Jammu and Kashmir Police and National Conference

Why are Kashmiris labeled as terrorists?

By: SAS Gilani
The Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani Wednesday said the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has become “non-existent and Police is running the affairs of the state.”

He also castigated the J&K Police for what he said its anti-people role in the past two decades and maintained they have turned “more brutal than soldiers”.

The veteran leader reiterated that his five minimum demands can make conducive atmosphere for dialogue and urged the Organization of Islamic Conference and Pakistan to pass resolutions to impress upon UN to implement its resolutions on Kashmir. He also demanded an international war criminal tribunal to investigate the “war crimes” in the Valley.

‘POLICE AT HELM OF AFFAIRS’
Geelani said according to Army Chief and Director General of Police only 500 militants were active in Kashmir. “Then the presence of over eight lakh soldiers in Kashmir has no justification. As if it was not enough, the CM has become non-existent. The DGP and SHOs have been giving policy statements. The police have taken the responsibility of restoring peace and muzzling voices by arresting youth. It is regrettable that the police have waged a war and are at the forefront of inflicting atrocities on Kashmiris. The police have stooped so low that it now brands the criminals as stone pelters to defame our sacred movement,” Geelani said, addressing a seminar titled ‘UN resolutions and suppressed nations sacrifices’ at his Hyderpora residence.

‘STATE TERRORISM AT ITS WORST’
“I stand witness to the atrocities inflicted by the successive regimes on the Kashmiris since 1947 to suppress their movement. In ’50s, Kashmirs who wore green turbans were branded as Pakistanis and pushed behind bars. Kashmiris even had to face imprisonment for listening to Radio Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. People say Dogra regime was brutal, but I want to say without any doubt that the NC’s Halqa presidents are more heinous than (Maharaja) Hari Singh,” Geelani alleged.

Elaborating, Geelani said those who challenged accession were jailed. “Ironically, those whom Kashmiris thought were their leaders let them down and they joined hands with New Delhi. When emergency was imposed in India, these so-called leaders invited its extension to Jammu and Kashmir. I have seen how people were tortured in custody. Even I was confined to a cell. In the garb of ruthless power, such leaders got those killed who challenged the 1975 accord,” he said.

Geelani said Kashmiris participated in the elections after 1975 to push for amicable resolution of Kashmir through UN resolutions. “I didn’t want our future generations to blame us for letting the mainstream leaders win unopposed. When I along with my supporters went to Devsar and Ganderbal for campaigning, we were attacked with iron rods by NC activists saying ‘how dare you stand against Bab (Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah). In 1987, Kashmiris tried to participate in elections and the candidates who were on the verge of success, were jailed. Our youth were left with no option but to start armed struggle for achieving their right to self-determination,” he said.

Justifying the armed struggle of Kashmiris, Geelani accused India of purusuing double standards. “When Indian sees Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh who used violent methods to get independence from British as heroes, why are Kashmiris labeled as terrorists? Kashmiris have rendered more sacrifices than Indians against the British. India has been using state terrorism to suppress the Kashmiris’ movement. State terrorism has targeted all the weak, institutions and intellectuals,” he said.

Recounting major massacres since 1990 in the Valley, Geelani accused India of using the Ikhwanis (renegades) to kill Kashmiris. “These Ikhwanis were reared in Army camps and given all the perks and powers to eliminate Kashmiris. They were instrumental in killing of innocent civilians and religious scholars. I urge the UN to depute its War Crimes Tribunal to investigate the war crimes in Kashmir and punish the accused cops and soldiers,” he said.

Geelani said the conglomerate had launched demilitarization campaign in every district last year. “In 2010, it transformed into Go India Go Back movement. For the first time in 63 years, India sent its Rapid Action Force to Kashmir as if it had to fight China. What was the fault of 112 youth and teenagers who were killed since June last year?” he asked.

‘NO GRUDGE AGAINST INDIAN PEOPLE’
Geelani maintained that it was the standing policy of the Conglomerate to peacefully carry forward the ongoing movement. “We have asked people to even refrain from raising provocative slogans during protests. Kashmiris don’t have any grudge with people of India. We are only protesting against the forced and de facto control of the State by India,” he said.

He said gradually the Indian civil society members including Arundhati Roy, Gautam Navlakha and Mani Shankar Ayar were coming forward to help the cause of Kashmiris.

“When Chidambaram (Home Minister) said in the Indian Parliament that Kashmir is a case of broken promises, why does Indian leadership shy away from accepting and fulfilling the promises? India is trying to instigate us to resort to violence but we should not fall in its trap and maintain calm,” he said.

ON DIALOGUE
Geelani said the Conglomerate was not averse to dialogue. “But all the talks which were held 150 times since 1947 have failed to resolve the issue. We have no problem to enter into dialogue process but there should be conducive atmosphere for it. I reiterate my five minimum preconditions for dialogue including start of demilitarization, revocation of special powers to armed forces, release of political prisoners for participating in talks,” he said.

“After the acceptance of these conditions, India, Pakistan and the leadership of Kashmir can talk and resolve the dispute in the light of UN resolutions and sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris,” he added.

Geelani maintained that UN resolutions on Kashmir are still relevant. “UN has failed to discharge its responsibilities due to pressure from the VETO powers. UN is bound to implement the resolutions. I urge Organization of Islamic Countries and Pakistan to pass resolutions to impress upon UN to implement the UN resolution on Kashmir.

‘UNIFICATION NOT NEEDED’
Geelani said there was no need of unification among the pro-freedom organizations as they have common goal to achieve right of self-determination. “If two platforms are pursuing one goal, the need for unification becomes redundant. Even when the Hurriyat was united for 10 years, India did not listen to us. So we should continue to carry forward the movement to its logical conclusion,” he said.

He said any attempts to divide Kashmir will be thwarted. “We have religious and human relationship with people of all religious in the state. We will never allow division of Kashmir,” he said.

He also impressed upon every section of the society including intellectuals to work for strengthening the movement.

RESOLVE KASHMIR’
Senior journalist Zahir-ud-Din dwelt at length on the UN resolutions on Kashmir in respect of its legality. He maintained that the UN resolutions of Aug 13, 1948, and Jan 5 1949 can’t be separated. “If the first resolution is body the second is soul,” he said.

Columnist ZG Muhammad hit back at those who have been accusing intellectuals of failing to support the ongoing movement. “Intellectuals don’t lead, it is the job of leaders. In our case, journalists have an important role as ambassadors to objectively reflect the sentiments of the people.  Indian intellectuals can play imperative role in building consensus about Kashmir among the people like their American counterparts did in Vietnam,” he said.

However, he maintained that poets cannot be considered as intellectuals.  “An intellectual should play supplementary in the movement,” he added.

Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain who teaches Law at Kashmir University minced no words in saying that Kashmiris have failed to document their history. “We have a tragedy and when we are asked about the dispute, we refer to the books of Walter Lawrence and Alistair Lamb. We have been trying to accomplish the assignments of others who are driven by vested interests. As a result the Kashmir dispute is not properly reflected,” Dr Showkat said.

He maintained that UN resolutions were like a title deed and stressed for intensifying efforts to implement them.

“The ongoing movement is in a state of confusion. Kashmiris have been giving sacrifices and leaders and intellectuals have failed to channelize them. Time and tide wait for none. In the past, many leaders have been thrown out of the movement. If the leaders don’t act, new actors are bound to emerge,” he said.

Noted columnist Dr Javid Iqbal accused India of exploiting Kashmir’s water resources. “We are purchasing our own power from New Delhi. We have to bear in mind that nobody cares for the weak. We have to ourselves safeguard our nation. Our leaders have always fallen in the trap of New Delhi. What Akbar did to Yusuf Shah Chak Pandit Nehru repeated it with Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah,” he said.

He castigated Kashmiris for resorting to extravagance. “We spend our life saving on marriages and food and forget our responsibilities towards the nation. We have become gastronomes. We go into hibernation during winter and remember about the right of self-determination in summer. We need to do self-introspection,” he said.

Senior journalist Riyaz Masroor said the challenge for the pro-freedom leaders in 2011 will be to reinterpret the UN resolutions and safeguard the sacrifices rendered by Kashmiris.

“UN resolution has endorsed the role of local authorities in implementing even the plebiscite. It is the challenge for the Hurriyat to review its stance regarding democratic practices,” Masroor said. He also said the seminars should be conducted in a proper way. “There should be difference between public meetings and seminars. Besides space should be given for opposite views,” he added.

Senior leader of Hurriyat (G) Saleem Zargar traced the history of inception of armed struggle in Kashmir and need to take the movement to its logical conclusion. “There is confusion at the leadership level. Some leaders have been linking the ongoing movement with violence. Stone pelting is a weapon of resistance,” he said.

Advocate Syed Manzoor of High Court Bar Association underscored the need to forge unity among the pro-freedom camp.