Protest against the murder of Comrade Azad and Hem Pandey , Operation Green Hunt and Indian Expansionism at the Indian High Commission in Aldwych – London on Sunday 15th August between 11 am – 1 pm

New Delhi, Aug 10: The Kashmiris who staged a sit-in outside the Jantar Mantra here on Saturday evening demanded demilitarization of the Valley, revocation of draconian laws AFSPA, J&K-PSA, Disturbed Areas Act and release of all political prisoners arrested in last 21 years.

The participants comprising, teachers, journalists, students, businessmen also demanded allowing of international agencies to investigate into the mass graves in Kashmir and the crimes against humanity committed by armed forces and holding of dialogue with Kashmiris.

Faculty of Delhi University SAR Geelani, who spoke in the meeting was unequivocal about the demand for Kashmir freedom. Revolutionary poet Vara Vara Rao who was an emissary of the present CPI (Maoist) asserted that the people of Kashmir were not alone in their struggle against Indian State. He pointed out that the masses of Dankaranya, Orissa, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand were with the struggle for freedom of the people of Kashmir.

Noted film maker, Sanjay Kak pointed out that the Kashmiris should stop looking at themselves as victims. Mrigank from the Nav Jawan Bharat Sabha expressed solidarity for the movement of the people of Kashmir. Narender from the Popular Front expressed his organisation’s support for what he termed as the “complete independence” of the people of Kashmir. Kavita Krishnan from the CPI (ML) (Liberation) talked about the atrocities committed by the army on the people of Kashmir as well as the need for a meaningful dialogue.

Sharmila Purkayastha from the PUDR, former Ambassador Madhu Bhaduri, Karen Gabriel from Delhi University, Banojyotsna Lahiri from DSU JNU, Om from AISA JNU, Tara Basumatary from DU also spoke on the occasion. 

Commander Azad  killed a prominent forces wrong hands, great tribute to them on their testimony presented. Like all of Kashmir freedom fighter and militant organisations  which hosts, including Jaish Muhammad, Hizbul Mujaheedeen, Hurriyat Conference, Al-Fatha Force, Jamit.(Writer-South Asia)

Protest against the murder of Comrade Azad and Hem Pandey , Operation Green Hunt and Indian Expansionism at the Indian High Commission in Aldwych – London on Sunday 15th August 2010

Glowing tributes paid to Sheikh Abdul Aziz: Umar Farooq

Srinagar, August 9:   Chairman of All Parties Hurriyet Conference (APHC), Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other pro-freedom leaders and organizations have paid rich tributes to senior Hurriyet leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, on his first martyrdom anniversary.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq in a statement issued in Srinagar said, the sacrifices of the martyrs are assets for the liberation movement and will not be allowed to go waste, come what may.

The illegally detained APHC leader and the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir National Front, Nayeem Ahmed Khan in a statement from Kathua Jail said that all the martyrs including Shaheed-e-Azeemat Sheikh Abdul Aziz were Kashmiris’ pride and asset and it was duty of the people to take the mission of martyrs to its logical end.

The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League in its statement said, “Sheikh Aziz led the Muzaffarabad Chalo protest rally on August 11, 2008. The rally was attended by lakhs of people. It was the time when fanatics in Jammu had started blockade of Jammu-Srinagar highway. When the rally reached Boniyar in tehsil Uri, Indian troops and police personnel opened fire on the rally as a result of which Sheikh Aziz and others achieved martyrdom.”

The forum patronised by senior Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani paying glowing tributes to Sheikh Abdul Aziz said, “Sheikh Aziz spent major part of his life in jails and finally achieved martyrdom,” adding, “We will continue our struggle till Kashmir achieves freedom.”

The Jammu and Kashmir Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and Democratic Political Movement, in their separate statements, lauded the contribution of Shaheed-e-Azeemat, Sheikh Abdul Aziz in the freedom struggle and his great sacrifice for the Kashmir cause.

Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front in its statement said, “Aziz and others laid down their lives for a cause and we pledge to take their mission to its logical conclusion. They have scripted history.”

Glowing tributes paid to Sheikh Aziz

Washington, August 09 : Kashmir American Council-KAC, Ex Director Dr Ghualm Nabi Fai rich tributes were paid to the Shaheed-e-Azeemat, Sheikh Abdul Aziz who has scarified his life for the cause of nation. Sheikh Aziz was ascribed to be amongst the frontline Pro-freedom leaders and was one of the Executive Member of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) - which represents the aspiration of Kashmiris politically, diplomatically and socially.

On August 11, 2008, about 300,000 people from across  Kashmir, along with trucks loaded with fruit, began marching toward several points on the 778-kilometer Line of Control to cross over into the Pakistani side of Kashmir, in their bid to reach Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir. Indian security forces opened fire at the marchers at several places to break up their protests, killing 10, including senior Pro-pakistani Kashmiri leader (commonly known as Baba-e-Jehad-i-Kashmir) Sheikh Abdul Aziz who was also a prominent member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and was also a member of the co-ordination committee of ethnic and religious nationalities struggling for right to self-determination under the chairmanship of Justice Ajit Singh Bains formed in Delhi on March 23, 2008.  “Sheikh Aziz was a friend of Sikhs and supporter of Sikh cause for independence,” Over 1,000 people were arrested, and hundreds of wounded were hospitalized at different hospitals across the Kashmir valley. As the protests continued, over 3000 truckloads of fruit were destroyed, allegedly by Indian security forces.

Protests calling for freedom from India continued through August and September in different parts of  Kashmir, with dozens killed and hundreds injured. However, a government-brokered agreement with the Hindu protesters of the Jammu region was reached, under which the land allotment to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which had been cancelled due to protests by Kashmiri Muslims, was revived in a different form.

The Jammu and Kashmir government, with the understanding of some Muslim and Hindu leaders, leased the land to the SASB for the limited pilgrimage season, giving them no proprietary or title rights. The Hindu leaders called off their stir after signing the lease agreement. The agreement said: "The Shrine Board  may use the land for erecting temporary prefabricated accommodation and toilet facilities and for shopkeepers to set up shops."  This second reversal by the government in its decision to allocate the land to the Hindu shrine has been rejected by the Kashmiri leaders, fuelling a continuation of anti-India protests. The demonstrations are the biggest since 11th august, 2008 when violent anti-India protests killed about 72 Kashmiri  muslims.

Kashmiri Americans held a peace rally in front of the Indian Embassy to record their protest against human rights violations in occupied Kashmir and to remind Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India, that his promise of zero tolerance has not seen the light of the day.

The demonstration was highly impressive and reverberating with the slogans of “Indian army go back.” Protesters were carrying placards demanding ‘Self-determination’, ‘India honour UN pledges’, ‘Stop killing of peaceful protesters’, ‘Stop state terrorism in Kashmir’, ‘President Obama appoint special envoy on Kashmir’ and ‘Kashmiris demand right to life’.

The participants also raised slogans having one singular theme that India quit Kashmir and allow the people of Kashmir to choose their political destiny. All the Diaspora political parties showed unflinching faith in their goal for freedom.

The Executive Director of Kashmir Centre Washington, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai addressing the protesters said, “We demand that Indian Government stop the killings and agree to an impartial investigation into the recent killings, and into the human rights violations going on in Kashmir for the longest time.” He said that to resolve the outstanding Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, the international community in general, the United States in particular, and the full leadership of the people of Jammu and Kashmir must be involved for lasting peace in South Asia.

Ms Sanaa Naqash said, “My heart aches and I feel grieved for the innocent kids brutally being beaten, shot and killed. I can't bear to see such acts done to my people anymore. This needs to end and we need to stand together as one, during this difficult time. Let us pray for our kids, the mothers that lost their sons, the fathers that lost their shields, the sons that lost their fathers, and all the people that have sacrificed their lives for us.”

Attorney Mumtaz Wani implored that the sacrifices of the Kashmiri people will not be allowed to go waste and the world would have to honour their determination for salvation and freedom. He said that the killings of teenagers must shake the conscience of all peace loving people.

Ehtisham Kayani pledged to support the cause of Kashmir till the people achieved their right to self-determination. He said that self-determination is non-negotiable.
Mujtaba Wani made a passionate appeal to the world community to come forward to rescue the innocent people of Kashmir.

Umaid Qureishi made fervent plea to President Obama to use his personal influence to persuade India and Pakistan to settle the dispute over Kashmir and impress upon India to bring an end to the atrocities by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir.

Zubair Khan said that the people of Azad Kashmir were united in their support to the oppressed people of Kashmir. Ms Aneela Khan appealed the audience to continue the struggle at the international level to make the world community aware that Kashmiris would not accept anything short of right to self-determination.

Noorul Amin said that the sacrifices of the people of Kashmir would not go in vain.  He asked the world community to come to rescue the people of Kashmir in their hour of need. Zulfikar Khan congratulated the Kashmiri Americans for making the demonstration a grand success. This demonstration he said is a moral booster for those who have said no to Indian occupation. (Writer-South Asia)

Come to Pampore: Syed Ali Shah Gilani

SASG: In Pampore on 11th August, 2008

Srinagar, August 8:  Acording to Kashmir Media service, a two-day shutdown will be observed from tomorrow to protest against the killing of innocent protesters by Indian police and troops.

Call for the shutdown has been given by veteran Kashmiri Hurriyet leader, Syed Ali Gilani as part of the Quit Kashmir Movement. He urged people to conduct a march towards Pampore town on Wednesday to mark the 2nd martyrdom anniversary of APHC leader, Shaheed-e-Azemat Sheikh Abdul Aziz.

The Acting President of High Court Bar Association of  Kashmir, Aijaz Bedar and senior lawyer, Zafar Shah addressing a press conference in Srinagar, today, said that the occupation authorities had restricted all political activities in the occupied territory, which had forced the lawyers to come on streets. They demanded immediate release of the Bar President, Mian Abdul Qayoom and General Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Shaheen and all Hurriyet leaders and activists.

The APHC Chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who continued to remain under house arrest urged the Organization of Islamic Conference to immediately call a session of its Kashmir Contact Group to deliberate on prevailing situation in occupied Kashmir. The Executive Council of APHC in a meeting in Srinagar said that the liberation movement would continue till the Kashmiris secured their inalienable right to self-determination.

Citizens Forum for Democratic Rights took out a peace march in Jammu to express solidarity with the victims of Indian police and troops in the Kashmir Valley during the last two months. The march was led by Professor Zahoorudin, Anu Radha B Jamwal and Advocate Chowdhry Anwar.

The Washington-based, Muslim Public Affairs Council in a statement posted on its website while calling for an immediate end to the use of force against the civilians in occupied Kashmir demanded an impartial international probe into the recent civilian killings by Indian police and troops in the territory.