Kashmir: JKNSF protests against ERRA one year after the earthquake

The Jammu Kashmir National Students' Federation (the JKNSF), a Marxist organization of students in Kashmir, organized a protest against the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA) for its brutal policies towards the people affected by last years' earthquake.

The largest demonstration was in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani-held Kashmir. Hundreds of JKNSF activists, students and young people came out of the Post-graduate College in Muzaffarabad in a huge procession. Demonstrators were holding red flags and were chanting slogans for the emancipation of the working class and against the ERRA.

After passing along Bank Road, the procession became a mass meeting in Aziz Chowk. JKNSF Vice President, Haider Kazmi, the leader of the post-graduate college students, Sajjad Ahmed, Shujjat Hussain, Zahoor Mughal, Sarfraz Mughal, Rashid Gillani, Saqlain Kazmi and other speakers addressed the meeting. They explained that the ERRA brutally oppresses the people of Kashmir and that the people affected by the earthquake are being ridiculed in the name of rehabilitation. They also demanded the restoration of the rights of students. The speakers announced that students and workers in Kashmir were demonstrating in all seven districts of the country against the ERRA.

Another big demonstration was held in Rawalakot. Demonstrators holding red flags came out to streets with JKNSF president, Adil Khan. After marching around the city a mass meeting was held at Kutchehri Chowk. Adil Khan, Ajmal Rasheed, Ghaffar Latif, Zad Hussain, Farroq Nauman and other speakers explained that one year after the earthquake the government was still making promises and delivering nothing. The rulers of the country have collected funds from all over the world and are now using those funds for their own entertainment. The harsh winter of Kashmir is fast approaching, however the people affected by the earthquake are still homeless. The speakers demanded the following:

• All funds should be dispensed as soon as possible and all the affected people should be provided with shelter before the winter.
• That ERRA should be abolished and committees comprised of local people should do the work of rehabilitation.
• New hospitals with modern equipment should be built immediately.
• Committees comprised of teachers and parents should build schools and colleges.
• Students should be provided with all books free of cost.
• Transport and accommodation should be provided to all students or an allowance for these facilities should be provided.
• The unemployed should be given an unemployment allowance of 5000 rupees per month.
• The homeless should be given 10,000 rupees allowance for rent.
• Geological reports of all areas should be made public.
• People living in dangerous areas should be given homes in safe areas.
• Utility bills should be abolished
• The price of cement, iron and other construction materials should be reduced to half.
• A 25% earthquake tax should be implemented on the profits of all multinational companies.
• Wages should be linked to inflation and the minimum salary should be 7,500 rupees.
• All universities and colleges should be completed as soon as possible.

The students warned the rulers that if the above demands were ignored then they would launch a movement of workers and students against the government. A rally was also held out in memory of the people that died in the earthquake.