ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — A march in solidarity with Kashmir in downtown St. John’s Saturday prompted a counter-protest. Tensions in the Himilayan region became evident even here in Bannerman Park.
The march began at the bandstand, with dozens of protestors wearing red and holding signs calling for freedom in Kashmir. As they gathered to begin their march towards City Hall, another group of about 30 people, dressed all in white, formed near the clock tower.
“There is no freedom of expression over there (in Kashmir) right now, no media can get in or get out except the chosen ones,” said Dr. Yaqoob Qureshi through a megaphone. Qureshi left Kashmir in 1990 but calls his mother, who still lives there, every day.
But on Aug. 5, he could not reach her.
Concern about militarization and cut-off communication with family in the region began after the Aug. 5 decision by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when, according to Reuters News Service, the government announced it was withdrawing Kashmir’s special status and integrating it fully into India.
Militarization of the zone has sparked worry around the world among people who have family in Kashmir, as well as protests of the situation.
Qureshi said he went 13 days before he could finally reach his family using a land line because cell and internet service is still not restored.
As he spoke to those gathered in solidarity with Kashmir, two Royal Newfoundland Constabulary officers could be seen approaching and speaking with the counter-protestors who had gathered a few feet away.
“The mere fact that there is an opposition group just standing behind us means that this is a dispute, this is a contentious issue,” said Qureshi.
While the two groups formed mere feet from one another, they were peaceful. Each group looked at the other, but they never spoke.
The dozens of solidarity marchers said they came out to support human rights.
Qureshi said they were not protesting against India as a country or against Indian people.
“We are against the present circumstances which have led to the abrogation of certain fundamental rights that was provided in the Indian Constitution in 1948. They were taken out arbitrarily without consulting the elected politicians of Kashmir, or the people of Kashmir. And people were kept in (the) dark.”
Amnesty International has called for an end to the ongoing lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir that, according to the organization, “has ensured the Indian government’s near-total control over information coming out of the region.”
At Bannerman Park, protestor Sarah Siddiqui said the clampdown by Indian forces in the region means people are scared to even leave their homes to get food.
“There are people who are very poor who can’t keep rations or stock food, so there are people who are starving. There’s a curfew. And the kind of videos that are coming out from the media people who are leaving the country and they videotaped the streets, you see blood spattered streets. Your heart cries out for them.”
As the solidarity marchers left the park for City Hall, the Indian counter-protestors told The Telegram they came to the protest so they could tell people in the province another perspective.
“We are not against them,” said Sandeep Jagota, referring to the solidarity with Kashmir marchers.
“They are our friends, and like two weeks ago we were together at a wedding.”
Jagota said he’s called St. John’s home for 10 years since leaving India.
He said he was concerned to see the march was happening here, and shocked to learn about it via social media. He wondered why organizers didn’t contact groups such as Friends of India to discuss their problems and get support.
He said the counter-protestors understand the protestors’ issues, but disagree with how they went about calling attention to the issues.
Jagota alleges the group is spreading half-truths.
He said he believes the Indian government has temporarily reduced communication in the Kashmir region as a precautionary measure because social media can easily spread rumours.
“There is no attack on the freedom of speech. If you go to any Indian television channel - any Indian television channel, you choose the channel of your choice - you see what kind of talks are going on, how people are expressing their views.”
In international media reports, Modi has said the people of India support the steps taken in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.
However, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression has said that shutting down communication systems can never be justified under international human rights law.
A news release from Amnesty International quotes the head of its organization in India, Aakar Patel, saying the Indian government must realize the “complete clampdown on civil liberties in Jammu and Kashmir will only likely increase tensions, alienate the people and increase the risk of further human rights violations.”
Twitter: @juanitamercer_
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