Srinagar, Dec 3: Condemning life sentences against two Kashmiris by a TADA court, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik Monday said “the Government of India (GoI) can’t crush freedom struggle by such tactics.”
Malik also called for peaceful protests after Friday prayers and urged people to observe complete strike on December 10 against the “GoI’s new policy of announcing life sentences against Kashmiris, who have already spent half of their age in prisons”. “I was shocked to hear the verdict of a TADA court of Jammu wherein two Kashmiris, who were part of JKLF, have been slapped with life sentences. The duo is Nazir Ahmed Sheikh of Batamaloo and Shokwat Ahmed Khan of Nishat,” Malik said while addressing media men here. He said Sheikh and Khan have already completed more than 15 years in prison.
JKLF chief said it seems that GoI has adopted a new strategy to crush the freedom struggle. “I want to ask the Government of India, especially Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh why were these Kashmiris denied trial for 22 years?,” the JKLF chief questioned. He said if New Delhi believes that its new trend of punishing Kashmiris would crush the freedom struggle, “it was living in fool’s paradise.”
“They (GoI) hanged Maqbool Bhat in 1984. After his death, every lane of Kashmir produced Maqbools in the form of armed youth,” he said. “Then there was a transition from violent to non-violent struggle. Civil Society of India used to maintain in 1990 that if Kashmiris would give up the violent means of resistance, they would be allowed to move ahead peacefully.”
Malik said fresh strategy of GoI to punish Kashmiris through life sentences has put a question mark on the credibility of Indian Civil Society. “The Civil Society of India should come clean over the new policy of New Delhi. Otherwise, we would not hesitate to call them a tool used to douse the flames of 1990 in Kashmir on Delhi’s directions as they have adopted a criminal silence over the serious issue of life sentences,” he said. Malik also questioned the silence of international community over the issue. “The international community played an important role in persuading Kashmiris for a non-violent struggle. Their credibility is also at stake now,” he said.
Malik said over the past one-and-a half years Courts in New Delhi have announced 12 life sentences against Kashmiris while J&K Courts have announced nine such sentences. “Similarly, Lucknow and Ajmer courts have announced two life sentences against Kashmiris. It seems GoI feels that by announcing harsh life sentences they would make Kashmiris accept the defeat,” he said. “Killing one lakh people could not make Kashmiris accept defeat let alone life sentences.”
Malik said in Kashmir, animals were having rights but people were being denied the same. “In every lane of Kashmir, there are dogs and no one can kill them as they have the right to live. But Kashmiri people have no rights,” he said.  The JKLF chief called for peaceful protests after Friday prayers against the life sentence announcement against Kashmiris. “We also announce a complete strike on December 10, the world human rights day, to express the solidarity with all prisoners and victims.  On December 10, we will hold a token hunger strike and on the same day, we will hold a torch and candle procession,” he said.
He said if such sentences continue in future, the JKLF would launch a jail bharo movement. “We will not hesitate to fill all prisons across J&K, if courts don’t stop announcing life sentences against Kashmiri people,” Malik said.
Meanwhile, JKLF (H) chairman Javaid Ahmed Mir and human rights activist Ahsan Untoo extended their full support to Malik’s campaign.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 3 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 3 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 4 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST