of the shops were shut, there were even some vehicle owners who were driving on the empty roads. See, not that bad, I said to myself. But at the same time, I made sure I wasn’t listening to music, as I usually do on my way to work every day. All those warnings by colleagues and friends had not gone unheeded. Some kids were playing cricket just outside our lane. My logical explanation to myself was, if it was that dangerous, then the parents would have made them sit at home. So, with a haversack and a camera dangling from my shoulder, I set off for work, which is a 30-minute walk. By the time I reached the river, I was relaxed. Still, not relaxed enough to put on my ear phones and listen to music. No forces in sight, no problem. Saw some more teenagers playing cricket. Thought I’d put my camera to use. Took some shots and the got shoed away by the batsman, who was a gawky teen. When he signaled me to leave, I walked on. I rarely take pictures of unwilling subjects – the aim being not to annoy. I know that would make me a lousy news photographer. Thank God, I’m not one. “Hey, stop,” I heard and stopped. The bunker at the bund, I thought. I had not even pointed my camera in that direction. What did I do, I wondered as took a deep breath and turned to find the batsman sprinting towards me at full speed. He caught up, breathless. “Delete karo photos,” he said. I asked him what the problem was. He said, “Problem hogi”. I replied, “You saw where I was standing, it was very far. Can’t see your faces so don’t worry.” This gawky teenager swung his bat on his shoulder and would not give up. I offered to show him the photos I had shot, “See, no faces, like I said.” “OK,” he said, running off to his anxious team mates. I smiled, thanking God for this transitory moment of sweet resistance of the day. Unfortunately, in Kashmir, not every one is let off so easily – people are humiliated, beaten, maimed and killed on the streets by the use of brute force. This oppression might have broken bones, extracted confessions and inspired an eternal fear (that I am unused to) but never hindered the spirit. Having experienced the day in a new light, I think I am lucky. It remains to be seen for how long!

First time in 18 years

No flag hoisting at Lal Chowk
SRINAGAR, Jan 26: For the time in last two decades there was no Republic Day celebration at Lal Chowk by the paramilitary troopers and neither was the tri-colour hoisted by them atop the historic clock tower.
While not much importance is usually given at the state government level to the hoisting of the tri colour at Lal Chowk as it exclusively remains the affair of paramilitary forces. Official sources said the CRPF, having the camp, at the Lal Chowk did not hoist the flag and held the function for security reasons. Lal Chowk, which recently witnessed 23 hours long gunfight that left two militants and a cop dead wore a deserted look, and CRPF troopers were in a state of alertness.
The hoisting of tri-colour on Republic Day functions in Lal Chowk by the troopers had almost become a custom in the last two decades of militancy. The celebrations of Republic Day and hoisting of tri-colour at Lal Chowk had become a practice after January 26, 1992, when the then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Murli Manohar Joshi unfurled the tricolour on the clock tower. Joshi’s unfurling of the flag came two years after insurgency had erupted in the valley in 1989. Srinagar’s business hub was in a state of uneasy calm as people remained indoors due to a shutdown call by separatists and the heavy presence of police and CRPF. During last two decades the troopers used to have their own RD celebration in Lal Chowk and would distribute sweets and sing the national anthem, which would be followed by the hoisting of the national tri-colour on the clock tower. The historic Lal Chowk has witnessed lots of militancy related violence in the last two decades and was always at the centre of political activities, right since partition. Lal Chowk is named after the central marketplace in Moscow. Lal means Red and Chowk is Square. It was a group of passionate Communists in Srinagar who thought of the name Lal Chowk after Lenin seized power in Moscow in 1917. As the clock tower, which never shows the correct time, ticks at the centre, Lal Chowk seems to be in a time warp with the past continually intruding into the present. Four years after the militancy erupted in 1989, a part of Lal Chowk was gutted in a fire, allegedly caused by CRPF men during an incident on April 10, 1993. Many civilians were killed with bullets as people were fleeing their homes. At least 60 houses, over 200 business stores and five huge commercial buildings were destroyed in the blaze. The half burnt Palladium theatre, which houses the paramilitary camp of CRPF, still carries the burnt scars of the 1993 arson even though surrounding shops and complexes have been reconstructed. Since then, the clock has silently watched many flags, even the Pakistani flag being hoisted from time to time.

Commonwealth Games map shows J&K, Gujarat in Pak

New Delhi, Jan 26: The London-based Commonwealth Games Federation was embroiled in a controversy Tuesday because of a contentious India map put on its website. The map of India on http://www.thecgf.com/ shows some areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat as parts of Pakistan and organisers of the 2010 Commonwealth Games today said they have raised the issue with CGF officials. “We have noticed it and told CGF officials about it. They have promised to revert back to us on the issue,” Organising Committee secretary Lalit Bhanot said. “They would definitely correct it. We were told that they would talk to the people who maintain the site and get back to us,” added Bhanot. The CGF Chief executive Officer Mike Hooper, who is based in New Delhi to oversee the preparations of the Commonwealth Games, could not be immediately reached for his comments.

Hamidi Kashmiri among Padma awardees


Srinagar, Jan 26: Noted Urdu critic, writer and former vice-chancellor of Kashmir University Hamidi Kashmiri has been awarded Padma Shree for his contribution in literature and education. Besides Kashmiri, Dr Jitender Udhampuri has also been awarded Padma Shree in the same category while Ghulam Muhammad Mir has been given the award for Public Services. Hamidi Kashmiri has written 50 books including Iqtishafi Tanqeed Ki Sheryat, Ainame Ibraaq, Mahasir Tanqeed , Riyasati Jammu Aur Kashmir Urdu Adab, Jadeed Kashir Shayeri, Shiekh –ul-Aalam Aur Shayeri. He had received Galib award for Urdu and Sahitya Academy award in Kashmiri language. “Even though my contribution has been recognized off late. I am 76 now. But I am very happy for the award,” he told Greater Kashmir. “I have introduced a new concept of criticism, which reveals inner experience contained in the words of text,” he added. “I was surprised to know about the award as I don’t have any contact with those quarters which recommend people for such awards,” he said. He said it was recognition of the work done by Urdu writers of the state. Dogri writer and former director Radio Kashmir, Jammu Dr Jitender Udhampuri said: “I feel proud to receive the award. I will write to live.” He said Dogri language must be made compulsory at the primary level. He is author of 25 books in Dogri and Hindi including History of Dogri Literature, The Great Epic Ditto.

خواجہ ثنا ءاُللہ بٹ اور صوفی غلام محمد سمیت کئی شخصیات کو ایوارڈ

سرینگر//26جنوری کے موقعہ پر ریڈیو کشمیر کے مقبول عام پروگرام ”شہربین“کو بہترین پروگرام قرار دیتے ہوئے پروگرام کے ایڈیٹرو پہاڑی پروگرام کے پرڈیوسر مقصوداحمد کو اسٹیٹ ایوارڈ سے نوازا گیا ہے جبکہ روزنامہ آفتاب اور روزنامہ سرینگر ٹائمز کے مدیران مرحوم خواجہ ثناءاللہ بٹ اور صوفی غلام محمد کو بعد از مرگ ان انعامات کا حقدار قرار دیا گیا۔ ریاستی حکومت نے مختلف شعبہ جات میں غیر معمولی کارکردگی کا مظاہرہ کرنے والے افراد کو اس بار 26جنوری کے موقعہ پر ایواڈ سے نوازا اور اس سلسلہ میں معروف صحافیوں اور دیگر لوگوں کو بھی اس زمرے میں لایا گیا۔اس موقعہ پر ریاستی حکومت نے انہیں میڈل ، توصیفی اسناد کے علاوہ51ہزار روپے دینے کا بھی اعلان کیا ہے جبکہ صحافت کے میدان میں عمدہ کارکردگی کا مظاہرہ کرنے کیلئے وادی کے سرکردہ صحافیوں مرحوم خواجہ ثناءاللہ بٹ(مدیراعلیٰ آفتاب)، مرحوم صوفی غلام محمد(مدیر اعلیٰ سرینگر ٹائمز) کو پس از مرگ یہ ایوارڈ عطا کئے گئے ہیں جبکہ صحافتی میدان میں جن دوسرے صحافیوں کو اسٹیٹ ایوارڈ کیلئے چنا گیا ہے ان میں ہندوستان ٹائمز کے ارن جوشی، این ڈی ٹی کی محترمہ ندی رازدان، ٹائمز نیوز کی محترمہ مہرخ عنائت، کشمیر ٹائمز کے افتخار گیلانی شامل ہیں۔ اعلیٰ فنکاری کا مظاہرہ کرنے پر شمیمہ آزاد کو بھی اسٹیٹ ایوارڈ عطاکیا گیا جبکہ گلوکارہ کیلاش مہرہ، استاد غلام محمد سازنواز بھی انعام کے حقدار قراردئے گئے۔

Monday, January 25, 2010

Progressive Panel clean sweeps elections of Kashmir Journalist Forum

ISLAMABAD: Progressive Panel led by Sardar Abid Khurshid swept elections of Kashmir Journalists Forum, representing Kashmir journalist of three parts of Jammu and Kashmir State for 2010-11. Chairman of Election Committee, Sardar Ashiq Hussain announced the final results of elections. The polling ratio was 85.23 percent and over 175 journalists including Bahsir Hussain, Raja Asghar, Mushtaq Minhas cast their vote.
Abid Khursheed of progressive panel got 113 votes and elected as president while Muqaddar Hussain Shah gained 112 votes, Zahid Abbasi 117 and elected as senior vice president. Ghulam Ullah Kiyani elected as Vice President by obtaining 120 votes. Zahid Abbasi got 117 votes and elected as General Sectary , Ashfaq Ahmed Mughal got 84 votes and elected as Joint Sectary, Arif Chaudhry with 117 elected as Organizer while Umar Farooq with 116 votes elected as Deputy Organizer.
Progressive Panel also won seven seats of Governing Body. Anjum Aqeel gained 112 votes, Shehzad Gul 109, Sardar Qamar Nadeem 109, Sardar Ibrar 108, Akhlaq Khan 96, Hasan Hayat 89, and Muhammad Attiq obtained 87 votes. After counting of votes a ceremony was held between night of Saturday and Sunday at Press club Rawalpindi in which chairman election Sardar Ashiq Hussain announced the results.
Newly elected President Abid Khursheed said that he would take several steps to give scholarships to members of forum in educational institutes in order to promote their professional efficiency. He said that a high level coordination organization would be established under the supervision of Raja Bashir Usmani. Former president Shaukat Malik also announced to prepare a website of forum. Presidential candidate of journalist Panel Bashir Usmani congratulated Abid Khursheed and his panel and said that both groups of Kashmir journalist forum are united and there are no differences between them. Both groups accepted the election results and vowed to work together. Newly elected sectary general Zahid Abbasi, chairman organizing committee for election Abdul Shakoor Khan, member election committee Aziz Malik and others also addressed on the occasion.

Obesity Increasing Among Kashmiri Adults

Srinagar, Jan 23: A study conducted by Kashmir's leading hospital - SK Institute of Medical Sciences Soura - has revealed that obesity is becoming increasingly common in the younger population and even in children. To ascertain the burden of obesity among young Kashmiris, the researchers involved several thousand young men and women aged between 20 and 40 years as its sample.
The research established that 17.4 per cent of the population studied had overweight-obesity and the finding have been published recently in a reputed international medical journal 'Diabetes Research & Clinical Practice'."There is an urgent need to develop an action plan as well as a health strategy for controlling obesity and its consequences among Kashmiri population before it becomes an epidemic like that observed in Indian metro cities," Director SKIMS, Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar emphasized.
Zargar said the overall 17.4 per cent of the population studied had overweight-obesity with the rates being similar in men and women.
This study was conducted by a team of endocrinologists comprising Shariq Rashid Masoodi, Abdul Ahad Wani, Arshad Iqbal Wani, Mir Iftikhar Bashir and Bashir Ahmad Laway.Dr Zargar said obesity is a mounting public health problem in Kashmir Valley where the general perception is that obesity is not a common problem.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Lack of irrigation facility fails Kashmir Saffron yield

Srinagar January 22: Although Kashmir places India among top three Saffron producers in international market; the cash crop is bereft of any official policy, proper irrigation facility and commodity risk protection. The conflict ridden area produced adequate quantity of saffron during 2008-2009 leading to reduced saffron imports; 1.20 metric tones (MT) by India during the year. The country indeed exported 5.5 MT of world’s costliest spice during the period. However, few believe that water shortage, considered as a major obstacle will be tackled in foreseeable future as the entire cultivable area is rain fed.
The whole saffron land area (3265 ha official and 8000 ha unofficial) is rain fed and not even a single bore well has been arranged by the government during the past 63 years. The yield is stagnant at 2.5 kilogram /ha which is even below the yield of war ravaged Afghanistan. It produces only 800 kilograms of saffron but with a yield of 6 kilograms/ha, according to Afghan official websites. “Spain, one of the major saffron exporters provides sprinkle irrigation to its farmers and has a yield of 8 to 10 kgs /ha. The country has the best cultivation and post harvest practices in the world,” says saffron expert Dr F A Nahvi. Iran, the major exporter of saffron has a yield of 4.5 kgs /ha, he added. The government should take initiatives but farmers on their part need to take saffron cultivation seriously and adopt scientific procedures as recommended by experts, he suggested. “Our crops are at the mercy of rain. We approached the government for a loan on sprinkle irrigation facility. But they turned their backs on us”, said Akil Ahmed a saffron grower from Pulwama. Altaf Aijaz Andrabi, a senior official at the Agriculture department said Rs 1.06 crore has been earmarked for digging bore wells to provide spray irrigation to the fields in the first phase of Rashtriya Kisan Vikas Yojna. Certain beneficiaries have been identified for this year and the scheme will continue in the year ahead, he said.

Pulwama youth killed in crossfire

Family alleges Mushtaq was used as ‘human shield
Srinagar, Jan 24: The killing of 30-year old Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, who was allegedly used as a ‘human shield’ by the army to locate two Hizbul Mujahideen militants in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district sparked massive protests on Sunday. According to locals, on Saturday evening they were told by army that two HM militants had taken refuge in the house of Mushtaq Ahmad Mir at Kalampore, Shadimarg in Pulwama district. “Army and SOG men cordoned off the area and encircled some houses,” said a local Afzal Ahmad. Ghulam Ahmad Mir father of slain youth, who is also the village head (numberdar), said his son was living in a separate house. “No militants were present in our houses and despite the fact my and Mushtaq’s house were sealed by the army and police men,” he said. Mushtaq’s brother, Muhammad Ayoub Mir said they were asked to vacate the house by army and police men at 7.30 pm Saturday. “My brother was taken away by army men to locate the militants, whom we had not seen. He was also provided a torch,” said Ayoub adding, “We heard some bullet shots in the cow-shed. My brother was hit by the bullets and died on spot”. Mushtaq’s father alleged that his son (father of three) was used as a human shield by the troopers. “Who will take care of his widow? She is already suffering from tumour. Who will feed her three children including a daughter?” Mir screamed. As the news of Mushtaq’s killing spread, people in hundreds irrespective of age and sex came out on roads at Kalampore on Sunday morning to protest the killing. Chanting anti-army and pro freedom slogans, the protestors were demanding immediate punishment to the guilty troopers, who used Mushtaq as human shield. Later, Mushtaq’s body was buried at a local graveyard. Hundreds of people participated in his Nimaz-e-Jinaza amidst pro-freedom and pro-Islamic slogans.

25 Handwara men fell to bullets protesting Gaw Kadal massacre


Handwara, Jan 24: It has been 20 years of wait for justice for the kin of 25 persons who were killed by the Border Security Force men on January 25, 1990 here.It was the bloodiest massacre that this town witnessed in turmoil.Four days after Gaw Kadal massacre in which 55 unarmed civilians were killed, the BSF men killed 25 mourners protesting against the massacre in Srinagar.Recalling the fateful day, eyewitnesses told Greater Kashmir that thousands marched from far flung villages of the Kupwara district towards the main town.The protesters marched towards the town with an organization ‘Itehad-ul-Muslimeen’ playing vital role in assembling and managing the marchers.“It was all peaceful as sea of humanity began to assemble at the main chowk and people hoisted green flag amid pro-freedom slogans like and Jagmohan ko Wapas Karo (recall Jagmohan),” said Nazir Ahmed Mir, the survivor of the massacre and a resident of town.“Suddenly BSF troopers in 407- TATA vehicle bearing registration number HVN-7717 appeared and resorted to indiscriminate firing on protesters near the police station without provocation. Some people who escaped and entered into the house of local politician to save their lives were shot dead by his guards,” eyewitness said, adding 25 persons were killed and dozens were wounded in the mayhem.“The killer troopers went berserk and sprayed bullets on us,” they added.Recalling the day when blood of victims was all over the streets of this town, Tariq Ahmed, whose uncle Ghulam Hassan, was among the 25 civilians killed, said: “The governments have no answer to our queries as to what led to this massacre. My uncle was not a militant but a protester. The troopers should not be spared and dealt sternly.”“If the government is sincere to heal our wounds, the case should be reinvestigated and the killers should be punished. We don’t know what happened to case,” said Tariq, resident of Yonsu.The status of the case registered by the police 20 years back is unknown. A worn out FIR copy of the case lies in police station Handwara which only carries the state government and BSF’s version and has no mention about killings of the innocent.The FIR stated that the protestors who were in thousands assembled from villages were raising provocative slogans and stoned and torched the BSF Tata 407 carrying eatables and also set Dak Banglow Handwara on fire.

Jan 25, 1998: When 23 Kashmiris were massacred in cold blood

Srinagar, Jan 24: With the police having failed to trace out the killers, the Wandhama massacre has been consigned to records. Yet another mysterious page has been added to Jammu Kashmir’s beleaguered history. Justice remains a casualty. The 27th night of the Holy month of Ramadhan, Muslims believe, is better than 1000 months. On this night people believe their destiny changes. But in 1998, the blessed night witnessed cold blooded massacre of scores of villagers in a hamlet in Ganderbal. The inhuman act changed Kashmir for good. This blessed night fell on January 25 in 1998. In the entire Valley people were offering prayers in mosques. The Wandhama mosque was also abuzz with religious fervour. Around 11.45 pm wailing women came rushing towards the mosque. And in a jiffy, the blessed night turned into a nightmare for the villagers. Twenty-three villagers, all Kashmiri Pandits, had been massacred in cold blood by masked gunmen. The victims had resisted migration of Pandits in early 90s and decided to stay back in the strife torn Valley. The cold blooded massacre evoked severe reaction across Kashmir. People demanded an impartial probe and severe punishment to the culprits responsible for the massacre. The age-old bonds of brotherhood and peaceful co-existence were further damaged. The abode of the saints witnessed yet another migration. Manoj Kumar Dhar, a 16- year- old was the lone eyewitness of the gruesome incident. “A group of masked gunmen barged into my house at about 11:30 pm and forced the inmates to come out. I jumped out of the wall of my house. As soon as my father, brothers and sisters came out, the gunmen shot them one by one. They cried and begged for life but they (masked men) showed no mercy. A gunman spotted me and asked me to come out, but I hid myself beneath a heap of saw dust stored in the house. They fired indiscriminately in the rooms and at the walls from all sides. Then they left thinking I too was dead. I could not identify them but they were speaking Urdu,” Dhar said. Twelve years have passed but nobody has been brought to justice. The police have failed to identify the killers. The file has been closed and consigned to records. A few days after the incident, the police claimed recovery of a letter from the site of the massacre in which a hitherto unknown organization Intikaam-ul-Muslimoon had claimed responsibility of the massacre. The letter, according to the police, was tagged to one of the bullet riddled bodies. The police further said that the people of both the communities in Wandhama blamed the unwise shifting of an army camp from the area a few months before the massacre.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Alarming increase in the number of orphans in kashmir

Is mushrooming of orphanages answer to problems of orphans?
Experts say ‘no’ as they point out shortcomings in such institutions

Srinagar, Jan 23: With an alarming increase in the number of orphans and destitute children in the Valley, orphanages too have grown figuratively even though sheer number of orphanages is in no way an indicator of their practical utility. Experts believe that instead of having orphanages mushroom up here, it’s better to rehabilitated the orphans and destitute within the community.
“We should discourage this system (orphanages) and the problem should be tackled through rehabilitation process in which community leaders and general public participate and work for orphans’ welfare,” says noted social activist, Abdul Rasheed Hanjoora. From 1989 to 1995, there were only 35000 orphan children in Kashmir while as at present their number is around 1 lakh and there are 3000-4000 orphanages in the Valley providing shelter to these orphans, Hanjoora informed. Drawing a relationship between orphans and child labour, experts cite Budgam district as an example, saying that there are over 3000 child laborers in the district and about 60 percent of them are orphans.
Besides poverty, Hanjoora says the alarmingly high numbers of orphans is direct fallout of “chronic conflict - more than two decades of turmoil has left behind thousands of orphans who live in conditions of extreme poverty.”
Hanjoora is not happy with the kind of treatment orphans get in orphanages. “Most of the orphanages are not even able to provide basic facilities that include health check-ups, education, food et. al. to these children and they also inculcate bad habits and language there as nobody is really there to provide moral education,” he said. Psychiatrist, Dr. Mushtaq Margoob asserts that most common problem faced by orphans in these orphanages include a sense of loss - of home, parents and other relatives; besides there is high drop-out rate from schools, lack of proper health-care, there are problems with immunization, social downfall, child labor and drug abuse. Margoob says the practice of placing deprived children having no emotional support or material resources in residential institutions like orphanages is a recent phenomenon in Kashmir.
“Before the turmoil, orphans would mostly get adopted by one of their relatives or neighbors because the social structure and cultural values would never allow people to send these homeless children to orphanages,” informs Margoob.
This argument is supported by the fact that only one orphanage existed in Srinagar city before 1986. Psychiatrist further believes that orphanages are not ideal places for children to live in. “Children here are emotionally more vulnerable; loss of parent (s) exposes child to psychological disturbances which sometimes also lead to criminal tendencies in them,” believes Margoob.
“It is far better if these children are nurtured in normal family environment than these orphanages,” adds he. When asked about the mental status of children living in orphanages, he said, “The fact cannot be ignored that children living in orphanages do faces stress.” According to him, alien place with no sense of belonging strongly impinges upon children. They actually feel insecure and fearful almost about everything. In this sequel they are unable to live childhood as normal children. “Initially these children appear quite normal but once you develop rapport with them their psychological disturbance comes to fore. And, these children can become victims of loneliness as most of them fare in the same age-group and hence cannot share their feelings and concerns.
Margoob says the emotional needs of orphans are hardly addressed at orphanages. He also warns about the elder children falling in the age group of 12-14 years being more vulnerable to medical and psychological hazards as compared to young children. “This can be seen in the context as they grow up the concept of orphanage impinges upon their self esteem.”
In Kashmir valley most of the orphanages are run by NGOs. Noted educationist, Prof. (Dr) A G Madhoosh while throwing more light on the topic says, “Children living in such houses lack individuality, and confidence and then the social stigma of living in an orphanage adds more to their stress.” Pointing out that the care available in orphanages is not up to the mark, Madhosh says, “If the institutional care is at-least up to the mark, stress level among children gets minimized to some extent. Quality residential set-up, modern education, good nutrition with other recreational facilities leads to the feeling of secure future.”

Don’t wear Burqa while voting : SC India

New Delhi, Jan 23: In a statement of far reaching consequences, the Supreme Court has said electoral rolls with photographs cannot be opposed on the grounds that they hurt religious sentiments. "You cannot say I will still be a burqua-clad," a Bench comprising Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan and Justice Deepak Verma said while hearing a petition which contended that publishing photographs of Muslim Gosha women was opposed to their religious belief.
The apex court even went on to say if having photographs on election identity cards and electoral rolls goes against religious tenets and hurts religious sentiments of a section of Muslim women, they can decide not to vote.
“If they are so religious, don’t vote,” the Bench said. Tamil Nadu’s M Ajmal Khan had appealed in the SC against the Election Commission’s mandate to carry photo identity cards for voting. Khan had also appealed against the EC’s move to publish electoral rolls with photos of Muslim women.
"Suppose you want to contest election, then what about burqua?” the Bench put a poser to Khan’s counsel V Balaji, stating that during polls, posters carrying photographs of candidates are put up all over a constituency. The SC Bench, which posted the matter for final hearing after two weeks, said the photo identity card is necessary for the election purpose. "Religious sentiments cannot override statutory rule", it said adding "voting is a statutory right and if you want to vote your photograph is necessary".
The Madras High Court had on September 7, 2006, dismissed a petition by Khan a few days prior to the Madurai Central by-election, holding that wearing of ‘purda’ did not form part of Islam. The Supreme Court had in 2006 issued notices to the Election Commission on a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the High Court judgment upholding the EC's decision to release electoral rolls with photographs of voters, including Muslim Gosha women. Assailing the order, the petitioner said the SLP was not directed against any election process but against EC's powers to interfere with religious affairs, a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution. He submitted Muslim voters were not questioning the Commission's authority in issuing photo identity cards but their grievance was over its direction to print the photographs of women and circulate them with the electoral rolls to the public and political parties.
This decision interfered with the religious custom and preaching of the Holy Koran which laid down that Muslim women should wear ‘purda’, the petitioner said, adding that the electoral rolls should be used only by the officers concerned for verification and they should not be circulated to the public and political parties. "Their publication was likely to wound the sentiments of the Muslim community as there was every chance of misuse of the photographs if the rolls were made accessible to unscrupulous persons," the petition said.

For ex-militants, shunning violence becomes life threat

Srinagar, Jan 23: The choice is between devil and the deep sea; and there is no lesser evil. After spending years in prison, the one-time militants never get to live a normal life. Fear of reprisals and even possible death stalk them once out of captivity. For, both the troopers and their former colleagues persecute them at the slightest excuse.
This sums up the life of former militants in Kashmir, two of whom were recently gunned down - one in the Apple Town of Sopore and another, in south Kashmir's Kulgam district. Talking to Rising Kashmir, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Farooq Ahmad said police has already launched investigations into the killing of two former militants. He, however, attributed the double killing to militants. “They might have refused to join back the ranks and that’s why they got killed,” the IGP said.On whether police feared recycling of militancy in Kashmir in the name of “sleeping cells”, the Kashmir Police chief said, “Militants are militants. There is nothing called sleeping cells.” The killings, however, reinforce the fear element among former militants who vehemently maintain that their life was “hell” in their own homeland. With this in mind, Abdul Qadeer Dar, a former militant commander of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, has embarked on a mission to highlight the plight of former militants. He heads the Peoples Rights Movement comprising 5,000 ex-militants of Kupwara and Baramulla districts.Narrating the horrendous tales of his colleagues, Dar said for a former militant Kashmir has become a “cage” where he is bound to live.“I joined militant ranks in 1989 and went for arms training to Pakistan the same year. Police arrested me in Srinagar in 1996 and was released in 1999,” Dar said. Once out of prison, he thought he could now live a normal life. "But time proved me wrong,” he lamented.Like Dar, many former militants on release after completing their terms had to show up at respective police stations. “Not only this, we were summoned to the army camps for questioning. I remember, police and army officers used to call us by names and we have to raise our hands exactly as children do in school,” Dar said.An ardent supporter of right to self-determination, Dar said they can’t part ways with the struggle, at the base of which is the priceless sacrifices of people of Kashmir. “We are supporting the struggle through a non-violent way. We don’t indulge in any sort of violence ever since we were released,” he said.To what prompted him to form PRM, Dar said after his release he tried to keep himself busy with his family fruit business. “But the plight of my colleagues continued to haunt me everyday. Some of my friends (former militants) could not marry as nobody was ready to give out their daughters to them,” he maintained. “Many tried to eke a living outside the State. They were harassed in every Indian State they visited, forcing them to come back. Many of them are labourers, earning Rs 200 a day to feed their families,” Dar revealed.He said many of PRM members did not marry as their private parts were damaged during third-degree torture.On the recent killing of two former militants, Dar said rough estimates suggest there are 40,000 released militants in the State. “I believe all of them are facing life-threats,” Dar said.Continuing in the same vein, chairman Jammu and Kashmir Salvation Movement, Zafar Akbar Bhat said whosoever picks up the gun, does not know whether he would land in jail or die. Bhat was associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and has spent his life’s prime years in prison. “Once we are out of jail, nobody comes to support us. We are strangers in our own homeland. Again, when a militant dies while fighting troops, people and leaders praise him for a few days, and later forget it,” he said.Bhat urged all separatist groups to evolve a consensus on how to deal with the released militants. Showkat Bakshi, another former militant who has spent 12 years in various jails and gone through worst forms of torture, is of the opinion that people like him are being treated like "non-entities" in the separatist groups they join. “I faced many challenges when released. The biggest challenge was to get a job. I could not get one till date. I am somehow managing to live,” Bakshi said. Citing the example of his friend, Bakshi said the plight of former militants could be gauged by the fact that his father was a government employee with a 40-year long service. “My father applied for passport and was denied it rightaway," he said. His brother, an MBBS, wanted to go outside India for job but his passport application met the same fate as his father's. "He is overaged now,” rued Bakshi.