Didier Chaudet
Since the partition of India and Pakistan disorder regularly disrupt in Kashmir. This territory which should have been returned to Pakistan in 1947, found itself annexed by India. For this country, Kashmir, a Muslim majority region, could have the best proof that India is a secular and federal state respectful of religious and regional diversity. Yet, as pointed out repeatedly by NGOs such as Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch, the Indian state has left its security forces terrorizing Kashmiris by multiple violations of human rights.
Thus the rape of women, for instance, to punish or humiliate an entire community or not other reason than the whim of some soldiers, is a horrible practice that we hear about from the 1990s. More generally the kashmiri consider themselves discriminated and oppressed. “And repressive violence in the name of the struggle against separatism is disproptinate.
A vicious cycle of protest and repression
The Indian government wanted to rectify this disproportion, it seems in 2010, the security forces in Kashmir have been equipped with weapons considered non-lethal, especially for pellet guns. But that same year a young teenager of 11, Irshad Ahmad Parray was killed by the use of these rifles, recalling implacable truth that it is the person making use of the weapon which decides whether it will be lethal or not.. And when rule of law and democracy do not prevent fascism, rejection of part of the population, do not protect the equality of all citizens the choice of weapons used becomes secondary.
Again the cycle of repression has dominated life in Kashmir. The hypocrisy of the use of non-lethal weapons has been exposed. Following protests, a little less than two months, 65 Kashmiris have died and several thousand were injured. 15% of those injured were children under 15 years. For many, their future was destroyed when they were hit in the face and lost sight.
It is understandable that India is concerned about the separatism in Kashmir. But its repressive attitude to the striking children will inevitably strengthen this political trend in the future.
