Kashmiris take struggle to Twitter, seek RSD, criticize UN for its ‘failure’
Srinagar, 10 May 2018: Upping the ante against the massive crackdown on civilian protests and demonstrations, Kashmiri netizens across the world generated a Twitter trend in their favour seeking implementation of United Nations resolutions in Jammu and Kashmir.
On Thursday evening at around 08:00 pm (IST), Kashmiris using micro-blogging networking site stormed the Twitter with hashtags seeking plebiscite and right to self-determination (RSD) as promised in at least 18 resolutions passed in UN Security Council on Kashmir.
Incidentally, the social media cry for Kashmiri rights came on a day when Indian army chief threatened Kashmiris with more force if they continued seeking Azaadi. “Azaadi is not possible,” he told The Indian Express in an interview with regard to massive pro-freedom demonstration in Kashmir. “(Kashmiris) can not fight us; if they do so, we will use more force.”
In this year, so far, at least 49 militants and 30 civilians were killed by the forces during or after the encounters.
The netizens, however, succeeded in generating #KashmirPlebiscite trend on Twitter last night which drew attention of many from non-Kashmiri netizens who joined it thus showing support for the RSD.
A trend on Twitter refers to a hashtag-driven topic that is immediately popular at a particular time.
The Twitterati appealed the world community and UN to play their role in granting RSD to Kashmiris as promised by India and Pakistan in the UN when Delhi took the case of Kashmir in 1948 to Security Council. Later, the firs Prime Minister of India, Jawahar Lal Nehru, also promised holding plebiscite in Kashmir when the situation improved. However, the promises are yet to fulfilled as India deems Kashmir as its integral part while accusing Pakistan of illegally occupying part of erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Of late, Twitter has grown in a viable media to push through ones demands when mainstream media does not give much deserved coverage. The Twittertrends have forced governments across the globe to accede to the genuine demands of the netizens.
On Kashmir, Twitter handlers severely criticized Delhi for showing reluctance in solving Kashmir and for allegedly committing grave human rights violation in the region.
The pro-Kashmir netizens tweeted regarding the historic promises of the plebiscite, promises of Indian leadership and the role of world community in recognizing the dispute of Jammu and Kashmir.
UN resolution 94 of 1952. Read it properly. #KashmirPlebiscite pic.twitter.com/W64VzxUEdt
— Frontline Kashmir (@FKdotPK) May 10, 2018
Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, is a signatory to multiple UN Security Council resolutions, which mandate a free and fair plebiscite in Kashmir under the auspices of the UN.
India cannot renege on its international commitments.#FreeKashmir#KashmirPlebiscite pic.twitter.com/xLHbbA9yVU
— Zeeshan Khan (@IbnKhayyam) May 10, 2018
"People seem to forget that #Kashmir is not a commodity for sale or to be bartered. It has an individual existence and its people must be the final arbiters of their future.”
~ Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (July 6, 1951)#KashmirPlebiscite Now!— Bea (@HerNameIs_Bea) May 10, 2018
The Kashmir dispute is the oldest unresolved international conflict in the world today. Pakistan considers Kashmir as its core political dispute with India. So does the international community, except India.#KashmirPlebiscite @Z_Waqar3 @SophiaJaafri
— Amna (@Amna_Emaan) May 10, 2018
90% of Kashmir wants independence. The UN promised Kashmiris a referendum. It has never come. It's time!#KashmirPlebiscite https://t.co/QqoTqCS9BV
— CJ Werleman (@cjwerleman) May 10, 2018
A complilation of statements from different countries in support of #KashmirPlebiscite, referendum in Kashmir and resolution of Kashmir issue.
https://t.co/foDCCwfEX3— Frontline Kashmir (@FKdotPK) May 10, 2018
In the series of tweets, some netizens also highlighted the historic events which unfolded vis-a-vis UN resolutions for holding referendum in Jammu and Kashmir.
On 21 April 1948 it was stipulated that UNSG would appoint a plebiscite administrator who was to act as an officer of the state of Jummu & #Kashmir #KashmirPlebiscite pic.twitter.com/mXXq2bf6tn
— مدیحہ خان (@ShakilMadiha) May 10, 2018
For not being able to play its vital role, people also lashed the UN. They said that the criminal silence of UN tantamount to world body’s involvement in the “war crimes committed by Indian forces” for suppressing the voice of RSD.
If the @UN fails to implement its own resolutions then all recent criticisms against it are justified, for it has become only a political mouthpiece for a few global powers, unable to resolve conflicts & irrelevant to modern conflicts. #Kashmir #KashmirPlebiscite
— Arshad Mahmood (@ahrarul_Hind) May 11, 2018
Though the pro-India political parties in Kashmir have time and again put forward their objective or slogans like that of autonomy or self-rule as the replacement of plebiscite which according to them may bring long lasting peace in the region but that has been rejected both by people as well as the same parties when they choose to rule over the people.
Those calling for autonomy of J&K at most are doing nothing but extending the reign of repression and handing it down to the next generations.#KashmirPlebiscite
— M A D (@IAmMuntazirAli) May 11, 2018
#KashmirPlebiscite One Slogan One Track Go India Go Back
— أبوعبد الله (@arifshafi87) May 11, 2018
I want my birth right of self determination #kashmirplebiscite
— Meerab khan (@ArifaKh73032833) May 10, 2018
#KashmirPlebiscite Freedom is for all including #Kashmir https://t.co/YSZvw4BpoJ. India cannot ignore the will of the people. India must leave #Kashmir
— Dr Rita Pal (@dr_rita39) May 10, 2018
#KashmirPlebiscite If overwhelming majority of Kashmir Valley wants to join Pakistan then why India, so called democracy, not listen to this. Do democracy not means to do what majority people think and want. Or does its definition changes for Kashmiris. World conscience sleeping
— Umar Khalid Dar (@UmarKhalidDar2) May 10, 2018
Seeing such crowds at the funerals of Kashmiri freedom fighters gives Indian regime goosebumps out of sheer fear. That is why they have backtracked from their promise of #KashmirPlebiscite pic.twitter.com/XAYi3PwMEZ
— Aadil н u s s a і п (@hussain_aadil) May 10, 2018
Funeral Of #ShaheedBurhanWani #KashmirPlebiscite https://t.co/VywUVzU6SK
— Yusuf Zahid (@YusufZahid2) May 10, 2018
Future of Kashmir will be decided by Kashmiri people#KashmirPlebiscite pic.twitter.com/Y2sg9pJHY3
— Iram Ahmad Khan (@Iram_Ahmad_Khan) May 10, 2018
The Twitterati mentioned that in the long struggle for RSD, Kashmiris have been victims not only of fake promises of deception but also “brutal suppression at the hands of Indian state”. However, the ongoing human rights violations has not broken the will of Kashmiris in their struggle for their rights.
How a nation was raped? Tales from #Kashmir that hit the core of heart.#KashmirPlebiscite
https://t.co/JqsMZmO6qo— Frontline Kashmir (@FKdotPK) May 10, 2018
#India has a record to protect their soldiers on their crimes in #Jammu & #Kashmir under the umbrella of black laws like #AFSPA; they can shoot to kill anyone without any restriction under this law. #KashmirPlebiscite pic.twitter.com/6aj67A29SX
— Kashmir Lobby Group (@KashmirLobby) May 10, 2018
To sum it up, here is a tribute which Indians have given us.
Since 1990 – Oct.1996:
* 59 750 Murdered
* 49 000 Murdered by indiscriminate firing
* 550 Burnt alive
* 3 200 Bound and drowned in the River Jhelum
* 4 500 Murdered crossing the cease-fire line#KashmirPlebiscite— Shady Ax ? (@iamshadyax) May 11, 2018
A study conducted by @MSF in 2005 found that “11.6 percent of interviewees (in Indian-occupied Kashmir) said they had been victims of sexual violence since 1989” and that “one in seven had witnessed rape.”#KashmirPlebiscite#EndIndianOccupation
— RadioAwazFM (@RadioAwazFM) May 11, 2018
Government forces have killed 432 militants and 235 civilians in Kashmir since 2016. Since a popular uprising in 2008, over 600 civilians have been killed in street protests. This is our normalcy. And mind you, Kashmir is indeed beautiful! #KashmirPlebiscite
— ARIF⏺ (@ajazArif_) May 11, 2018
Every house has its own tragic stories. They all have buried their loved ones. And the killings are still increasing with each passing day. #Kashmir #KashmirPlebiscite
— Arshad Mahmood (@ahrarul_Hind) May 11, 2018
Let do this #KashmirPlebiscite ✌@IntlCrimCourt @UNGeneva @UNHumanRights @UN
100+ martyred by Endian forces in last 4 months and over 1 Lac killings since 1989!!! So it's high time to resolve Kashmir issue!!!#FreeKashmir ✌— Mr__PATRIOT (@Mr__PATRIOT) May 10, 2018
