Nagaland - Manipur scholars express solidarity with IOK people
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ISLAMABAD (APP): Students, scholars, academicians and other citizens from Nagaland and Manipur have expressed solidarity with the oppressed people of Indian Occupied Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service , students, scholars, academicians and other concerned citizens from Nagaland and Manipur in a statement said that the ongoing situation in occupied Kashmir had seen sufferings and ordeals for over 60 days now.
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"Reports of the death of many civilians from the Valley have been coming out regularly. Despite calls for restraint in using force upon the civilians from civil societies and concerned individuals, the casualty of innocent civilians is increasing.
Human lives have been reduced to a mere number to be counted.
Kashmir has a disputed history entangled between India and Pakistan, and self-determination of the Kashmiri people," it said.
The statement maintained that draconian law, Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), got tabled and implemented for the first time in the Naga Hills to quell the uprising of the Nagas in 1958.
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Later, it said, the AFSPA was spread to neighbouring Indian states and Occupied Kashmir. As per reports from various sources, the implementation of AFSPA contrary to its objective has rather increased the human rights violations - death of civilians, abuse of women, mental trauma, fake encounters etc. Experience of militarization is similar among Nagas, Kashmiris, Meiteis, Kukis and other indigenous people, it added.
So in this light, the statement said, "we as concerned Nagas who believe in humanity and social justice, empathize with the plight of Kashmiris in the ongoing event."
"We condemn the use of pellets in controlling the crowd leading to scores of blindness and other fatal injuries. We also like to highlight the blockade of mobile network, Internet, unavailability of basic amenities, clamping down of press freedom, inconveniences to hospital staff, closure of educational institutions etc. in this ongoing stand-off in Kashmir."
"Generations of Kashmiris have already suffered a lot; we pledge the Indian government to open dialogue with Kashmiris for peace, security and harmony towards a lasting solution," it added.
Repealing of AFSPA should be given a chance by incorporating recommendations from Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee and the UN Special Rapporteur," it said.
