Today, four separate items came into my inbox about Kashmir. Am sharing them here.
1. A NYT op-ed about Kashmir by author Pankaj Mishra.
2. An alert from Reporters Without Borders about a raid in Kashmir.
3. A message about Kashmir from the Indian Muslim Council - USA.
4. A white paper about Kashmir from the Fremont (California) Hindu Temple.
Items, links below. Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
A NYT op-ed about Kashmir by author Pankaj Mishra.
An excerpt:
A new generation of politicized Kashmiris has now risen; the world is again likely to ignore them — until some of them turn into terrorists with Qaeda links. It is up to the Indian government to reckon honestly with Kashmiri aspirations for a life without constant fear and humiliation. Some first steps are obvious: to severely cut the numbers of troops in Kashmir; to lift the economic blockade on the Kashmir Valley; and to allow Kashmiris to trade freely across the line of control with Pakistan.
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An alert from Reporters Without Borders:
From: RSF ASIA <asie@rsf.org>
Reporters Without Borders
27 August 2008
INDIA
Raid on home of The Hindu's Kashmir correspondent
Reporters Without Borders deplores yesterday's raid by members of the counter intelligence agency on the home of Shujaat Bukhari, The Hindu daily newspaper's correspondent in Srinagar. Bukhari, who was not at home at the time, was told by his family that the agents were looking for two Kashmiri leaders.
No newspapers are on sale in Kashmir for the third day running as a result of a curfew imposed by the authorities to prevent demonstrations.
Here is an excerpt from Bukhari's latest article for The Hindu, on Aug. 25:
13 scribes injured in CRPF action Shujaat Bukhari
SRINAGAR: Over 13 journalists were injured, one of them seriously, when Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel beat them up in separate incidents here on Sunday. The journalists were on their way to work during curfew.
At several places in Kashmir, people who came out in groups to defy curfew were chased away by the CRPF and the Army who used tear smoke shells and at some places opened fire. Reports said 25 people, including five policemen, were injured.
The authorities have banned the local cable channels from transmitting news. CRPF personnel refused to honour the curfew passes produced by the journalists. They had been issued by the District Magistrate on August 12.
Those injured include Bilal Bhat, John Mohammad (Sahara News), Manoj Kaul, Jehangir (ETV), Aijaz Ahmad (News X) and Amin War (The Tribune). Earlier the circulation of local newspapers was also stopped by the CRPF at several places.
Journalists staged a sit-in at the press enclave protesting against the CRPF conduct. They asked the government to clarify whether it would allow the media to function freely.
CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi said the civil administration had told the force not to honour the old passes. He, however, apologised for the use of force.
Sensing more trouble and restrictions on their movements, all the foreign journalists camping here for the last few days have left.
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A message from the Indian Muslim Council - USA:
IMC-USA deplores the humanitarian situation in Kashmir; appeals to all sides to maintain peace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 August 2008
Indian Muslim Council - USA (IMC-USA), an advocacy group working toward safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos, strongly condemns the blockade of Kashmir Valley by the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsha Samiti. The economic blockade of the Valley has caused havoc and untold suffering to the civilian population of Kashmir.
According to news reports, Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti has vowed to extend its strike “chakka jam” till August 31. The Samiti has launched protest strikes since early August forcibly shutting down schools, shops, businesses and public transportation throughout the region creating an economic blockade on Kashmir Valley.
Equally condemnable is the firing by police and armed forces on unarmed civilians. At least 35 people are reported to be killed and hundreds more have been wounded in weeks of protests across the state.
By not taking immediate and stern action against the illegal blockade by Hindu nationalist organizations of the only highway into the Kashmir valley, the government has fueled the separatist sentiments and is alienating the people of Kashmir.
IMC-USA expresses dismay at the mishandling of the land transfer by the government authorities. Maintaining security and peace is the responsibility of the government and so far government attempts are failing. This failure of government will play into the hands of the extremists making conditions more tenuous. IMC-USA demands that the government do not allow the extremists to fan the communal sentiments in Kashmir and the rest of the country.
IMC-USA appeals to all sides to work towards restoring peace and to resolve the current land row by negotiating an amicable solution. The central government should immediately remove the economic blockade and restore normal conditions in the Valley. Appropriate compensation should also be made to the families of the civilians killed in the firing by police and armed forces.
Indian Muslim Council-USA is the largest advocacy organization of Indian Muslims in the United States with 10 chapters across the nation.
CONTACT:
Dr. Hyder Khan
phone/fax:1-800-839-7270
email: media@imc-usa.org
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An item from the Hindu Temple in Fremont, California:
White Paper on Kashmir
Fremont Hindu Temple
7:00 PM, August 26, 2008
Founding Members:* Jeevan Zutshi (Fremont, CA, USA) JEEVAN.ZUTSHI@GMail.com
* Deepak Ganju (Miami, FL, USA)
* Subash Razdan (Atlanta, GA USA)
* Rakesh Kaul (NJ, USA)
* Anil Wali (MI, USA)
* Kiran Kuchroo, (Boston, MA USA)
* Tej Shawl, (Sydney, Australia)
* R K Mattoo, (Bangalore, INDIA)
* Wing Commander Raman Sopory, (New Delhi, India)
* Moti Kaul, (Mumbai, India)Dear Community members,
We are here in Fremont temple to hold a Press Conference to discuss the issue of Amarnath and situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Press Conference has been initiated by International Kashmir Federation (IKF), global organization of Kashmiri Hindus.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the media for generally trying to give a balanced coverage to current turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir.
On behalf of the International Kashmir Federation (IKF), the only global organization of Kashmiri Hindus, I would like to welcome all of you to this very important Press Conference tonight. I would like to thank Fremont Hindu Temple and all other supporting organizations for their support to a very worthy cause.
It is because of these individuals and organizations that we have been able to place Kashmir and Kashmiri Hindu plight on the map of the U.S., by letting factual reasons for Kashmiri Hindu exodus in 1989/90 known to mainstream community and constantly educating the U.S State Department, lawmakers and policy makers, about the distortions and concoctions which the enemies of India and the civilized society have been portraying about Kashmir. 350,000 Kashmiri Hindus, also called Pandits, had to flee for their lives after thousands of them were murdered in cold blood by the Islamic terrorists in early 1990. Even after 19 years, they are still living like refugees in their own country. Alas, the Government of India is sleeping and silent!
Unfortunately, Kashmir once again has been turned upside down by the Kashmiri Muslims in the wake of their conspiracy against the official attempts to build temporary shelters to facilitate the pilgrimage of Hindus visiting the world famous Amarnath Cave of Lord Shiva.
The wild protests in the Kashmir valley to the temporary lease of forestland to Shri Amar Nath Shrine Board (SASB) makes a sad and painful portrayal of the exclusivist, and illogical mindset that rules the roost in Kashmir.
The well-planned and calculated yet gruesome attacks of terror that struck the heart of India between July 25 and July 26, 2008 left scores of people dead, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The serial bomb blasts that were triggered by the Islamic terrorist groups in more than two dozen significant places including Bangalore, India’s Silicon Valley and Ahmedabad, the capitol of the economically prosperous state of Gujarat, within a span of 24 hours, were intentionally aimed at breaking the resolve of the Indian people to fight terror in all its forms.
The hideous nature of the attackers is evident from the fact that they chose to attack even the hospitals where grievously injured were being treated.
These unprecedented and oft repeated terrorist acts are nothing short of attacks on humanity and the citadels of civilized world. Terrorism knows no boundaries or nationalities. It is a menace that needs to be uprooted. The international body and the world community need to unequivocally condemn these dastardly acts and not remain mute spectatators.
The organizations, signatory to this Brief, are taking the opportunity to highlight the Jammu and Kashmiri Hindu victims of terrorism who have been denied the basic human right of worship and denied appropriate facilities to the Hindu pilgrims to Amarnath Shrine.
In direct violations of the Constitution of India and the United Nations Charter, the Kashmiri politicians are denying the basic human right of worship to Hindus. They are also purposely creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and insecurity so that like Hindus and Sikhs of Kashmir region, the Hindus of Jammu and adjoining cities feel extremely unsafe and helpless and are forced to leave their homes and hearths en mass. The second version of exodus of the non-Muslim minorities from the Jammu region is seen by fundamentalists as a new opportunity of land and property grab in the ongoing civilization war. This is also aimed at to expand the plan of Islamic colonization of Kashmir beyond the territory of the valley of Kashmir.
Today, Kashmir is being openly and boldly divested of its Hindu heritage and is being made more Islamic by changing names of the places and rewriting history. Denying Sri Amarnath Board land for the pilgrimage is manifestation of this Kashmiri Muslim politicians mind-set and historic intent to cleanse Kashmir of non-Muslim symbols.
Are we aware of the amenities provided to Haj yatris by the Govt. of India? Do we know how many corers of rupees GOI pays for Haj subsidies? Why should Kashmiri Muslims oppose giving better amenities to Amarnath Yatris? Why do Kashmiri Muslims consider Hindus as tress passers and would allow them only as visitors? Why can’t Kashmiri Muslims tolerate their own Kashmiri Hindu Brethren with whom they have lived for centuries?
This struggle has exposed the ugly communal face of separatist forces operating in the state. The agitation in Jammu has also torn down the veil of hypocrisy of government of India. Behind this veil Govt. of India has always concealed its preferences to surrender to Muslim communalism.
The expressions of the Muslim leaders in Valley and mobilization of people behind fundamentalist and communal banners once again vindicates our stand that the political class in Valley continues to reject co-existence as a cardinal principal of life.
We support the following just demands of Amarnath Shrine Board Sangharsh Committee in Jammu:1. Urge the GOI to reinstate the transfer of 40 hectares of forestland approved by former Governor Sinha and by G.N. Azad Government, to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), to construct facilities for the pilgrims.
2. Encourage the GOI to establish Truth and Reconciliation Commission in order to evaluate its present policies of inaction, appeasement and nepotism thus allowing the country move forward and save innocent Hindu lives.
3. Compensate the victims and the families of Jammu Bandh.
4. Honor the sacrifice of Shaheed Kuldip Dogra and Kamaljeet Chaudhry.
The following four resolutions are passed tonight:
First – Abrogate Article 370, special status denying Indian citizens ownership of land in their own country whereas all Kashmiris can live and own property in any part of India.
Second - demanding that the Indian Government, launch an all out war against all brands of terrorists in the country and cut their life support systems.
It must also warn of dire consequences against the in and outside sources, agencies and countries that support these terrorist adventures;
Third - call upon all the nationalist and patriotic organizations in the country for putting up a united front against these subversives.
They must also declare their unwavering resolve for combating and defeating
all attempts for fundamentalization and Talibanization of India. They must commit themselves for maintaining the real secular character of India in which all communities have opportunity and freedom to perform their justifiable roles;
Fourth - Government of India to desist from any maneuvers to accord legitimacy to any form of Muslim separatism be it secession to Pakistan, Independence, shared sovereignty or autonomy.
India’s true potential as a pluralistic democracy can be realized when all people live under uniform laws, and no state enjoys special privileges that excludes others.
The following organizations (partial list) support this initiative of International Kashmir Federation (IKF):
1) Federation of Indo-Americans (FIA of Northern California)
2) Vishwa Hindu Parishad (USA)
3) Overseas Friends of BJP (USA)
4) Bharati Tamil Sangam
5) Bay Area Maharashtra Mandal
6) Bay Area Telugu Association
7) Sunnyvale Hindu Temple
8) Fremont Hindu Temple
9) Indo American Society of Bay Area
10) National Federation of Indian Associations (NFIA)
11) Indo-American Community Federation (IACF-USA)
12) International Kashmir Federation (IKF)
13) Hindu Swayam sevak Sangh (HSS),
14) Samskrit Bharati
15) Friends of India Society International (FISI)
16) Hindu American Foundation (HAF)Thank you.
Jeevan Zutshi, (510) 589-3702
Chairman, International Kashmir Federation (IKF)
Director, Federation of Indo-Americans (FIA of Northern California)
Director, National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA)
www.indocommunity.us
