Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Kashmir: India's 'draconian' blackout sets worrying precedent, warns UN
Source: The Guardian
Kashmir: India’s ‘draconian’ blackout sets worrying precedent, warns UN
Exclusive: Special rapporteur speaks out as Indian-administered territory faces fourth day in lockdown
Rebecca Ratcliffe in Delhi
Thu 8 Aug 2019 10.15 BST Last modified on Thu 8 Aug 2019 15.25 BST
The unprecedented communications blackout imposed on Indian-administered Kashmir could signal a departure in the way democratic states clamp down on information in contentious areas, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of expression has said.
“There’s something about this shutdown that is draconian in a way other shutdowns usually are not,” David Kaye told the Guardian.
The territory faces its fourth day in lockdown, imposed hours before the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s special status on Monday – stripping away the autonomy it was granted in exchange for joining the Indian union after independence in 1947. Delhi also said it would divide the state of Jammu and Kashmir in two.
Before the announcement, thousands of extra troops were deployed to Kashmir, where the government is likely to face major opposition. An insurgency against Indian rule has been waged for decades, and tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict.
Despite a heavy security presence and strict curfew, protests have occurred.
Communications are often blocked in Indian-administered Kashmir, but the most recent clampdown is unprecedented in a time of relative peace. Unlike previous instances, landline phones and cable TV have been cut off. A strict curfew also means people are unable to leave their homes during the day, while only limited movement has been allowed at night.
-snip-
Exclusive: Special rapporteur speaks out as Indian-administered territory faces fourth day in lockdown
Rebecca Ratcliffe in Delhi
Thu 8 Aug 2019 10.15 BST Last modified on Thu 8 Aug 2019 15.25 BST
The unprecedented communications blackout imposed on Indian-administered Kashmir could signal a departure in the way democratic states clamp down on information in contentious areas, the UN’s special rapporteur on freedom of expression has said.
“There’s something about this shutdown that is draconian in a way other shutdowns usually are not,” David Kaye told the Guardian.
The territory faces its fourth day in lockdown, imposed hours before the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s special status on Monday – stripping away the autonomy it was granted in exchange for joining the Indian union after independence in 1947. Delhi also said it would divide the state of Jammu and Kashmir in two.
Before the announcement, thousands of extra troops were deployed to Kashmir, where the government is likely to face major opposition. An insurgency against Indian rule has been waged for decades, and tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict.
Despite a heavy security presence and strict curfew, protests have occurred.
Communications are often blocked in Indian-administered Kashmir, but the most recent clampdown is unprecedented in a time of relative peace. Unlike previous instances, landline phones and cable TV have been cut off. A strict curfew also means people are unable to leave their homes during the day, while only limited movement has been allowed at night.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/08/kashmir-communications-blackout-is-draconian-says-un-envoy
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
