2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2016, September
On 7 September, over 250 protesters were injured in clashes with security forces. A Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya school in Kulgam caught fire after teargas shells lobbed by security forces landed inside the school's compound. Meanwhile, a rest house in Chawalgam village of Kulgam was set on fire after protesters hurled petrol bombs at it. Curfew and restrictions on assembly of people were lifted from all parts of the region on the same day, however were reimposed in most parts of Srinagar on 9 September. It was however lifted again the very next day. Two protesters were killed on 10 September in clashes.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2016, September
Curfew was reimposed on 13 September across the entire region in view of the call given by separatists for a march to the UN offices in Kashmir, while helicopters and drones were deployed to keep a watch on the situation. This was the first time in 26 years that curfew had been imposed in the region during Eid al-Adha. Eid congregations were also barred from being held at the Eidgah and Hazratbal Shrine. Two protesters were also killed in clashes in clashes with security forces on the same day.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2016, September
On 17 September, the body of an 11-year-old boy, who went missing in protests on the previous day in Harwan, was found near a stream at Dachigam National Park and had been hit by pellets. Protests erupted in Harwan and other areas after the news of his death spread with several people being injured.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2016, September
On 19 September, curfew was lifted from all areas except some parts of Srinagar in view of the improving situation. A 19-year-old girl died of cardiac arrest during clashes between protesters and security forces in Shopian district while a school in Vehil village of the district was burnt under mysterious circumstances. The police blamed the protesters for setting it on fire, however locals denied the accusation. Another school in Anantnag district was also burnt under mysterious circumstances. Curfew was lifted from all parts of Kashmir on 25 September while the separatists also declared a temporary relaxation in the shutdown.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2016, September
Curfew was reimposed in Kishtwar after clashes erupted due to arrests of three youths for disturbing law and order. It was lifted two days later, with night curfew remaining in place.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2016, September
Operation Calm Down was launched by the Indian army to restore normalcy and connectivity to regions that had been affected the most, especially in South Kashmir. The additional 4000 troops deployed were ordered to use minimal force in carrying out their duties. Tasks involved ensuring schools opened and were secure.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2016, November
On 16 November, separatists announced a full-day relaxation for two days on 19 and 20 November. This is the first such relaxation to occur since the beginning of the unrest.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2016, December
The separatists increased the full-day relaxation to five days on 14 December, calling for shutdown on two days. They also stated on 16 December that they will come up with an annual protest program soon.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2017, February
The separatists called off their strikes in mid-February, including the one scheduled for 24 February as it coincided with the Shivaratri festival celebrated by the Hindu community.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2017, March
On 28 March, in a clash between security forces and protesters during an operation against a militant in Chadoora, 3 civilians were killed and at least 20 others, including the army personnel and police, were injured. Indian security forces launched Operation All-Out. ' Operation All-Out' is a joint offensive launched by Indian security forces (Indian Army, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, BSF and IB) to flush out militants and terrorists in Kashmir until there is complete peace in the state. The offensive is against militants and terrorists from terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul and Al- Badr. Operation All Out has so far resulted in the deaths of over 190 terrorists (110 infiltrators and 80 locals).


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Timeline of unrest, 2017, April
A by-election for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was held, as the previous MP of the constituency, Tariq Hamid Karra of PDP had resigned from the party and parliament in September 2016, accusing the PDP of "surrendering its ideals for power", for its handling of the situation in Kashmir. The separatists called for a boycott of the election, and on 9 April, when the polls for by-election were conducted, violence broke out in the region leading to 8 civilian deaths and over 170 injuries. The voter turnout was recorded to be 7%, which is lowest ever in the past three decades.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Casualties
More than 100 people including 5 security personnel have died during the unrest. Over 19,000 people including more than 15,000 civilians as well as 4,000 security personnel have been injured in the unrest. According to local doctors, at least 117 civilians were likely to lose their eyesight as a result of injuries caused by buckshot blasts. Three policemen went missing on 9 July and one was killed on 10 July during protests in Anantnag district when a mob pushed his vehicle into the Jhelum river.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Casualties
Another policeman died on 24 July, succumbing to injuries received on 15 July during an attack on a police station in Kulgam. Two of the missing policemen were later traced by the state police and were found to have become incommunicado after mobile services were cut. Security forces were not able to find the third policeman, or a large cache of arms that went missing after a police station in south Kashmir was immolated. On 18 September 2016, 18 Indian Army soldiers were killed during an attack by militants in Uri. The target was a Brigade headquarters.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Casualties, Use of pellet guns
Indian security forces trying to control the Kashmiri agitators have used pellet guns, which, although billed as "non-lethal", led to a high number of casualties including permanent eye injuries. In total during the 2016 uprising, 10 civilians were killed by pellet gunfire.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Casualties, Use of pellet guns
Seventy-seven people were injured, with two killed and many losing their eyesight, between 8–12 July 2016. Due to the medical emergency in Kashmir, there was a shortage of eye specialists who could treat the injured lying in Kashmiri hospitals. In Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital of Srinagar, over 200 patients were admitted by 13 July with the same problem. A five-year-old, Zohra Zahoor, had pellet wounds in her legs, forehead and abdomen, and is one of the youngest victims from the region; she was admitted to a hospital in Srinagar.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Casualties, Use of pellet guns
Human Rights Watch strongly condemned the use of pellet guns on protesters and called it a failure of the authorities to respect basic human rights. According to a Sky News report, the Indian paramilitary fired up to 3,800 cartridges between July and August, each containing 450 metallic balls, totaling up to 1.7 million pellets.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Casualties, Use of pellet guns
A team of three eye-specialists from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, headed by ophthalmologist Prof Sudarshan K. Kumar, reached Kashmir to help the local doctors in treating the pellet gun injuries. After watching the condition of patients in the hospital, they described it as a "war-like situation". By 22 July, the SMHS Hospital has received at least 182 patients with eye injuries, mostly due to pellets with more than 137 eye surgeries having taken place.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Casualties, Use of pellet guns
Another team of three eye-specialists, led by renowned ophthalmologist Sundaram Natarajan of Aditya Jyot Eye Hospital, Mumbai, organized by Adhik Kadam of Borderless World Foundation arrived in the region on 26 July to treat eye injuries caused by the pellets and performed over 40 retinal surgeries in 3 days. By 28 August 570 people injured by the guns had been treated in the SMHS hospital and 425 eye surgeries were performed. About 3,000 civilians have been injured due to pellet guns as of 24 August.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Media blackout
On 9 July, mobile internet services were suspended in Kashmir as well as in Jammu region to prevent the rumor-mongering. On 16 July, the Jammu and Kashmir government imposed a press emergency. The police raided the newspaper installations and seized copies of newspapers and printing plates. They said that, in view of the curfew, movement of newspaper staff and the distribution of newspapers would not be possible "for a few days". Landline and mobile telephone services were cut off, except for the lines of a government-owned company, BSNL. Internet services remained suspended. Cable television was also shut off, ostensibly to stop Pakistani channels from being broadcast.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Media blackout
On 19 July, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti denied that there was a ban on newspapers, and her adviser Amitabh Mattoo hinted that the decision might have been taken at the "local level". Mattoo also declared that newspapers would be able to print from 19 July. However, the newspapers refused to publish on Tuesday, claiming there were uncertainties about the restrictions. One editor also asked the government to "own the ban" and issue a statement guaranteeing that the media would not be hampered.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Media blackout
The chief minister held a meeting with the Srinagar-based newspaper editors, expressing regret for the restrictions and assuring them that their work would not be hampered. Following this, the newspapers went to press on Wednesday, delivering them on Thursday. The senior superintendent of police of Budgam district Fayaz Ahamad Lone was held responsible for raiding the press and transferred.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Media blackout
Mobile internet was restored in Jammu on 26 July. Mobile telephone services were restored on 27 July for most of the postpaid and some of the prepaid numbers in Kashmir. Mobile internet was suspended again in Jammu on 5 August in view of the growing unrest in Chenab valley however they were restored later in the same day. Mobile telephone services in Kashmir were suspended again on 11 August. In addition, all broadband services were suspended in Kashmir on 13 August resulting in Internet being completely cut off in the region. Broadband internet was restored on 18 August. Mobile services were again partially restored in Kashmir on 20 August.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Media blackout
On 12 September, the state government ordered suspension of all internet services and mobile phone services in Kashmir excluding postpaid connections of BSNL for a period of 72 hours.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Media blackout
In April 2017, the state authorities banned 22 social media sites for a one-month period in an effort to calm tensions in the disputed region after videos depicting the alleged abuse of Kashmiris by Indian forces emerged.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Newspaper ban
Kashmir Reader, a prominent English newspaper which is published in Srinagar, was indefinitely banned by the state authorities on 30 September. It was asked to stop publication on the evening of Sunday, 2 October. The daily was accused of publishing material that "tends to incite acts of violence" and “disturb public peace and tranquility”. Human rights group Amnesty International said the ban was a "setback to free speech" and called on authorities to revoke the order. On 28 December, the newspaper resumed publication after the government lifted the ban after nearly three months.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Arrest of human rights activist
Khurram Parvez, a prominent Kashmiri human rights activist, was first stopped by Indian authorities at New Delhi airport on 14 September to prevent him from attending the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva. Parvez was later arrested on 15 September by Indian officials from his home in Srinagar. On 21 September, a day after a sessions court ordered his release, Khurram Parvez had been detained a second time under Public Safety Act (PSA). After 76 days of detention, on 30 November he was finally released from prison following the orders of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Action against security personnel
Fayaz Ahamad Lone, the senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Budgam district who had ordered the police forces to raid press offices and stop the publication of newspapers, was transferred to the State Disaster Response Fund as a commandant. Two officers were later transferred from South Kashmir, which has been most affected by the violent protests: the deputy inspector general of police in South Kashmir and the senior superintendent of police in Anantnag.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Action against security personnel
The SSP in Srinagar was directed on 19 July by a local court to register a case against a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and other police personnel for allegedly murdering an innocent youth after breaking into his house during the unrest on 10 July. It also ordered that the case could not be investigated by anyone below the rank of DSP. Instead of registering a case against the DSP, the state police registered a case against the youth over various offenses and alleged that he was leading a procession on the day he was killed.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Action against security personnel
The court rejected the argument and ordered the SSP to register a case against the DSP within a day. A non-bailable warrant was later issued against the SSP for not obeying the court order and registering a case within the allotted time-period.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Action against security personnel
The SSP was produced in the court by the Deputy Inspector General of Police of Central Kashmir and was granted bail while being ordered to file his statement and register the case against the accused DSP A petition against the filing of the report against the DSP was dismissed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court who directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Srinagar to initiate contempt proceedings against the SSP if the report was not registered.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Action against security personnel
The Supreme Court, however, stayed the contempt proceedings against the SSP as well as the Inspector General of Police in Kashmir on 9 August. The court directed the state government on 12 August to exhume the body of the youth and conduct an autopsy. His autopsy report was submitted to the Supreme Court on 26 September 2016, with the report concluding that he had died due to pellet injuries and not because of a bullet.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Action against security personnel
A CRPF sub-inspector who shot an ambulance driver on 18 August was suspended the following day over the incident. On 18 August, a probe was ordered into the death of a person who was killed after the raid of the Indian Army in a Khrew village on the same day. D.S. Hooda admitted the next day that the person was beaten to death by soldiers and stated the raid on the village was unsanctioned.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Events, Internet censorship
On 26 April 2017, the state government directed various Internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to 22 social networking websites, saying it was needed to prevent spreading of rumors and to maintain law and order in the state, under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. This move angered the youth of the state, and they resorted to using virtual private networks (VPNs), Internet proxies and other readily available tools to circumvent the block.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
On 9 July, Home Minister Rajnath Singh appealed for people to maintain peace and calm in Kashmir. On 10 July, the state government appealed to all the political parties including the separatists for help in restoring normalcy in the valley. Separatist leader Geelani agreed and asked the Kashmir is to remain "disciplined" while Farooq ridiculed the appeal for help. Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti appealed for calm in the state on 12 July. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the unrest in the state and appealed for calm while assuring help to the state government.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
The opposition Congress party chairperson Sonia Gandhi expressed deep anguish at the loss of innocent lives. She pointed out the considerable advances made over the last two decades and appealed to Kashmiris to let the political parties find durable ways of fulfilling people's aspirations. Congress also dispatched a fact-finding team made of senior leaders Ambika Soni and Salman Khurshid, who criticised the government for discontinuing the development policies and for the excessive use of force in dealing with protesters. The party has demanded an all-party meet to discuss the Kashmir situation.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
Women's activist and CPM party leader Kavita Krishnan termed the killing of Burhan Wani an "extrajudicial killing." She pointed out the Supreme Court decree that required every single encounter to be followed by a FIR and a magisterial enquiry.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
On 17 July, Minister of State for External Affairs Vijay Kumar Singh urged people of Kashmir to cooperate with the government and stated that they are being misguided by unwanted elements. On 19 July, Home Minister Rajnath Singh blamed Pakistan for the violence in Kashmir. In a statement to the Rajya Sabha, he said, "Whatever is happening in Kashmir is Pakistan-sponsored. The name is 'Pakistan', but its acts are na-pak (impure)."


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
An all-party meet involving all political parties of Kashmir was held on 21 July with the aim of building a consensus on measures to restore normalcy. The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference boycotted the meeting, blaming the government for the situation in the valley.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
A two-day visit by Singh beginning on 23 July was announced, in which Singh will visit Kashmir in order to try to calm down the situation and review the law and order situation. After arrival he held a meeting with some local entrepreneurs, houseboat owners, Muslim clerics, members of the Sikh community, members of the Kashmiri Pandit community, and civilians. The meeting was boycotted by several trade bodies, with their officials saying that they boycotted the meeting due to killings of civilians and past meetings produced no results. Later in the day, he met Governor Narinder Nath Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. On the second day he met leaders of various political parties and members of civil society, with the Congress party boycotting the meeting.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on 28 July expressed anguish over the loss of lives and injuries in the region while appealing to the people of the valley to maintain calm. The party later criticized Mufti and for not knowing about Burhan's presence during the encounter and blamed the unrest in the state on her. It also criticised the Union government for continuing talks with Pakistan despite the unrest. Supreme Court of India on 29 July sought a report from the Union Government over the situation in Kashmir while assuring that it will give all possible help to Kashmiri civilians. On 8 August, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Prime Minister must call an all-party meeting to discuss the situation which should be followed by an all-party delegation to the region.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
An all-party conference on the unrest was announced on 10 August along with a visit by an all-party delegation to the region to hold talks with various sections. During the meeting held in New Delhi on 12 August, various suggestions were made for restoration of normalcy. On the suggestion of holding talks with separatists, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the decision to hold the talks will be taken based upon the prevailing situation. Former Home Minister P. Chidambaram on 17 August blamed the state and union government for the unrest in the region which he stated was sliding into chaos.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
A meeting of all opposition political parties in Jammu and Kashmir was held on the same day with resolutions demanding probe into an enquiry by a retired Supreme Court Judge over allegations of use of excessive force, special assembly session on the unrest and the start of a political dialogue with Pakistan about the Kashmir dispute were passed. During the meeting, the participants also decided that a delegation of opposition political parties will meet the President Pranab Mukherjee over the unrest.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
On 19 August 2016, former Chief Minister of Kashmir, Farooq Abdullah stated that Indian forces were "unleashing a reign of terror in Kashmir" that would damage India's global reputation. On the same day, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of India's Northern Command reached out to separatist leaders, stating that their help was required to restore normalcy in the region. In addition, a delegation consisting of opposition parties from the state met the President and requested him to impress upon the union government to initiate a political dialogue with all stakeholders and to acknowledge it as a political issue.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
They also requested the President to impress upon the government to not to use lethal force against civilians and claimed that instead of the government, it was the opposition parties were taking steps to restore calm while also blaming it for the unrest in the state. The delegation also met the Prime Minister on 22 August, submitting a memorandum to him in which it demanded that the central government start a political dialogue with all stakeholders to end the unrest and ban the use of pellet guns. During the meeting, Modi expressed concern over the situation in the state and asked all political parties work together to find a "permanent and lasting" solution.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
Janata Dal (United) on 21 August advised that an all-party delegation under the leadership of the Prime Minister or Home Minister should visit the region and hold talks with mainstream parties for finding a way to restore normalcy. Arun Jaitley on 21 August dubbed stone-throwers as attackers while blaming Pakistan for the unrest and stated that there will be no compromise with people indulging in violence.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
The Home Minister again visited Kashmir on 24 August to hold a dialogue with various stakeholders. On the first day, he took a review of the security situation in a meeting which was attended by top Army, police and state officials. He advised them to use maximum restraint while dealing with protesters and appreciated their efforts in keeping law and order. He also held a meeting with delegations of several political parties. Most of the parties demanded resumption of talks initiation talks with separatists.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
There was also a near unanimous consensus among political parties regarding a ban on use of pellet guns. The meeting was boycotted by many trade bodies of the state. Singh also met with state Governor NN Vohra who briefed him about the internal security situation in Kashmir and steps needed to be taken for restoration of normalcy.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
The next day, the state's Chief Minister held a press meet along with Singh which she stormed out of after getting upset over allegations of her government's disproportionate use of force while criticizing Omar Abdullah's government during the 2010 unrest. Singh promised to look into alternatives to peller guns and also stated that he is willing to talk with separatists. Mufti while meeting with Modi over the unrest on 27 August, called for creating a mechanism of interlocutors to hold talks with all stakeholders and blamed Pakistan for fuelling the unrest.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
The next day, Modi said that unity and compassion were the "twin mantras" for solving the Kashmir issue and criticized those inciting the youth of the region to violence saying they will have to answer to them someday. He also deplored the loss of life in the unrest, saying that the loss of anyone's life was a loss for the whole country and they should do whatever it takes to restore peace in the region.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
On the same day, Mufti said that talks should be held with anyone willing to reject violence and restore peace in the state while also stating the format of dialogue needs to better than past attempts. She also criticized people instigating the youth to violence. An announcement regarding an all-party delegation scheduled to visit Kashmir on 4 September was made on 29 August. The delegation was announced to being led by Rajnath Singh with the goal of holding talks with various sections of the society in order to restore calm in the region. During a press conference with United States Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on 30 August, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar commented on the unrest stating a small percentage of people were holding the majority "at ransom" in the valley.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
The all-party delegation that arrived on 4 September met various representatives on its first day of visit. The separatists refused to meet the delegation, while Mufti wrote a letter inviting them for talking with the delegation. A delegation of the ruling party that met the all-part delegation stated that there was an "urgent need to initiate a result-oriented dialogue to solve the Kashmir issue".


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
A delegation of National Conference stated in a memorandum to the all-party delegation that the frequent unrests in Kashmir was due to a sense of alienation among Kashmiris that arose due to the Union government's refusal to address the injustices meted out to them in the name of national interest and integration. On the same day, Mufti commented that there was a need for unconditional dialogue with all stakeholders.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
Some members of the delegation tried to meet some of the separatist leaders who however refused to talk to them excluding Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who briefly talked with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Asaduddin Owaisi. According to Owaisi, Farooq had told him that the separatists had decided not to hold talks because the government was not serious about political dialogue. Rajnath Singh criticized the separatists for not talking with the members saying they did not believe in Kashmiriyat, Insaniyat (humanity) and Jamhooriyat (democracy). The visit of the all-party delegation concluded on 5 September. In its two-day visit, it met with over 30 delegations comprising over 300 members representing various sections of the Kashmiri society.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
21 Sufi clerics met Singh on 6 September and requested his permission to carry out an "Aman Yatra" in Kashmir and hold talks with the locals. The clerics also stated that no dialogue should be held with separatists and alleged Pakistan was being behind the unrest. On 7 September, the all-party delegation that had visited Kashmir asked the Central government to hold talks with all stakeholders, however, stated that there could be no compromise on the issue of national sovereignty. On 10 September, National Conference expressed grief over the deaths of protesters and stated that the situation was worsening with every passing day. It alleged that the Chief Minister of the State was being insensitive and ruthless.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reactions of government and politicians
On 11 September, Rajnath Singh directed the security forces crack down on all those who were instigating the youth in the region in order to restore normalcy.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reports
In March 2017, India Today, after conducting an investigative operation in the Valley, has reported that the stone-pelters stated they are paid for protesting though couldn't disclose their identity. India Today interviewed five protesters from Baramulla district who confessed on camera that they are paid an amount of Rs 5,000-Rs 7,000 a month and are also provided with clothes and shoes. One of them also said that separate funds are given for making petrol bombs. They refused to disclose the identity of the financiers.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Reports
In April 2017, a report by Indian Intelligence Bureau (IB) has stated that an uprising was planned in the Valley by Pakistan much before July 2016, and that Burhan Wani's encounter helped the Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) ignite rebellion across the Valley. The IB report said that ISI supplied Rs 800 crore to Kashmiri separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Asiya Andrabi to fuel unrest in the Valley. As per the report, the funds supplied by the ISI were used to pay off stone-pelters and petrol bomb throwers, and also to propagate anti-India and anti-security forces sentiments in the Valley.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Others
An Indian Army veteran penned an open letter in mid-July, stating that Wani would have died anyway even if he managed to escape as he was a terrorist and all those who conspired to take away Kashmir from India will be met with an iron hand.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Others
South Asia director of Human Rights Watch, Meenakshi Ganguly, said that stone-pelting does not give the police a "free pass" to use force. She pointed out that the main grievance of the protestors is exactly the failure of the authorities to ensure human rights. Writer Arundhati Roy asked for an honest conversation about what kind of azadi (freedom) the Kashmiris are demanding.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Others
Panun Kashmir, an organisation for displaced Kashmiri Pandits said on 22 July that the union government should recognise the "fundamentalist upsurge" in Kashmir and asked it to take immediate steps to prevent it from becoming an "Islamist-controlled territory". It also demanded that the government publish a report detailing attacks on Kashmiri Hindus.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Others
Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on 16 July wrote a letter to several international bodies and Heads of States in several countries outlining six measures that the Indian government should take for return of normalcy in the valley: acceptance of Kashmir's disputed status along with right to self-determination, demilitarization of the valley, repealing of AFSPA and the Public Safety Act, release of all political prisoners in Kashmir along with restoration of their right to political activity, allowance to all international human rights and humanitarian organizations for working in the state and ensuring free political space to all parties in the state.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Others
A Facebook spat erupted in August 2016 over the unrest between Ruveda Salam, Kashmir's first woman Indian Police Service officer, and Harmeet Singh Mehta, the SP of Sopore after the former criticized the PDP. This led to a series of exchanges between the two.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, India, Others
In a video that went viral on 15 March, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Rashid Bhat asked the stone-pelters to attack the security forces for the supremacy of Islam and not for nationalism, telling them to check their motives and not fall for nationalism. In the video he stated that he observed that the protesters were mostly fighting for nationalism which was not permitted in Islam. He also criticized the separatist leaders and threatened the local police as well as police informers.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
On 11 July, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a statement expressed "shock" over the killing of Burhan Wani and other civilians by the Indian security forces. He also said that it was "deplorable that excessive and unlawful force was used against the civilians". The Indian government responded by saying that the Pakistan government's view on Wani's killing reflected its association with terrorism and advised it to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of India. On 13 July, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif condemned the killings of protesters by Indian security forces.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
Sharif declared Wani as a "martyr" on 15 July and said 19 July will be held as a "black day" to express solidarity with Kashmiri people. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs in response criticised Pakistan for "glorifying" terrorists belonging to proscribed terrorist organisations. The observance of the "black day" was postponed by Pakistan's government to 20 July while 19 July was instead observed as "Kashmir's Accession Day" to Pakistan.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
A rally called "Kashmir Caravan" organised by Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and led by Hafiz Saeed was launched on 19 July at Lahore in support of the freedom demands of the Kashmiri people. Members of various religious organisations are expected to join the rally. The rally's objective during the first phase will be Pakistan's capital Islamabad. During the second phase it is scheduled to reach Muzaffarabad and Chakothi. In the third phase, the rally is planned to cross into Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
The "black day" was observed by Pakistan's government on 20 July as scheduled. All government officials were directed to wear black arm bands and prayers for Kashmiris were scheduled during the afternoon. In addition, all diplomatic missions of Pakistan were scheduled to hold special ceremonies to highlight the issue and overseas Pakistanis would hold demonstrations outside offices of United Nations around the world. In a special message, Sharif said that India had no option but to accept "defeat" in front of the "freedom wave" in Kashmir.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
Sharif declared that Pakistan will approach the United Nations Human Rights Council on behalf of itself and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to request it to send a fact-finding team over the killings of civilians in Kashmir and banning the use of pellet guns on them.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi met with UN officials on 19 July in which she briefed them on the situation in Kashmir and forwarded letters by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz who raised the issue of civilians being killed during the unrest and said that fundamental human rights of Kashmiris were being violated.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
A JuD official reported on 25 July that a 30-member medical team of its "Muslim Medical Mission" will apply for visas to India in order to treat the injured Kashmiri civilians and will seek help of Pakistan's government in getting the visas. The mission's president also threatened to hold demonstrations if the Indian government denied visas to it. The Indian Embassy in Islamabad did not allow the team to enter its premises when they went there to apply for visa on 26 July. However, the team was able to apply for a visa through the Internet and courier. A caravan of the JuD bringing relief material for the Kashmiris was stopped on 2 August by Pakistani security forces at Chakothi. The organisation declared that they would not leave unless India accepted the relief material.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
On 1 August, the Parliament of Pakistan unanimously passed a resolution criticising the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir by Indian security forces during the unrest and demanded the UNHRC to send a team to the region to investigate it. On 3 August, ahead of the SAARC Interior Ministers' Conference, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called the situation "a new wave of freedom movement," and said, "The Kashmiri youth are writing new chapters of sacrifices to get the right to self determination."


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
On 6 August, Pakistan's government also offered to provide medical treatment to people injured in the unrest and requested on the international community to ask the Indian government to allow it to provide treatment to injured Kashmiris which was disparagingly rejected by the Indian government. On 26 August, Sartaj Aziz met ambassadors of United Nations Security Council and European Union. In the meeting, he briefed the ambassadors about the "killings and human rights violations" by Indian security forces in Kashmir and deplored the use of "lethal force" against innocent civilians.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
On 1 September, Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakariya stated that Sharif had written another letter to Ban Ki-moon alleging the situation in Kashmir was deteriorating and requested him for sending a fact-finding mission to probe alleged human rights violations in the region.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
On 6 September, Awais Leghari who is a part of the delegation of 22 members of parliament selected to highlight the situation in Kashmir, briefed the presidents of Human Rights Council and International Committee of the Red Cross over the alleged human rights violations committed by Indian security forces in Kashmir during the unrest and spoke out against their use of pellet guns. On 7 September, General Raheel Sharif stated that the solution for the Kashmir issue lay in heeding to the voices of the Kashmiris and respecting their aspirations, not in firing bullets upon them. He also alleged that Kashmiris were suffering from "worst form of state terrorism" and "repression".


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
On 13 September 2016, Nawaz Sharif dedicated the festival of Eid al-Adha to "sacrifices of Kashmiris" and stated that their voices cannot be suppressed through force. President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain in a message also stated that people of Kashmiris were atrocities for their demands of self-determination and Pakistanis must support them. During his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on 21 September, Nawaz Sharif dubbed Burhan Wani as a "young leader" who had emerged as a symbol of the latest "Kashmiri Intifada" while calling for an independent inquiry into the alleged extrajudicial killings committed by Indian security forces in Kashmir.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Pakistan
On 30 May 2017, the Punjab Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution demanding Pakistan's federal government to immediately take up the issue of violence in Kashmir to the United Nations.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, United Nations
United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon conveyed his concern over the Kashmir tense situation as reported by his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric and called for maximum restraint from all parties. He also offered mediation between India and Pakistan for solving the Kashmir dispute, provided both countries agreed to his mediation.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, United Nations
The United Nations Human Rights Commission requested the Indian government to let it visit Kashmir in order to investigate the alleged human rights abuses, however the request was unanimously rejected during a meeting on the unrest in New Delhi on 12 August by all political parties alleging it to be an interference in the country's internal affairs. On 17 August, United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad appealed to the Indian and Pakistani governments to allow its observers access to the region.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, United Nations
On 12 August, Ban Ki-moon responded to a letter by Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the Kashmir situation, stating: "I deplore the loss of life and hope that all efforts will be made to avoid further violence... The United Nations remains convinced that it is only through dialogue that the outstanding issues between Pakistan and India, including on Kashmir, can be addressed." On 13 September, Prince Zeid again requested both the countries to grant unconditional access to observers for probing human rights violations in Kashmir.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, United States
Spokesperson John Kirby while briefing the media in Washington on 12 July said that the United States was concerned about the violence in Jammu & Kashmir during which 30 people have been killed by Indian forces.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, United States
Elizabeth Trudeau, Director, United States Press Office in the Department, who briefed the media on Thursday 14 July 2016, said that the US is concerned about the violence and deaths of civilians in Kashmir and stated that the US government was in touch with the Government of India as well as the Government of Pakistan.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, United States
Kirby again addressed the situation in the valley during late July expressing his government's concern about the violence in Kashmir and called on all sides to find a peaceful solution while stating that the American government was in close touch with the Indian government over the issue


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, United States
According to a statement issued by the office of the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister met Senator John Kerry in September, and both of them expressed their "strong concern" over the violence in Kashmir, particularly the attack on an army base in Uri. On the contrary, the official press release by the US State department mentioned that Secretary Kerry reiterated the need for Pakistan to prevent all terrorists from using Pakistani territory as safe havens, while commending recent efforts by Pakistani security forces to counter extremist violence.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, European Union
In a statement issued by its spokesperson Michael Mann on 28 July, the European Union expressed its condolences to the civilians killed and injured during the unrest while urging the restoration of calm and maintenance of law and order in the state. He also urged India and Pakistan to involve people of Kashmir in the dialogue process over the state.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Organization of Islamic Cooperation
In July 2016, Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission expressed serious concern over alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian military and para-military forces. In August, OIC's secretary-general Iyad bin Amin Madani during a press conference in Islamabad said human rights violations in Kashmir were "not an internal matter of the Indian state", adding: "The international community should raise its voice against the atrocities in India-held Kashmir... The situation in Kashmir is heading towards a referendum. No one should be afraid of a referendum and the solution should be through the United Nations resolutions."


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Organization of Islamic Cooperation
On 19 September, the OIC's contact group on Kashmir met on the sidelines of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. Amin again expressed concerns over the situation in Kashmir and called for an immediate settlement of the dispute in accordance with wishes of Kashmiri people and resolutions of United Nations Security Council, while calling on India to immediately stop committing "atrocities" in Kashmir. The foreign minister of Turkey emphasised the need to resolve the dispute, while Azerbaijan's foreign minister called on the OIC to explore "innovative means to highlight the human rights violations" occurring in Indian-administered Kashmir.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, China
The spokesman of China's Foreign Ministry, Lu Kang, in a statement to the press, expressed the government's concern over the casualties due to the unrest and called for a proper settlement of the Kashmiri issue through peaceful means. Pakistani media reports claimed that China's Prime Minister Li Keqiang assured his country's support to Islamabad, emphasising a better understanding viz. Pakistan's position on Kashmir by the international community, adding: "We support Pakistan and will speak for Pakistan at every forum." Li also encouraged de-escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India. But on the other hand, the official press release by China's Foreign ministry on the meeting between Keqiang and Sharif made no mention of Kashmir whatsoever.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Turkey
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in a joint press conference with Pakistani Prime Minister's foreign advisor Sartaj Aziz on 2 August said that his country backed Pakistan's position of sending a team from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in order to probe the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir. He also said that his country hoped the Kashmir issue will be resolved through dialogue.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Italy
Pakistani media reports claimed that Italy's defence minister Roberta Pinotti while on a visit to Pakistan said the use of force and lethal weapons by security forces against civilians was "unbearable", and that Italy would apprise the international community concerning the situation in Kashmir. On the contrary, the official press release by Italy's defence ministry on the Italian defence minister's visit to Pakistan made no mention of Kashmir or pellet guns.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Belarus
A press release by Pakistan government mentioned that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during his visit to Islamabad in October 2016, exchanged views on the situation in Kashmir with his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif. The two delegations released a joint statement underlining the "need for resolution of all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute through peaceful means and in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions". On the contrary, the official press release by Office of President of Belarus on the visit made no mention of Kashmir or UN resolutions.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Amnesty International
Amnesty International accused Indian security forces were using "arbitrary and excessive force" to deal with the protests in Kashmir. It also stated that their actions were a violation of international standards and were leading to a worsening of the human rights crisis in the state. The organisation also criticised the use of pellet guns stating they had been used 100 times in Kashmir during the first week of September 2016 even though its use was meant to be rare.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Amnesty International
It called for their ban stating they were dangerous and also expressed concern at the deployment of PAVA shells in the state as they could be used in an "arbitrary or indiscriminate manner". While, following a seminar on human rights abuses in Kashmir, Amnesty International was accused of sedition in India.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Human Rights Watch
In July, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Indian authorities to credibly and impartially investigate the use of lethal force in Kashmir. HRW's South Asia Director Meenakshi Ganguly criticized India for previously ignoring "the finding of abuses under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act". Later in October, the HRW urged Indian authorities to end the use of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA) to arbitrarily detain people, including children.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Reactions against use of pellet guns
Human rights organisations like Amnesty International have asked the Indian government for prohibition on the use of pellet guns during street demonstrations against stone-throwing protesters. On 4 August, Amnesty International India called for a ban on the use of the guns following the death of a third person due to injuries inflicted by them.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Reactions against use of pellet guns
In response to the high casualties caused by the use of pellet guns, Rajnath Singh announced that a panel would be set up to look for alternatives to pellet guns. During a visit to Kashmir, he asked the security forces to avoid using pellet guns as much as possible.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Reactions against use of pellet guns
The Director-General of Central Reserve Police Force, K. Durga Prasad, in a statement issued on 25 July, regretted the injuries Kashmiri civilians received due to the use of the guns but said that they were the least lethal option available to control the protesting crowd and assured they will only be used in most extreme situations. Lieutenant general D. S. Hooda, chief of the Northern Command of the Indian Army, supported his claim regarding pellet guns. Prasad's comments were criticised by Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Amarinder Singh as well as Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, the state chief of CPI-M.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Reactions against use of pellet guns
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on 23 July advised the government to discontinue the use of pellet guns. On 26 July, the court demanded the Union Government to submit report on the use of the guns by untrained personnel while disapproving of their use. It asked the government to only allow its use by trained personnel while also asking it to look into other means of crowd-control. The High Court issued notices to both the state and Union government asking them to file a response to a petition seeking ban on the guns.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Reactions against use of pellet guns
When Prasad was asked during an interview on 9 August about when will the CRPF stop using pellet guns, he replied it was like asking when will you stop beating your wife. His remarks created a controversy and were seen as misogynistic by women's organisations, news organisations and social media users. Prasad later apologised for his comment. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh ruled out a ban on the weapons stating they were only used in extreme situations. The army recommended the CRPF and police to use sound cannons, pepper shotguns and chilli grenades instead of the pellet guns.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Reactions against use of pellet guns
In an affidavit filed before the court on 17 August, CRPF told the court that the guns were only used in extreme situations and their withdrawal will result in CRPF personnel resorting to the use of rifles which might lead to an increase in fatalities. The government-appointed panel submitted its report on 29 August, reportedly recommending nonivamide (PAVA) shells, stun lac shells and Long Range Acoustic Devices. It was also reported that a ban on pellet guns was ruled out with the use of weapons limited only to "rarest of rare" cases. On 3 September, PAVA shells as an alternative to pellet guns was approved by Rajnath Singh.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Reactions against use of pellet guns
On 6 September, the state government justified the use of pellet guns before the state's high court stating they were a modern method to deal with violent protesters and contended that a court couldn't recommend how law and order situations are to be handled. It also claimed that pellet guns were not compatible with the Standard Operating Procedure of firing below the knees as the pellets spread to a diameter of 6 metres when the gun is fired.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Reactions against use of pellet guns
On 10 September, V.K. Singh who is also the former chief of Indian Army, supported the use of pellet guns stating they were non-lethal and it was a "sensible and well-thought" decision by the Home Ministry to use them. On 21 September, the state High Court rejected the petition regarding banning of guns, stating that the use of force was inevitable as long as unruly mobs indulged in violence.


2016–2017 Kashmir unrest, Reactions, Reactions against use of pellet guns
In February 2017, the CRPF introduced deflectors as a modification for its pellet guns. The modification was introduced to make the guns less lethal while retaining their effectiveness.


2016–2017 South Korean protests
The 2016–2017 South Korean protests (The Candlelight Demonstrations), also known as the Candlelight Vigil(Korean: 촛불집회), were a series of protests against President Park Geun-hye that occurred throughout South Korea from November 2016 to March 2017. Protesters denounced the Park administration's 2016 political scandal and called for the resignation of Park Geun-hye.


2016–2017 South Korean protests
After the impeachment of Park Geun-hye on corruption charges in December, the pro-Park rallies mobilized thousands of protesters for counter demonstrations. In February 2017, the Liberty Korea Party, at the time the ruling party of South Korea, claimed that the size of pro-Park rallies had surpassed the size of anti-Park rallies.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Background
In October 2016, a political scandal erupted over President Park Geun-hye's undisclosed links to Choi Soon-sil, a woman with no security clearance and no official position, who was found to have been giving secret counsel to the president.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Background
Choi had known Park since the 1970s, as Choi's father, Choi Tae-min, was a mentor for Park Chung-hee, then-president and Park Geun-hye's father. At the time, the Park family was still grieving from the assassination of the first-lady Yuk Young-soo, and Choi Tae-min claimed that he could channel communication with her.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Background
Both had remained friends since, even after Park Geun-hye became president. Park's behavior during her tenure had raised suspicions, due to her lack of communication with parts of the government and the press.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Background
Choi, who had no official government position, was revealed to have access to confidential documents and information from the president, and acted as a close confidant for the president. Choi and Park's senior staff used their influence to extort ₩77.4 billion (~$774 million) from Korean chaebols – family-owned large business conglomerates – setting up two media and sports-related foundations, the Mir and K-sports foundations. Choi embezzled money during the process, and it is reported that some of the funds were used to support her daughter Chung Yoo-ra's dressage activities in Germany. She is also accused of rigging the admissions process at Ewha Womens University to help her daughter get accepted at the university. Ahn Jong-bum, a top presidential aide, was arrested for abusing power and helping Choi; he denied wrongdoing and claims he simply followed presidential orders.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Background
On October 25, 2016, Park  publicly acknowledged her close ties with Choi. On October 28, Park dismissed key members of her top office staff and Park's opinion rating dropped to 5%, the lowest ever for a sitting South Korean president. Her approval rating ranged from 1 to 3% for Korean citizens under 60 years of age, while it remained higher at 13% for the over 60 years age group.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Background
This also prompted President Park to fire members of her cabinet and the prime minister of South Korea in order to redirect the public's criticism. In particular, the sacking of the prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn resulted in a controversy, due to the claim that his firing had been done via text message.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016
On October 29th, the first candlelight protest was held with about 20,000 participants (estimates range from 10,000 to 30,000). The numbers grew rapidly in the following weeks.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, November
On 1 November, a man used an excavator to crash into the front entrance of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office building during a protest in Seoul.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, November
On 5 November, people attended rally early on Saturday evening petition for Park's resignation. The police estimated 43,000, but organizers claimed more than 100,000.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, November
On 12 November, four officers were injured during the demonstrations.Twenty-six protesters were taken to hospital with injuries and a further 29 were treated at the scene of the protests.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, November
On 19 November, a large number of South Korean high school students also joined the crowds after taking the college entrance test. A short drive away from the protest, a group of conservative counter protesters gathered outside Seoul station in defense of the president until 17 December.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, November
On 28 November, 1.9 million people hit the streets in a nationwide anti-president rally


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, December
On 3 December 2.3 million people hit the streets in a further anti-Park rally, one of the largest in the country's history. An estimated 1.6 million people gathered around the main boulevards from the City Hall to Gwanghwamun Square and Gyeongbok Palace. Another estimated 200,000 people gathered around the city of Busan and 100,000 in Gwangju.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, December
On 10 December, following the National Assembly's vote to impeach Park, hundreds of thousands gathered for weekly protests celebrating the move.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, December
But, on 17 December, pro-Park supporters held their first major demonstrations in Seoul, with organizers claiming an attendance of one million. They called for the reinstatement of the currently impeached president.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, December
On 24 December, 550,000 people held the Christmas Santa Rally, calling for the Park's immediate removal.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2016, December
On 31 December, South Koreans celebrate New Year's Eve with mass protest. Over 1 million people take to the street according to Organizer, brought the cumulative number of people who have attended the protests since October to 10 millions, the largest weekly protest in South Korean history.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2017, January
On January 7, hundreds of thousands of protestors returned to the streets of Seoul demanding impeached President's immediate removal and the salvaging of a sunken ferry which left more than 300 dead. At 7 pm (10:00 GMT) hundreds of yellow balloons were released and the protestors blew out the candles they were carrying as a symbolic gesture asking that Park clarify the mystery surrounding her seven-hour absence at the time of the ferry sinking.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2017, January
On 21 January, South Koreans took to the streets Saturday to demand the arrest of the Samsung scion whose arrest warrant was rejected by a court last week, in the 13th candlelit protest calling for President Park Geun-hye to resign. Braving snow and cold, hundreds of thousands of protesters also demanded the Constitutional Court expedite review of Park's impeachment.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2017, February
As the Candlelight rallies reached 100th day, on 4 February, 400,000 people gathered at Gwanghwamun Plaza in Seoul, calling for an extension of the Special Prosecutor’s investigation and for Park to step down immediately.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2017, February
On 11 February, Hundreds of thousands of Koreans took to the streets with a Conflicting rallies between Pro and Anti-Impeachment groups. Those who opposed Park held their 15th weekly candlelight rally in Gwanghwamun Square, while her supporters waved South Korean flags outside of Seoul City Hall for their 12th rally. Presidential hopefuls including provincial governor An Hee-jung and former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party Moon Jae-in attended the anti-Park rally. Rhee In-je of the ruling Saenuri Party attended the pro-Park rally "to be part of the patriotic people's wave," while Ahn Cheol-soo, a former chair of the minor opposition People's Party, did not attend either rally.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2017, February
After Samsung vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong was arrested at 17 February by Special Prosecutors on charges of bribery in connection with the scandal, 700,000 people walked to the street on 18 February. Protesters urged the Constitutional Court, currently reviewing the legitimacy of the impeachment, to promptly reach a conclusion for the ouster of the president..


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2017, February
On 25 February, Hundreds of thousands of Koreans held rival demonstrations in Seoul over the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye on the fourth anniversary of her swearing into office. Anti -Park protest organizers claimed a one million turnout and pro-Park supporters said they had attracted three million. The demonstrations come as court prepares to hold final hearing on president's impeachment over corruption scandal.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2017, March
After Constitutional court removed Park Geun-hye from power over a corruption scandal, ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye maintained her silence on Saturday as her opponents and supporters divided the capital's streets with massive rallies that showed a nation deeply split over its future. Carrying flags and candles and cheering jubilantly, tens of thousands of people occupied a boulevard in downtown Seoul to celebrate Park's ouster. Meanwhile, in a nearby grass square, a large crowd of Park's supporters glumly waved national flags near a stage where organizers, wearing red caps and military uniforms, vowed to resist what they are calling "political assassination."


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests against Park Geun-hye, 2017, March
Nearly 20,000 police officers were deployed on Saturday to monitor the protesters, who were also separated by tight perimeters created by hundreds of police buses. They also held Rival rallies on 1 and 4 March respectively.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Impeachment of Park Geun-hye
On 3 December 2016, three opposition parties agreed to introduce a joint impeachment motion against President Park Geun-hye. The motion, which was signed by 171 of 300 lawmakers, was put to a vote on Friday, 9 December 2016, and passed with 234 out of 300 votes, a tally much greater than the required 2/3 majority and which included 62 members of Park's Saenuri Party. The Impeachment process then moved to the Constitutional Court of Korea which could take 180 days to review the impeachment.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests to rally for Park Geun-hye, 2016
On October 31, 2016, a group of conservative protesters had a protest at the front of the South Korean media JTBC headquarters, claiming its coverage about the scandal as biased and unfounded.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests to rally for Park Geun-hye, 2016
On November 19, 2016, thousands of Park's supporters staged their protests in central Seoul, calling on the president not to succumb to mounting pressure on her to step aside.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests to rally for Park Geun-hye, 2016
On December 17, 2016, the pro-Park protesters blamed the media for fueling anti-Park sentiment, focusing their coverage too much on the views of younger and liberal voters and on criticism that Park received cosmetic procedures while in office.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests to rally for Park Geun-hye, 2017
Pro -president rallies have grown substantially. On January 14, 2017, the organizers of the protests claim that 1.2 million people gathered in central Seoul, insisting that the Constitutional Court should reject the impeachment.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Protests to rally for Park Geun-hye, 2017
While the anti-Park protests once attracted more than a million but shrank after Park's impeachment, the number of pro-Park protesters reached 2.1 million and began to overwhelm their rivals, according to the organizer's claims. Claims from the organizers has been criticized for almost unrealistic exaggeration of the number of participants.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Casualties
On 11 March 2017, police say 3 people were killed and dozens were injured in clashes between police and Park's supporters after the Constitutional Court of Korea ruled the impeachment valid.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Controversy
At around 5 p.m. on March 4, 2017, MBC reporters covering a rally in favor of impeachment at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul were assaulted with their fists by two men who participated in the rally.


2016–2017 South Korean protests, Plans for a military crackdown on protests
In July 2018, it emerged that the Defense Security Command made plans for declaring martial law and authority to use military force to crack down on protesters, if the Constitutional Court did not uphold Park's removal from office. The DSC had planned to mobilize 200 tanks, 550 armoured vehicles, 4,800 armed personnel and 1,400 members of special forces in Seoul in order to enforce martial law. Other components of the plan included monitoring and censoring media content and arresting politicians taking part in protests.


2016–2017 Vendée Globe
The Vendée Globe is a non-stop solo Round the World Yacht Race for IMOCA 60 class yachts this is the 8th edition of the race.


2016–2017 Vendée Globe, Summary
The 2016 – 17 race started from Les Sables d'Olonne on 6 November 2016; was the eighth edition of the, with 29 skippers from ten countries. It lasted 124.5 days while going around the three great capes – the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), Cape Leeuwin (Australia) and Cape Horn (Chile) and saw a record 18 skippers make it to the finish line.


2016–2017 Vendée Globe, Summary
This edition of the race was the first to feature foiling monohull boats equipped with hydrofoils and was therefore closely watched to evaluate the durability of foils in such circumstances. Of note, the four foiling boats sailed by professional skippers that made it to the finish line took the top places, indicating that such appendages are likely to be adopted by other sailors (see table below). The winner of this edition was Armel Le Cléac'h, finishing on 19 January 2017 in a record breaking time of 74 days, three hours and 35 minutes.


2016–2017 Vendée Globe, Summary
Other records were set during the course, including the greatest distance covered by a monohull over the course of 24h, the fastest southbound crossing of the Equator and Cape of Good Hope by Alex Thomson. Winner Armel Le Cléac'h also broke the record for the fastest crossing of Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn and the Equator (northbound).


2016–2017 Vendée Globe, Summary
The race featured the youngest and oldest skippers ever to complete the race – on consecutive days (Alan Roura, 23 years old; Rich Wilson, aged 66). Also, Didac Costa was forced to return to harbour after less than one hour of sailing as a result of water damage to the boat's electric system. He returned to the race four days later and finished in 14th place. In addition, Conrad Colman finished under jury rig after dismasting 715 nm from the finish, while running short on food and electric power.


2016–2017 Vendée Globe, Summary
The latter was compounded by the fact that his boat – Foresight Natural Energy – was propelled solely by renewable energy sources and the critical speed required for using hydrogenerators as well as sunlight to feed his solar panels were short of par. Colman was the first skipper to complete the Vendée Globe without using fossil fuels, two weeks after breaking his mast.


2016–2017 Vendée Globe, Summary
Race Director for this edition was Denis Horeau who heads the event management team having done the role for the 1989, 2004, 2008 and 2012 editions.


2016–2017 Vendée Globe, Results, Finishing Time
•  Penalised two hours for an involuntary rupture of the propeller shaft scrutineering seal.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe floods
The 2016–2017 Zimbabwe floods began in December 2016, following a severe drought. The flooding killed at least 250 people and injured another 128 over three months and left around 2,000 people homeless, according to Zimbabwean officials. At least seventy bridges on major highways were swept away, according to Transport Minister Joram Gumbo.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe floods
The President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe declared the floods a national disaster.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests
The 2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests began in Zimbabwe on 6 July 2016. Thousands of Zimbabweans protested government repression, poor public services, high unemployment, widespread corruption and delays in civil servants receiving their salaries. A national strike, named "stay-away day," began on 6 July and subsequent protests took place across the country and diaspora.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests
The Zimbabwean government blamed Western governments for the protests and were accused of blocking social media such as WhatsApp from 9 am until 11 am on 6 July 2016 to prevent people from gathering to protest.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests
On 18 November 2017, anti-Mugabe solidarity protests were held in Zimbabwe and other countries, following the military takeover of the country on 15 November. On 21 November, Robert Mugabe sent a letter to Zimbabwe's Parliament resigning the presidency.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Background
The economy of Zimbabwe began shrinking significantly around 2000, following a series of events and government policies such as the fast-track land reform programme and the 1997 War Veterans' Compensation Fund pay-out. This led to hyperinflation, devaluation and the eventual collapse of the Zimbabwean dollar, high unemployment and general economic depression over the course of sixteen years.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Background
The 2009 collapse of the Zimbabwean dollar led to the government's adoption of the US dollar and the informal adoption of other currencies (e.g. the South African rand and the Botswana pula). However, due to US dollars becoming scarce in circulation, to address the shortages, the government announced that it would issue its own notes known as "bond notes" that would be equivalent to US dollars. This led to widespread voiced resistance and campaigns by Zimbabweans around the country, fearing the return of the Zimbabwean dollar.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Background
On 19 April 2016, Pastor Evan Mawarire posted a Facebook video calling for reform. The video begins with Mawarire stating, "I'm not a politician; I'm not an activist... just a citizen". As the emotive music plays, Mawarire wears the Zimbabwe flag and goes through each colour of the flag's stripes: "They tell me that the green is for the vegetation and for the crops. I don't see any crops in my country."


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Background
He then returns to each colour again, stating how each colour should be an inspiration: the green "is the power of being able to push through soil, push past limitations and flourish and grow." He ends the viral video by promising to stop standing on the sidelines and start fighting for his country. From 1 May to 25 May, Mawarire headed an online campaign in a series of videos over social media, urging Zimbabweans around the world to wear the Zimbabwean flag around their necks and speak-up against the government.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Pre-protests
On 24 June 2016, a protest was held at the Rainbow Towers Hotel, with protesters demanding that Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko vacate the hotel's presidential suite in which he has been staying with his family since December 2014. This protest was led by the Tajamuka/Sesjikile, National Vendors Union and Restoration of Human Rights groups.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Pre-protests
Earlier in May 2016, the government had announced that it would impose an import ban on specified goods. On 1 July 2016, cross-border traders began protesting against this ban on both sides of the Zimbabwe-South Africa Beitbridge border post, calling for the ban's removal. This resulted in the burning of a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority warehouse, temporary closure of the border post and several arrests.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Pre-protests
The national stay-away day came after clashes between taxi drivers and the police two days earlier, with 95 people being arrested and several more beaten with truncheons/baton sticks and harassed. President Robert Mugabe met with senior Zimbabwean officials to discuss the situation.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2016 main protest timeline
On 6 July 2016, national "stay-away" protests, organized over the Internet via WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook social messaging platforms, using mainly the #ZimShutDown2016, #Tajamuka and #ThisFlag hashtags, took place in Zimbabwe, following fears of an economic collapse amid calls for President Robert Mugabe's resignation. These were organised by the #ThisFlag movement, the Tajamuka/Sesjikile campaign and other groups. On 7 July 2016, Zimbabwean authorities arrested dozens of protesters as anti-government protests spread across the country. In the capital, Harare, the protests forced the closure of banks and shops.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2016 main protest timeline
Protests in Harare and throughout the country were still ongoing on 8 July 2016, despite police intimidation and calls from President Mugabe for them to stop. Mugabe, in a live national television broadcast from a stadium in  Bindura,  blamed Western sanctions  for his country's inability to pay government workers on time. #ThisFlag protest leader Pastor Evan Mawarire said the movement, which uses WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, would hold a two-day strike the following week from 13–14 July if demands were not met.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2016 main protest timeline
This included the sacking of corrupt ministers, payment of delayed salaries, and lifting of roadblocks that residents say are used by police to extract bribes. Also, a drought has aggravated the country's situation resulting in millions requiring food aid. Despite Mawarire's call for a strike, most businesses remained open on the 13–14th of July.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2016 main protest timeline
On 21 July 2016, the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) – a historically pro-Mugabe group of veterans of Zimbabwe's war of independence known for committing violence against opponents of the government – broke with Mugabe, calling him "dictatorial" and calling for free speech: "Regrettably, the general citizenry has previously been subjected to this inhuman and degrading treatment without a word of disapproval from us. That time has passed." Four war veterans' leaders were subsequently arrested for insulting and undermining the president's authority, and later released on bail. Following this, 9 ZNLWVA officials were dismissed from ZANU-PF including the 4 war veteran leaders, as Mugabe called for war veterans to elect new leadership.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2016 main protest timeline
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Harare on 3 August 2016, marching against the introduction of bond notes, with the aim of submitting a petition to the Ministry of Finance and Parliament. The protest was sanctioned by the courts, and the first petition rejecting bond notes was successfully delivered to the ministry. However, as protesters headed to Parliament to deliver a second petition, police chased and beat some of them using baton sticks and water cannons, leading to dispersion of the crowd. One BBC journalist was also beaten up by police in the scuffle and had his video camera broken. On the same day, expelled former vice-president Joice Mujuru filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court against Mugabe and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, among other respondents, urging them to declare the introduction of bond notes unconstitutional.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2016 main protest timeline
Ahead of the second Test cricket match between Zimbabwe and New Zealand on 8 August in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe fans were asked by Pastor Evan Mawarire to join a peaceful protest in support of the #ThisFlag movement. In the 36th over on match day, to represent the 36 years under Mugabe and ZANU-PF rule, hundreds of spectators stood up, waved the Zimbabwean flag and sang the national anthem, while others ran around the pitch holding the flag. Ten people were arrested including unemployed graduates who wore their graduation gowns in protest against joblessness.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2016 main protest timeline
On 17 August, hundreds of protesters gathered and marched in Harare against the introduction of bond notes and police brutality, under the organisation of the Tajamuka/Sesjikile campaign and other groups. Their intention was to march to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Several protesters were beaten with baton sticks as they clashed with police. Tear gas and water cannons were also used to disperse the crowd.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2016 main protest timeline
Among the dozens detained in November for planning to protest, was Patson Dzamara, a high-profile opponent of Mugabe, who was found at a local hospital 24 hours after his burnt-out car was discovered, and who had apparently been badly beaten with sticks.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Arrest and release of #ThisFlag leader, First arrest
On 12 July 2016, Pastor Evan Mawarire handed himself in for questioning at the request of the Zimbabwe Republic Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to the Central Police Station in Harare. On 12 July, he was formally charged with section 36 for inciting public violence and disturbing the peace. On 13 July, in court, the prosecutors unexpectedly changed the charges to 'attempting to overthrow the government'; however, the judge halted the proceedings and stated: "the National Prosecuting Authority cannot charge the accused for the first time in court without charges being read out to him (in advance)". Mawarire was then released the same day.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Arrest and release of #ThisFlag leader, First arrest
On 16 July, Mawarire told the BBC: "Our protest – non-violent, non-inciting, stay-at-home – is the best because it is within the confines of the law." Speaking on 19 July, Mugabe denounced Mawarire, alleging that he promoted violence and was being sponsored by hostile Western governments. A large demonstration to express support for Mugabe and ZANU-PF was held in Harare on 20 July.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Arrest and release of #ThisFlag leader, First arrest
Following the comments by Mugabe castigating him, Mawarire who was visiting South Africa after his release, decided he would temporarily not be returning to Zimbabwe as he had concerns about his safety. At another ZANU-PF rally on 27 July, Mugabe stressed that the party would "not tolerate any nonsense" and warned Mawarire and his supporters: "Once you begin to interfere with our politics, you are courting real trouble. We know how to deal with our enemies who have been trying to bring about regime change." Mawarire has voiced protection of the Zimbabwean constitution.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Arrest and release of #ThisFlag leader, First arrest
He also warned foreign powers to stop trying to undermine his government, and he vowed that the war veterans responsible for a statement denouncing him several days prior would be identified and punished by the party.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Arrest and release of #ThisFlag leader, Second arrest
Upon arrival at Harare International Airport on 1 February 2017 from the United States where he had been living in exile, Mawarire was detained and later charged with "subverting a constitutionally elected government" for the second time in 6 months.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2017 anti-Mugabe protests
Following the military takeover of Zimbabwe on 15 November 2017, thousands of Zimbabweans on 18 November, marched in solidarity through the streets of Harare and Bulawayo, among other places, calling for Mugabe to step down as president. The march was organised by various groups including the war veterans and Mawarire. Protestors also called for the Southern African Development Community to not interfere with the Zimbabwean political situation. Elsewhere, protesters gathered in Windhoek, Cape Town, Johannesburg and London.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, 2017 anti-Mugabe protests
On 20 November, students at the flagship University of Zimbabwe gathered outside exam venues, declaring that they would not write exams until Mugabe had resigned as president. They also demanded that the PhD degree that was awarded to First Lady Grace Mugabe be rescinded, citing that the integrity of the university had been compromised as a result. The degree was apparently awarded just three months after registration. As parliament met on 21 November in order to impeach Mugabe, a small group of protesters gathered outside the parliament building. While the session was underway, Mugabe submitted his letter of resignation as president of Zimbabwe.


2016–2017 Zimbabwe protests, Demands
According to the BBC, the 2016 protestors had five demands:


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike
The 2016–2017 video game voice actor strike was a strike started in October 2016 by the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union against 11 American video game developers and publishers (Activision, Blindlight, Corps of Discovery Films, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Interactive Associates, Take-Two Interactive, VoiceWorks Productions, and WB Games) over failed contract renegotiation terms that had been in discussion since February 2015.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike
Principally, the union sought to have actors and voice and motion capture artists that contribute to video games be better compensated with residuals based on video game sales atop their existing recording payments, while the industry companies asserted that the industry as a whole eschews the use of residuals, and by giving the actors these, they would trivialize the efforts of the programmers and artists that are most responsible for the development of the games. In exchange, the companies had offered a fixed increase in rates and a sliding-scale upfront bonus for multiple recording sessions, which the union had rejected. Other issues highlighted by the strike action include better transparency in what roles and conditions actors would perform, more safety precautions and oversight to avoid vocal stress for certain roles, and better safety assurances for actors while on set.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike
Actors within the union used both physical and virtual picketing to make the public aware of their complaints, and they have gained support from similar acting unions from Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand along with other unions within the entertainment industry. It was the first such unionized strike in the video game industry. Because of the commonly long development period for video games, the strike's impact on the industry was initially expected to be felt for years.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike
A deal between SAG-AFTRA and the companies was reached on September 23, 2017, effectively ending the strike after 340 days; it was the longest strike in the history of the Screen Actors Guild. The agreement was ratified by SAG-AFTRA's board of directors and approved by majority vote in November 2017, creating a new three-year contract.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, Background
Around a quarter of video games use some type of acting, either as live actors for full motion video, voice actors, or stunt actors for motion capture. As the video game industry became more financially successful in the early 2010s, and video game hardware became more ubiquitous in households, many video game developers and publishers started to bring in well-recognized actors from other entertainment venue such as film and television for recording lines or footage for video games. Obtaining recognized actors for games can help to sell the title as well as generate potential promotional leads from non-traditional channels, such as having that actor promote the game while on talk shows.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, Background
Within the United States, several of these actors are members of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) or American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA); both merged into the SAG-AFTRA union in October 2012. The merged union has around 165,000 members as of 2016, with about 6,000 members that perform regularly for video games. As early as the 1990s, these unions had developed Interactive Media Agreements with the video game industry to set standard rates for a typical four-hour recording session; around 2005, this was about $759, and around 2013, it was about $800–825 per session. These are considered as minimum assured rates, but actors are free to negotiate higher rates with the game's developer or publisher. Alternatively, companies can employ non-union actors.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, Background
Unlike other entertainment media such as film or television, actors are not paid residuals or secondary compensation based on the success of a game. Part of this is related to the relative age of the video game industry, which only recently has been seen to be as successful as film or television; in 2005, the video game industry only was worth about $11 billion, while the film industry drew in over $100 billion globally. As such, demanding residuals at that time was not seen as a necessary benefit to the actors.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, Background
Many actors had additional gigs in other entertainment sectors besides video games, and receiving residuals was not critical for them to make a living. Video games were also rarely promoted to emphasize the actors behind the characters, unlike television and film, as consumers were unlikely to be directed towards purchasing a game based on its selection of actors. Further, the video game industry itself is not as profitable as large growth numbers suggest, as much of the money earned by a sales or title is spent to offset the already-spent costs of having a large team of programmers and artists to develop the title.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, Background
Since 2005, the video game industry grew quickly, with projections that it will reach a $100 billion global industry by 2018. As early as 2008, there was discussion and arguments from the actors' unions that the video game industry should pay residuals on sales to actors, seeking equality with other entertainment industries, with the potential for a strike action if the industry did not agree.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, Background
Michael Hollick stated that he had only been paid about $100,000 for his voice work as the principle character in Grand Theft Auto IV, which went on to bring in more than $600 million in sales within its first three weeks of release. Despite this discussion, SAG-AFTRA and the industry negotiated continuations on the Interactive Media Agreement without inclusion of residuals; in the most recent successful negotiation, to extend the Interactive Media Agreement through 2014, the two sides agreed to account for additional session fees for actors in games designed for cloud gaming. Informing actors of "vocally stressful work" was negotiated in October 2009.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
With the Interactive Media Agreement to expire by the end of 2014, SAG-AFTRA and representatives of the video game industry began negotiating new agreement terms in late 2014. The parties had not come to an agreement when the Agreement expired, but the union members agreed to continue to provide acting work at the existing rates in good faith while negotiations continued. Meetings were held between parties in February and June 2015.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
At these meetings, the SAG-AFTRA representatives started pushing for inclusion of residual payments, stating that "This [video game] industry has grown, boomed and morphed into something bigger and lucrative than any other segment of the entertainment industry, and it continues to do so" that it now has the ability to pay such residuals. The union sought "performance bonuses" that would earn actors an additional $825 for each session they did on a game for every 2 million copies of that game sold, up to 8 million copies. The industry stated they were concerned that this type of payment structure would be financially harmful.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
The union was also concerned for actors involved in "vocally stressful" roles, and sought to have similar restrictions on session time and foreknowledge that one would give for stunt acting. Around June 2016, SAG-AFTRA sent a letter co-signed by several of its members to the California division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requesting them to investigate health and safety issues related to the "vocally stressful" roles, citing several members who had developed vocal cord damage while recording screams and shouts for video games.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
The union specifically asked the division to evaluate these injuries resulting "voice acting in video games due to employers pushing too hard or not providing adequate safety measures". The union said that they do not want to force new OSHA-driven regulations on the industry but considered this as a point of last resort if the video game industry did not help alleviate this situation.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
A third point of negotiation arose from transparency aspects for voice actor roles, an element that comes from the industry's background in the technology sector. Video game companies had relied on the same type of secrecy that high tech firms use, enforced by strict non-disclosure agreements, and do not want to have details of future games be presented to potential actors before they have committed to the part.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
These companies generally feared that leaks of seemingly trivial details from voice actors from a yet-announced or yet-published game can create a significant impact via social media, and could lead to competitors in the industry beating a company to market with their own product. Even after actors have accepted their part, they may not have been told any details outside fundamental aspects of the character they are to voice or perform as, and with auditions and recording sessions that occur through email and remote communications, the actors could not inquire about the role, leaving them unprepared.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
The situation left actors unclear about the role they are expected to perform until they were on the job, which created issues if the role required "vocally stressful" situations. In some cases, voice actors were not told what game they have performed for, only to discover their involvement after a game is published, making it difficult to maintain a professional resume for other gigs. The union sought to have the video game industry provide sufficient details to actors about their parts without having to sacrifice their secrecy, so that actors can better negotiate terms of their contracts.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
By September 2015, SAG-AFTRA considered the negotiations to not go well, stating that the industry's demands were "crazy" and "outrageous", and proceeded to have its members vote for a strike authorization. Union members agreed to authorize a strike by a 96% margin in October 2015, giving the SAG-AFTRA negotiators a bargaining chip to use during further discussions with the industry.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
Negotiations continued into 2016. Alongside the main negotiations for the Interactive Media Agreement renewal, SAG-AFTRA had started discussions to craft a special "low budget" agreement for union voice actors, defined for games with less than a $250,000 production budget, such as most indie games. The terms of this agreement addressed similar points as the broader Interactive Media Agreement negotiations, including dealing with "vocally stressful" roles, and would offer performance bonuses for every 500,000 units sold, up to 2 million units.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
By October 2016, the two sides had agreed to a 9% increase in the base session fee, but still stood at odds on the issues of residuals. While SAG-AFTRA still offered their session payment plan based on copies sold, the video game industry offered an up-front sliding-scale bonus based on how many sessions that actor performed for the game, starting at $50 for a single session and up to $950 for eight or more sessions. This bonus would be paid upfront to actors in lieu of the residuals.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
Analysts believed that for a profitable video game (one exceeding $2 million in revenue or more), the financial terms of both SAG-AFTRA's and the industry's plans were nearly on financial equity. However, the negotiations broke down because of how this performance bonus was to be written into the contract. SAG-AFTRA wanted to call their payments approach as "residual buyout", thus fulfilling their goal to obtain some type of residual payment to its members. The industry balked at this characterization, pointing out that the programmers and artists behind the games do not receive such residuals.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2015–2016 negotiations
Scott Witlin, a lawyer representing the video game companies, stated that the work provided by actors "represent less than one tenth of 1 percent of the work that goes into making a video game", and thus their demands were excessive. The industry also feared that by writing the language of "residuals" into the contract, it would give the union more ability to demand a more traditional residual payment structure during the next contract negotiations. SAG-AFTRA considered that the industry's approach was a "freeloader model of compensation", and did not consider it suitable for its members. The disagreement has been characterized by some as hinging on the single word "residuals"; as described by The Hollywood Reporter's Jonathan Handel, the language of how "residuals" is presented is critical, as it is "a must-have for the union and a camel's-nose-under-the-tent deal-breaker for the companies".


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2016–2017 strike
With failure to come to agreement on this language, SAG-AFTRA used the previous authorization from its membership to issue a strike on October 21, 2016. In addition to the residual payment issue, SAG-AFTRA said that the strike also related to transparency in the voice actor hiring processes so that actors are aware of what types of roles and performances they are to be hired for, issues related to the "vocally stressful" roles, and having more safety precautions while actors were on-set.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2016–2017 strike
The strike action targeted eleven developers and publishers, including Activision, Electronic Arts, Insomniac Games, Take-Two Interactive, and WB Games, and sought repayment and resolution for all voice actor work in games that started production after February 17, 2015.


2016–2017 video game voice actor strike, 2016–2017 strike
SAG-AFTRA's strike was supported by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, the Actors' Equity Association, the British Actors' Equity Association, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Australian Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, and Equity New Zealand, who requested that their members not take any of the acting work that was open due to the striking actors. Voice actors that have spoken in favor of the union and the strike include Jennifer Hale, David Hayter, Elias Toufexis, Phil LaMarr and Wil Wheaton.