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Via: Rebellious Koshur

Sonia,

The problem with "activists" like you is that you pick and choose the issues which concern you and not the people on ground. The issues which you have raised are least of the concern for Kashmiris. Our prime concern is not the wealth acquired by the pro-freedom politicians but it is freedom from ruthless India and Indians. People, who claim to be our friends as we don’t need masters, should support us in our endeavors.

The issue of accountability of our politicians is an internal matter of Kashmiris which we are proficient enough to deal with. We know who has done what; you need not bother yourself with our internal affairs. Being an Indian it is your responsibility to question the presence of Indian army in Kashmir; the brutality of Indian soldiers; the criminal policies of Indian politicians. Demonstrate your principled stand vis-à-vis Indian policies on Kashmir. We the people of Kashmir will take account of the blunders of our politicians and militants. We know who killed whom and why. We know where from the money came, for what it was spent, and how much did the politicians use for themselves. We till now have and in future will do the needful. You please keep out of it, because this is not India. It is Kashmir. You, the Indian civil society activists, seem to be behaving in the same hegemonic attitude which the Indian statecraft has exhibited so far in Kashmir.

It is ridiculous when you say Kashmiri society is “deeply divided”. Is it not true for India? Is it not true for Delhi? Is it not true for the small locality where you live in Delhi? Yes Kashmiris are divided and I see it as the democratic mindset of the people. The division which you are talking about is the difference of opinion which is present everywhere in the modern democratic world.

You have asked a Junaid how many JKLF men were killed by army and how many by Hizbula Mujahideen. It is useless to misinterpret things as people here know the truth about each and every killing. There is no need for them to share it with you. Why should we trust you?

For the purpose of clarity, I would like to quote the figures of a survey done by a Srinagar based organization, Coalition of Civil Society. According to their survey in Baramulla district, the total number of JKLF men who got killed in Baramulla only is 180. Out of the 180 JKLF men 115 have been killed by Indian armed forces. Hizbul Mujahideen has killed 8 JKLF members while as other militant organizations have killed 15 JKLF men. JKLF itself has killed 3 of there members. There are around 39 JKLF members who have been killed by “unidentified gunmen”. People here in Kashmir understand who these unidentified gunmen are.

What I could understand from your post was that you think JKLF has suffered more because of Hizbul Mujahideen compared to Indian army while as the truth according to the Baramulla survey of Coalition of Civil Society is that 87 JKLF members have been martyred during the encounters with Indian army. 13 have been killed in custody. Another 6 have been subjected to enforced disappearance from Baramulla district amongst the JKLF members.

Why are you unnecessarily defaming JKLF cadres? I know you have great friendship with Yasin Malik but even he won’t deny that India is his enemy and not Hizbul Mujahideen.

Qalab Hussain


"S. Jabbar" wrote: Dear Junaid,


You ask why anyone else (besides the Indian intelligence agencies) would
want to kill anti-India political figures? This is precisely the line of
reasoning that a researcher in the US or UK ignorant of the ground in
Kashmir would take. I'd expect a little more nuance from a researcher of
conflict and that can only happen if one takes the trouble to do a little
more work in the field.

If you are a Kashmiri old enough to follow the careers of people like Moulvi
Farooq, Qazi Nissar, Abdul Ghani Lone, Dr. Guru, Prof Wani, Ghulam Qadir
Wani and many others you will realize that each was killed at the point when
he tried to assert an independent line of thinking or advocated talks with
India or did not quite bend to the will of his political masters in
Pakistan.

As I have said earlier in this forum no one in their right mind can defend
what the Indian troops and intelligence agencies have done in Kashmir, but I
think if one is to try and make some sense of what you have rightly
described as a dirty war, one needs to first take a dispassionate view of
what went down in the last two decades. This includes apportioning
responsibility-- as far as it is possible-- for the political assassinations
and the massacres.

And why do you call the Ikhwanis 'my poor' favourite whipping boys? I had
clearly said I held no brief for them. Did you not read my post carefully or
do you still choose to read me selectively? The reason I pointed out their
role of the fall guy was that they are the mere foot soldiers and not the
generals that dictate the course of this war. If blame is to be pinned it
finally must be the general who takes the rap.

Of course some Ikhwani leaders have made a lot of money and it is all
despicable blood money. But this is well known. Why is it that you are not
as vocal about the blood money and the palatial homes of the separatists?
What is their source of income, how have they grown so rich in the last
twenty years, how do they fund their political activities, and how is it
that the Indian state allows it? Not only that, the Indian state pays the
medical bills for many separatist leaders who have been periodically
hospitalized and provides security cover for them with J&K Police guarding
their homes and offices.

Why is that? Is this usual or unusual? Does the endless dragging on, the
seeming intractableness of the situation have anything at all to do with
this? Can you imagine the Sri Lankan state doing the same for Prabhakaran?
For me these are far more interesting questions and if one tries to answer
them honestly a far more complex picture develops than the simple one of the
bad Ikhwani-- who, incidentally was good when he fought for Pakistan and
became bad the moment he switched sides in 1994.

And why did the Ikhwanis switch sides? Were they all congenital 'gaddars'
and 'mukhbirs' or were there other compulsions? Of the many JKLF fighters
who were wiped out in the early '90s how many fell to the bullets of the
Indian army and how many to the Hizbul Mujahideen?

I ask all these questions because it is vital that Kashmiris themselves, at
least privately, begin to ask them. For all the talk of the Kashmiri's
alienation from India, nobody speaks of the alienation within Kashmir.
Kashmiri society is deeply divided between those who are labeled Indian
agents and Pakistani agents, between those that everyone knows benefited
from the war and the ordinary citizen, between the Jamaatis and the rest.
This has been the most tragic fallout of the war-- this and the terrible
silence that surrounds the killings and rapes by the militants. It may seem
unthinkable but one day there will be peace in Kashmir. How will this
society heal when there are these terrible divisions, fear, suspicion?

Once South Africa won its independence it constituted the Truth &
Reconciliation Commission. This was because the ANC leadership was mature
enough to realize that though history belongs to the victors it would be
disastrous for future generations if South Africa were to whitewash its past
where terrible atrocities were committed on both sides. But truth was to
come before reconciliations, and this was often a bitter and painful
experience where family members had to confront the killers of their loved
ones. I'm not sure whether the South African experience had a fairytale
ending but it seems to me the right direction to take for societies to heal
post-conflicts.

Will this ever happen in Kashmir or indeed in South Asia? I have my doubts.
We have a terrible knack of sweeping things under the carpet and pretending
it never happened. All cataclysms have been dealt with, with tiresome
familiarity, whether mass rapes by the Pakistan Army in Bangladesh (for
which incidentally only women's organisations in Pakistan apologized) or the
Indian state's involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh Pogrom or Gujarat or the NE or
Kashmir.

And where does one start the truth & reconciliation part between Kashmir and
the rest of India when the government has blatantly shielded officers in the
Indian Army despite being chargesheeted by institutions like the CBI? Where
does truth & reconciliation begin between Muslims and Pandits when it is
still widely believed that Jagmohan engineered the exodus? Or between
families of the Ikhwan and the rest or families of the Jamaatis and the
rest? It requires a certain honesty and moral courage to answer these
questions squarely. I hope some day at least some of us will be able to
rise to the occasion.



And finally, please stop referring to me as Ms. Jabbar. My name is Sonia and
I'd prefer it if you just used that.

Best wishes,
Sonia

On 5/9/08 10:21 PM, "junaid" wrote:

> Ms Jabbar,In a dirty war like Kashmir, where it is difficult to determine who
> the real killers of these pro-independence Kashmiri leaders are, people would
> naturally point the finger at the government. These leaders,
> throughtout their lives, espoused the cause of
> Kashmir's separation from India; and it should have been reason
> enough for government agencies to get rid of them. Why would anyone else
> have reason to kill all these anti-India figures? And these were not the only
> ones, there are thousands more. And if people say government killed them,
> then as always it falls upon the people's shoulders to prove the
> government's complicity! And it is not easy. Kashmiris don't have the
> kind of resources to resolve all these cases to convince you. (There
> is no CIA, or Western support, or people coming to blow out Olympic torches on
> Western streets). Cases like Pathribal killings, and G M
> Padder's case, or even the sex abuse scandal, are only a few that
> ever come out to blow the tightly-held lid off Indian government's
> actions in Kashmir. Well even those cases don't seem to produce any
> doubt in Indian people about what their goverment tells them to
> believe. The role of government-sponsored renegade militias in
> Kashmir, though not as bad as the actions of actual Indian troops, is
> terrible. The untold miseries they inflicted upon their own people, under
> the cover of Indian agencies, is not really well documented. I dont
> expect any probe from the Indian government ever into it. But I am sure
> if you actually listen to common people, instead of just
> "visiting" as "experts", they will tell you. Public memory in Kashmir is
> quite strong, and impervious to "healing touches" and "hearts and
> minds". Well, though you have no reason to believe the Human Rights
> Watch, I am still sending you a link which indicts your poor
> "favourite whipping boys", who are now living in palatial houses next to army
> camps.http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kashmir/1996/Junaid ******
> Partha,Akhila Raman is based in the US and this 2002
> article is one that has beenput together from secondary sources. Her
> allegations about Chittisinghporaand attributing the assassinations of
> politicians like Dr. Guru, MirwaizFarooq and Abdul Ghani Lone to the renegades
> is mere conjecture. Though Ihold no brief for them they are everybody's
> favourite whipping boys. But thepicture is far more complex than the one
> presented by this article.BestsoniaOn 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta"
> wrote:> Hi,Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the
> governments> onboth sides of the>
> border.http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241Rgds,>
> Partha................On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul>
> wrote:> Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My> friend; there is a lot
> beyond> ideologies here. Politics in its worst form;> is played to make
> things> remain> in status quo. God Bless this street dirt> Yasin
> Malik; who is being used> today; who knows what will happen tomrw with>
> him... May he have the same> fate; what he did to thousands of>
> people...!!!>> Regards>>> On 5/9/08, Partha Dasgupta>
> wrote:> >> > Hi,> >> > I thought that the ideology>
> of the JKLF was (and is) 'a united and> > independent Kashmir'.>
> >> > If> so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into
> it?> >> > Irrespective> of all this, the fact remains is that
> it is highly unlikely> > that India or> Pakistan will give up their
> respective portions under any> > circumstances.>> >> >
> Rgds, Partha> > ....................................> >> >
> On Fri,> May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > wrote:> >>
> > >> Qalab Bhai,> > >> > > Why blame poor Shabir
> Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself> has switched to> > Indian> >
> > side.> > > I am not claiming anything....>> > >>
> > > Rashneek> > >> > >> > > On 5/9/08,
> Rebellious Koshur> wrote:> > > >> > > >
> Rashneek,> > > >> > >> > It is unfortunate that
> after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side> >> to> > >
> > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense to you. He was very much>
> >> defending> > > > each and every action of Yasin Malik for
> years, why didn't> you quote> > him> > > > then. You
> would claim that he is repentant but> people in Kashmir> >
> believe> > > he> > > > is denigrated.> > >
> >> > > >> Qalab Hussain> > > >> > >
> > *rashneek kher * wrote:> >> > >> > > > and
> this one isn't based on my data.......> > > >> > >
> >> > > >> By Dr Shabir Choudhry> > > >> >
> > > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir> Liberation Front (JKLF)
> is a> > > sacred> > > > name for some, as they>
> sacrificed their lives and everything else> they> > > > valued
> in name of> liberating the state.> > > >> > > >
> They did that to promote the name of> JKLF believing that they were>
> > doing> > > > this for a good cause and for> the betterment
> of their divided and> > > oppressed> > > > nation.>
> > > >>> > > > But there are many who disagree with
> this. They believe that the JKLF>> > has> > > > brought
> them trouble, destruction and misery, and is root cause> of> > >
> problems> > > > of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988.>
> > >> >> > > > I am among those who, despite the
> baggage JKLF is carrying,> proudly> > > claimed> > > >
> to be member of this party, and furthermore> claimed to be among those>
> > who> > > > helped to form this party in Britain> in 1977.
> Like thousands of> others> > I> > > > have also suffered
> for this> party and have done everything possible> to> > > >
> promote true ideology of> the JKLF.> > > >> > > >
> Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and> sacrifices, fact>
> > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in to> different
> factions;> and> > > > allegation is and which is widely
> believed> and true to large extent> > that> > > > top>
> > > > leaders of some groups> have compromised JKLF ideology and
> are> advancing> > > > agenda of secret> agencies of our
> occupiers.> > > >> > > > These JKLF leaders are
> accused of> tuning and maligning their ideology> > to> > >
> > suit national interest of> Pakistan, and have practically signed
> away> > > their> > > > independence to> advance cause
> of united and independent Kashmir.> Their> > > > strategy
> was> not to unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and> >
> Kashmir> > > > but> to advance such policies, which suited
> Pakistani agencies, aim of> > >> which> > > > was not
> independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding> and> >
> engaged.> > > >> > > > That policy worked as planned
> India not only> bled but also has been> > > engaged> > >
> > since 1989, but in return we> Kashmiris have also bled and got>
> trampled> > > and> > > > oppressed. For> this policy
> people of Jammu and Kashmir had to pay> > through> > > >
> their> noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and>
> > > >> Kashmir.> > > >> > > > In this
> struggle which started in name of> independence and> spearheaded>
> > by> > > > The JKLF with money and guns> provided to them
> by Pakistani agencies> > > > resulted> > > > in
> fiasco. It> tore apart fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started>
> an> > > era> > > >> of intimidation, oppression and
> gun culture.> > > >> > > > All sides> targeted
> people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of> > > Indian> >
> > >> Army and security> > > > services,> > >
> > they were trained and victimised> by Pakistani secret agencies and>
> worse> > > of> > > > all they were killed> and
> intimidated by militants as well.> > > >> > > > In
> this struggle we have> lost a generation. Thousands of people are> >
> still> > > > unaccounted for.> Thousands of people are still
> languishing in jails.> It> > > is> > > >>
> regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is also regrettable> >
> >> that> > > > instead of bringing hope and new dreams to
> people of Jammu and>> Kashmir,> > > the> > > > APHC
> leadership and the JKLF have brought> disappointment, misery and> >
> > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not> any closer to>
> independence.> > > >> > > > My colleagues and I
> realised in> 1991/2 that things were not in> control> > of>
> > > > JKLF Chairman,> Amanullah Khan, and that he was only
> pretending to be> in> > > > charge. We> challenged him and
> asked him to reveal who was calling> shots> > > in> >
> >> > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our
> struggle.> > > >>> > > > The JKLF claimed to work
> for a liberal and democratic society but its>> > > > chairman
> believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez> > >>
> Musharaf> > > > of Pakistan. Like Musharaf he was a dictator to
> the core and> did not> > > allow> > > > free
> discussion or accountability and result was> many splits in the> >
> JKLF.> > > >> > > > Like General Musharaf, in>
> frustration Amanullah Khan also took extra> > > > constitutional
> act and> dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF> Zone> >
> in> > > > Britain,> which led to parting of from the JKLF then
> onwards.> > > >> > > > We> continued our struggle
> to correct ills of the JKLF and bring> > > >> accountability
> and transparency within the JKLF ranks. We wanted the> > >>
> party> > > > to reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent
> all people> of the> > > state> > > > and not only
> Muslims. While this struggle was going> on we saw release> > of>
> > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he> would be better
> than> > Amanullah> > > > Khan.> > > >> >
> > > We are all> entitled to have dreams and hopes; it is the job of
> these> > > > leaders> >> > > to ensure that these
> dreams do not become reality. If Amanullah Khan>> is> > > >
> like> > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General
> Yayya> Khan. Both> > > believed> > > > in their own
> brand of democracy and human> rights, both dislike> > > >
> accountability and democracy within the party, in> fact, both dont>
> like> > > > party> > > > to flourish or expand.>
> > > >>> > > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at
> least disrupt normal life>> there,> > > > especially around
> election time with the help of Pakistani> agencies;> > and> >
> > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly> oppose
> dissent.> > > >> > > > Yasin Malik went in prison as a
> militant with> a gun in his hand and> > came> > > >
> out> > > > as a polished leader> preaching peace and
> non-violence, as if he was> not> > > in> > > > a>
> > >> > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence
> and media> > > >> management.> > > >> > >
> >> > > > We hoped that the party will benefit from> his
> experience and will> help> > to> > > > bring some
> positive changes to> the JKLF and will help to resolve the> > >
> > Kashmir> > > > dispute> according to the expressed wishes
> of the people.> > > >> > > > We tried and> tried
> hard, but were not completely successful in our> > > > endeavours
> to> unite different groups of the JKLF and make it vibrant> > and>
> > > >> democratic force. However, our efforts helped to educate
> people and> > they>> > > > started asking questions from
> these two for being life chairman.> > >> >> > > >
> My colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly> >>
> > advocated> > > > formation of a new party, as in their
> opinion it was waste> of time> > trying> > > > to>
> > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In their view> it was impossible
> task when> > Yasin> > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have>
> emerged as big figures of the JKLF> groups> > > and> > >
> > when their sole> aim is to maintain the status quo.> > >
> >> > > > I was not in favour of> abandoning the JKLF, as I
> had emotional ties> > with> > > > the> > > >>
> party. Like many others, I have also given my youth and enormous time> >
> to>> > > > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives
> are in my blood ->> > it> > > is> > > > a
> product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of> time, effort>
> > and> > > > dedication and used my talent to promote cause
> of> another party then> I> > > > could> > > >
> have been in Parliament long time> ago, but that was not my objective.>
> > > >> > > > In our JKLF we respected> dissent and
> views of all colleagues. Even> > though> > > > majority
> agreed> with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken> in> >
> > its> > > >> favour because I disagreed and my colleagues
> respected that. Our> > >> commitment> > > > to each
> other was that we would remain together and work> together.> > >
> >> > > > We had close contacts with senior leaders of both>
> Yasin Malik and> > > Amanullah> > > > Khan led JKLF. Like
> us they were also> worried about the situation in> > the> >
> > > party, and what was being done> in the name of JKLF, but they
> didnt> have> > > > control over it and they> lacked courage
> and political will to> challenge> > > > them.> > >
> >> > > >> Last year some of them assured us that if we form
> another party they> >> will> > > > side with us, but they
> cannot support us if we continue with the> name> > of> > >
> > the> > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my corner against>
> formation of a new> party.> > My> > > > view was that
> JKLF is not private> party or estate of Amanullah Khan> or> > >
> > Yasin> > > > Malik, and by us> abandoning the party we are
> giving them a free hand.> > > >> > > > But all>
> this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the> > >
> Valley.> > >> > They spoke against practices of the JKLF cadres
> in name of the> >> struggle,> > > > especially what they
> did in early years of the struggle to> Muslims> and> > >
> non> > > > Muslims alike.> > > >> > > > If
> army commit> human rights abuse they do it under the cover of> >
> imposing> > > >> government writ. They kill, intimidate,
> torture and imprison people;> > and>> > > in> > >
> > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the>
> so-called> > > > freedom> > > > fighters then what is
> the difference between> them?> > > >> > > > This is
> a separate topic, which needs special attention> and cannot be> >
> > dealt> > > > here. I was told that many Muslims and>
> especially non Muslims hated> the> > > > JKLF, as it is viewed
> as a> mercenary organisation advancing agenda of> > > >
> Pakistani secret agencies.> Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage>
> of> > > the> > > > JKLF is too> heavy for you to carry
> and make any notable progress.> > > >> > > > I am,
> at> last, persuaded that it is time to say goodbye to the JKLF,> >
> > which> > >> > abandoned its ideology, communalised
> Kashmiri politics and advanced> > > >> non-Kashmiri agenda.
> Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is of course too> > >> heavy>
> > > > to carry.> > > >> > > > If some JKLF
> members still think they> can make positive contribution> to> >
> > the> > > > cause of unification and> independence of the
> State when leaders like> > > > Amanullah Khan and Yasin> Malik
> are heading these JKLF groups then> good> > > luck> > >
> > to them;> however if they feel time has come to say good bye to it
> and> > > make> > >> > a> > > > new start
> then they are welcome. (ANI)> > > >> > > >> >
> > >> >> > >> > >> >> >
> http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10
> > 046414.html> > > >> > > > --> > > >
> Rashneek Kher> > > >>
> http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > >>
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> archive:> > > > >> > > >> > > >>
> ------------------------------> > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail >
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> http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt
> > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html> > > >.>
> > > >> > > > A> Smarter Email.> > > >>
> > > >> > >> > >> > > --> > >
> Rashneek Kher> > >> http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com>
> > >> _________________________________________> > >
> reader-list: an open> discussion list on media and the city.> > >
> Critiques & Collaborations> > >> To subscribe: send an email
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> Partha Dasgupta> > +919811047132> >>
> _________________________________________> > reader-list: an open
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> reader-list-request@sarai.net with> > subscribe in the> subject
> header.> > To unsubscribe:>
> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > List archive:>
> >> _________________________________________> reader-list: an open
> discussion> list on media and the city.> Critiques &
> Collaborations> To subscribe: send> an email to
> reader-list-request@sarai.net with> subscribe in the subject>
> header.> To unsubscribe:>
> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> List archive:>
> >-- Partha>
> Dasgupta+919811047132_________________________________________reader-list:>
> an open discussion list on media and the city.Critiques &
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> ------------------------------Message: 3Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:23:51
> +0530From: "Partha Dasgupta" Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Baggage of JKLF is too
> heavy to carry-byDr.Shabir ChaudharyTo: "S. Jabbar" Cc: sarai list
> Message-ID:Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"Hi,Rather than the
> events used in the article, was referring to the 'renegadeterrorists' in terms
> of the government(s) using released militants as 'hiredguns' to do what can
> not be achieved under law. (Though, we have seen enoughof armed forces and
> police taking steps that are supposedly illegal andacting as goons)Sure, it is
> supposition on my part, but I find it hard to believe that themilitancy in
> J&K could have reached such a virulent level with out somesupport from the
> establishment, or sections of it, for what ever purpose itmay be - whether to
> oppose or to suppress.Rgds,
> Partha.......................................................On Fri, May 9,
> 2008 at 6:35 PM, S. Jabbar wrote:> Partha,> Akhila Raman is based in the
> US and this 2002 article is one that has been> put together from secondary
> sources. Her allegations about Chittisinghpora> and attributing the
> assassinations of politicians like Dr. Guru, Mirwaiz> Farooq and Abdul
> Ghani Lone to the renegades is mere conjecture. Though I> hold no brief for
> them they are everybody's favourite whipping boys. But> the> picture is
> far more complex than the one presented by this article.> Best>
> sonia>>> On 5/9/08 2:58 PM, "Partha Dasgupta" wrote:>> >
> Hi,>> Interesting article on 'renegade militants' being used by the
> governments> > on> both sides of the> > border.>>
> http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/11241>> Rgds,> > Partha>
> ................>> On Fri, May 9, 2008 at 1:56 PM, Aditya Raj Kaul>
> > > wrote:>> > Agencies at work on both sides maybe. My>
> > friend; there is a lot beyond> > ideologies here. Politics in its
> worst form;> > is played to make things> > remain> > in
> status quo. God Bless this street dirt> > Yasin Malik; who is being
> used> > today; who knows what will happen tomrw with> > him... May
> he have the same> > fate; what he did to thousands of> >
> people...!!!> >> > Regards> >> >> > On 5/9/08,
> Partha Dasgupta> > wrote:> > >> > > Hi,> >
> >> > > I thought that the ideology> > of the JKLF was (and
> is) 'a united and> > > independent Kashmir'.> > >> >
> > If> > so, how does an Indian or a Pakistani side come into it?>
> > >> > > Irrespective> > of all this, the fact remains is
> that it is highly unlikely> > > that India or> > Pakistan will
> give up their respective portions under any> > > circumstances.>
> >> > >> > > Rgds, Partha> > >
> ....................................> > >> > > On Fri,>
> > May 9, 2008 at 1:18 PM, rashneek kher > > wrote:> > >>
> > > >> > Qalab Bhai,> > > >> > > > Why
> blame poor Shabir Chaudhaury?Yasin Malik himself> > has switched to>
> > > Indian> > > > side.> > > > I am not claiming
> anything....> >> > > >> > > > Rashneek> >
> > >> > > >> > > > On 5/9/08, Rebellious
> Koshur> > wrote:> > > > >> > > > >
> Rashneek,> > > > >> > > >> > > It is
> unfortunate that after Dr. Shabir Chudhry has switched the side> >
> >> > to> > > > > the Indian camp, his ideas make sense
> to you. He was very much> > >> > defending> > > >
> > each and every action of Yasin Malik for years, why didn't> > you
> quote> > > him> > > > > then. You would claim that he
> is repentant but> > people in Kashmir> > > believe> >
> > > he> > > > > is denigrated.> > > >
> >> > > > >> > Qalab Hussain> > > >
> >> > > > > *rashneek kher * wrote:> > >> >
> > >> > > > > and this one isn't based on my
> data.......> > > > >> > > > >> > > >
> >> > By Dr Shabir Choudhry> > > > >> > > >
> > London, May 8 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir> > Liberation Front (JKLF)
> is a> > > > sacred> > > > > name for some, as
> they> > sacrificed their lives and everything else> > they>
> > > > > valued in name of> > liberating the state.> >
> > > >> > > > > They did that to promote the name
> of> > JKLF believing that they were> > > doing> > >
> > > this for a good cause and for> > the betterment of their
> divided and> > > > oppressed> > > > > nation.>
> > > > >> >> > > > > But there are many who
> disagree with this. They believe that the> JKLF> >> > >
> has> > > > > brought them trouble, destruction and misery, and
> is root cause> > of> > > > problems> > > > >
> of the people of Jammu and Kashmir since 1988.> > > >> >
> >> > > > > I am among those who, despite the baggage JKLF is
> carrying,> > proudly> > > > claimed> > > > >
> to be member of this party, and furthermore> > claimed to be among
> those> > > who> > > > > helped to form this party in
> Britain> > in 1977. Like thousands of> > others> > >
> I> > > > > have also suffered for this> > party and have
> done everything possible> > to> > > > > promote true
> ideology of> > the JKLF.> > > > >> > > > >
> Despite our sincere efforts to reunite the party and> > sacrifices,
> fact> > > > > however remains that the JKLF is divided in
> to> > different factions;> > and> > > > >
> allegation is and which is widely believed> > and true to large
> extent> > > that> > > > > top> > > > >
> leaders of some groups> > have compromised JKLF ideology and are>
> > advancing> > > > > agenda of secret> > agencies of
> our occupiers.> > > > >> > > > > These JKLF
> leaders are accused of> > tuning and maligning their ideology> >
> > to> > > > > suit national interest of> > Pakistan,
> and have practically signed away> > > > their> > > >
> > independence to> > advance cause of united and independent
> Kashmir.> > Their> > > > > strategy was> > not to
> unite and liberate divided state of Jammu and> > > Kashmir> >
> > > > but> > to advance such policies, which suited Pakistani
> agencies, aim of> > > >> > which> > > > > was
> not independence of J and K, but to keep India bleeding> > and> >
> > engaged.> > > > >> > > > > That policy
> worked as planned India not only> > bled but also has been> > >
> > engaged> > > > > since 1989, but in return we> >
> Kashmiris have also bled and got> > trampled> > > > and>
> > > > > oppressed. For> > this policy people of Jammu and
> Kashmir had to pay> > > through> > > > > their>
> > noses, but this struggle has made new millionaires in Jammu and> >
> > > >> > Kashmir.> > > > >> > > >
> > In this struggle which started in name of> > independence and>
> > spearheaded> > > by> > > > > The JKLF with money
> and guns> > provided to them by Pakistani agencies> > > >
> > resulted> > > > > in fiasco. It> > tore apart
> fabrics of the Kashmiri society and started> > an> > > >
> era> > > > >> > of intimidation, oppression and gun
> culture.> > > > >> > > > > All sides> >
> targeted people of Jammu and Kashmir: They faced wrath of> > > >
> Indian> > > > >> > Army and security> > > >
> > services,> > > > > they were trained and victimised>
> > by Pakistani secret agencies and> > worse> > > > of>
> > > > > all they were killed> > and intimidated by militants
> as well.> > > > >> > > > > In this struggle we
> have> > lost a generation. Thousands of people are> > >
> still> > > > > unaccounted for.> > Thousands of people
> are still languishing in jails.> > It> > > > is> >
> > > >> > regrettable that we lost so many sons of soil. It is
> also regrettable> > > >> > that> > > > >
> instead of bringing hope and new dreams to people of Jammu and> >>
> > Kashmir,> > > > the> > > > > APHC leadership
> and the JKLF have brought> > disappointment, misery and> > >
> > > destruction. And tragedy is that we are not> > any closer
> to> > independence.> > > > >> > > > > My
> colleagues and I realised in> > 1991/2 that things were not in> >
> control> > > of> > > > > JKLF Chairman,> >
> Amanullah Khan, and that he was only pretending to be> > in> >
> > > > charge. We> > challenged him and asked him to reveal who
> was calling> > shots> > > > in> > > >> >
> > name of Kashmiri struggle; and who was communalising our struggle.>
> > > > >> >> > > > > The JKLF claimed to work
> for a liberal and democratic society but> its> >> > > >
> > chairman believed in kind of democracy promoted by General Pervez>
> > > >> > Musharaf> > > > > of Pakistan. Like
> Musharaf he was a dictator to the core and> > did not> > > >
> allow> > > > > free discussion or accountability and result
> was> > many splits in the> > > JKLF.> > > >
> >> > > > > Like General Musharaf, in> > frustration
> Amanullah Khan also took extra> > > > > constitutional act
> and> > dissolved most effective and powerful JKLF> > Zone> >
> > in> > > > > Britain,> > which led to parting of from
> the JKLF then onwards.> > > > >> > > > > We>
> > continued our struggle to correct ills of the JKLF and bring> >
> > > >> > accountability and transparency within the JKLF ranks.
> We wanted the> > > >> > party> > > > > to
> reflect true ideology of the JKLF, and represent all people> > of
> the> > > > state> > > > > and not only Muslims.
> While this struggle was going> > on we saw release> > > of>
> > > > > Yasin Malik from prison and hoped that he> > would
> be better than> > > Amanullah> > > > > Khan.> >
> > > >> > > > > We are all> > entitled to have
> dreams and hopes; it is the job of these> > > > > leaders>
> > >> > > > to ensure that these dreams do not become
> reality. If Amanullah Khan> >> > is> > > > >
> like> > > > > Musharaf then surely Yasin Malik is like General
> Yayya> > Khan. Both> > > > believed> > > > >
> in their own brand of democracy and human> > rights, both dislike>
> > > > > accountability and democracy within the party, in> >
> fact, both dont> > like> > > > > party> > > >
> > to flourish or expand.> > > > >> >> > >
> > > Both want to liberate the Valley or at least disrupt normal life>
> >> > there,> > > > > especially around election time
> with the help of Pakistani> > agencies;> > > and> > >
> > > both want to be Chairman for life and strongly> > oppose
> dissent.> > > > >> > > > > Yasin Malik went in
> prison as a militant with> > a gun in his hand and> > >
> came> > > > > out> > > > > as a polished
> leader> > preaching peace and non-violence, as if he was> >
> not> > > > in> > > > > a> > > >>
> > > prison but on some academic course dealing with violence and
> media> > > > >> > management.> > > > >>
> > > > >> > > > > We hoped that the party will
> benefit from> > his experience and will> > help> > >
> to> > > > > bring some positive changes to> > the JKLF
> and will help to resolve the> > > > > Kashmir> > >
> > > dispute> > according to the expressed wishes of the
> people.> > > > >> > > > > We tried and> >
> tried hard, but were not completely successful in our> > > > >
> endeavours to> > unite different groups of the JKLF and make it
> vibrant> > > and> > > > >> > democratic force.
> However, our efforts helped to educate people and> > > they>
> >> > > > > started asking questions from these two for being
> life chairman.> > > >> > >> > > > > My
> colleagues, especially Abbas Butt and Zubair Ansari, strongly> >
> >> > > advocated> > > > > formation of a new party,
> as in their opinion it was waste> > of time> > > trying>
> > > > > to> > > > > correct ills of the JKLF. In
> their view> > it was impossible task when> > > Yasin> >
> > > > Malik and Amanullah Khan have> > emerged as big figures
> of the JKLF> > groups> > > > and> > > > >
> when their sole> > aim is to maintain the status quo.> > > >
> >> > > > > I was not in favour of> > abandoning the
> JKLF, as I had emotional ties> > > with> > > > >
> the> > > > >> > party. Like many others, I have also
> given my youth and enormous time> > > to> >> > > >
> > promote cause of the party, its aims and objectives are in my blood>
> -> >> > > it> > > > is> > > > > a
> product of our struggle. If I had given same amount of> > time,
> effort> > > and> > > > > dedication and used my talent
> to promote cause of> > another party then> > I> > > >
> > could> > > > > have been in Parliament long time> >
> ago, but that was not my objective.> > > > >> > > >
> > In our JKLF we respected> > dissent and views of all colleagues.
> Even> > > though> > > > > majority agreed> >
> with the idea of a new party, no decision was taken> > in> > >
> > its> > > > >> > favour because I disagreed and my
> colleagues respected that. Our> > > >> > commitment> >
> > > > to each other was that we would remain together and work>
> > together.> > > > >> > > > > We had close
> contacts with senior leaders of both> > Yasin Malik and> > >
> > Amanullah> > > > > Khan led JKLF. Like us they were
> also> > worried about the situation in> > > the> > >
> > > party, and what was being done> > in the name of JKLF, but
> they didnt> > have> > > > > control over it and they>
> > lacked courage and political will to> > challenge> > >
> > > them.> > > > >> > > > >> > Last
> year some of them assured us that if we form another party they> >
> >> > will> > > > > side with us, but they cannot
> support us if we continue with the> > name> > > of> >
> > > > the> > > > > JKLF. I was still fighting my
> corner against> > formation of a new> > party.> > >
> My> > > > > view was that JKLF is not private> > party or
> estate of Amanullah Khan> > or> > > > > Yasin> >
> > > > Malik, and by us> > abandoning the party we are giving
> them a free hand.> > > > >> > > > > But all>
> > this changed last month when I met some Kashmiris from the> > >
> > Valley.> > > >> > > They spoke against practices of
> the JKLF cadres in name of the> > >> > struggle,> > >
> > > especially what they did in early years of the struggle to> >
> Muslims> > and> > > > non> > > > > Muslims
> alike.> > > > >> > > > > If army commit> >
> human rights abuse they do it under the cover of> > > imposing>
> > > > >> > government writ. They kill, intimidate, torture
> and imprison people;> > > and> >> > > > in> >
> > > > some cases rape women, but if the same is practised by the>
> > so-called> > > > > freedom> > > > >
> fighters then what is the difference between> > them?> > > >
> >> > > > > This is a separate topic, which needs special
> attention> > and cannot be> > > > dealt> > > >
> > here. I was told that many Muslims and> > especially non Muslims
> hated> > the> > > > > JKLF, as it is viewed as a> >
> mercenary organisation advancing agenda of> > > > > Pakistani
> secret agencies.> > Muslim from the Valley said, The baggage> >
> of> > > > the> > > > > JKLF is too> > heavy
> for you to carry and make any notable progress.> > > > >>
> > > > > I am, at> > last, persuaded that it is time to say
> goodbye to the JKLF,> > > > which> > > >> > >
> abandoned its ideology, communalised Kashmiri politics and advanced> >
> > > >> > non-Kashmiri agenda. Baggage and stigma of the JKLF is
> of course too> > > >> > heavy> > > > > to
> carry.> > > > >> > > > > If some JKLF members
> still think they> > can make positive contribution> > to> >
> > > the> > > > > cause of unification and> >
> independence of the State when leaders like> > > > > Amanullah
> Khan and Yasin> > Malik are heading these JKLF groups then> >
> good> > > > luck> > > > > to them;> > however
> if they feel time has come to say good bye to it and> > > >
> make> > > >> > > a> > > > > new start then
> they are welcome. (ANI)> > > > >> > > > >>
> > > > >> > >> > > >> > > >>
> > >> >> >>
> http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/baggage-of-jklf-is-too-heavy_10
> > > 046414.html> > > > >> > > > > -->
> > > > > Rashneek Kher> > > > >> >
> http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > > > >> >
> _________________________________________> > > > > reader-list:
> an open> > discussion list on media and the city.> > > >
> > Critiques & Collaborations> > >> > > > To
> subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request@sarai.net with> > >
> > >> > subscribe in the subject header.> > > > > To
> unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list>
> > > > > List archive:> > > > > > >> >
> > > >> > > > >> >
> ------------------------------> > > > > Sent from Yahoo! Mail
> > > >> > >> >> >>
> http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mailuk/taglines/isp/control/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt
> > > =52418/*http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html> > > >
> >.> > > > >> > > > > A> > Smarter
> Email.> > > > >> > > > >> > > >>
> > > >> > > > --> > > > Rashneek Kher> >
> > >> > http://www.nietzschereborn.blogspot.com> > >
> >> > _________________________________________> > > >
> reader-list: an open> > discussion list on media and the city.> >
> > > Critiques & Collaborations> > > >> > To
> subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request@sarai.net with> > >
> >> > subscribe in the subject header.> > > > To
> unsubscribe:> > https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list>
> > > > List archive:> > > > >> > >> >
> >> > >> > > --> > >> > Partha Dasgupta>
> > > +919811047132> > >> >
> _________________________________________> > > reader-list: an open
> discussion> > list on media and the city.> > > Critiques &
> Collaborations> > > To subscribe:> > send an email to
> reader-list-request@sarai.net with> > > subscribe in the> >
> subject header.> > > To unsubscribe:> >
> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > > List
> archive:> > > >> >
> _________________________________________> > reader-list: an open
> discussion> > list on media and the city.> > Critiques &
> Collaborations> > To subscribe: send> > an email to
> reader-list-request@sarai.net with> > subscribe in the subject> >
> header.> > To unsubscribe:> >
> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> > List archive:>
> > > >>>>> --> Partha> > Dasgupta>
> +919811047132> _________________________________________>
> reader-list:> > an open discussion list on media and the city.>
> Critiques & Collaborations> To> > subscribe: send an email to
> reader-list-request@sarai.net with subscribe> in> > the subject
> header.> To unsubscribe:> >
> https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-list> List archive:> >
> >>>-- Partha
> Dasgupta+919811047132------------------------------___________________________
> ____________________reader-list mailing
> listreader-list@sarai.nethttps://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-listEn
> d of reader-list Digest, Vol 58, Issue
> 25*******************************************

Via: xavier cahen

pourinfos.org
l'actualite du monde de l'art / daily Art news

Via: Junaid

IDP leader had facilitated meetings of Geelani, Mirwaiz and Shabir Shah in
Samba

*News Agency of Kashmir *

Jammu, May 11: The political analysts here are viewing the killing of
International Democratic Party (IDP) leader Hoshiar Singh and his trade
union leader wife Shashi Bala by unidentified gunmen as a "political
conspiracy" saying Singh was instrumental in organizing meetings of various
separatists in the predominantly Hindu area of Samba.

They say it is hard to understand the motive behind these killings. "Singh
facilitated the meetings of separatist leaders like Hurriyat (G) Chairman
Syed Ali Geelani, Hurriyat (M) Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and senior
Hurriyat (M) leader Shabir Ahmed Shah in Samba during past few years," one
Kashmir watcher said.
A Jammu based news agency NAK quoted a senior IDP leader I D Khajuria as
saying that Singh believed Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed State whose
resolution was possible only through trilateral talks involving India,
Pakistan as well as the genuine representatives of Jammu Kashmir.
"I too was receiving threats from unknown people for the past one month,
which I reported to police in a routine manner. But the target killing of
Hoshiar Singh and his wife and an attempt to eliminate his entire family has
led credence to a conspiracy to eliminate IDP leaders of the area," said
Khajuria, adding, "We demand a judicial probe to bring out the truth behind
the killing of Hoshiar Singh and his family members.
Lok Sevak Sambyal, an eyewitness and Singh's son alleged that his father and
mother were killed as a part of well planned conspiracy.
Talking to NAK, he said that unidentified gunmen were sighted by many
morning walkers and when asked about their identity, they claimed that they
were army men and looking for the house of Hoshiar Singh.
"They knocked at our door. My father opened the door. They asked if he was
Hoshiar Singh. After confirming his identity they wasted no time and
showered a volley of bullets at him. When my mother asked them who they were
and what they wanted, they sprayed bullets at her killing her," said Lok
Sevak Sambyal adding, "I bolted myself and my wife inside the room while my
sister Bindu and her mother-in-law ventured outside after hearing the
gunshots and were also hit by bullets."
He said that the police theory that they wanted shelter in our house does
not hold good as our house is in the midst of a locality and before knocking
the door of our house they could have entered into any house.
"My father was not violent by nature nor do we have any firearms in our
house. So he could not have entered into a verbal duel or exchanged heated
words. So there was no need to open fire targeting the entire family."
However police remained tight lipped over the conspiracy theory.
GOC 9 Corps Vinay Sharma while briefing media persons after the encounter
said militants target was army area.
However he refused to comment over the BSF claim that militants belonged to
the group which managed to sneak into this side after an encounter in Samba
sector on Friday.

http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3440&Itemid=1

Via: Anivar Aravind

Nobel Winners call for release of Dr Binayak Sen
Global protests on first anniversary of arrest
http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/nobel-winners-call-for-release-of-dr-binayak-sen/

PRESS RELEASE
12 May 2008

In an unprecedented move twenty-two Nobel Prize winning scientists and
economists have appealed to the Indian government to release the jailed
paediatrician and humanitarian activist Dr Binayak Sen enabling him to
go and receive the 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for Health and Human Rights
in Washington later this month.

Dr Sen, who is the first south Asian to be selected for the prestigious
award, was arrested under the Chattisgarh State Public Security Act last
year on false charges of ‘supporting’ unlawful activities of an armed
underground movement. There is no evidence to prove these charges
however and it is widely believed that Dr Sen is being victimised for
his human rights work and exposure of violations carried out by police
and the state-sponsored militia called Salwa Judum in Chattisgarh.

“While the judicial process involving our professional colleague moves
forward, we respectfully request that Dr. Sen be freed from
incarceration on humanitarian grounds to receive his award and to
continue his important medical work” says the letter from the Nobel
Prize winners, dated 9 May and addressed to a host of top Indian
officials including Smt. Pratibha Patil, President of India, Dr Manmohan
Singh, Prime Minister and Dr Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Chattisgarh.

Signatories to the letter include 9 Nobel Laureates in Physiology or
Medicine, 9 in Chemistry, 2 in Physics and 2 in Economics. These
luminaries are John Polanyi (Chemistry 1986), Francois Jacob (Medicine
1965), Roger Guillemin (Medicine 1977), Charles Townes (Physics 1964),
John Polanyi (Chemistry 1986) Peter Agre (Chemistry 2003,) Claude
Cohen-Tannoudji (Physics 1997), Robert Curl (Chemistry1996), Johann
Diesenhofer (Chemistry 1988), Paul Greengard (Physiology or Medicine
2000), Eric Kandel (Physiology or Medicine 2000), Sir Harald Kroto
(Chemistry 1996), Yuan T. Lee (Chemistry 1986), Craig C. Mello(
Physiology or Mediicne 2006), F. Sherwood Rwoland (Chemistry 1995), Jens
C. Skou (Chemistry 1997), PHILLIP A. SHARP (Physiology or Medicine 1993,
HAROLD VARMUS (Physiology or Medicine 1989), SIR JOHN E. WALKER
(Chemistry 1997), TORSTEN WIESEL (Physiology or Medicine 1981) and the
world-renowned economists Kenneth J. Arrow (Economics 1972) Finn Kydland
(Economics 2004).

The Nobel Prize winners statement also raises concerns that Dr. Sen
appears to be incarcerated solely for peacefully exercising his
fundamental human rights, in contravention of Articles 19 (freedom of
opinion and expression) and 22 (freedom of association) of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—to which India is a
state party. Further it says “…he is charged under two internal security
laws that do not comport with international human rights standards.”

This is not the first time that prominent intellectuals from around the
world have appealed for the release of Dr Binayak Sen, an outstanding
humanitarian physician who has spent over three decades in the service
of rural and tribal communities in Chattisgarh. In a statement last
month Dr. Nils Dulaire, President of the Global Health Council, which
selected Dr Sen for the Jonathan Mann Award said “We believe, however,
that allowing Dr. Sen to attend the award’s ceremony would send a strong
signal internationally that would help to restore faith that India and
its states are indeed committed to fairly addressing this and other
cases related to civil conflicts and civil liberties”

However the coming together of twenty-two Nobel Prize winners in support
of a political prisoner in India is unprecedented and speaks volumes of
the admiration evoked by Dr Sen among his global peers.

“It provides clear evidence of the level of concern that Binayak’s case
has engendered around the world,” said Dr Ilina Sen, wife of Dr Binayak
Sen, herself a well-known scholar and rights activist.

In the meanwhile on 14 May, 2008, the first anniversary of Dr Sen’s
arrest, hundreds of people across the globe are planning to stage
demonstrations, hold vigils and organise public meetings demanding his
immediate release.

Apart from cities like New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai
in India protests are also planned in ten North American and three
European cities including New York, Toronto, London, Paris and
Stockholm. Most of these protests, organised by members of the Indian
diaspora along with global activist groups, will be staged outside
Indian embassies and consulates in these cities.

All told, the international attention proves, as was noted in the Global
Health Council’s statement of support, that the “world is watching” to
see whether India will maintain its proud democratic tradition.

Download Nobel Winners Statement:
http://binayaksen.net/download/Nobel-Statement.pdf

For further information contact:

* Satya Sivaraman, New Delhi Ph: +91–9818514952
* Dr P.Zachariah, Vellore Ph: +91-9442607116
* Dr Rakhal, Chennai Ph: +91- 9940246089
* Dr Punyabrata Gun, Kolkata Ph: +91-9830922194
* Dr Abhay Shukla, Pune Ph: +91-9422317515
* Somu Kumar, US somukumar@gmail.com
* Shalini Gera, US shalinigera@yahoo.com
* Kalpana Wilson, London sasg@southasiasolidarity.org

VISIT: WWW.BINAYAKSEN.NET AND WWW.FREEBINAYAKSEN.ORG

Via: "Kuhu Tanvir"

*Off the Mantle #8*

The First City Theatre Readings


*The Troll Bridge and Other Curiosities*

Stories by Neil Gaiman

*14 May 2008 | 7 pm | The Attic *

Call: 011-46070317 | email: theatre@firstcitydelhi.com

The First City Theatre Foundation presents selected readings from short
stories by Neil Gaiman, author of *Neverwhere, American Gods *and* The
Sandman *series. The stories are playful, creepy and often disturbing.
Gaiman tells stories of the traffic between human beings, drawing attention
to moments when the bizarre or fantastic invade the mundane, or even to when
the mundane becomes bizarre. With the growing interest in sci-fi and fantasy
in popular culture, this edition of Off the Mantle hopes to present a
quieter side of these genres – one that is neither techno nor medieval, but
present nevertheless.

Hi all,

it is indeed sad that in free independent society, the elected representatives and the executive use the draconian methods to suppress and oppress the dissent as in the case of Binayak Sen, forgetting that it is the lack of good governance and ignoring the aam admi that has given rise to the dissent, and those who articulate dissent are treated in a way such as this.

It also should be noted that in Nandigram, an elected representative, MP at that using the goon cadres to oppress the innocent voters in panchayath elections, brow-beating high ranking DIG to safeguard the kickbacks recieved from indonesian industrial group for the lands in nandigram, just as CM keeps on saying that the SEZ is shelved, what is the need for cadres to use violence to brow beat the villagers is ironical agonising query. !

Irrespective of the political parties it is indeed sad that CPM or any damn party in rule forgets that they are elected to give good governance and not violence promotion being in rule.

----- Original Message -----
From: Anivar Aravind
Date: Monday, May 12, 2008 11:09 am
Subject: [Reader-list] INTERNATIONAL COALITION DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OFJAILED HUMAN RIGHTS CRUSADER IN INDIA
To: Greenyouth , reader-list@sarai.net, fourth-estate-critique@googlegroups.com, grassroots-in-action-owner@googlegroups.com, activism-news-network@googlegroups.com, Young Activists

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> contact
>
> somu@aidindia.org
> mail@friendsofsouthasia.org, 408-480-5805
>
> MEDIA ADVISORY
> “FREE BINAYAK SEN!”
> INTERNATIONAL COALITION DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF JAILED HUMAN
> RIGHTS
> CRUSADER IN INDIA
> Solidarity Actions Planned in 10 North American and 3 European Cities
>
> http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/international-coalition-demands-
> immediate-release-of-jailed-human-rights-crusader-in-india/
>
> WHEN: Tuesday, May 13th/ Wednesday, May 14th
> WHERE: In cities across the US, Canada and Europe
>
> WHAT: A broad coalition of 37 organizations from US, UK and
> Canada have
> come together to demand immediate release of the jailed human
> rights
> activist, Dr. Binayak Sen, who was recently awarded the
> prestigious
> Jonathan Mann Award by the Global Health Council, Washington DC.
> The
> coalition consists of human rights groups such as Amnesty USA
> (which has
> declared Dr. Sen a Prisoner of Conscience), health rights groups
> such as
> the People’s Health Movement, antiwar groups such as the ANSWER
> Coalition and the Boston Mobilization, student groups from Harvard
> and
> Berkeley, local peace and justice groups from a number of cities,
> as
> well as a large number of diasporic groups based in US, UK and
> Canada.
> (A complete listing of groups is available below).
>
> May 13/14th , 2008, which mark one year of Dr. Sen’s undemocratic
> imprisonment, are being observed as Global Days of Action to
> highlight
> his situation. In an unprecedented show of solidarity,
> coordinated
> actions are planned in 13 cities outside India. These include
> Washington DC, New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Pittsburgh,
> Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston in the US; Toronto and
> Vancouver in
> Canada; and London, Paris and Stockholm in Europe. More details
> about
> local actions are given below.
>
> Dr Binayak Sen is a renowned pediatrician, public health
> specialist and
> the national Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil
> Liberties
> (PUCL). Dr. Sen is an activist with a lifelong commitment to the
> issues
> of community health and human rights, who was arrested on false
> charges
> of sedition last year, joining dozens of other human rights
> activists in
> Indian jails, charged under repressive "Black Laws." Dr. Sen
> earned the
> ire of the government for opposing Salwa Judum, a private militia
> movement armed by the Government to combat 'Maoist insurgency'.
> Salwa
> Judum has led to a spiraling increase in violence, which has
> displaced
> over 100,000 indigenous people over the last 3 years.
>
> The challenges faced by human rights activists working in
> Chhattisgarh
> were thrown into prominence again last week, with the arrest of
> another
> activist with PUCL, Chhattisgarh, Ajay TG, under the same
> draconian law
> that was used to detain Dr. Sen and which grants unlimited power
> to the
> government to apprehend people on the merest suspicion of guilt.
> In
> addition to the release of Dr. Sen, the coalition is also asking
> for the
> repealing of these repressive laws, as well as the disbanding of
> Salwa
> Judum.
>
> Over 4000 signatures from individuals around the world have also
> been
> collected on petitions asking for the release of Dr. Sen.
> Internationally acclaimed intellectuals, including Noam Chomsky,
> Arundhati Roy, George Galloway, Mahashweta Devi have all joined in
> urging the Indian government to free Binayak Sen and stop the
> harassment
> of human rights activists.
>
> ###
> For more information, visit www.aidboston.org/FreeBinayakSen
>
> Endorsing Organizations:
> · Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia, MIT
> (www.alliancesouthasia.org)
> · Amnesty International, USA (www.amnestyusa.org)
> · A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism -San
> Francisco (www.answersf.org)
> · Association for India’s Development (www.aidindia.org)
> · Association of South Asian Political Activists (ASAPA), Berkeley
> (http://asapa.berkeley.edu)
> · Asian Law Alliance (www.asianlawalliance.org)
> · Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal (www.boston4bhopal.org)
> · Boston Mobilization (www.bostonmobilization.org)
> · Birmingham Anti-SEZ Campaign, UK
> · Campaign against Forced Displacement, UK
> (http://www.ilps-web.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79)
> · Campaign to Stop Funding Hate: CSFH (www.stopfundinghate.org)
> · CMC Vellore Alumni Association - UK Branch
> · DEEP - Defenders of the Environment and Ecology of Panjab, UK
> · Friends of South Asia: FOSA (www.friendsofsouthasia.org)
> · Gadar Heritage Foundation, Fremont (http://gadar.homestead.com/)
> · Hillingdon Asian Women's Communication Service, UK
> (www.hillingdonwomenscentre.org.uk)
> · Indian Workers Association (GB)
> · India Relief and Education Fund, Fremont (http://iref.homestead.com)
> · International Accountability Project
> (http://www.accountabilityproject.org)
> · International League of People's Struggles, UK (www.ilps-web.com)
> · International South Asia Forum: INSAF, NYC (www.insaf.net)
> · Massachusetts Global Action (www.MassGlobalAction.org)
> · Matahari: Eye of the Day (www.eyeoftheday.org)
> · Our Developing World (http://www.magiclink.net/~odw)
> · Peace and Human Rights Trust: UK
> · Peninsula Peace & Justice Center (www.peaceandjustice.org)
> · Peoples Health Movement, USA (www.phmovement.org/cms)
> · Sanhati (www.sanhati.com)
> · San Jose Peace & Justice Center (www.sanjosepeace.org)
> · SANSAD (South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy),
> Vancouver,
> Canada (http://sansad.org/Sansad)
> · South Asian Alliance, UK: (www.southasianalliance.org)
> · South Asians Stepping in Solidarity, Harvard: SASS
> · South Asia Solidarity Group, UK: (www.southasiasolidarity.org)
> · Students for Bhopal (www.studentsforbhopal.org)
> · The 1857 Committee (http://1857.org.uk)
> · Western States Legal Foundation (WSLF) (www.wslfweb.org)
> · Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - San Jose
> (http://www.wilpf.org/US_WILPF)
>
> Details for Actions:
> Baltimore/JHU: Talk on Dr. Binayak Sen followed by signature
> campaign.
> May 13th, 2008 (1:30 to 2:30 pm) School of Public Health [Contact
> Email
> : Manjunath - mshankar at jhsph.edu or 952-201-8679]
> Boston: Vigil @ Harvard Square on May 13, 2008 (7pm) [Contact
> Email:
> freebsen at gmail.com]
> Houston/Dallas: Stay Tuned.
> London: Vigil in front of Indian High Commission on May 13, 2008
> from
> 1-3pm. [Contact Email: sasg at southasiasolidarity.org]
> New York: Protest in front of Indian Consulate on May 13, 2008
> (12:30pm). [Contact Emails: Ashwini: akr7 at columbia.edu or
> Murli:
> mnatrajan at yahoo.com]
> Paris: Meet with the Indian Consulate staff to voice concerns and
> deliver petitions on May 13, 2008. [Contact Email: Sapna - sapnamg
> at
> gmail.com]
> Philadelphia: Candle light vigil @ 40th and Locust street field on
> May
> 13, 2008 (7:30). [Contact Email: AID.Philadelphia at gmail.com]
> Pittsburgh: Candlelight Vigil @ Church of the Redeemer, 5700
> Forbes
> Avenue on May 13, 2008 (7:30pm) [Contact Email: maryganguli at
> yahoo.com
> or sparun at gmail.com]
> San Francisco: Protest in front of the Consulate General of India,
> 540,
> Arguello Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94118 at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday,
> May
> 13th, 2008. [Contact Email: mail at friendsofsouthasia.org]
> Stockholm: Meet with the Indian Consulate staff to voice concerns
> and
> deliver petitions on May 13, 2008. [Contact Email: Pradyumna -
> pradyumna.singh at gmail.com]
> Vancouver: Protest action at the Indian Consulate on May 14th,
> 2008.
> [Contact Email: Hari Sharma of SANSAD - sansad at sansad.org]
> Washington DC: Protest in front of Indian Embassy, 2107
> Massachusetts
> Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 on May 13, 2008 (4pm). [Contact:
> Somu @
> 703-728-8987 or Somu at aidindia.org]
>
> _________________________________________
> reader-list: an open discussion list on media and the city.
> Critiques & Collaborations
> To subscribe: send an email to reader-list-request@sarai.net with
> subscribe in the subject header.
> To unsubscribe: https://mail.sarai.net/mailman/listinfo/reader-
> list
> List archive:

Via: "T Peter"

Peoples Convention against CZM


Alappuzha, 11th May 2008
A peoples convention held at Arthunkal, Alappuzha dt. Kerala had
declared united uncompromising struggle against the proposed CZM
notification by Govt.Of India which will drive away traditional fish
workers from their livelihood. The convention was organized as part of
the district conference of AITUC. The function was presisded over by
Com. T.J. Anjalose, EX-MP and leader of AITUC. Com. Anjalose expressed
concern over the move by the Central govt.to implement the
recommendations of Swaminathan committee report unilaterally even
without a discussion in the parliament.
Mr. C.R. Neelakandan, social activist, had explained that this move is
to help the national and international capital which is eager to
invade our sea and coast for tourism, mining of mineral sand etc. Any
of the previous governments could not implement the existing Coastal
Regulation Zone Act properly and it was amended 19 times and all these
amendments were for the investors and not for the traditional
fishworkers. This is because all our governments, irrespective of
parties, are competing each other to be more Investor Friendly.
Goverments could not rectify the damages caused to the southern coast
by the existing Cochin Port . But now they are dredging the port to
increase its depth by 25 meters more for the Vallarpadom International
Container Terminal without any Environmental Impact Assessment. This
project is fully owned by a Multinational firm.


Mr. T. Peter, president KSMTF had explained that the new notification
is not at all mentioning about the traditional fish workers who are
the real owners of the coast from time immemorial. Now they are driven
away to facilitate the capitalist to control the coast. He criticizes
the constitution of M.S Swaminathan committee which had no
representatives from the fishing community. The decision to hand over
the powers to draw the vulnerability line to the local bodies will be
detrimental to the long term interests of the fisher people, he said.
He also expressed concern in the move to define CZM area upto 12
nautical mile into the sea. This is to facilitate the project for sea
sand mining proposed during the Global Investors Meet by the earlier
UDF government.
Com. K. S Manoj, MP had promised the convention that he will initiate
immediate action to coordinate among MPs various parties to raise the
issue in Parliament. He informed that he had alraedy talked to MPs
from Pondichery and Karwar in this regared. Many peoples organizations
like Solidarity Youth Movement., Kerala Latin Catholic Association and
trade unions like CITU and AITUC are already in the forfront to fight
against this move.
Fr. Stephen M. Punnakkal, Aboobacker, R. Prasad, K.T.Vincent and other
leaders of AITUC spoke in the convention

Via: Anivar Aravind

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

contact

somu@aidindia.org
mail@friendsofsouthasia.org, 408-480-5805

MEDIA ADVISORY
“FREE BINAYAK SEN!”
INTERNATIONAL COALITION DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF JAILED HUMAN RIGHTS
CRUSADER IN INDIA
Solidarity Actions Planned in 10 North American and 3 European Cities

http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/international-coalition-demands-immediate-release-of-jailed-human-rights-crusader-in-india/

WHEN: Tuesday, May 13th/ Wednesday, May 14th
WHERE: In cities across the US, Canada and Europe

WHAT: A broad coalition of 37 organizations from US, UK and Canada have
come together to demand immediate release of the jailed human rights
activist, Dr. Binayak Sen, who was recently awarded the prestigious
Jonathan Mann Award by the Global Health Council, Washington DC. The
coalition consists of human rights groups such as Amnesty USA (which has
declared Dr. Sen a Prisoner of Conscience), health rights groups such as
the People’s Health Movement, antiwar groups such as the ANSWER
Coalition and the Boston Mobilization, student groups from Harvard and
Berkeley, local peace and justice groups from a number of cities, as
well as a large number of diasporic groups based in US, UK and Canada.
(A complete listing of groups is available below).

May 13/14th , 2008, which mark one year of Dr. Sen’s undemocratic
imprisonment, are being observed as Global Days of Action to highlight
his situation. In an unprecedented show of solidarity, coordinated
actions are planned in 13 cities outside India. These include
Washington DC, New York City, San Francisco, Houston, Pittsburgh,
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston in the US; Toronto and Vancouver in
Canada; and London, Paris and Stockholm in Europe. More details about
local actions are given below.

Dr Binayak Sen is a renowned pediatrician, public health specialist and
the national Vice-President of the People's Union for Civil Liberties
(PUCL). Dr. Sen is an activist with a lifelong commitment to the issues
of community health and human rights, who was arrested on false charges
of sedition last year, joining dozens of other human rights activists in
Indian jails, charged under repressive "Black Laws." Dr. Sen earned the
ire of the government for opposing Salwa Judum, a private militia
movement armed by the Government to combat 'Maoist insurgency'. Salwa
Judum has led to a spiraling increase in violence, which has displaced
over 100,000 indigenous people over the last 3 years.

The challenges faced by human rights activists working in Chhattisgarh
were thrown into prominence again last week, with the arrest of another
activist with PUCL, Chhattisgarh, Ajay TG, under the same draconian law
that was used to detain Dr. Sen and which grants unlimited power to the
government to apprehend people on the merest suspicion of guilt. In
addition to the release of Dr. Sen, the coalition is also asking for the
repealing of these repressive laws, as well as the disbanding of Salwa
Judum.

Over 4000 signatures from individuals around the world have also been
collected on petitions asking for the release of Dr. Sen.
Internationally acclaimed intellectuals, including Noam Chomsky,
Arundhati Roy, George Galloway, Mahashweta Devi have all joined in
urging the Indian government to free Binayak Sen and stop the harassment
of human rights activists.

For more information, visit www.aidboston.org/FreeBinayakSen

Endorsing Organizations:
· Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia, MIT
(www.alliancesouthasia.org)
· Amnesty International, USA (www.amnestyusa.org)
· A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Act Now to Stop War and End Racism -San
Francisco (www.answersf.org)
· Association for India’s Development (www.aidindia.org)
· Association of South Asian Political Activists (ASAPA), Berkeley
(http://asapa.berkeley.edu)
· Asian Law Alliance (www.asianlawalliance.org)
· Boston Coalition for Justice in Bhopal (www.boston4bhopal.org)
· Boston Mobilization (www.bostonmobilization.org)
· Birmingham Anti-SEZ Campaign, UK
· Campaign against Forced Displacement, UK
(http://www.ilps-web.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79)
· Campaign to Stop Funding Hate: CSFH (www.stopfundinghate.org)
· CMC Vellore Alumni Association - UK Branch
· DEEP - Defenders of the Environment and Ecology of Panjab, UK
· Friends of South Asia: FOSA (www.friendsofsouthasia.org)
· Gadar Heritage Foundation, Fremont (http://gadar.homestead.com/)
· Hillingdon Asian Women's Communication Service, UK
(www.hillingdonwomenscentre.org.uk)
· Indian Workers Association (GB)
· India Relief and Education Fund, Fremont (http://iref.homestead.com)
· International Accountability Project
(http://www.accountabilityproject.org)
· International League of People's Struggles, UK (www.ilps-web.com)
· International South Asia Forum: INSAF, NYC (www.insaf.net)
· Massachusetts Global Action (www.MassGlobalAction.org)
· Matahari: Eye of the Day (www.eyeoftheday.org)
· Our Developing World (http://www.magiclink.net/~odw)
· Peace and Human Rights Trust: UK
· Peninsula Peace & Justice Center (www.peaceandjustice.org)
· Peoples Health Movement, USA (www.phmovement.org/cms)
· Sanhati (www.sanhati.com)
· San Jose Peace & Justice Center (www.sanjosepeace.org)
· SANSAD (South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy), Vancouver,
Canada (http://sansad.org/Sansad)
· South Asian Alliance, UK: (www.southasianalliance.org)
· South Asians Stepping in Solidarity, Harvard: SASS
· South Asia Solidarity Group, UK: (www.southasiasolidarity.org)
· Students for Bhopal (www.studentsforbhopal.org)
· The 1857 Committee (http://1857.org.uk)
· Western States Legal Foundation (WSLF) (www.wslfweb.org)
· Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - San Jose
(http://www.wilpf.org/US_WILPF)

Details for Actions:
Baltimore/JHU: Talk on Dr. Binayak Sen followed by signature campaign.
May 13th, 2008 (1:30 to 2:30 pm) School of Public Health [Contact Email
: Manjunath - mshankar at jhsph.edu or 952-201-8679]
Boston: Vigil @ Harvard Square on May 13, 2008 (7pm) [Contact Email:
freebsen at gmail.com]
Houston/Dallas: Stay Tuned.
London: Vigil in front of Indian High Commission on May 13, 2008 from
1-3pm. [Contact Email: sasg at southasiasolidarity.org]
New York: Protest in front of Indian Consulate on May 13, 2008
(12:30pm). [Contact Emails: Ashwini: akr7 at columbia.edu or Murli:
mnatrajan at yahoo.com]
Paris: Meet with the Indian Consulate staff to voice concerns and
deliver petitions on May 13, 2008. [Contact Email: Sapna - sapnamg at
gmail.com]
Philadelphia: Candle light vigil @ 40th and Locust street field on May
13, 2008 (7:30). [Contact Email: AID.Philadelphia at gmail.com]
Pittsburgh: Candlelight Vigil @ Church of the Redeemer, 5700 Forbes
Avenue on May 13, 2008 (7:30pm) [Contact Email: maryganguli at yahoo.com
or sparun at gmail.com]
San Francisco: Protest in front of the Consulate General of India, 540,
Arguello Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94118 at 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, May
13th, 2008. [Contact Email: mail at friendsofsouthasia.org]
Stockholm: Meet with the Indian Consulate staff to voice concerns and
deliver petitions on May 13, 2008. [Contact Email: Pradyumna -
pradyumna.singh at gmail.com]
Vancouver: Protest action at the Indian Consulate on May 14th, 2008.
[Contact Email: Hari Sharma of SANSAD - sansad at sansad.org]
Washington DC: Protest in front of Indian Embassy, 2107 Massachusetts
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 on May 13, 2008 (4pm). [Contact: Somu @
703-728-8987 or Somu at aidindia.org]

_________________________________________

Via: Anivar Aravind

Please Forward widely


http://www.binayaksen.net/2008/05/artists-for-human-rights-14th-may-new-delhi/

Dear Friend,
You are cordially invited to ‘Artists for Human Rights’, an evening of
protest by Arundhati Roy, Ashok Vajpayee, Danish & Mehmood, Gauhar Raza,
K.Satchidanand, Manu Kohli, Nageen Tanveer, Rahul Ram, Vishnu Nagar and
many other artists, poets, writers and cultural workers demanding the
release of Dr Binayak Sen and other political prisoners. 14 May 2008
marks the first anniversary of the arrest of well known health and human
rights activists Dr Sen by the Chattisgarh government.

Time: 6 PM onwards
Date: 14 May, 2008
Venue: Rabindra Bhawan Lawns (Opposite Mandi House), Copernicus
Marg, New Delhi

In Solidarity
Committee for the Release of Dr Binayak Sen
New Delhi

Via: "rashneek kher"

*Etalaat News Service*
Srinagar, May 07: Reacting sharply to a two day 'quiet' conference held in New
Delhi on Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Rajbagh) Wednesday
expressed its regret over what it said "beginning of the process to sell
Kashmir issue behind the curtains.""People who sit together with the killers
of one lakh martyrs are slowly getting exposed. Until yesterday they used to
call pro-Indian leaders anti-struggle elements but today they have joined
loyal Indians like Mehbooba Mufti and Abdul Rasheed Shaheen in paving way
for strengthening the slavery of Kashmiri at the hands of New Delhi," said
Secretary General of the JKLF, Muhammad Salim Nanaji.
"They are the people who by holding secret meeting with Manmohan Singh and
Sonia Gandhi have already damaged the ongoing freedom struggle
considerably," he added.