#LetKashmirSpeak: Sign Amnesty International's petition to end draconian IOK lockdown
An AFP photo taken during the latest clampdown in India occupied Kashmir.
Titled "Put Humanity First: Lift The Communications Lockdown In Kashmir", the petition underscores how decades of a political battle over the occupied valley has "affected its people more than anybody else, and now more so than ever before".
"Imagine a world where you cannot call home. This is the reality of thousands of Kashmiris around the world. Eight million Kashmiris living in the region today have been locked in their homes for over a month," says the global rights watchdog.
"Outside the region their friends and families are unable to get in touch amidst stories of curfews, protests, medical emergencies and use of excessive force by the administration. Families have been torn apart as they live under siege – a collective punishment for the people of Kashmir – this is the human cost of the blackout and it cannot be ignored ... Let’s show the Indian Government that the world is watching and urge them to be on the right side of history."
The petition will be sent to IOK Governor Satya Pal Malik in the form of an email and Amnesty International has shared the text:
"To: Governor Satya Pal Malik
Subject: PUT HUMANITY FIRST: LIFT THE COMMUNICATIONS LOCKDOWN IN KASHMIR!
Dear Governor,
Since a month now, life has been derailed for the population of about 8 million people in Kashmir due to an absolute blackout of all communication networks. Many young and aged remain locked in their homes since a month – the human cost of this blackout cannot be ignored.
This draconian and indefinite blanket ban on communication services makes it difficult for people to reach out to their families and inform about their safety and hampers the work of doctors and other humanitarian workers in providing assistance and aid to sick and terminally ill. This indeed is a collective punishment for the people of Kashmir.
Since the last one month, families have been unable to reach out and speak to their loved ones of their health and safety.
This isn’t ‘normal’.
I urge you to put humanity first and let the people of Kashmir speak."
You can lend your support to the campaign by signing the petition here.