Srinagar, Sep 16: The Chairman of Hurriyat (G), Syed Ali Shah Geelani, on Thursday accused the Government of turning the Valley into a virtual prison and waging a war against unarmed Kashmiris for what he said suppressing the ongoing movement. 
“The Valley has been turned into a prison and marshal law has been imposed to suppress the aspirations of Kashmiris. In prison, the inmates are allowed basic amenities. But in the Valley, the troopers and cops are leaving no stone unturned to confine the Kashmiris to their homes and starve them to death. This is the worst form of state terrorism. The troopers and cops at the behest of New Delhi and the State Government are behaving in such an aggressive way with unarmed Kashmir as if they are fighting the super-powers Russia and China in the Valley,” Geelani said while addressing a press conference at his Hyderpora residence.
The veteran leader strongly condemned hampering of medial emergencies, supply of milk and essential supplies across the Valley. “The troopers and cops are so frustrated that they have been spilling the milk on roads. The new born babies are sufferings for want to milk and medicines. This has exposed the façade of India’s so-called democracy. I wonder why the international human rights groups have adopted a silence over the sufferings of Kashmiris. I make a fervent appeal to the child rights organizations particularly the UNICEF to take cognizance of sufferings of new born babies and impress upon India not to hinder the essential supplies particularly baby food, medicines and milk,” Geelani said.                                    
“The situation is serious and grim in the Valley. There is no let up in the killings and people are being thrashed without any provocation. Even the local print and electronic media has been suppressed to prevent coverage of atrocities unleashed by the troopers and cops. On one hand, India shows concern to save the Tiger and other endangered animals and on the other is treating Kashmiris worst than animals just for suppressing their aspirations. The International Community must take note of India’s hypocrisy,” he said.
Geelani who is spearheading the ongoing ‘Quit Jammu and Kashmir Movement’ accused the Government of launching propaganda against his program for staging sit-ins near the security camps on September 21, Tuesday. “I want to maintain that the objective of our program is to remind the Indian security forces that they might be serving the national interest by performing duties, but their presence in Kashmir has no legal or democratic sanction. We want to awaken the conscience of the troopers that in the name of national interest they are committing rapes, killings and torturing Kashmiris. We want to remind they that Kashmiris don’t have guns, grenades and teargas canisters still they are peacefully fighting for their right to self-determination,” Geelani maintained.
“Ironically India has unleashed a propaganda machinery and is projecting the sit-in program as if people will attack the security camps. They are forming strategies to call more troopers to the Valley to quell our peaceful program. I reiterate that our program will be peaceful and symbolic. The youngsters will stay far away from the camps and only the elders will handover the memo to the troopers,” Geelani said.
Geelani said while Kashmiris are sacrificing their lives for withdrawal of troopers from the Valley, the authorities are planning to establish an Army camp on 18 kanals of land in Pazalpora in Apple Town Sopur. He said an Eidgah (congregational prayer ground) for around 10 villages and a Government School are located on the land.
“If the Army camp is established there, it will make the lives of people hell and hamper the movement of students particularly girls. Ironically, the concerned deputy commissioner and revenue officials have not opposed the establishment of the camp. The troopers have already occupied 28 lakh kanals of land in the Valley. We urge the people of Pazalpora to stage peaceful protests to thwart the Army’s move,” he said. 
Elaborating on the prevailing situation in the Valley, Geelani said the troopers of 18 Rashtriya Rifles have thrashed the people of Lolab, Krusiam, Lalpora and Maidanpora injuring 30 persons. Expressing concern over the situation in Tangmarg, Geelani said after the Monday’s shootout, nobody is allowed to go there to know the condition of people.
“Even a judge was stopped by the troopers from going to Tangmarg. We are receiving horrific reports of brutality unleashed by the troopers there. I urge the people of Varmul to march to Tangamarg after Friday prayers while people of Srinagar and adjoining areas should proceed to Humhama to express solidarity with the families of martyred youth,” he said.
Geelani accused the ruling National Conference of torching a Christian Missionary School in Tangamarg.  Quoting report of a New Delhi based newspaper, Geelani said a NC activist Ali Muhammad Sofi instigated people in Tangmarg. “Under his (Sofi’s) guidance, the Missionary School was burnt. Ironically Mustafa Kamal (Senior NC leader) has claimed that Sofi worked for Ghulam Hassan Mir (Minister for Agriculture). While Mir has refuted and maintained that Sofi helped NC in the Assembly Elections. The blame game makes no difference for us as it is clear that Sofi works for a NC. This exposes the Government which has been using ikhwanis, political activists and intelligence agencies to foment violence and malign our just movement,” he said.
Geelani accused the troopers of paramilitary CRPF of releasing chemical gas in a locality of Soura in Old City here. “Due to the gas, many youth fell unconscious. They were detained and tortured. Besides the troopers ransacked Jamia Masjid at HMT. I strongly condemn the barbaric acts,” he said.
Maintaining that the ongoing movement has reached a decisive phase, Geelani said even the people living in heavily militarized areas of the State have extended their support.  He said the people of Gurez, Keran and Karnah near the Line of Control have staged protests against the Quran desecration and killings in Kashmir.
“Despite presence of 60,000 troopers, the 30,000 people of Gurez have dared to raise their voice against the oppression. Similarly people of Muslim dominated areas of Jammu have shown their commitment to the just cause. This shows that whole state stands united for the right to self-determination,” he said. 
Geelani rejected unconditional dialogue with New Delhi and maintained that the ongoing movement will continue until the five demands of the Conglomerate are implemented on ground.  “For unconditional dialogue, the two parties must be equal in every respect. Here India with its eight lakh troopers is the suppressor and Kashmiris the suppressed. We can talk about the unconditional dialogue after complete demilitarization of the Valley,” he said.  

Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 16 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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