Washington
The Washington-based World Kashmir Awareness Forum has called for international solidarity for human rights and freedom of expression of the people in Illegally Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), saying there is no press freedom in the disputed territory.
The Forum in a statement marking World Press Freedom Day said, “The Indian government uses internet blackouts, police raids and traumatic intimidation tactics on activists, journalists and civilians to crush dissent and shield its brutal military occupation and demographic engineering.”
“At the same time,” it said, “the regime’s followers employ virulent online harassment to silence and discredit those who speak out, study and report on Kashmir from abroad.”
Denouncing their actions, the Forum said the extrajudicial killings, torture, disappearances, displacement and sexual violence that Kashmiris endure must be brought to light and accounted for.
“Access to widespread, reliable information is a matter of life or death for more than 13 million Kashmiris, and is essential in the struggle for a just solution.”
Noting that UNESCO established World Press Freedom Day in 1991 recognized that ‘a free, pluralist and independent press is an essential component of any democratic society.’
“Thirty years later, “The World Kashmir Awareness Forum said, “it is unconscionable for India to declare itself the world’s largest democracy when it aggressively censors and retaliates against reporting on Kashmir.
“We, Kashmiris, implore the international community to unite in defense of our human rights and freedom of expression,” the forum said.—KMS
