J&K's Article 370 scrapped, Amnesty International India forecasts 'inflaming of tensions'

International Human Rights organisation Amnesty International on Monday said that revoking special status of Jammu and Kashmir is likely to inflame tensions, and joined leaders like Mehbooba Mufti in fearmongering over the same.

The reaction comes after Home Minister Amit Shah gave a statement in the Rajya Sabha on Jammu and Kashmir proposing that the Article 370 be abrogated. Shah also moved a proposal in the Rajya Sabha to bifurcate Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories - Ladakh and J&K.

READ | J&K, Ladakh Bifurcated As Union Territories: Here Is What It Means

Releasing a statement on their portal, Amnesty International India said, "Important decisions about J&K are being decided by the Parliament without absolutely any consultation with the people." They further wrote that the revocation of Article 370 might 'cause unrest and wide-scale protests' in Jammu and Kashmir.

The letter concluded with Amnesty International echoing Pakistan in saying: "An end to the abuses in J&K cannot come without the involvement of its people."

Here's the full statement -

The unilateral decision of the Government of India to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) under the Constitution of India without consulting J&K stakeholders and amidst a complete clampdown on civil liberties and communications blackout is likely to inflame prevailing tensions, alienate the people in the state and increase the risk of further human rights violations, said Amnesty International India today.

“What J&K has been witnessing over the last few days – the additional deployment of thousands of security forces, a blanket blockade of telephone and internet services, restrictions on peaceful assembly – has already pushed the people of J&K to the edge. To make matters worse, key political stakeholders have been placed under house arrest. Important decisions about J&K are being decided by the Parliament without absolutely any consultation with the people,” said Aakar Patel, Head of Amnesty International India.

The Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which was proposed to be scrapped by the Government of India guarantees special autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and gives independence over matters excluding foreign affairs, defence and communication. The article was seen as an essential provision to maintain the democratic relationship between India and Jammu & Kashmir. The central government has also proposed to break up the state in two union territories, which will give it an enhanced role in governance.

Former chief ministers, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have claimed that they are detained and placed under house arrest. Mehbooba Mufti, who was the first woman Chief Minister until the President’s Rule was imposed in the state in June 2018 tweeted “Already under house arrest & not allowed to have visitors either. Not sure how long I’ll be able to communicate. Is this the India we acceded to?” While Omar Abdullah in his official statement, said, “Those of us who gave democratic voice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, are incarcerated as lakhs of armed security personnel have been put on the ground.”

The revocation of Article 370 is expected to cause unrest and wide scale protests in the state. So far, the government’s response to dealing with protests in the state has been heavy-handed and have led to gross human rights violations such as blinding, killing and traumatizing people over the past few years. Amnesty International India, in its earlier briefing titled ‘Losing Sight in Kashmir: The Impact of Pellet Firing Shotguns’ had documented and highlighted the use of pellet guns and other weapons in defiance of international human rights standards. While the authorities have the right to maintain public order, they must respect the right of the people to protest peacefully.

Blanket and indefinite suspensions of telecommunications services in J&K are also not in line with international human rights standards. These shutdowns affect the ability of people in Kashmir to seek, receive, and impart information, which is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression. These blackouts also impede the ability of friends and relatives to reach out and inform about their safety further increasing tensions and feelings of insecurity.

“An end to the abuses in J&K cannot come without the involvement of its people,” said Aakar Patel.

The Home Minister said that he proposed that the Modi government under the advisement of the President recommends the revocation of Article 370. He said that the Centre has brought four proposals pertaining to the state to the Parliament. 

READ | J&K's Article 370 To Go: Panicky Pakistan Issues Desperate Statement, Thinks It Has A Say

He further proposed that the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be with a legislature while Ladakh would be without. The statement read, "Further, keeping in view the prevailing internal security situation, fuelled by cross border terrorism in the existing state of Jammu and Kashmir, a separate Union Territory for Jammu and Kashmir is being created. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be with the legislature."

The statement of Amnesty International slamming the government over the move is not without similar precedent. Amnesty had in February been criticised for maintaining its silence on the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF Jawans were martyred, only breaking it to allege that the government had done little to stop intimidation of Kashmiris in other parts of India in the wake of the attack.