Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

nytimes.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 304 posts

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#41

Post by hos234 »

40acres wrote: post #7

At what point is a region so distinct from the state in which it resides that the best course of action would be secession? When I read the news I see conflicts in integration every where: Hong Kong, Kashmir, Kurdish Syria / Turkey. My general feeling is that due to a number of factors (imperialism, war, etc.) that our current global map just doesn't reflect the reality of international relations, unfortunately borde…

Well India has 20-30 odd states that are each, as distinct as countries in Europe. So answers to your questions lie in understanding how they have stayed integrated inspite of all the differences.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#42

Post by owaislone »

tlb wrote: post #17
adpirz wrote: post #10

Am Kashmiri. Was born there. Have family there. My parents were born and raised there. This is scary even for a region marked by persistent curfews, border clashes between two nuclear powers, and an ongoing series of conflicts between insurgents and the Indian Army. We have extended family from whom we haven’t heard any news since this went into effect. It’s all just anxious waiting. What could possibly be the endgam…

What's the status of other forms of communication, like postal mail or shortwave radio?

Mail has been banned as well. Cable TV was banned according to initial reports but recent reports say cable TV is now allowed. No idea about radio stations.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#43

Post by kobiguru »

owaislone wrote: post #18
kobiguru wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Preventative measures are necessary for the kind of thing it can spark. The change is not like demonetisation rather a well thought and long-held demand of the present government. It has been there in the election manifesto since they started publishing election manifesto. The new york times is entitled to its view on how India's elected government ought to run the country but that does not mean the government is goi…

> I am not sure if this will work or not but what I am sure is that the previous status quo did not work. Moreover, how long would the entire state's ambition be held hostage because of an intolerant minority in four districts in the Kashmir valley? As long as a peaceful referendum is not held that lets the people of the region decide their own future?

To know more about the referendum read this -- See what Para 5 says.

https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1949v06/d1...

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#44

Post by owaislone »

kobiguru wrote: post #13
statguy wrote: post #2

I think it is pretty clear that the Indian Government rushed into this because this is what their Hindu-nationalistic base wants - subdue the only Muslim Indian majority state. However, just like their ill-fated demonetization policy from 2016, they haven't given a whole lot of thought to what happens the day after. How long will they keep these restrictions? How far are they prepared to go if there is a mass uprisin…

Preventative measures are necessary for the kind of thing it can spark. The change is not like demonetisation rather a well thought and long-held demand of the present government. It has been there in the election manifesto since they started publishing election manifesto. The new york times is entitled to its view on how India's elected government ought to run the country but that does not mean the government is goi…

> Preventative measures are necessary for the kind of thing it can spark.

To prevent what exactly? Political dissent?

Why can't people in Kashmir right now talk to each other over phone? Why can't they call their loved ones outside the region? Why isn't anyone else allowed to contact them? Why are lawyers, professors and activists being jailed? Why are some people not being allowed to leave the country? Why can't Indian politicians visit the region without being detained and sent back?

What exactly is all this preventing?

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#45

Post by SoylentOrange »

reaperducer wrote: post #23

Shopkeepers said that vital supplies like insulin and baby food, which they typically ordered online, were running out. Cash was scarce, as metal shutters covered the doors and windows of banks and A.T.M.s, which relied on the internet for every transaction. Doctors said they could not communicate with their patients. While nobody expects a war in their city, it's yet another example of why none of us should rely on…

While I understand where you’re coming from, I don’t agree with this sentiment.

Imagine saying this about electricity or gasoline. Modern cities would be completely shut down without these resources, and we should treat the Internet in the same way - as a vital resource that we simply accept as present except in the most egregious or catastrophic circumstances.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#46

Post by jacobush »

SoylentOrange wrote: post #45
reaperducer wrote: post #23

Shopkeepers said that vital supplies like insulin and baby food, which they typically ordered online, were running out. Cash was scarce, as metal shutters covered the doors and windows of banks and A.T.M.s, which relied on the internet for every transaction. Doctors said they could not communicate with their patients. While nobody expects a war in their city, it's yet another example of why none of us should rely on…

While I understand where you’re coming from, I don’t agree with this sentiment. Imagine saying this about electricity or gasoline. Modern cities would be completely shut down without these resources, and we should treat the Internet in the same way - as a vital resource that we simply accept as present except in the most egregious or catastrophic circumstances.

Won’t work in total war. Internet will be sabotaged and maybe also power plants.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#48

Post by selimthegrim »

reaperducer wrote: post #23

Shopkeepers said that vital supplies like insulin and baby food, which they typically ordered online, were running out. Cash was scarce, as metal shutters covered the doors and windows of banks and A.T.M.s, which relied on the internet for every transaction. Doctors said they could not communicate with their patients. While nobody expects a war in their city, it's yet another example of why none of us should rely on…

Well what do you think of Modi’s demonetization and epayment drive now?

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#49

Post by NikolaeVarius »

saagarjha wrote: post #12
NikolaeVarius wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Majority support annexing of the region

Note that I'm talking about shutting down the internet in general, not this specific issue. I've heard that India has done this in the past for other things as well.

That's the thing though right? You can support annexing a region but not also letting the area fall into chaos/have civilians killed. If the "practical" way to do this is to shut down the internet and prevent chaos from spreading, the argument that this is the "right" thing to do isn't too far off.

Not that I condone this line of thought necessarily.

Re: India Shut Down Kashmir’s Internet Access

#50

Post by iamshs »

wwice wrote: post #34
iamshs wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

‘Intolerant minority’ Bigoted thoughts do come out eventually. Minorities always need to be taught a lesson in World’s largest democracy.

In Indian Kashmir the minorities were Hindus. They were kicked out by the Islamists. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exodus_of_Kashmiri_Hindus Terrorist organizations like ISIS, JEM and ISI took over and now the talk of independence has been missing for a long time. It is all about Islam.

Rebuttal of this propaganda by a noted academic who is a Kashmiri Hindu herself.

https://mobile.twitter.com/NitashaKaul/status/11614847374096...

Post reply on HN