Kashmir Watch, August 10

BY Dr. Ghulam. Nabi. FAI

The two days Kashmir Conference in Washington was a way forward in more than one-way. It was a panorama of ideas with people from diverse backgrounds from India, Pakistan, both the sides of Kashmir, United States and other countries deliberating upon ways and means for finding out an amicable and lasting solution of Kashmir in accordance with the wishes of people, the added contribution was messages from Kashmiri leaders who could not participate in the deliberation for not having travel documents and other commitments.

Messages for the success of two-day conference on Kashmir organized by Kashmir American Council/Kashmir Centre, and Association of Humanitarian Lawyers in Washington had received messages from various Kashmir leaders. Those who had sent their written messages for the success of the Conference Included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Shabir Shah and Muhammad Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Syed Ali Geelani’s Message read: "It gives me great pleasure to share briefly my views with participants to 9th International Peace Conference on Kashmir organized by Kashmir American Council/Kashmir Centre and Association of Humanitarian Lawyers in Capitol Hill, Washington D.C."

Mr. Geelani further emphasized that "The problem of Jammu and Kashmir is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan but it is problem of denial of fundamental right that is right to self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This right that has accrued to people of Jammu and Kashmir through various resolutions by the United Nations and has been guaranteed by the international community is being denied by India to 13 million people of the state. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have been struggling for past sixty-one years for allowing them to exercise this right and demanding holding of a plebiscite in accordance with the United Nations resolutions and as promised by India before comity of nations. India under arrogance of power has been using brute force to subjugate and suppress the people of the state. It has been committing heinous crimes against humanity. Killings people in captivity, forcing disappearances, dishonoring women folk and using rape as a war weapon is routine with the occupation forces in the state. The recently discovered unmarked graves in a remote village in Kupwara are just tip of an iceberg of brutalities committed by seven hundred thousand Indian soldiers stationed in the state. True, some International organizations have been voicing their concern about grave human rights violations in the state but nothing substantial have been done by the international community to stop India from committing crimes against humanity in Kashmir. It would have appreciated if international community would have imposed sanctions for its worst track record on human rights in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr. Geelani further said that " India has been misleading International community by announcing its commitment to finding a peaceful solution of Kashmir problem. While on one side it has been having much trumpeted peace talks in Kashmir with Pakistan on the other it has been fortifying its foothold in Kashmir by grabbing more and more land and establishing one after another armed garrisons and bases."

Geelani Sahib reiterated that "There can be no denying that such conference do help in keeping Kashmir under focus at various levels but success of such conference would depends upon building moral pressure on India and making it abandon its stubborn attitude and honor its own commitment before the international community and forcing it to allow people of Jammu and Kashmir right to self-determination. The conference would be a success if it makes India to repeal draconian laws such as Armed Forces Special Powers Act, ending human rights abuses and releasing thousands in jails and interrogation centre Mr. Geelani concluded, "I wish this conference a success and hope that the intelligentsia and public figures that have assembled for this conference will work for just cause of Kashmir and impress upon India to honour the United Nation’s Resolution and allow people of Jammu and Kashmir their inalienable and non-negotiable right that is right to self-determination."

Message of Shabir Ahmed Shah read: "I would have loved to be amongst the galaxy of political leaders, Congressmen, opinion makers, intellectuals, historians, academicians and writers who gathered for this conference in the Capitol Hill, in the precincts of the White House to share my views. It would be have been a great opportunity to listen to men of eminence who have been feeling concerned about Kashmir and raising their voices for 14 million Kashmiris, who are yet to exercise their right to self-determination. But for Indian government perpetually denying ‘travel document’ to me and many other Kashmir leaders, I have been denied opportunity of sharing my views with you. However, I look forward for the success of this conference. Ours is a just cause; cause of restoration of the fundamental right that is right to self-determination to 14 million people who despite comity of nations having guaranteed it have been denied this right for past sixty-one years. The people of Kashmir have offered lots of sacrifices for this cause. Since in 1947, about point five million human beings have been consumed by this struggle. Since 1990 alone over hundred thousand people have sacrificed their lives and majority of whom have been non-combatants. The hundreds of gravesites of the martyrs that were killed during past two decades are scarlet chapters of our history- and bear testimony to our faith in our cause. Property worth billions of dollars has been destroyed. Village, towns and cities were reduced to debris by Indian occupation forces particularly during past nineteen years. The horrifying stories of human rights violations and obnoxious tales of dishonoring our sisters, daughters and mothers by the occupation forces should scratch the conscience of international leadership and it should impress upon India to put an end to its barbaric and brutal rule in Kashmir.

Shabir Sahib further said that "Every village and town in Kashmir is like festering wound that has been looking for a balm from the international community for healing. I am thankful to international leadership for voicing concern for us but I equally plead for building more pressure on Indian leadership for honoring its own commitments with people of Jammu and Kashmir for allowing people of Jammu and Kashmir their denied right. I strongly believe that it is bounden duty of all civilized nations in the world to stand by our cause that is cause for justice and upholding human dignity. I would like tell to the international community that ours is highly conscious nation that fully believes that wars are no solutions to the problems and have been all along advocating peaceful solution of this long standing issue that continues to pose a threat to peace in South-Asia in particular and world in general. I would like tell friends who have gathered in this conference that Kashmir leadership is wearing blinkers but is fully conscious of the global political scenario. And in keeping with the emerging world order we have been supporting the negotiated settlement of Jammu and Kashmir in tune with urges and aspirations of people of the state. We also have been supporting the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan and have been demanding making the process Kashmir centric. We also believe that without involving genuine Kashmir leadership in the process no substantial progress on Kashmir can be achieved."

In his message Mohammad Yasin Malik, Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front had hoped that holding of this conference would go a long way in furthering Kashmir cause at the international level. He said such conference had helped in the past in improving interface of Kashmir with the various think tanks and opinion makers in the world. And such conferences also serve as bridges for between Kashmir leadership, opinion makers and intelligentsia and the global community.

In his message Yasin sahib has said that "March For Freedom" organized by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front should be show window to global community as to what people of Jammu and Kashmir. The teeming millions that have been raising slogans for freedom in vales, dales, streets, lanes and by lanes of Jammu and Kashmir are testimony to peoples urges and aspiration- there was need for responding to these urges and aspiration.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq who was supposed to attend the conference for situation in Kashmir cancelled his visit and returned back from Egypt. In his message for conference said that this conference was being held at an important juncture of Kashmir history. He had hoped that the conference would go a long way in identifying road maps for finding peace solution of Kashmir problem. With these words and thank you all.

Posted on 10 Aug 2008 by Webmaster