Palestine and the UN: The dead-end of the “peace process”

Palestine and the UN: The dead-end of the “peace process”

Gazans Celebrate Eid With Sorrow

A Palestinian woman mourns next to the grave of her son on the first day of Eid Al-Fitr at a cemetery in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip August 30, 2011.

By Saleh Jadallah | Bernama | Aug 31, 2011
GAZA STRIP, Aug 31 (Bernama) — As Muslims worldwide joyfully celebrate Eid Al-Fitr, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip regard it as a reminder of sorrow despite their adamant steadfastness.
Mohammed Bashala would usually buy clothes and sweets for his children before the Eid, but since 2007, when Israel imposed its blockade in the Gaza Strip, he can barely make a living to satisfy his family’s needs.
The impoverished fisherman used to catch fish in wider permitted fishing zones to secure a little of the requirements of his family which compromises four sons and three daughters.
As a result of the Israeli embargo, the 43-year-old had to work in a tight zone and his economic situation deteriorated.
“I have no money to give to my children (for Eid). We are relying on alms from benevolent people,” Mohammed told Bernama in a recent interview.
“I usually get 25 NIS (USD7) per day when I fish. That amount is insufficient to buy basic food.”
Ahmed, a government employee in the agriculture ministry, has yet to receive his salary which has been delayed for two months — as a result of the salary crises in the two divided Palestinian governments of Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the West Bank.
Stricken by the hard-hitting financial crisis, employees in the Palestinian territories complain about the salary crises which sometimes make them receive only half their monthly payments.
Besides the deteriorating economy, the social life in Gaza Strip is overwhelmed by grief.
Families of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails wish to share the joy of Eid with their jailed sons and relatives.
Leen, whose father was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment in 2002, is very eager to see him free to join them during the Eid celebrations.
“To me, Eid would be nothing without my father. The real Eid is when my father is freed from his cell. We always pray for him,” the girl said in a sad tone.
Jihan Abu Khalaf has been married to a Gazan since 1998.
She has not met her family in Hebron City in the West Bank — geographically separated from Gaza by Israel — for nine years due to the Israeli restriction on the movement between the remaining parts of the Palestinian territory.
Jihan, whose father died while she was stranded in the Gaza Strip, is greatly disappointed that she cannot meet her mother during the Eid Al-Fitr.
“The first thing Muslims do during the Eid is kiss the hands of their mothers. I have been deprived of meeting my mother for nine years. I yearn very much to joining in the Eid with her and my brothers,” she said.
In a usual scene after performing Eid Prayers, Palestinians head for cemeteries to visit the graves of their relatives killed in a continuous conflict with Israel.
Showing remarkable solidarity, people console each other by visiting families of the dead and prisoners in an attempt to mitigate their affliction.
Mohammed Nabeel Abu Selmeya, who lost nine of his family members, including his parents, in an Israeli air strike that destroyed their house in 2006, tried hard to rejoice in the Islamic feast with his friends.
Yet, the painful memories are still etched in his mind.
Mohammed and his brother, Awad, are the only survivors in their family after they were evacuated from under the rubble of their house.
“I try my best to get rid of that misery, but it is hard to celebrate Eid while all your brothers, sisters and parents are martyred,” he said.
– BERNAMA
via BERNAMA – Gazans Celebrate Eid With Sorrow.

Source : Occupied Palestine 

The Killing of Kashmir... 49 minute documentary

Indian Army Brutal Killing: 2000 Graves Found in Kashmir

NEW DEHLI: More than 2,000 corpses have been found buried in several unmarked graves in Indian-administered Kashmir, believed to be victims of the disputed region’s separatist movement, a government human rights commission said in a report.

The graves were found in dozens of villages near the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between Pakistan and India in the Himalayan region.

“At 38 places visited in north Kashmir, there were 2,156 unidentified dead bodies buried in unmarked graves,” the inquiry report by the Indian government’s Jammu and Kashmir State Human Rights Commission (J&KSHRC) said. The commission was established by the government in 1997 to investigate human rights violations.

The report — prepared by an 11-member team headed by a senior police superintendent — said that DNA profiling should be used to match unidentified bodies with relatives to resolve the controversy. “The scope for DNA extraction from remains of these unidentified bodies buried in unmarked graves of north Kashmir is still very bright. As the time will go on… chances will be more and more reduced,” the report said.

An independent group based in Srinagar, the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice (IPT), had in 2009 documented unidentified bodies buried in the region’s northern villages.

Indian and international rights groups called for a probe into whether the unmarked graves held bodies of civilians who have ‘disappeared’ as Indian security forces struggled to contain insurgency in the region.

The IPT says 8,000 people have gone missing there during 20 years of insurgency against rule from New Delhi, most of those after they were arrested by Indian security personnel.

The Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), which estimates around 10,000 people went missing during nearly two decades of separatist revolt, says many missing people may have ended up in these unmarked graves.

“We appeal to international human rights groups and Indian authorities to identify the people buried,” said Parveena Ahanger, founder and chairperson of the APDP.

International human rights groups have also repeatedly asked the Indian authorities to investigate the unmarked graves.

Indian officials have repeatedly claimed that those buried in unmarked graves were militants — most of those Pakistanis — who were killed in clashes with security forces. They also argue that many of the missing locals had meanwhile crossed to Pakistan to join militant groups. Nearly 50,000 people have been killed in mainly Muslim Kashmir since an insurgency against New Delhi’s rule began in 1989.

On Saturday, Indian soldier shot dead 12 “militants trying to cross from Pakistan into the disputed region.”

Indian security forces in Kashmir have been accused of murdering innocent civilians in staged gun battles and passing them off as militants to earn rewards and promotions.

Source ; Column.pk

Kalaroos: Where dead have number

Martyrs Graveyard Kalroos, Kupwara.

The first one reads “Number 1, Martyred on August 24, 2009, Jawansaal (Young)”, the second one reads “Number 2 “Martyred on August 24, Safaid Dhadi Wala Bhodha (white bearded old man)”. Scattered between few graves that have traditional tombstones, there are many that have tin plates inserted on top. Numbers and scanty details of the appearance of dead is all that is known about the people who lay burried.

The caretakers of ‘Martyrs Graveyard’ here, situated in Lolab alongside Kupwara-Machil main road around 112 km from Srinagar, started to number the unknown dead after mass graves surfaced in Uri  region in neighbouring Baramulla district. The graveyard which spans over two thousand square yards of land is maintained by the local Auqaf Committee.

“On the directions of Auqaf we started to write down the numbers and identification marks of the deceased on tin plates to keep the count and little bit identification,” says Ghulam Ahmed Bhat, who is one of the caretakers, while pointing towards a portion where the grave fill is scattered. The bodies have been exhumed.

Three youth from Nadihal, who were dubbed as militants and killed in Machil Sector along the Line of Control (LoC), last April, were buried in these half-filled graves, he says. The youth were identified by their heirs after pictures of their bodies appeared in local dailies.

But their remains exist even after bodies have been excavated. A torn jacket and a blanket hang on the barbed fencing. Bhat informs they belonged to the Nadihal youth.

Locals say more than 85 unidentified suspected militants lay buried  along with some residents. But, most of the graves remain unmarked with some of them not even noticeable due to passage of time. Not many have turned up to claim the dead.

“A family from Highgam and two families from Zainagair in Sopore visited. They cried in despair lamenting the fact that they were not present during the funeral rites of their dear ones who were militants,” he says, adding the families had somehow learnt that their dear ones lie buried here.

The families came and erected epitaphs on their graves. “Now the families of the trio occasionally visit the graveyard and distribute dates, Turmeric-rice (Teher), milk or fruits among the locals for the solace of their hearts,” he adds.

Fear is writ large on the faces of locals who seem reluctant to talk openly about the issue. To break the ice seems quite difficult and it is only after a disclosure of identity that they gradually open up.  “They died, it was their fate, but even after death, they have been stripped of their identity,” laments Abdul Samad, an elderly local.

“When the relatives of disappeared persons come to ascertain if their dear ones are buried here, we suggest them to visit local police station,” Samad says.

However, identity of just seven people is known and even the police have no written record about those interred.

“Our response might be annoying their sentiments, but what shall we do? The people we have buried here were unknown to us though seemingly Kashmiri locals,” he remarks.

A local police official not authorized to speak says they do not have any records in the police post regarding the names or whereabouts of the deceased.

“Most of the times I could not muster courage to see the dead as they had disfigured skulls caused due to heavy mortar shells or decaying,” says Abdul Aziz, another resident who joined Samad and Bhat after noticing movement in the graveyard.

Locals claim that Lolab valley has many such graves scattered in forests and villages including Sogam, Chandigam, Lalpora, Kuligam, Khurhama, Bagalsar, and Moori, Boinar, where unidentified suspected militants lie buried.

And, with the confirmation of unmarked graves by State Human Rights Commission, locals are questioning the claims made by the government that the unknown graves are those of militants and not of civilians. Villagers in this region these days discuss “cash for kill” although covertly.

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Source; www.kashmirdispatch.com

Israeli War Crimes...

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Hindu terrorism neglected by Obama

 Under the mask of democracy and secularism, Indian subsequent regimes dominated by politicians from the Hindi heartland-- Hindutva have been using brutal force ruthlessly against any move to free Assam, Kashmir, Khalistan, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu and Tripura wherre wars of independence are alive in one or the other from.
_________________________________________________________

By Sajjad Shaukat

US President Obama who just concluded his India visit, announced on November 6 a $10 billion in trade deals with New Delhi to create more than 50,000 US jobs. He also declared the measures, America would take regarding removal of Indian space and defence companies from a restricted “entities list” and supported Indian demand for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council including membership of four key global nuclear non-proliferation regimes, paid a tribute to victims of the Mumbai attacks. 
While describing “win-win” relationship with India, Obama’s main focus was Indo-US united front against terrorism, which relates to the Islamic militancy in the region, but he totally neglected the home grown and state sponsored Hindu terrorism. 
During his trip, President Obama did not take cognizance of the misdeeds of Hindu fundamentalist parties like the BJP, RSS, VHP, Shiv Sina and Bajrang Dal which have missed no opportunity to communalise national politics of India even under the Congress rule. With the backing of Indian officials, these parties have intensified anti-Christian and anti-Muslim bloodshed in the last decade coupled with the dissemination of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism).
Obama should know that besides previous genocide of Muslims and destruction of the Babri Mosque, more than 2500 Muslims were massacred in2002 in the BJP-ruled Indian state of Gujarat. Regarding that massive genocide, both Human Rights Watch in 2002 and Amnesty International in 2003 charged the “Gujarat state administration” for involvement in “a massive cover-up of the state’s role in that massacre” and pointed out numerous police officials—specifically ministers, high officials and leaders of the VHP, BJP and Bajrang Dal as participants. 
On September 13, 2008, the communal riots in Uttar Pradesh killed more than 200 Muslims. In one of the most tragic incidents in Assam, Hindu extremists burnt alive six members of a Muslim family. It is mentionable that after the BJP came to power in February 2006, unlike the previous similar tragic events, Christian persecution rose to new heights in the state of Karnataka. Attacks on Christian holidays became common in the state like other areas. On the Christmas Eve of 2007, Hindu extremists led a series of violent attacks on Christians and their property in the state of Orissa, killing six Christians and razing at least 800 houses and 100 churches. 
According to a report of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), “in one of the events, in March, 2008, more than 150 intolerant nationalist Hindus stormed two Easter Sunday services and beat at least 16 Christians including two pastors in Bangalore and in Shimoga district…before almost every assault, the mob of the Hindu extremist of RSS, VHP and Baring Dal, armed with bamboo poles, sticks and rods, while beating drums shout slogans in Hindi—he “who talks in favour of only Hindus will rule the nation.” Nevertheless, assaults on Christians and their property have continued by the Hindu mobs in Orissa, Assam, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. Even the recent past witnessed a number of incidents of religious intolerance. In this respect, at least 60 Christians have been assassinated in the recent past by Hindu fundamentalists in Orissa. 
Under the mask of democracy and secularism, Indian subsequent regimes dominated by politicians from the Hindi heartland—Hindutva have been using brutal force ruthlessly against any move to free Assam, Kashmir, Khalistan, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu and Tripura where wars of independence are alive in one or the other form. 

As regards the Indian-held Kashmir, since 1947, Indian forces have intermittently been employing all the possible techniques of military terrorism such as curfews, crackdowns, sieges, massacre, targeted killings etc. to maintain their alien rule. However, under the new puppet regime in the occupied Kashmir, Indian brutalities keep on going against the current phase of Kashmiri uprising. In the last two years, more than 3000 unmarked graves of the unidentified bodies were uncovered in villages of Indian-held Kashmir. Sources have suggested that these graves include bodies of extrajudicial executions committed by the Indian military and paramilitary forces. In Maharashtra, non-Hindu communities have lived in constant fear and awe since the advent of the fundamentalist party, Shiv Sena whose Chief Bal Thackeray has organised army of hoodlums to beat up any religious minority, openly directing the Hindu terrorists to loot and stone any of their shop or house. Silence of the subsequent governments on every challenge of Shiv Sena and lack of serious action against Thackeray’s vandalism have clearly defeated the secular echoes of India which is in fact a secular terrorist state. More alarming point is that Baring Dal has also been imparting arms training to its members near Ayodhya.

 It is worth-mentioning that ideology of Hindu nationalism prevails in every field at the cost of other minorities. It is even supported by Indian defence forces clandestinely. This fact could be judged from the recent past, when on April 6, 2008 in the house of Baring Dal fundamentalists in Nanded, a bomb went off. The investigations proved that the militants belonging to the Baring Dal were found in the bomb-making and attack on a mosque in Parbhani in 2003. Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra arrested a serving Lt. Col. Srikant Purohit along with other army officials, indicating that they were helping in training the Hindu terrorists, providing them with the military-grade explosive RDX, used in the Malegaon bombings and terrorist attacks in other Indian cities. ATS further disclosed that Lt. Col. Purohit confessed that in 2007, he was involved in bombing of Samjhota express, which brunt alive 69 Pakistanis. Leaders of the Indian extremist parties, Shiv Sena, BJP, VHP and RSS are now pressurising the Congress regime to release the culprits.
Before these revelations about Hindu terrorism, Indian government has been accusing the Islamic organizations in contact with Pakistani or Bangladeshi intelligence agencies in carrying out bomb blasts in Malegaon and other Indian places. As regard Hindu terrorism, BBC indicated on November 21, 2008 that a new phrase has entered the sometimes cliche-riddled Indian press: “Hindu terrorism”, calling it the latest addition to the media lexicon.Nonetheless, it is due to the ignorance of the US Administration that New Delhi which has been using Hindu terrorists to create frenzy against the other religious communities has further been encouraged by the President Obama who is silent over Hindu terrorism. 

In the aftermath of the Mumbai tragedy, instead of showing any evidence about Hindu terrorism, Indian leaders and their media have coined a number of fabricated stories about the arrested gunman, Ajmal Kasab to prove the involvement of Pakistan, banned Lashkar-i-Taiba and even our intelligence agency, ISI which is the first defence line of our country in castigating the plot of foreign enemies. Nevertheless, the sole purpose behind Indian senseless accusations against Islamabad is to conceal the misdeeds of Hindu terrorism which have got no coverage by US-led European media because of the pro-Indian tilt of these countries. Obama’s ignorance of Hindu terrorism could be judged from the decision of the United Nations Security Council’s Al-Qaida-related committee which added Pakistan-based Jamaatud Dawa, already banned Lashkar-i-Taiba and four of its leaders to the list of terrorists. Meanwhile, India had started increasing pressure on Islamabad with the backing of the US which had played a key role in passing the UN resolution 1267. However, encouraged by the resolution and emboldened by America, the then Indian Minister for External Affairs, Parnab Mukerjee indicated that “India has all options open.” Indian defence minister has also stated in the same terms, while its Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called Pakistan, the epicentre of terrorism. 
Notably, America has its political and economic interests in India which serves as the largest market. And the US has its strategic interests in the region, while New Delhi is its main ally to counterbalance China in Asia. In this regard, US, India and Israeli want to ‘denuclearise’ and ‘destabilise’ Pakistan which is the only nuclear Islamic country. It is owing to these collective interests that like his predecessor, President Bush, Obama neglects Hindu terrorism which has now become a dangerous reality for international community. 
Here, question also arises as to why Indian fundamentalist parties such as Shiv Sena, RSS, Baring Dal and BJP which are unleashing the forces of terrorism, are not being added to the UN or US terrorist lists. In this context, negligence of Hindu terrorism by Obama displays double standards of the west. 

Sajjad Shaukat is a regular writer for Opinion Maker. He writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US Vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations.


Source: Voice of Karachi

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