Aasia Jeelani
“Unheard Voices”: heard!
The Netherlands, 20th April 2005
Dear Friends at JKCCS and KWIPD in Srinagar,
Hello,
As you know how much I wanted to be with all of you today but due to
known circumstance it was not possible at all. So, from here today, I send you
the courage to bear the memories of the last April 20th. It is a
personal lost for me that I can not be with you in Srinagar now but I am sure
that this temporary physical absence will only add more to my moral presence in
voicing the “unheard voices from Kashmir”, beyond today.
Today is the day when just a year ago, another precious life was added
to the list of those countless people who gave their lives for the cause of “Democracy
and Freedom of Speech” through the ages throughout the world. The fact,
that Aasia lost her life during monitoring an electoral process on
the very Election Day in a mine blast shows, not only the
determination of the Kashmiri women to the struggle of self-determination of
their people alone but also exposes the realities of the ruthless
living-situation in Kashmir. The situation under which an act of exercising
the basic human rights by people simply could mean to involve the risks to
their lives, bodies and the minds as well.
Aasia
was an extra-ordinary woman. She is a champion of democratic rights of
people in conflict zones of our less conflicting world. Aasia dedicated her life to the cause of voicing the
voice of unheard torture and sufferings of Kashmiri women. For me her unfortunate, untimely and unacceptable
death will surely contribute to the efforts of promoting the human rights of
women nationally and internationally greatly.
I believe that the issue of unheard voices of women in Kashmir is
no more a concern for the people in Kashmir only. I am sure that these voices
will be heard but also answered back at loud by the international community of
the human rights activists, women’s rights advocates and the peace
organizations, some time soon in future.
With regards,
Sabra
Bano/Director
Gender
Concerns International
Site: www.genderconcerns.nl
E-mail: Sbano@genderconcerns.nl.
Phone:
0252-682025. Fax: 0252-680730. Address: P.O. Box 190, 2150 AD Nieuw Vennep, The
Netherlands