Defense all across the map in florida georgia and iowa hes been campaigning those are all states that he should have handily in his column by now but National Polls show him behind across the u. S. The latest poll i saw said 12 Percentage Points behind joe biden and hes also behind in key battleground states those include michigan in wisconsin the 2 states that hes going to now so he has been aggressive there speaking very much like hes on the steroids that he was on just days ago when he tested positive for the coronavirus standing in front of the air force one showing people that hes back. And womens marches have been taking place across the u. S. Against President Trump theyre protesting against respect for Supreme Court justice namely Connie Barrett if confirmed she would replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg who died last month an arms embargo imposed on iran 13 years ago has expired it was lifted us part of the 2050 nuclear deal with world powers and despite strong opposition from the u. S. In lebanon protests as of march to mark a year since the start of mass antigovernment demonstrations calling for a complete overhaul of the political system and Prime Minister just into our day and has won the biggest victory in new Zealand Politics in decades had a neighbor on a secured a major majority of seats in parliament in a vote that was delayed by a month because of the coronavirus government has been praised for its handling of the pandemic which has killed 25. 00 people in a population of 5000000. Those are the headlines as always as more news on aljazeera on our website at aljazeera dot com coming up next year the listening posts and bob matson will be with you at the top of the hour to stay with us. With every. One here since august 7th to work on the clock. On. The. Rock. 3 was. Done. Hello im Richard Gilbert and youre watching a special edition of the listening post kashmir is a merger slowly from the worlds longest most comprehensive internet block or one that lasted nearly a year. It was imposed on august 5th of 2019 that was the day in a render modis government in new delhi changed the rules on the way the indian controlled part of the region is governed instantly the 9 jamu and kashmir a degree of independence that was negotiated more than 70 years ago in 1970 having revoked that part of the constitution motive then placed an already militarized region under a communications blockade kashmir is disputed territory the countries involved India Pakistan and china are all Nuclear Powers each comes armed with its own narrative that doesnt match the way many kashmiris see themselves on this program were focusing on the indian administered part of kashmir later in the show well hear from 3 Kashmiri Journalists on the challenges of reporting with their communications curtailed 1st though the background story on a region thats been contested on the ground and in the news media ever since indias independence 7 decades ago. History change. And fires governments and ideology. But never changes is geography. The geographical reality for the people of kashmir is that the territory they live in is in dispute and unlike any other geopolitical flashpoint on the planet the main antagonists involved India Pakistan and china which administers part of the region all happen to be nuclear power. You have to understand that stands between 3 Nuclear States all of them lay claim to part and in a word which is very uncertain that you know very precarious position with the german history is concerned if we try and do really x. Rayed down to the very base of what is happening when india and pakistan speak about it theyre both functioning from the philosopher limited to read this forest of possession and liberation so both of them have one thing that was asked and also in the name of liberation dunking still fish movies that have made their sufferings worse there is no not a tip of push me it is only to contesting sites and when we say that there are only 2 can distil know what it is essentially talking about the 947. 00 history of the partition of india. 72 years after that partition on august 5th 2019 the government in new delhi fundamentally changed the relationship between kashmir and india it revoked what is known as article 370. 00 that gave kashmir its special status. You want to understand the significance the change had on the lives of kashmiris one must consider the history. When the partition occur just as the sub continent gained its independence from britain the ruler of the Princely State known as Jammu And Kashmir maharajah hurry singh had a decision to make he was handed most of his subjects were muslims he was trying to play india and pakistan off against each other to preserve Jammu And Kashmir sc independence just months after the british pulled out when the region was invaded by muslim fighters from pakistan he chose to exceed his territory too in the the condition he demanded was the genuine kashmir be accorded a special status including autonomy on key issues such as citizenship and Property Rights that formed the bedrock of the relationship between the indian state and kashmiris in general in kashmir that are so many versions of history depending on where you begin to begin history hundreds of years ago you begin history in 1947 when the hindu king decided to sign the letter of accession towards india im not to pakistan to begin history when the 1st Prime Minister theyre all out there you went to the United Nations and said this is an international dispute now over the course of these different events i think that formulated the sense of job one because for years existence has also come a sense of grievance that every promise that was given at these most important points in history has in fact been overturned india broke every promise pakistan broke every promise these ridges in history are essentially defined in meaning additives by that. One kashmir acceded to india in 1947 it did so without consulting its citizens big promises. A referendum came to nothing pakistan has always called that expression fraudulent refusing to accept its legality pakistan and india have since fought 3 wars over kashmir in 19471965 again in 1999 that last war took place in the region of cargo it was the 1st Armed Conflict ever fought between Nuclear Powers it lasted just 2 and a half months but it changed. Indias media sector was booming dozens of new 24 hour news channels were on the air competing for. The order. To been out ok then also what about a hoodie but with god given for the the negative genes because it was for the 1st time that it was brought to the living rooms of people who thought that through that the research that to use the. People in this country to look at the screen was what i would. Argue largely comes when at least quest was the in india but this nonsense to get media types in that way. And we still see the legacy of some of that in a lot. Of them out of the believe ahmed backs when there were fears of India Pakistan war the hyper nationalism that is still on the t. V. Studio journalists in combat fatigues and speaking in very aggressive guy was about confronting the enemy that sort of thing is is is the legacy of back. One chapter of kashmir is history that for years went under reported began a decade before the cargill war the mass forced exodus of the regions hindu minority the Kashmiri Pandits starting in 1990. Separatist movements some prone to violence many backed by pakistan were on the rise attacking india and. Forces and Kashmiri Pandits pundits still speak of the threats they heard from mosques delivered over loudspeakers on january 4th 1990 a kashmiri newspaper published a press release from an Islamic Militant group the Hizbul Mujahideen advising pundits to leave panic set in within 2 years of the 75000 pundits families in kashmir more than 70000 fled today 3 decades later only about 800 such families remain what happened afterwards is more tragic than the exile its the story of course many pundits was relegated to the margins because for the media here it was a set of people should be muslims who were brutalized by the indian state but at the same time they forgot the fact that the same type of people had brutalized another set of people happened because many pundits and this is. Over the years the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits has grown into a potent issue for hindu nationalists who now get a disproportionate amount of airtime on indian news channels and use the pundit issue to justify the governments policies on genuine kashmir. I dont know that its the officials of the government of india that you know whatever we do do good muslims is legitimized because of what has happened because weve done. But certainly adds witness you know its socalled good dates on television where its really hundreds referred this as an argument for or so and then just my thing that revenge in a way for gods sake do not use our story as a as a as a military weapon one studio being does not have to exist at the cost of 1. 00 of the stories all these stories of being have a right to exist. Could look at the visuals that are being on in dundee which. On the afternoon of august 5 in the article 270 was a few Kashmiri Pandits head and the group in suites etc. They have a right to do that because they have a stake in the story but that does not mean that theyre happy that course midis back home facing an unprecedented situation. So that the picture of the scores of competing little its way and the reason histories of the different communities are only fitted against each other and it doesnt result in justice for anyone but its like useful for political profit for an excellent list committed by the bad east taking the bull shit by clearly now with every passing day we see on and under the fascist thing. That is the political reality that is indeed under the beach in the guinness capable context of the kashmir issue today. In august of 2019 when the Modi Government unilaterally eliminated kashmirs autonomy it had to alter the constitution to do it revoked what is known as article 37. 00 that gave kashmir its special status. To render modi is making good on the election the legislation was rushed through parliament troops poured into the region elected leaders in kashmir were placed under house arrest and communications were cut off for the most part they still are doesnt matter whether its been the congress or be a part of the agenda of the party at the helm of the power of every means and the more do be sure what has happened in the context of the obligation of article to 70 on all this fight is the rubicon has been crossed and that Political Party which is the be anything but existence over this issue alone good existence is found big in the idea that india has to be one nation one side. One is going to do sion and jehmu English Media have a separate constitution separate flag and separate law therefore it was historic from that perspective now jim or english medium is legally in degraded with the rest of the states and union did trees in the union or the kind of false sweeping measures the government whether it came to stopping the internet or this of all the top leadership pete shut down the political process inside of the government was no longer going to me any kind of adjustment if you like for what was originally a special state. The Modi Government justifies the communications lockdown as the most effective way to disrupt the operations of extremist groups it caused terrorists new delhi has frequently used fighting extremism as a basis for blockades from 2012 to 2018 the internet was shut down 125. 00 times in Jammu And Kashmir those blockages would typically end in a day or 2 this one has lasted more than a year the internet has gone from being completely blacked out for the 1st 5 months to moving in slow motion since with 2 g. Speeds that seem to take forever having relied on constitutional lawyers to rewrite the law of the land men in uniform to patrol the streets of kashmir it. Experts to carefully limit communications there. And indian news channels to spread the message in the rest of the country the b j p has both shaped this debate and limited it severely in the weeks that followed the august 5th decision i think it is safe to say no Television Channel actually challenge the governments version that is an overwhelming on. I believe a credential right. At the park but in our life stopped. Before our very eyes. The integration of Jammu And Kashmir has actually up in fact most of them not only in the door stood up to what the visuals they showed the debates they held seemed to indicate that nobody wanted to challenge the governments decision if there were to be a one hour just a one hour program on an indian super mainstream channel at primetime that actually lays just to the bad facts of the chemise history political dispute just even the bare facts even something as tiny as a drop in the ocean is that would make a Significant Impact and they do not know because its not on their t. V. Its not in their papers you just kind of keep on with that sanctioned ignorance enforced silence and perpetuate your own narrative the narrative. Is very dark and that is listen we just want to be left alone to live as we would like to live and that we were told at one point that we would be asked as to what we would like for our future things have not happened that is because of which has been ignored completely then you say that there is no question the negative are you nor do lying are you not who are drinking people because in the last 30 years youve been saying dark meat is one thing independence how did this point of view become saw mainstream if you were not given the space to speak what you wanted but the truth is that he alone is not at the there are a schmidt pundits there arent there should be 6 there are many muslims who swear by india are they not wish me to say i am an arbiter. The garden state of course really is critical because the media. Is redefining it said whether it is going to be a secular democracy or the way that it is going to be a religious republic or a majority they View Community and i think the significance of that is that it has huge implications for a very good for me and most importantly the people of kashmir. Denied their normal means of communication Kashmiri Journalists have had to find new ways to do the job consider what theyre up against checkpoints roadblocks restrictions on movement and even if they are able to Research Stories get to sources have information verified and produce a report how do they get it out some reporters have been smuggling news content out on her drives others are forced to queue up at a state run Media Facilitation Center to upload stories knowing that they run the risk of government surveillance harassment and intimidation of journalists is far too common daring to question the official line can land them in a Police Interrogation room the end result is selfcensorship a sanitized local media ill equipped to report what this new reality means for citizens there weve spoken with 3 local journalists on the work that they do to make sure that the kashmiri narrative isnt completely blacked out. There was already. Logged on here since august 5th and then when this quarter not came it was. Logged on within a log. Completely silent majority of the population. Pushed behind in what the government is trying to do it. Population that we are in control of your life. What changed after august 5 is the level of intimidation it was for the 1st time that we use has taken over the control of journalism in journalistic bushmeat and to ensure that more journalists. From the government never do and no journalist tries to do in going to be an injustice. As a photojournalist it was very harsh it was very difficult like you know working in kashmir the past many years i have covered different uprisings different movements different for tests i have covered the funerals of militants. But since 5th august what happened it was ordered to be that a very different thing. There were like huge number of Indian Forces everywhere on the road in the cities in the alleys or everywhere you know around kashmir it had been very difficult to even like move because we were being stopped at many places. In kashmir there was already a military lockdown here but since the pandemic happened we had again a lot done for the war it was it was a lot down for the 1st time but for me for us in the kashmir for people here i could see it has been happening for a year even if i shoot stories im not able to communicate to my editors on time im not able to you know access the high Speed Internet at my home i go to my friends place every day i have to travel 8 kilometers and kilometers just to play file or check my email so its like its thats a very sad situation traveling distances to just you know send a single story as a freelancer i also find it very difficult like working in kashmir just because i saw many of my colleagues people working as a journalist or writer authors they were being summoned for the stories they have done so it also has an impact on my life as well personally because i also somehow feel scared of. What happens is that you do selfcensorship im not likely able to promote openly talk about things that are happening in kashmir just because. You know i also care that if today or some of my colleagues are being called tomorrow they might call me. But i think it was peak of covert it was april 19th sunday so i received a call from cyber police that im required in their office 1st i was asked to sit in the cyber police then i was taken to gargle which is meant for hardcore militants so it was there i was questioned so one can understand the kind of intimidation you get at a place which is meant for hardcore militants i was asked by the suicide of police regarding a story which was published about a family which clean. They are being allowed to collect the body of a suspected militant who they cleaned me have been their son i based my report on the it because on the interviews which i had of the families but the illustrations said they never allowed the families collect the bodies so they lied the dispute the fact remains that i did try to get in touch with the Deputy Commissioner on many dark forms but he did not reply i dont think it was about the story they were really unhappy with the kind of journalism ive been doing since august 5 not just me other colleagues also anyone who has done in could mean in journalism the state has ensured that either someone or there is indeed an intimidation really what took them a reputed author. Was booked under you appear and act which is usually a slap against hard code militants then you saw a young budding photojournalist mustards and she was also slap. By you would be which otherwise would be slapped on someone who has been into militancy for many many years i also faced a case under section 505 for inciting people i think they chose these cases deliberately they wanted to ensure that every afraid of journalism gets this message that if you deviate from the government negative if you try to bring reality to the fore you will physics you know you are not sure if you do work around the world if you will be home tomorrow or in a Police Station that is the kind of failed me. As a journalist i think im equally worried because of the in that of what has happened on the future of media the media is unable to perform in the way it should people for me me has been one of the most turbulent period ever and still we havent heard enough stories the blockade itself is a way of intimidating the journalists because when you take away the Days Technology internet telephones these are not privileges these are vital those that are used by journalists these days and to take away their tools itself is intimidating and it is instead a sense of fear in their minds its. Cause its not that. The entire media has been silenced there are people who are doing their work. Very bravely very courageously but what is disturbing is that it is the local media which is being squeezed more which is being controlled more and why this is something that is being consciously done by the government whether it is by armed with doing them whether it is by stopping that advertisement and thats a fine just leave being done because local media becomes a vital tool for why the light is light farm for the local people empowering them and theyre providing them wise giving them black form giving their issues and problems of life and fish me times has always tried to perform the sign of a job to be frank i think the meantime ability has been hampered even before all the processes in the making for many many years. Im not sure whether we can continue the way we are continuing im not even sure whether we can manage to keep alive the institution which is 65 years old but what keeps me going is that mortal behind the organized listen to a board bill values and the ethics of journalism to become a wife of the wife left to fight for a liberal democracy i mean at the end of the day we only have 2 choices one is completely set and the other is you fight a bag so i to the letter. Its been more than a year now since kashmiris officially lost what autonomy they had and then saw their media slowly suffered. News organizations are supposed to give voice to the voiceless when they are effectively silenced so are the populations they cover where does that leave javelin kashmir at the mercy of the Modi Government in a country that still likes to brand itself the Worlds Largest democracy youve been watching a special edition of our program on the competing narratives and the media stranglehold in kashmir well see you next time here at the missing. People of argentina have been marginalized and broken devoted culture for generation. Using 21st century tools one mother finds to reconnect to think that it. Is a culture with the next generation. You find a latin america discovers new filmmaking talent from around the globe. Message for my daughter. I made new despair and destruction azerbaijan and armenia agreed to a 2nd ceasefire week after a russian brokered truce unraveled. Im about the same this is all to see a live from doha also coming out. 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