Host intro: With increasing tensions in Kashmir where Indian military presence, according to Samaa News, “has been implicated in numerous inhumane and unethical actions in Kashmir”. Kashmiris are struggling with blockades that forces them to be contained with the ongoing violence. Demonstrators took it to the streets of the United Nations to protest in the pouring rain for the liberation of Kashmir from Indian forces. Madina Amber spoke to the organizers of the rally about their goals for their protest movement.
Ambi: transitions to pouring rain and faded chanting to a quite indoor setting, fade down as track begins
Track: I’m here with Mohammed Asaad Raza Saifi, coordinator of the Sufi Peace Forum and the Raza Foundation, inside his Brooklyn apartment sitting warm and comfortably scrolling through the pictures on his phone of the rally.
Act: Mohammed: It’s an opportunity to have like-minded people together for the cause of greater good for society, for the world and for humanity.
Track: He says standing in front of the United Nations was a unique experience.
Act: Mohammed: people like to call it the headquarters for the world. So it’s a very symbolic place where people for decades have been protesting and voicing their concerns and their issues for various reasons.
Track: He says he saw the rain as another symbol.
Act: Mohammed: so I mean for us what is rain going to do? Rain is not a bit of harm to us compared to the things those people are going through. So it also in a way it’s kind of a kind of our sympathies with them to show that we’re willing to do the most we can for them.
AMBI: sounds of chanting and rain faded down as track begins
Track: In the midst of the rain, demonstrators were huddled together passing hot tea to each other. Under an umbrella held by Mohammed also stood Dr. Pir Syed Muhammad Ali Raza Bukhari. Dr. Bukhari is Parliamentarian of Azad Kashmir and Chairman of the Sufi Peace Forum and the Raza Foundation. Later, I was able to speak with him personally inside Mohammed’s home.
Act: Dr. Bukhari: So it was a great day and it was really amazing experience that our part of the rally, it was powerful experience. And witnessing the collective efforts to raise voices in the support of justice and human rights.
Track: he mentions how his position as a parliamentary leader plays a role.
Act: Dr. Bukhari: So being a Kashmiri parliamentarian my presence at, uh, UN headquarters to bring global attention to the plight of the people of Jammu Kashmir because they’re struggling for their, uh, fundamental right, right to self-determination. …. and their demand is that United Nations should play its role and UN should implement its, uh, security consult resolution on Kashmir.
Track: Kashmir is divided into regions where Azad Kashmir being influenced by Pakistan and Jammu Kashmir being under Indian influence. For over seven decades after the independence of the Indo-Pak region there has been ongoing tensions over who should be able to control what. And the people that are occupied are struggling to speak up as India’s government has placed restrictions on internet and media services. “The Indian government’s alleged involvement in widespread killings and ethnic cleansing of innocent Kashmiris has raised international concerns” (Samaa).
Act: Mohammed: Dr. Bukhari’s background is very interesting too…I was told that he’s ancestry has been full for 300 years in that region.So working with him there’s a lot of insight a lot of in different ways with his cultural on the ground and there’s a lot of insight on how day-to-day life is on both sides of Kashmir.
Track: Dr. Bukhari, alongside Mohammad, talked about working with a young person like him.
Act: Dr. Bukhari: Well, having, you know, a young individual like Mohammed Asaad Raza at the demonstration adds a refreshing perspective and energy to the cause…being a Kashmiri is our duty that we should join this sort of events, but… I’m grateful to the friends of Kashmir to the, uh, youngsters because…it’s really great thing because they’re supporting and they’re raising their voices in the support of, uh, humanity.
Track: The rally was made up of over 50 people representing from New York to Maryland and as far as overseas back to Kashmir. Organizations such as the Sufi Peace Forum represented the voice of silenced Kashmiris for the cause of freedom from oppression and through their charity, the Raza Foundation, aimed to help raise funds to help those who are impacted from the conflict.
Act: Mohammed: He’s been very vocal at a very very young age back to my point of the youth being involved in such matters that at a young age…the youth is the future and especially in this day of age…it’s pretty much at your fingertips… so as the younger generations come by and start to understand this cause it will obviously have a more steadier and heavier impact on causes as to for example in Kashmir issue also any causes that are similar to it.
Track: Dr. Bukhari chimes in
Act: Dr. Bukhari: Because this issue of Kashmir is not just a political issue, but a humanitarian issue…. So it’s a really great thing that we have to come together as a, a united community, and we have to raise our voices for the peace. So in this way, we can create a peaceful world for all.
Act: Mohammed: So it’s very important that people should care. And support a cause like this and it’s not just Kashmir it could be a Palestinian issue or it could be any other issue throughout the world that has the same problem where people are being oppressed. So the whole purpose of this cause and why people should care for it is to fight oppression.
Track: Dr. Bukhari and Mohammed will continue to look forward in the future for other events to attend to assist with humanitarian work of those living in oppressed circumstances. For Baruch College, I’m Madina Amber.