Srinagar: CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Friday said that the “gross violation of human rights has left behind traumatizing tales almost in all pockets of the region”.
In a statement, Tarigami said, “The targeted killing of civilians, including members of the minority community, in October and the Hyderpora shocking incident, in which three civilians were killed gives us a grim reminder as to how human rights of people are being violated with impunity in Kashmir.”
He added, “Not only through killings, but human rights of people here are being violated by indiscriminately detaining them under draconian laws like Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Public Safety Act PSA. This situation has seen an alarming rise after the unconstitutional and undemocratic scrapping of erstwhile state’s special status under Article 370 in August 2019 and subsequent security clampdown”.
Freedom of expression which is a fundamental human right enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights continues being “trampled”, he said, adding that Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), a lawless law that enables the armed forces to act with impunity, has led to “atrocity after atrocity” on the civilian population in JK after its implementation in 1990 and in North-East since 1958.
“The AFSPA, along with the PSA and UAPA and other draconian measures have created a regime of impunity and brutal excesses on the civilian population in this region past three decades,” he said.
“Under AFSPA, to prosecute any armed personnel for a crime committed requires sanction from the government of India. This is practically impossible as the experience of Jammu and Kashmir shows. Till July 2018, successive state governments had sent 50 cases for sanction of prosecution against armed forces personnel under the AFSPA. However, the GoI denied permission to prosecute in all these cases.”
“In 2004, the UPA government set up a committee headed by Justice Jeevan Reddy to look into the working of the AFSPA and the committee in its report in 2005 recommended the repeal of the law. The Home Ministry of India had officially rejected the report.”
He said that there is an immediate need to repeal these draconian laws. “Civil society, political parties, and all other concerned must continue their united struggle in defence of the legitimate constitutional rights of the people. Let’s resolve to struggle for a dignified life of our people,” the statement ends.
Free Press Kashmir is now on Telegram. Click here to Join.
FPK Android App for 2G. Click here to Download.
