Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 6 March 2020
India restores full internet access in Kashmir for 2 weeks

By AIJAZ HUSSAIN customers.
Associated Press A.K. Srivastava, an official
SRINAGAR, India (AP) at state-run Bharat Sanchar
— Indian authorities on Nigam Ltd., the leading
Wednesday temporarily re- broadband service provid-
voked a ban on social me- er in Kashmir, said it has be-
dia sites and restored full gun implementing the new
internet access in disput- government order.
ed Kashmir for two weeks, When it imposed the inter-
seven months after they net ban in August, the gov-
stripped the restive region ernment said it was neces-
of its statehood and semi- sary to head off anti-India
autonomy and enforced protests and attacks by
a total communications rebels who have fought for
blackout. decades for Muslim-majori-
Internet access over mo- ty Kashmir's independence
bile devices, however, will or unification with Pakistan,
remain restricted to slow which administers the other
speed. part of Kashmir. Both coun-
The restoration of the inter- tries claim the Himalayan
net will remain in effect till region in its entirety.
March 17, a government Digital rights activists de- In this Jan. 30, 2020, file photo, Kashmiri journalists browse the internet on their mobile phones
order said. It gave no ex- nounced the tight internet inside the media center set up by government authorities in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir.
planation of the time limit. restrictions and said they Associated Press
A recent Supreme Court represented a new level of
order had said the internet government control over Authorities in January slight- ed the decision as a step ment scrapped its state-
ban could not be indefi- information allowing it to ly eased the internet ban, toward normalcy. hood, began pouring in
nite. further restrict freedoms allowing the Indian-con- The portion of the divided more troops and imposed
The order issued by the re- in Kashmir. They were also trolled territory's more than Kashmir region that Hindu- harsh curbs on civil rights
gion's home secretary, Sha- criticized by lawmakers in 7 million people to access majority India controls was and information, including
leen Kabra, said internet Europe and the U.S., who government-approved already one of the most a blackout on the internet,
access over fixed lines will called on the government websites over slow-speed militarized places in the cellphones, landlines and
be restricted to registered to end the curbs. connections. They herald- world before the govern- cable TV.q

Philippine police chief, 7 others Pakistani Islamists

injured in chopper crash accused of defacing

SAN PEDRO, Philippines pro-woman mural
(AP) — A helicopter carry-
ing the Philippine national
police chief and seven ISLAMABAD (AP) — Doz- to bring attention to their
other people crashed after ens of seminary students efforts to seek better jobs,
hitting a power cable on linked to a radical pro-Tal- protections in the work
takeoff Thursday, critically iban cleric defaced a mu- place and end domestic
injuring two other generals ral depicting two women violence.
on board. painted by rights activists Women's rights rallies are
Gen. Archie Francisco to commemorate Interna- held every year and they
Gamboa and the oth- tional Women's Day in the sparked controversy last
ers were pulled from the capital Islamabad, police year when activists intro-
wreckage by police of- and activists said. duced a new slogan: "My
ficers on a village road in The women's rights-themed body, my choice."
San Pedro city in Laguna mural painted on the wall Pakistani women have
province, south of Manila. of a house near the sprawl- largely been deprived of
Gamboa was injured in the ing Jamia Hafsa seminary their rights since the coun-
shoulder and right arm but The site of a helicopter crash is cordoned off in San Pedro, La- was spray painted black try gained independence
guna province, south of Manila, Philippines Thursday, march 5,
flashed a thumbs-up and 2020. Wednesday. The defac- in 1947. About 1,000 wom-
said, "I'm OK" while being Associated Press ing of the mural came af- en are killed every year by
wheeled to an ambulance. ter a court earlier ruled relatives in so-called honor
In a video shown by the Ramos — were in critical ble before crashing onto a that rights activists could killings.
DZMM network, Gamboa condition, while the rest, in- road near houses, witness organize a women's rights International Women's Day
later said from his hospital cluding the police spokes- Glenda Garcia said. march. is Sunday and rights activ-
bed that he would report man and the police flight "It was really loud and we Police said they have ists in Pakistan plan to hold
back to work on Monday crew, were in stable con- ran away in fear because opened an investigation rallies to commemorate
and asked for prayers for dition, police Maj. Gen. we thought the helicopter into the incident and so far the day. Meanwhile, some
those who remained hospi- Benigno Durana Jr. told re- would move out of control no one has been arrested. conservative Pakistani
talized. porters. in a circle and hit us," Gar- Pakistani women plan women have vowed to to
Two passengers — Maj. The aircraft took off from cia said, adding that pow- to hold rallies across the hold a "Modesty March"
Gen. Mariel Magaway and a police compound in La- er in her village was cut country to celebrate In- to counter rallies of liberal
Maj. Gen. Jose Ma. Victor guna and hit a power ca- due to the crash.q ternational Women's Day activists.q