Talks and harassment can’t go together, Release political prisoners, revoke AFSPA: Mirwaiz to GoI

Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Friday said the government’s move to provide amnesty to first-time stone- pelters is “a cosmetic effort”.
Addressing a Friday congregation here at Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz said if the present government was serious “ there was a change of heart then it should release all the political prisoners without any further delay.”
Mirwaiz said revoking the FIRs against “so called first-time stone-pelters” is a “good looking good cosmetic effort”.
“Peace would return to Kashmir the day government of India decides to address the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the peoples’ aspirations.’’
He said Hurriyat leadership was eager to play their role in promoting atmosphere of peace. He called upon New Delhi to realize that Kashmir needs to be resolved keeping in view “historic background.”
Reacting to the announcement of Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, that FIRs against first-time stone-pelters will be withdrawn, Mirwaiz said “the youth hitting the streets is a reaction that emanates from the lingering Kashmir conflict.’’
“Until the conflict is addressed in accordance with aspirations of Kashmiris the cosmetic exercises won’t bear fruit.”
“If Government is serious and sincere and there is really a change of heart then all political prisoners should be immediately released, their freedom restored,” he said.
Mirwaiz, who is part of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) along with Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani and JKLF chief Yasin Malik, called for revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA). He termed these laws as “draconian.”
Reiterating his demand that all political prisoners should be released, Mirwaiz said that “talks and harassment can’t go together.” “Most of the political leaders in Tihar jail and other jails have fallen seriously ill, but they are not provided adequate treatment,” he said.
About the second visit of Interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma, Mirwaiz said “on one side you are calling for talks and on the other side the harassment policy through cordon and search operations (CASO) is being used as a new war tool.’’
“Kashmir has been turned into a battlefield. Human rights violations are high. Government forces have adopted policy to kill and target Kashmiri youth. Our youth are being killed under a well-executed conspiracy,” Mirwaiz said.
He said in “such circumstances there is no space for talks.”
“For any kind of serious and sincere dialogue there is a need for creation of conducive atmosphere,” he said.
Mirwaiz said the political leaders have been kept with criminals in jails. “The treatment meted out to them is not only a violation of Geneva convention of the rights and dignity of prisoners but even against basic human practices and ethics,” he said.