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| A view of the 9th March road block |
As was mentioned in an earlier report, those comrades who were brutally injured and arrested by the police in Kashmir were released on bail on March 10, but now they are facing long court trials. On March 8 a peaceful demonstration of the victims of the October 8, 2005 earthquake was attacked by the police and seven people were arrested including two supporters of the Marxist tendency, The Struggle.
The real factor that explains this brutality on the part of the police was the visit of the newly elected prime minister of Kashmir that was taking place. In the presence of the prime minister, the state and the ruling class could not tolerate any protest, especially one that could expose the failures of the state (in reality the failures of capitalism).
Therefore the demonstration was attacked and dispersed, although it was a peaceful protest and all that the protesters were seeking was to be heard by the prime minister for a few minutes so that they could put before him their demands and grievances.
However, this corrupt, degenerate and
failed state reacted senselessly with the intent of crushing violently any
voice raised against it. During the whole three-day visit of the prime minister
between March 7 and 9, there was a heavy police presence in the city of Rawalkot, as the
authorities called in more police forces from other districts to keep the situation
under control.
Despite all these tight security arrangements, a group of activists of the Poonch Action Front decided to call for a peaceful demonstration on March 8, but the authorities refused to arrange a meeting for them with the prime minister.
The protesters were dealt with brutally, many being injured. Some were arrested and two supporters of the Marxist tendency were falsely accused of serious crimes against the state and charged under articles 324, 337, 353, 186, 341, 147, 148 and 149 of the criminal procedure code. Comrade Amjad, who was severely injured, was falsely accused and charged of stabbing a police officer.
The news of the injuries and arrest of the
comrades spread rapidly across the country and internationally as well. On
March 9, demonstrations, processions and rallies were held in all the cities
and towns of Kashmir and also in some cities of Pakistan.
The most remarkable rally was held in Rawalkot itself. The clash of March 8 had already spread panic and fear in the area and it was expected that the police would use more repressive measures to stop the rally of March 9. In spite of the huge police presence while the prime minister was still in the city more than 200 young comrades gathered in the Degree College grounds of Rawalkot.
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| Comrade Amjad after his release from jail |
When the rally moved off and headed towards the main road of the city, the police tried to prevent the rally from entering the main road but the determined and militant youth tore down the police blockade and marched towards the city. The police were left helplessly following the rally. The rally completed a full round of the city and ended up near the area of the District Court where they blocked the main road for more than two hours.
The echo of revolutionary slogans and the militant mood of the rally broke down the atmosphere of fear and turned all the anger of the masses against the ruling class and state oppression. Thousands of people poured into the road and expressed their sympathy with the participants of the rally.
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| After the release |
The speaker condemned the use of force against a peaceful procession and demanded an urgent release of the imprisoned protesters. They also criticized and exposed the repressive and reactionary role of the state, something which was largely appreciated by the masses. Among the speakers were comrade Rizwan Azad, district president of the PSF (People's Student Front), comrade Zahir Khaliq of the NSF, Abid Hussain Abid, Azeem Khan and comrade Raja Ijaz of the PPP.
The immediate national and international mobilisation forced the state to release the comrades on bail. Had it not been for these protests, and above all the protest messages we received internationally, it is quite possible that the period of imprisonment would have been long and hard.
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| Comrade Sohail just coming out of jail |
A group of 50 comrades was warmly welcomed and received when the comrades were released and again they marched through the city, chanting revolutionary slogans and vowed to continue their struggle till the socialist victory.
In this attack by the state it was the Marxists who were mainly targeted, which indicates that state is particularly concerned about Marxists in Kashmir. This attack is also an indication of the growing forces of the Marxists in Kashmir, which although in its very initial stages, is seen as a threat to the state.
But the accidental and dramatic events of these three days and the attacks of the state against the Marxists, also exposes the internal weakness and fear of the state, which is the clear expression of the terminally ill and decaying capitalist system on a world scale. As Marx said, sometimes the whip of the counter-revolution is necessary to push the revolution forward.Â
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| The comrades received with slogans after their release |
In the same way the attack of the state strengthens the Marxist tendency. The angry and militant mood seen on the March 9 rally had been growing for some time. The comrades were provoked by this attack and now these feelings of anger and hatred towards state have been transformed into renewed strength and determination, and this is being harnessed in the preparation of the annual conference of The Struggle tendency.
Long live proletarian internationalism!
Long live the world socialist revolution!
See also:
- State repression in Kashmir continues amid mass rallies (March 9, 2007)
- State repression against workers and youth in Kashmir (March 8, 2007)