Category: Press Releases

As farmers and workers across India fight the Indian government’s handover of the control of their lands and lives over to corporations through the farm reform bills, Kashmir Gulposh is united in solidarity with our brothers and sisters against the exploitation of their lands and labor.

Kashmiris understand that land is sacred, and not up for industry to control but rather must be trusted in the hands of the farmers as stewards of the land. 

Kashmiris understand that land is sacred, that it requires stewardship and caretaking that can only be determined by the will of the people, and not by corporate elites and industry with deep pockets. Since the abrogation of Article 370 and Sec 35A on Aug. 5, 2019, and prior, Kashmiris have given no consent to the theft of their lands by the Indian state’s genocidal colonial corporate development schemes, or to change to laws governing Indigenous Kashmiri jurisdiction, or membership. 

Both before and after the illegal annexation of Kashmir, India has used militarized policing with complete impunity, and internet shutdowns to repress our resistance movement for self-determination. A genocide is ongoing in Kashmir: since the 1990s, mass rapes were ordered and committed by Indian military, hundreds and thousands of Kashmiris have been arbitrarily arrested, detained, mass blinded and maimed by police with pellet guns by Indian police, killed and disappeared. Since Aug 5, 2019, India has cut down hundreds and thousands of trees in Jammu & Kashmir, accelerated deforestation (contributing to the climate change catastrophe,) and evicted our tribal kin – the Bakarwals from their communal and forest homes. There is just no justice under India’s colonial occupation of Kashmir.

We are witnessing the same mass scale violent practices, that have been used in Kashmir, are now being unleashed by the settler colonial Indian state to suppress the demands of farmers and workers. 

It is clear to us that our liberation and freedom is connected to the freedom of farmers and workers. We are ready to co-resist the ceding of rights of farmers and workers by the fascist authoritarian regime of the Indian state – as allies. We are united, in the face of the ongoing pressures to divide our movements along lines of religious identity. We are united in rage, grief, and love.

We scream loud and clear: people before corporate profits!

We echo the demands of our farmer friends and relatives:

• repeal the three farm bills entirely
• stop repressing dissent and peaceful protests
• stop violent police and military actions against peaceful protests
• stop muzzling information and farmers+workers voices through internet shutdowns

Media contact: 416-830-7362 / ContactUs@KashmirGulposh.com

Kashmir Gulposh is a non-profit organization dedicated to peace, justice, and prosperity in Kashmir region. Azaadi Now is Kashmir Gulposh’s independent media platform that covers current affairs in Kashmir and Indigenous resurgence globally.

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PRESS RELEASE
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OHSWEKEN  – Since July 19, 2020 a peaceful group of Haudenosaunee land defenders and Six Nations community members began the reclamation of a part of their territory, renaming it 1492 Land Back Lane.

Azaadi Now released a feature episode on 1492 Land Back Lane on Aug. 27.  We are an independent media outlet that is dedicated to creating space for Indigenous voices, and reporting on Indigenous issues by Indigenous people. Our independent media focuses on educating our community about the conditions of Indigenous relatives and kin globally. 

On early Saturday Sept. 5^th, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) visited the home of one of our core production team members (who was not there at the time), without any prior communication or notice. We acquired legal counsel, and learnt through our counsel that an arrest warrant has been issued for this team member. On Wednesday Sept. 9 morning, our team member turned themselves in, was arrested, charged, and released at OPP’s Cayuga Police detachment. Since Aug. 5^th, 26 individuals have been charged in relation to the 1492 Land Back Lane reclamation, 15 of these have been within the last week, including our team member.

The OPP has issued a criminal charge of ‘mischief’ and failure to comply with the court injunction order (which prohibits anyone from visiting the land back camp) against our team member. This charge and the order has the effect of preventing our team member from reporting on developments at 1492 Land Back Lane.

Criminalization of free press is a dangerous route to go for any democracy. Unfortunately, this is the direction Canada has chosen. Canada has a pattern of policing-units (RCMP, OPP) preventing journalists from covering Indigenous land defense stories. This pattern is similar to many settler-colonial fascist states across the globe, like India in relation to Kashmir. The trend continues here in Canada with the recent arrests of One Dish, One Mic’s Haudenosaunee co-host Karl Dockstader and recently, Azaadi Now’s production team member. This pattern of obstruction and criminalization of free press violates Canada’s constitutional commitments to freedom of expression guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The criminalization and genocidal removal of Indigenous land defenders from their own territories by settler colonial states is another pattern we see globally. Such actions violate Indigenous peoples rights, as set out under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, to which Canada is a signatory. 

We ask our friends and supporters to challenge these rights violations. Please contact your elected representatives and ask them to denounce the criminalization of media and Indigenous land defenders, and to drop the charges.

Media Contact: Binish Ahmed, ContactUs@KashmirGulposh.com

Kashmir Gulposh is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to peace, justice, and prosperity in Kashmir region. Azaadi Now is Kashmir Gulposh’s independent media platform that covers current affairs in Kashmir and Indigenous resurgence globally.
http://www.KashmirGulposh.com

(Reproduced from www.genocidewatch.com; Download PDF here)

Genocide Alert: Kashmir India

August 15, 2019

Genocide Watch is issuing a Genocide Alert for India Administered Kashmir.

On August 4, 2019, the Indian Parliament revoked the Special Autonomous Status of India Administered Jammu and Kashmir under Section 35a, and Article 370 of the Constitution of India. India has over 600,000 troops in Kashmir. Movement of people and freedom of the press are restricted. India has cut off internet communications.

At the time of Indian and Pakistani independence in 1947, Jammu and Kashmir was a princely state with a majority of Hindus in Jammu and a majority of Muslims in Kashmir. During Partition, its Hindu Maharaja chose to remain independent. When Pashtun militias invaded from Pakistan, the Maharaja acceded to the Union of India and India airlifted in troops. Under Article 370, his accession could be revoked through a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.
Fighting between Pakistani militias and Indian troops ensued. India took a dispute with Pakistan to the UN Security Council, which passed Resolution 47 of 1948. It called for withdrawal of Pakistani fighters and reduction of Indian troops in Jammu and Kashmir. It also called for a plebiscite to determine Jammu and Kashmir’s future. The plebiscite has never been held. India and Pakistan both assert sovereignty over Kashmir. They divide the territory along the “line of control.” They have fought three wars since independence. Both nations have nuclear weapons.

In 1984, Kashmiri Muslim youth began demonstrations for Kashmiri indigenous self-determination that were crushed by Indian armed forces. Riots destroyed Hindu properties in 1986; armed Muslim insurgents targeted Hindus in 1989; and in 1990, over 100,000 Hindu pandits fled from Kashmir. Human Rights Watch reported that 50,000 people were killed in Kashmir from 1989 to 2006. The Kashmir State Human Rights Commission has evidence of 2,730 bodies buried in 40 mass graves. The Commission reported over 8000 disappearances. The Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society said that by 2016, there were over 70,000 killings, most by Indian forces. Amnesty International reports that disappearances, torture and rape by Indian Army units against Kashmiri Muslims are common.

Applying Prof. Barbara Harff’s risk factors for genocide, the following are early warnings of massacres in Kashmir:

1. Prior genocidal massacres and continuing impunity for such killings;
2. Continued armed conflict between India and Pakistan over border areas in Kashmir;
3. An exclusionary ideology of “Hindutva” – India as Hindu nation – by Modi’s ruling BJP;
4. Authoritarian military rule without legal restraints imposed by civilian Indian officials;
5. Rule by a minority military force (Hindus and Sikhs) over majority Muslim citizens;
6. Cut-off of communications and outside access by internet, media, and trade;
7. Widespread violations of basic human rights – torture, rape, 2-year detentions without charge, arbitrary arrests and deportations of Muslim political and human rights leaders.

Genocide Watch’s Ten Stages of the genocidal process are also far advanced:

1. Classification: Hindu and Sikh Indian Army “us” vs. Kashmiri Muslim civilian “them;”
2. Symbolization: Muslims have Muslim names (on ID cards), Kashmiri language, dress, mosques;
3. Discrimination: Hindu pandits were economically dominant until 1990; BJP reasserted Hindu power;
4. Dehumanization: Muslims are called “terrorists”, “separatists,” “criminals,” “insurgents;”
5. Organization: 600,000 heavily armed Indian Army troops and police dominate Kashmir;
6. Polarization: Modi and the BJP incite anti-Muslim hatred; social media spread falsehoods;
7. Preparation: The Indian Army occupies Kashmir; BJP leaders speak of the “Final Solution” for Kashmir;
8. Persecution: Kashmiri Muslims are locked down, subject to arrest, torture, rape, and murder;
9. Extermination: Genocidal massacres occurred during Partition; since 1990, there have been at least 25 massacres with death tolls over 25: 10 of Muslims by Indian troops; 15 of Hindus by Muslim militants;
10. Denial: Modi and BJP say their goals are to “bring prosperity” and “end terrorism”; they deny any massacres. No Indian Army troops or police are ever tried for torture, rape or murder. Modi’s takeover is popular in India.

Genocide Watch calls upon the United Nations and its members to warn India not to commit genocide in Kashmir.

GENOCIDE WATCH is the founder and coordinator of the Alliance Against Genocide
E-mail: president@genocidewatch.org Website: http://www.genocidewatch.com Tax exempt EIN: 26-1672589