The undying urge

THE ruthless suppression that the people of Kashmir have been going through during the past 60 years of forcible occupation of their land by the Indian forces has not dampened their urge for freedom. In the process, they have lost about 800,000 of their kith and kin, killed, tortured, or simply whisked away to end up in mass graves. On Friday, at least 200,000, according to an official source, and double the number in the eyes of the organisers, came out in the streets of Srinagar in what was termed as the freedom rally. The state capital had witnessed a huge crowd last Monday as well, demanding the right of self-determination. The rallies have been led by respectable and committed Kashmiri leaders of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference and not by those whom New Delhi regards as terrorists.