Geelani flays Army for AFSPA remarks

Srinagar: Flaying former General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command Lt Gen B S Jaswal’s remark that Armed Forces Special Powers Act was a “must” for the Army, Hurriyat Conference (G) Friday said the statement showed that the army needs the “draconian” act to shield its men from prosecution for “war crimes” in Kashmir.

A day before his superannuation, Jaswal had yesterday said AFSPA was a must as far as functioning of the security forces was  concerned when asked about the army’s stand on the controversial act.

“Jaswal himself has been under the scanner of international community, and has been accused of war crimes himself. AFSPA gives the Army the license to kill innocent Kashmiri, and since the Indian Army has been committing war crimes in Kashmir it needs this draconian law as a shield. Therefore, his support for the draconian law isn’t surprising,” a spokesman of the amalgam said.

The spokesman said there was no justification for the AFSPA to continue as the Army had itself admitted that the presence of militants in Kashmir had been reduced to a few hundred. “Furthermore, under this law the Indian army has held the civilian population hostage and the lives and properties of Kashmiris are at risk as long as this law is imposed on them. Allowing the army to enjoy impunity under the AFSPA  amounts to grave human rights violation,the international community should come forward to save the civilian population from state terrorism and draconian laws like the AFSPA,” the spokesman said. The  spokesman also flayed the DG Police, Kuldeep Khoda for “praising the role of police during 2010”. “ 112 innocent people were killed while thousands injured or detained across interrogation centres and jails. The DG’s statement is akin to rubbing salt onto the wounds of Kashmiris.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman said the amalgam;s chairman ,Syed Ali Shah Geelani will undergo endoscopy, KFT and other tests at SKIMS, Soura on January 1. “ Due to three months of house arrest, Geelani sahib’s health has been adversely affected, and for the past few days he has been complaining of stomach and back pain.”

The spokesman said Geelani will preside over a seminar organized by the amalgam on January 5 titled ‘UN Resolutions and Opressed Nations” at Hyderpora office, to remind the international community of the resolutions passed by the UN in favour of Kashmiris on the day in 1948.

“On January 6, Geelani sahib will address a seminar in Sopore, Jamia Masjid organized to commemorate killing of 45 people by the BSF in the town on the day in 1993.”