Kashmir protests on social networking sites

The state government banned sms-service in Jammu and Kashmir realizing that it was the medium through which people were communicating and spreading information across. But Facebook and other social networking sites have largely nullified the government’s plans

Harsh restrictions like curfews and unprecedented excesses by security forces during the ongoing unrest may have prevented youth to vent their anger on streets in shape of protests but it certainly could not stop them from expressing their anger against government on social networking websites including Facebook, Twitter, Orkut and You tube. 

Though the police started a crackdown against the users of these social networking sites few weeks before yet more and more users are turning to these sites to keep abreast with latest happenings and vent their anger.  

During past months of unrest, youth are using internet pages to express their anger against human rights abuses. Social networking sites like Facebook, Orkut and YouTube and other web platforms have become a battleground for the angry youth of the valley.

At least 111 civilians have been killed in security forces’ in past months and hundreds of others injured. Voices against rights abuses and government’s failure to put a check on violations are increasingly proliferating on the internet since June 11.

 “Kashmir Unrest”, a community page created by a student user, has around 600 members. The user has made passionate appeals on the page to take the campaign against rights abuses to international level.

It further says, “Kashmiris are treated as slaves, and killed in cold blood for demanding their rights. It is high time to wage a strengthen valley wide peaceful movement against India and force it leave Kashmir.”

It goes on: “This puppet government has miserably failed to stop genocide and rein in security forces’ that are on a killing spree. The government led by NC leader, the party which has always been a puppet in the hands of Delhi should step down to avoid further shame and embarrassment.”

The state government banned sms-service in Jammu and Kashmir realizing that it was the medium through which people were communicating and spreading information across. But Facebook and other social networking sites have largely nullified the government’s plans as youth are now using these for spreading information across.

Facebook has provided a platform to the people of valley to have their say. This social networking site has tens of thousands of users from valley. Ironically, hundreds of communities active on issues like culture and entertainment have also engaged in political debates and been busy breaking news about ongoing unrest in the valley.

Cutting across the barriers and borders, active members of Kashmiri Diaspora from almost every part of the world are also connected to Kashmir conflict through these social networking sites.

Similarly hundreds of users from Kashmir and across the world have changed their profile pictures to black colours, with texts like “I protest”, “I protest against the killings”,  “Stop Human  right violations” to show their solidarity with Kashmiris.

“Kashmir Dispatch" giving updates about the situation and protests has over 6,000 members.

The users by and large have targeted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. A page reads, “We dislike Omar Abdullah...he is politically immature person and has given free hand to security forces’ to kill Kashmiris in their homeland,”

The users have pledged their support for the separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani for his Quit Kashmir movement.  Support for Mirwaiz Omar Farooq and other leaders’ also figures on the networking websites.

“The ongoing movement is more spontaneous and led by youth than any leader. However people of Kashmir have all these years supported separatist leaders for their sporadic strike calls and Chalo programmes,” says, Ashraf Ahmad, a student of Kashmir University’s department of political science.    

Noor-ul-Mushtaq, commenting on the one of posts of the community wrote “Please stop showering bullets on Kashmiri kids”

Arshad Shah, a Kashmiri who is currently based in Middle East said these newsgroups are providing complete news details on the Facebook and that he remains updated about these groups through the Facebook.

Similarly, there are many other communities related to stone pelting, All Kashmir stone Pelters’ association, “I’m a stone pelter, E-protests, I protest against the excesses on Kashmiris, Sung Baaz Association, are a few to be named.

Not only communities there are also users similar in activities like Marainna Egly, Koshur Mazloom and a few others.

Some videos related to rights violations, firing on protesters, lathi charge have also been posted by the unidentified users. Kaushur Haatyar Kann'e Jung (stone pelting), a community on the Facebook, has hundreds of members already and many more are joining the community.

The community is roping in more young Kashmiris for whom stone-pelting has become a way of expressing their anger against the security forces and also the unabated rights violations.

Sohaib Quershi, posting his views on a site said, “The government has no idea about the aspirations and the grievances of people. They will keep on fighting amongst themselves and completely forget the dying Kashmiris. I don’t understand how difficult is it for the state government to make the center act and implement the various recommendations of the parliamentary committee. It is heartbreaking that no amendments are being made to the laws which make the armed forces feel like dictators. Where is the democracy?”

Ebtisam Hanan, A student said that I regularly read the status updates of Kashmir-Dispatch. She added that she remain updated through the posts of Kashmir dispatch only, as the community was providing the latest happenings across the valley the times reeling under curfews. 

While the online protests have been peaceful, on the streets the story has been different. The unrest is spiralling in the valley for over four months and there are no signs of decline at least in near future.

The state government even imposed a ban on the local television channels to ensure that the footage related to protests and clashes is not aired to the viewers and even the local print media were also gagged from time to time but these measures did not help the government bring normalcy to the turbulent valley.