Firdous Hassan
Srinagar, Dec 9: Ahead of the International Human Rights Day celebrated across the world on December 10, the civil society in Kashmir suggested proper documentation of the ‘massive human rights abuses in the region.’
Civil society members including renowned lawyers, businessmen, academicians and human rights defenders Sunday spoke at an event “Valley Drenched in Blood” in which they highlighted that “the human rights abuses in Kashmir post 2010 have been highest in last three decades.”
On the occasion, a report on the civilian killings in Kashmir in 2018 was released by the International Forum for Justice Human Rights JK.
As per the report, a total number of 103 civilian killings have been registered at State Human Rights commission (SHRC) office, which included 40 killings at encounter sites.
The report reveals that seven political activists, eight ladies and two mentally challenged persons have been killed this year.
Advocate Zafar Qureshi said that there was a need for proper documentation of the killings and its outreach to people worldwide.
“The situation currently is worse than 90s when armed struggle started in Kashmir. I visited to jails in Jammu in the year 1990 and saw the plight of the prisoners who were treated like animals,” he said.
Qureshi claimed that many human rights violation cases “go unreported” in Kashmir.
“Our voice should be heard as human right situation has deteriorated in the valley. Animals are secure in present days’ life than humans in Kashmir. Making reports is not enough as our voice should reach to the right quarters,” he said.
Civil Society activist, Prof Hameeda Nayeem claimed the “disdain response” to the United Nation’s report on human right abuses by India explained the “severity” of the situation in Kashmir.”
“Not just human rights, many other rights listed by United Nations stand violated in Kashmir. Governor is like viceroy of Kashmir who at the behest of RSS and RSS is running government here,” she said.
Hameeda said, “In Kashmir it is not only occupation but a colonial system prevails where economy, culture and social life is crushed apart from the killing on a mass scale.”
Advocate Abdul Majeed Zargar suggested the need for using social media to raise awareness in other nations about “human rights abuses in Kashmir.”
“It is surprising to see Kashmir’s diaspora silent on the issues of human rights violation. Why can’t they protest or either goes on hunger strike outside UN Office?” he said.
Advocate Zargar said the victims in Kashmir too are not taken care by the society.
Noted economist Shakeel Qalandar said the economy of the state has fallen “drastically” due to the conflict in the valley.
“In 1947 the import export ration for Kashmir used to be 1:3, which now has been reduced to 7:1. Our economy is being crushed and we are being made dependent society,” he said.
On the occasion, human rights activist Ahsan Untoo said they were attacked multiple times during the compilation of the report.
