Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog

Khurram Parvez now released “I want all of you to be hopeful. I am”

(Image via Dawn)

Human rights defender Khurram Parvez from Srinagar has been freed today from detention in Kotbalwal jail in Jammu, Indian occupied Kashmir following 76 days in detention. He was arrested a day after he was prevented from attending a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Switzerland.

The work of Parvez increased following unrest after the death of Burhan Wani a commander of the Kashmir-based Hizbul Mujahideen in a gun battle with government forces on July 8th, 2016.  This led to unrest, demonstrations and curfews.

Allegations of human rights violations by the military and police were rife with the killing of protesters fighting for freedom (azadi) from India and self-determination. There were hundreds of detentions, abuse of women and children and heavy handedness of authorities blinding many peaceful protesters with pellet guns. Some media was also closed down with disruptions to internet and mobile phone services and worshippers prevented from attending Friday prayers at local mosques. Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Nafees Zakaria told Radio Pakistan today there are now over 1 million troops in Kashmir, the highest concentration of troops in the world.

Following the arrest of Parvez, questions were raised by the UN in October concerning the use of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act against Parvez, which permits administrative detention without judicial intervention for up to two years.” As highlighted in Indian Express UN officials stated,

“In a democratic society, the open criticism of Government is a legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression of every person. We are seriously concerned that the arrest of (Khurram) Parvez may represent a direct retaliation for his legitimate activities as a human rights defender and the exercise of his fundamental freedoms, including freedoms of expression and association. (There is) lack of clarity as to why the Indian authorities have deemed it necessary to address this case outside the country’s ordinary laws”.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court deemed Parvez’s detention illegal last Friday ordering his immediate release. There was an initial delay however due to an administrative error. Once freed, Parvez soon updated his many followers on social media posting the following statement on his Facebook page,

“I am happy to be back amongst my family and friends. I am deeply touched by the love and solidarity expressed by so many friends from across the world. This 76 day detention was a difficult time for me, my family and colleagues. Difficult times are also opportunities, if only we make them so. I commit myself to not let this detention be a hard memory of my life but an opportunity that has enabled me to reflect, read and plan my future work for justice and peace. I wont let this difficulty make me bitter, instead my resolve for peace and justice has got strengthened. I want all of you to be hopeful. I am.”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is an Islamic and national force of the country waging Jihad and struggling to bring an end to the occupation, giving all lawful rights to the people and securing Islamic and national goals. And the sacrifices it has presented in this path are not hidden from anyone.

And just as the leader of the Islamic Emirate has stated in his messages and as declared by delegations of the Political Office during international conferences, the Islamic Emirate not only backs all national projects which are in the interest of the people and result in the development and prosperity of the nation but are also committed to safeguarding them. These include large national projects like TAPI, CASA-1000, Mes Aynak, highway and railway projects, power and agricultural dams and other such projects that follow the guidelines set out by the Islamic Emirate.

The Islamic Emirate directs all its Mujahideen to help in the security of all national projects that are in the higher interest of Islam and the country.

Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

29/02/1438 Hijri Lunar

09/09/1395 Hijri Solar          29/11/2016 Gregorian

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

The successes of the Mujahideen – capturing large territories including dozens of district centers as well as capturing and surrendering thousands of regime soldiers – has broken the two-headed Kabul regime’s back and pushed them to the abyss.

Now the regime barely maintains its control in the confines of the provincial and district centers. The military and intelligence bodies of the regime are fragmented and uncoordinated. Soldiers are deserting their posts and positions. The regimes days are numbered and ill-omens litter their every initiative.

Political and military experts point to the disarray plaguing the regime, where governors and commanders are busy building their fiefdoms and the so-called President can’t even replace acting governors of provinces. Warlords and strongmen have carved their own personal governments; they maintain their own militias and prisons. They act according to their whims and openly derogate the semblance of governance and rule of law. The Parliament impeaches incompetent ministers but the so-called President breaks constitutional normality by submitting to the threats of strongmen and re-instating these incompetent ministers.

While the regime is too paralyzed to take concrete and constructive action they have however perfected the art of deceit and perception-building. Every now and then the government takes some steps accompanied with much fanfare so as to project its abilities and successes. One such incident was the recent kidnapping and rescue of a child in Farah province.

On the 22 of Aqrab media conglomerates affiliated with the regime published reports of a child who had been kidnapped by criminals and whose whereabouts remained unknown. Soon thereafter a video emerged that showed the child – Naveed – in captivity and begging for his life. This video understandably provoked much sympathy from all walks of life. Then a few days later the regime’s provincial government in Farah announced that the said child had been found and rescued. According to them the child was safely returned to the family and the perpetrators of this crime arrested. According to reliable sources it was subsequently revealed that among the kidnappers was the deputy-governor’s personal bodyguard. It has also being reported that this child was in fact found at the house of a high-serving provincial official.

The evidence so far suggests a strong correlation between the regime forces and this kidnapping of an innocent child. To a reasonable observer the evidence evinces a strong probability that some government officials are abetting criminals and the regime needs to take immediate action to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. The repeat of such incidence would raise serious questions regarding the collusion of government officials in such crimes either for personal profit or perhaps to actively orchestrate such crimes and rescues for garnishing the regime’s image.

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Post via Islamic Emirate

Ever since the two-head regime came into existence, they have achieved two major steps. Firstly they immediately signed the Bilateral Security Agreement, paving the way for constant and punitive bombardment that almost daily cause civilian losses.

Secondly the regime head – Ashraf Ghani – suspended all prisoner releases (political prisoners to be exact) that has effectively meant that political prisoners in Afghanistan are indefinitely incarcerated. Under this decree even prisoners who have served their court sentences are also being retained in their detention.

The infamous Bagram prison – which to a large degree was vacated and handed over to Afghans – has once again being filled with prisoners by the two-headed regime and is once more largely supervised by the foreigners.

Recently the regime’s Independent Commission for Human Rights reported that currently there are hundreds of prisoners in Bagram facing an unknown fate and approximately 150 children and minors are also held in this facility. This regime body admitted that this state of affairs violates human rights law.

Similarly media reports quote the Senate’s Representative for Pul e Charkhi prison adding that 800 prisoners in this facility are being held beyond their sentence, 440 are sentenced to execution, and a further 144 are inflicted with unknown illnesses.

The Senate’s Representative has remarked he wants the government to treat these prisoners according to the law. Currently thousands of prisoners across the country are kept in indefinite detention. The prisoners are not trialed but neither are they being released.

This state of ‘held beyond sentence’ is a breach of international human rights law and the regime can be subject to a writ of habeas corpus. Yet the regime violates its international obligations be keeping these prisoners indefinitely and the international community has turned a blind eye to this blatant violation.

We call upon international organizations to work for the release of those prisoners that have served their sentences and to campaign for bringing those responsible for these illegal detentions to justice.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

“Panel at press conference confirms that camp will continue, will do so cautiously in wake of Corps letter. Exercising first amendment”

(Image via Lakota Law Project)

Harold Frazier, Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe has released a letter to Col John W Henderson, US army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) dated, 25th November 2016 responding to threats to close areas at Standing Rock Native American Reservation. For several months now Sioux and other tribes have protested against the Dakota Access Pipeline, North Dakota, US. The correspondence draws attentions to concerns over the safety of protesters and asks the Army Corps and America to “reconsider their decision.”

The letter was posted on Twitter by Ruth Hopkins, award winning Dakota/Lakota Sioux writer for Indian Country Today. She stated,

“Obama apologists can go.My people are being beaten & bloodied under his watch, just for protecting water & grave sites.”

Referring to the letter she added,

“The ACOE letter is so one-sided. The violent confrontations they speak of were all perpetrated by DAPL & police. They also ignore treaty law.”

Background to Standing Rock protests

In April 2016, members of the Sioux tribe at the Standing Rock began to set up spiritual camps on the banks of the Missouri River to protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline also known as the Bakken pipeline.

There is mass opposition to this $3.7bn project, a 1,172-mile-long (1,886 km) development intended to carry oil underground. Protesters oppose construction with the route planned to cross under the Missouri river just north of Standing Rock. Energy Transfer Partners are in charge of the venture and activists have highlighted the threat of spills which could contaminate water sources and decimate sacred burial sites. Kelcy Warren, the chief executive of the company told Associated Press last week that they would not consider a different route.

Over recent months, the NO DAPL, “water protectors” who oppose the project have gained huge support from 300 Tribal nations and from the public, environmental groups and human rights activists around the world. They have sought to educate the world on the potentially disastrous consequences of building the pipeline through their land and have chosen a road of civil disobedience locking themselves themselves to heavy machinery in order to halt construction,

American Horse told Common Dreams, 

“I am here to protect the water for the children and all of the unborn, and to protect our ways of life….I came here to let them know that what they’re doing is wrong. This is nonviolent civil disobedience—and this is what it comes down to, and I’m here.”

There have also been allegations of heavy handedness from police strip searching women and spraying protesters with mace. The Guardian reported, “more than 1 million people have checked in on Facebook to the Standing Rock Indian reservation in response to a viral post claiming that doing so would help protect activists in North Dakota protesting against an oil pipeline from police surveillance.”

See following link,

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/31/north-dakota-access-pipeline-protest-mass-facebook-check-in

Water cannons fired on protesters in freezing temperatures putting them at risk of hypothermia

The situation came to a head recently resulting in escalating clashes between police and protesters. According to Democracy Now, “the state of North Dakota has approved $10 million to police the ongoing protest” and detailed the extent to which authorities are going to quell activists stating,

“Riot police with military-grade equipment have attacked the Native American protectors with pepper spray, tear gas, bean bag rounds, rubber bullets and sound cannons called LRADs—that’s a long-range acoustic device. Water protectors also report near-constant surveillance from police planes and helicopters. Over 400 people have been arrested during the ongoing protests, and many report being subjected to strip searches while in the Morton County jail in North Dakota.”

For more on this story read,

“Standing Rock Special: Dallas Goldtooth on Police Violence & Repression of Movement Against DAPL”

https://www.democracynow.org/2016/11/24/standing_rock_special_dallas_goldtooth_on

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that initially dismissed environmental concerns of protesters later indicated there would be “additional discussion and analysis” regarding the Dakota Access pipeline. However reports emerged that they plan to close the area where the protest camps are situated to “protect the general public from the violent confrontations between protesters and law enforcement officials that have occurred in this area,” see New York Times article,

Frazier, the chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe has written to Col Henderson saying that his letter “dangerously and profoundly misunderstands the basic function and status of a tribal government and its elected leaders.” He draws attention to the US constitution respecting the rights of protesters “to peacefully assemble in prayerful protest against the cultural and environmental atrocity that is the Dakota Access pipeline whilst defending the rights of Indigenous people.”

Frazier states, “perhaps the most terrifying aspect of your letter is your acknowledgement of the stark reality that the confrontation between our peaceful water protectors and law enforcement could result in death or serious injury, a fact demonstrated by the brutal attack on Sophia Wilansky by North Dakota police last week.” See full content of letter below,

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Chairman’s response to ACOE’s plan to evict No DAPL camps

Ruth Hopkins also tweeted,

The Water Protector Legal Collective goes on record condemning the ACOE Oceti Sakowin camp eviction letter. #NoDAPL

Water Protector Legal Collective/NLG formerly Red Owl Collective Press Release

For Immediate release:

The Water Protector Legal Collective, a National Lawyers Guild-initiated group of volunteer lawyers and legal workers dedicated to defending the rights of the Water Protectors, condemns the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ November 25, 2016, letter announcing that it would be closing the portion of Army Corps land currently occupied by the Oceti Sakowin Camp. This letter demonstrates either a stunning ignorance of the current state of affairs in North Dakota or an extreme disregard for the health and safety of the general public, or both.

The “violent confrontations” between “protestors” and law enforcement officers to which the Commander refers are only “confrontations” or “violent” insofar as Water Protectors peacefully assembled in prayer have been repeatedly assaulted by those public safety officials charged with their protection. The events over the past weeks have not been clashes. They have been the unlawful use of excessive force and arrests without probable cause in a vain attempt by local law enforcement to quell Native resistance to the pipeline. As hours of live-streamed videos have shown, the violence over the past months has been perpetrated by law enforcement and DAPL security against unarmed Water Protectors in blatant violation of their constitutional rights and treaty rights. It is even more shameful that the location of all this law enforcement violence, and the area claimed in the Corps’ letter, is land that was recognized as Lakota territory in the 1851 and 1868 Treaties of Fort Laramie.

In support of his decision, the District Commander cites the need for adequate access to “necessary emergency, medical, and fire response services” as well as “sustainable facilities to protect people from these conditions on this property.” Access to emergency, medical, and fire response services has been limited from the time that these camps were founded, as Morton County has made it clear that it only serves its non-indigenous population through its repeated refusal to provide requested or necessary services to Water Protectors. And Morton County has entirely cut off the camps from any emergency services for the past month through its blockade of Highway 1806 at the Back Water Bridge.

In fact, the State’s commitment to depriving the camps of emergency services is so absolute that it committed numerous civil rights and human rights violations to prevent Water Protectors from opening Highway 1806 to traffic once again—including maiming one young Water Protector with an explosive teargas blast grenade; shooting dozens of others with so-called “less lethal” munitions (potentially lethal when misused as they were here); and soaking hundreds of peaceful Water Protectors with water in sub-zero conditions, subjecting them to hypothermia or worse.

Moving Oceti Sakowin roughly 100 yards south, across the Cannonball River, will hardly improve access to Morton County’s emergency response services. Nor will such a minimal relocation do anything to mitigate Morton County’s escalating violence. At most, the District Commander’s proposed action will marginally shift the location of peaceful prayers from the Back Water Bridge to the Cannonball Bridge—and therefore nominally move the location of Morton County’s unconscionable treatment of its indigenous citizens. As Morton County’s aggressive responses to peaceful demonstrators throughout its boundaries demonstrate, it is not the location of Water Protector’s prayers that controls the egregiousness of Morton County’s response.

Most puzzlingly, the Commander’s letter expresses concern over ensuring that the residents of Oceti Sakowin have “sufficient facilities” to weather North Dakota’s harsh winters. Water protectors at Oceti Sakowin have worked for months to adequately prepare for the winter, investing substantial time and expense in the ambitious feat of winterizing the camp. Forcing the many people camped at Oceti Sakowin to move and re-winterize at short notice—in December no less—will jeopardize the safety of thousands of Water Protectors who would be otherwise prepared for the challenging conditions ahead.

The District Commander is absolutely correct in one crucial respect: something must be done to halt the ongoing human rights abuses at Standing Rock. But the District Commander’s proposed action—to invite additional police involvement against the Water Protectors—is not it. If the District Commander is truly concerned about the safety of the Water Protectors, he will ensure that the Dakota Access Pipeline is not constructed. So long as the Dakota Access Pipeline is being constructed, Water Protectors will continue to pray and demonstrate and otherwise participate in protected First Amendment activity. And, as Morton County has made clear, so long as Water Protectors pray and demonstrate, it will continue to perpetrate violence on this community. Finally, if the Dakota Access Pipeline is completed, the health and safety of all residents of this area—including North Dakota’s non-indigenous population—will be put at risk.

We trust that the Army Corps will reevaluate this decision and act in a manner that truly protects the public interest in North Dakota by upholding the First Amendment right to pray, assemble, and protest that is at the heart of democracy, and by making a final decision to not allow the Dakota Access Pipeline to cross the Missouri River. Regardless of the Army Corps’ decision, the WPLC will continue to take all appropriate legal action to defend the Water Protectors’ civil and human rights.

Brandy Toelupe, President, on behalf of Water Protector Legal Collective

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Links

“Standing Rock protest: hundreds clash with police over Dakota Access Pipeline”

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/21/standing-rock-protest-hundreds-clash-with-police-over-dakota-access-pipeline

“Dakota Access oil pipeline developer won’t consider reroute”

http://www.stl.news/dakota-access-oil-pipeline-developer-wont-consider-reroute/3620/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

The smoldering debris of a burned house in Warpait, a Muslim village in Rakhine state, is seen on Oct. 14.

(Ye Aung Thu/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images)

Media Release from Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)

“Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis Requires Action Now – Lives Are Being Lost”

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK is calling for urgent action from the international community to press the Myanmar government to lift all restrictions on humanitarian in Rakhine State. We are receiving alarming reports from the ground that people are slowly starving to death.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon should immediately fly to Burma to meet with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Commander-in-Chief of the military Min Aung Hlaing and demand the immediate lifting of all restrictions on aid.

At least 160,000 Rohingya are in desperate need of food, life-saving medical assistance and other forms of aid.

Since October 9^th the limited aid access that did reach Rohingya in Rakhine State has been almost entirely cut off, with humanitarian workers prevented from accessing vulnerable communities in need. On 6^th November, the World Food Programme (WFP) was allowed to provide aid to people in four affected villages, however many more villages in the area have yet to receive any support.

At least 35,000 Rohingya have been displaced by attacks since the Burmese Army and security forces started security operation on 9^th October. Humanitarian organizations have not been able to access these communities and undertake a full assessment of their needs. Many remain without food, clean water, healthcare and other essential services. We have reports from the ground that the Burmese Army has been destroying food supplies in Rohingya villages, and severe restrictions on movement mean that food is not widely available in markets.

Hundreds of Rohingya people have been injured in attacks by the Burmese Army and are not receiving medical aid. People are dying from injuries as they cannot receive medical aid – again because their movement is restricted.

Hunger is one of the factors forcing Rohingya people to attempt to flee to Bangladesh, but they are being turned back at the border.

The restrictions on aid to Rohingya people in Rakhine State were unacceptable even before the new crackdown began. Diplomatic efforts to open up humanitarian access must not simply be focused on returning to the previous unacceptable situation, which was already putting people at risk. There must be unrestricted access which is based on need.

“Unless urgent action is taken more Rohingya people will be dying from starvation than from bullets and bombs fired by the Burmese Army,” said Tun Khin, President of the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK. “The Burmese government and military will be responsible for a slow motion massacre using hunger and disease as their weapons. Our children, pregnant women and elderly are the most vulnerable to starvation. What kind of government deliberately targets children with starvation like this and how can the international community stand by and let this happen?”

For more information please contact Tun Khin +44 7888714866.

For more details please click on the below link and read the Detailed Briefing on BROUK Website “2016-Crackdown on Rohingya”

http://brouk.org.uk/Crackdown-on-Rohingya-2016

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Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

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