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| India-Pakistan |
| Thousands march for Kashmir |
| 2008-08-18 |
| Now that the concept of Westphalian sovereignty (the bedrock of International Law) is in tatters following the West's unedifying rush to kiss the OIC's ass, by recognizing Kosovo, only to discover a hornets nest, we can expect to see more of these sort of actions TENS of thousands of Muslims took to the streets of Indian Kashmir's main city today to demand that the United Nations recognise the Himalayan region's right to self-determination. Security was tight as crowds marched towards a local UN office, in defiance of official warnings against holding the rally in revolt-hit Srinagar, which remained tense after deadly clashes last week. The UN office in Srinagar houses personnel who monitor ceasefire violations along the heavily militarised Line of Control, the de facto border dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan. "I have never seen such a big rally in Srinagar," said Abdul Aziz, a 75-year-old shopkeeper who was taking part in the procession. "I couldn't resist coming out to demand freedom from India," he said, as he marched towards the UN office carrying a placard reading "If freedom for Kosovo, why not for Kashmir?" The marchers chanted slogans including "We will give blood for Kashmir's freedom." Many also carried green or black flags - symbolising Islam and mourning. Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah said the demonstrators delivered a plea for UN intervention in the wake of last week's shootings of "peaceful protesters." Another separatist urged the UN to "help us in achieving the right to self-determination." There are decades-old UN Security Council resolutions calling for a referendum to allow the Kashmiri people to choose between India and Pakistan, but they have never been implemented. Last week 22 Muslim demonstrators were shot dead by security forces in the Kashmir valley as they vented their anger over a blockade of the area by Hindu hardliners. Today's protest, which included doctors, lawyers and women, ended peacefully when senior separatists told the crowds to disperse. Some protesters had tried to provoke Indian troops by chanting anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans near their bunkers but the troops did not react. The latest tensions between Muslims and Hindus centre around a small piece of Kashmiri land that was awarded to a Hindu pilgrimage trust, sparking Muslim protests. The land transfer order was then rescinded, sparking a blockade by Hindus who dominate the south of Jammu and Kashmir state - from where the main road access to the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley comes. Meanwhile, thousands of Hindu activists continued demonstrations in the south of the state, taking advantage of a relaxation of a daytime curfew in and around the winter capital Jammu, witnesses said. The regional headquarters of one of Kashmir's mainstream political parties, the People's Democratic Party, was ransacked by Hindus, police said. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #4 According to a quick, superficial Google/Wikipedia check the majority of Ossetians are Orthodox Christians but the ones seeking independence are Muslims who will most likely want to impose Sharia. If so, it could well be that the Georgians are better off without them and the Ruskies will end up wishing they had left it alone. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2008-08-18 13:23 |
| #3 Don't forget the Philippines. And the 'enclaves' in France (and soon in the UK by all reports). All along the borders of the 'Islamic World' the Islamists are at war with their neighbors. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2008-08-18 12:26 |
| #2 Kashmir, Kosovo, Mindanao, southern Thailand...who can name some more? Hmmmmmm. Are those separatists in South Ossetia muslim by any chance? Then, of course, there's Chechnya. They never give it a rest, do they? |
| Posted by: treo 2008-08-18 11:03 |
| #1 |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-08-18 09:49 |