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Since the last eighteen years the land described as the paradise on earth is virtually under siege with more than
half a million armed personnel, the highest number of army during peace time anywhre in the world - turning this Paradise into a concentration camp. The occupational army is the fundamental obstacle which is responsible for the sabotage of progress and enlightment of the Kashmiri people. The troops use the way of terror in the form of custodial executions, extreme torture, forced labour, gang rapes, fake encounters and enforced disappearances in order to supress the innocent Kashmiri people. Those people who have been the victims of any type of HR violation bear witness to the atrocities done here by the Indian troops. In any case whether custodial killing or enforced disappearance, the sole bread earner is lost in majority of cases. The draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public safety Act (PSA) not only increases the oppression but also gives more powers to armed forces in the matters of ''catch and kill''. In the presence of occupational troops in any part of the world, the political, social and economic life of the people is victimised. It has been experienced that the victims of HR violations by army are deprived of every support by the society. There daughters are not taken in marriage, if they are wives, they are deprived of their share and thrown out by the in laws or if they are rape victims then life is a living hell for them and as a result of all this suicide rates are inceasing at alarming rates in Kashmir. The Army in order clean their image launched the program for the empowerment of women under the disguise of operation ''Sadhbhavana''. They on their part have actually degraded the status of Kashmiri women known for their modesty to mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hand of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers hidden behind the colourful screen of Art and Culture. These types of activities have given rise to a culture which is alien to us. So we have paid a huge price on every front whether it is social, political or economic. The culture of Renegadism is among the fruits of troops present here and now the troops are turning this to Intellectual Renegadism. The recent example being the Allama Iqbal''s couplet which has been translated by CRPF and erected near the gate of Bakhshi Stadium. Using Qur''anic verses, couplets of Habba Khatoon, Sheikh-ul-Aalam, etc, they are using our history against us, projecting our thinkers and our intellectuals against us. When the HR violations will disappear from Kashmir then only its people can contribute towards progress. The people can then only employ their mind-power and energy to make the valley of Kashmir a real Paradise. My humble request to my people is that please and please think about this issue for a while and then only you will realize its importance. Our Paradise is on fire and it is our responsiblity to save it. Our society especially our youth who are our future instead of working for the solution of this problem are alienating themselves away from it. Some may excuse that we are not politicians or intellectuals but everyone among us has to be active and no one can pass this buck to others. Aren''t one lakh lives enough to inspire us to get up and do something for saving our Paradise? (Yaqeen ul Haq Ahmad Sikander can be mailed at: yaqeen_webmaster@yahoo.co.in)
Published: December 17, 2007
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