On her first Kashmir visit, the civil rights activist, Irom Sharmila, compared stone throwing at the security forces with using eggs to smash stones. The iron lady advocated for non-violent methods of resistance.
While staying at the tourism department’s hut at the tourist reception centre here in Srinagar, the civil Irom Sharmila, wanted to know whether she could be of any help to people of Kashmir.
“I really don’t know how to help out people”, she says feebly.
As her husband Desmond Coutinho was sitting next to her, the human rights activist said she was trying to understand the situation in Kashmir. She was, however, surprised to see overwhelming support from the state government for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). “I found Chief Minister, Police heads against the AFSPA. They entirely are against this law here contrary to Manipur Chief Minister”, she says.
The AFSPA in vogue in the State since 1990 and both the mainstream and the separatist political parties are seeking its revocation.
During her four day visit, she met Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, the Cultural Minister Naeem Akhtar, the opposition NC leader Nasir Aslam Wani, senior police and civil officers. She also interacted with orphan children.
She insists that the non-violent methods of protest are better ways to resist powerful. “The non-violent methods of struggle are strong. You know during British rule, people stood against powerful British…Pelting of stone is just using eggs to smash stones. It is egg versus stone fight. It will result in more violence, hatred and degradation”, Sharmila says.
She recounts her meetings with officials, academicians and political leaders here where she was told “people come to Kashmir from outside” to hear stories and then leave. “They told us people are not afraid anymore and they are very angry. They haven’t found more effective way to challenge the system. They don’t care what happens to them. They are so angry. They are fed up with talking now,” she says. “In this atmosphere, they told me if I keep coming back, people will realize I am genuine and they would stand with us.”
While touching her long scarf, she says it has been manufactured by the Konan Poshpora rape victims. “I met orphans here. I met people here. It is a beautiful place, people are beautiful here and what has been done to them is horrible”, she says.
The army is accused of gang-raping women during cordon operation at Kunan Poshpora village in Trehgam Tehsil of border district Kupwara, some 100 km North of Srinagar on the night of February 23, 1991.
The non-governmental organization Sarhad, which had brought Sharmila and her husband to Kashmir, told them they couldn’t meet more people like human rights activists and others as it would cause more trouble.
Sanjay Nahar, who is the founder of NGO based in Pune, says “if we start meeting all on the first visit, our line of action will be doubted. People will come to meet her to get international attention. Our basic focus is work.” “I got calls from 12 to 15 groups to have joint meet with her. But we told them we are more concerned about the work and we will come in June again.”
As Irom Sharmila didn’t create any flutter in Kashmir on her first visit, Khurram Parvez, noted human rights activist of Kashmir, says the demand of revocation of AFSPA by her never attracted the imagination of people of Kashmir because it was never a demand in Kashmir. “People here understand that impunity in Jammu and Kashmir persists not only because of draconian laws but because of the moral impunity and absolute lawlessness”, he says.
“Jammu and Kashmir police is not covered under AFSPA yet they have also enjoyed impunity. Irom's demand did not find enough resonance even when she was on hunger strike for years, also because the demand in Kashmir is for de-militarization and resolution of Kashmir dispute.” Khurram says it was unfortunate during the first visit she was escorted by an NGO, which is pro-establishment and has doubtful credentials.
On her first Kashmir visit, the civil rights activist, Irom Sharmila, compared stone throwing at the security forces with using eggs to smash stones. The iron lady advocated for non-violent methods of resistance.
Advertisement opens in new windowWhile staying at the tourism department’s hut at the tourist reception centre here in Srinagar, the civil Irom Sharmila, wanted to know whether she could be of any help to people of Kashmir.
“I really don’t know how to help out people”, she says feebly.
As her husband Desmond Coutinho was sitting next to her, the human rights activist said she was trying to understand the situation in Kashmir. She was, however, surprised to see overwhelming support from the state government for the revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). “I found Chief Minister, Police heads against the AFSPA. They entirely are against this law here contrary to Manipur Chief Minister”, she says.
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The AFSPA in vogue in the State since 1990 and both the mainstream and the separatist political parties are seeking its revocation.
During her four day visit, she met Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, the Cultural Minister Naeem Akhtar, the opposition NC leader Nasir Aslam Wani, senior police and civil officers. She also interacted with orphan children.
She insists that the non-violent methods of protest are better ways to resist powerful. “The non-violent methods of struggle are strong. You know during British rule, people stood against powerful British…Pelting of stone is just using eggs to smash stones. It is egg versus stone fight. It will result in more violence, hatred and degradation”, Sharmila says.
She recounts her meetings with officials, academicians and political leaders here where she was told “people come to Kashmir from outside” to hear stories and then leave. “They told us people are not afraid anymore and they are very angry. They haven’t found more effective way to challenge the system. They don’t care what happens to them. They are so angry. They are fed up with talking now,” she says. “In this atmosphere, they told me if I keep coming back, people will realize I am genuine and they would stand with us.”
While touching her long scarf, she says it has been manufactured by the Konan Poshpora rape victims. “I met orphans here. I met people here. It is a beautiful place, people are beautiful here and what has been done to them is horrible”, she says.
The army is accused of gang-raping women during cordon operation at Kunan Poshpora village in Trehgam Tehsil of border district Kupwara, some 100 km North of Srinagar on the night of February 23, 1991.
The non-governmental organization Sarhad, which had brought Sharmila and her husband to Kashmir, told them they couldn’t meet more people like human rights activists and others as it would cause more trouble.
Sanjay Nahar, who is the founder of NGO based in Pune, says “if we start meeting all on the first visit, our line of action will be doubted. People will come to meet her to get international attention. Our basic focus is work.” “I got calls from 12 to 15 groups to have joint meet with her. But we told them we are more concerned about the work and we will come in June again.”
As Irom Sharmila didn’t create any flutter in Kashmir on her first visit, Khurram Parvez, noted human rights activist of Kashmir, says the demand of revocation of AFSPA by her never attracted the imagination of people of Kashmir because it was never a demand in Kashmir. “People here understand that impunity in Jammu and Kashmir persists not only because of draconian laws but because of the moral impunity and absolute lawlessness”, he says.
“Jammu and Kashmir police is not covered under AFSPA yet they have also enjoyed impunity. Irom's demand did not find enough resonance even when she was on hunger strike for years, also because the demand in Kashmir is for de-militarization and resolution of Kashmir dispute.” Khurram says it was unfortunate during the first visit she was escorted by an NGO, which is pro-establishment and has doubtful credentials.