www.sacw.net > Citizens Action & Ideas for Peace in South Asia - August 30, 2008

Make Way for Peace in Kashmir:
Statements by Concerned Citizens and Civil Liberties Organizations (August 2008)
 
#1.

Protect Minorities, Halt Use of Force: An Appeal from Kashmir (August 29, 2008)

o o o

#2.

PRESS STATEMENT

We have news from Kashmir that curfew has been clamped in all the eight district of the Kashmir valley  as a prelude to cracking down with force on what is today undisputedly a non-violent movement .  To open fire on unarmed civilians would  send a very grave and damaging message.  It would  be particularly disturbing given that militants have announced their decision to silence their  guns.

We appeal to the Indian government to restrain itself from the use of force against the people of Kashmir. We urge the government to lift the curfew and Give Peace a Chance.

Anand Chakravarti
Aruna Roy
Arundhati Roy
Gautam Navlakha
Mahashweta Devi
Medha Patkar
Nikhil Dey
Prashant Bhushan
Sanjay Kak
Uma Chakravarti

Delhi , 24 August 2008

o  o  o

#3

24 August 2008
Srinagar

The declaration of curfew in ten districts in Jammu & Kashmir from 4 am today is untimely. The Valley has just recently returned to some degree of normalcy, and people have been able to peacefully gather and voice their demands. None of these gatherings have been accompanied by violence. We have been witness to many peaceful protests in four districts visited by us over the last two days and there has been no threat of violence.

We have reliable information that at least four journalists have been beaten up by the security forces. These include Mr Bilal and Mr Muzaffar of Sahara Samay, and a cameraman from ETV. These journalists told us that as many as 34 journalists have been beaten up during the curfew today. It is difficult confirm this number since the curfew prevents any physical movement. Journalists are not being allowed to report the situation.

Contrary to the perception that the imposition of curfew is meant to prevent violent confrontation, the present curfew threatens to start a violent confrontation – because it would attempt to prevent the peaceful gathering in Lal Chowk in central Srinagar tomorrow (Monday), and because the curfew would give security forces the power to use force against people who attempt to proceed towards the venue. It would create a confrontation that can easily be avoided.

We appeal to the central government to intervene without delay to ensure the lifting of curfew to enable normal political process and prevent any further loss of life.

Sharmila Purkayastha, Harish Dhawan, Paramjeet Singh
(People's Union for Democratic Rights)

Professor Babiah, Professor Ramaswamy
(Progressive Democratic Front, Karnataka)

Mr Raghunath
(Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee)

o  o  o

#4.

August 14, 2008
AN APPEAL TO RESTORE PEACE AND HARMONY

Memories are Short - We have gone through such mayhem before without any impact other than more pain and suffering!

Eminent citizens of the country have appealed for restoration of harmony in Jammu and Kashmir. The following is their statement:—

“We are deeply pained by the tragic turn of events in Jammu and Kashmir that has led to the killings of several citizens in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu division. The authorities must intervene effectively to ensure there is no recurrence and also address substantive issues.

“We view with grave concern the threat that is now perceptible to secular traditions of both Kashmir and Jammu divisions. The deepening alienation of people from each other and from the government requires immediate address. This is the moment for civil society and concerned citizens from all walks of life to assert itself and restore the social harmony, which has hitherto characterised the state.

“We appeal to residents of both Jammu and Kashmir to work together towards reconciliation and areas of common good which are many and which all well-wishers of J&K crave. We appeal to the authorities to give every support to the many in Jammu and Kashmir who are striving for reconciliation and a more hopeful future. And we ask the Indian public to realize the gravity of what is happening in J & K and support all those working for a wise way forward.”

— Rajmohan Gandhi, Syeda Hameed, B.G. Deshmukh, Sushobha Barve, Salman Haidar, Tara Bhattacharya Gandhi, Kapil Kak, B.G. Verghese, Wajahat Habibullah, M.K. Raina, Kuldip Nayyar, Shanker Ghose, Amit Singh Chadha, Suresh Vazirani, Teesta Setalvad, Shabana Azami, Javed Akhtar, Javed Anand, Rahul Bose, Anil Dharkar, Arvind Krishnaswamy, Sajid Rashid

o o o

#5.

 MEDIA RELEASE

The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India
Prime Minister's Office
South Block, Raisina Hills
New Delhi

Sub: An appeal to defuse the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir

August 13, 2008

Dear Dr Manmohan Singh,

The death of 5 people in firing in Baramulla is very disturbing to say the least. The recent move of the Government to take an all party delegation to J&K to restore peace and harmony while a welcome step, came a bit too late and the outcome of its efforts have been too little. Both the regions of state are having severe problems. The agitation started by Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (AYSS) has blockaded the route to Kashmir valley and there are severe attacks on Kashmiris and Muslims living in Jammu area. The agitation had begun in the valley with the transfer of land to Shrine board. Now the material suffering of valley's people, blocking of their supplies by agitation of AYSS is threatening to create severe repercussion in the valley the results of which may be very adverse.

Amarnath yatra has been one of the major religious tourism activities of the state, well managed by the local population, mainly Muslims of the area, till 2001 when Shri Amranath Shrine Board (SASB) was formed and it took over the arrangements of the pilgrimage. SASB had Governor of the state as the chief and Governor's Principal Secretary as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Gradually the SASB started asserting beyond its mandate, e.g. going on to construct shelters and structures on Pehalgam Golf Course, mainly due to the clout of the Governor who headed this body. In 2005 SASB, contrary to the laws, was granted the permission to use the forest land for the tourists. Incidentally, CEO's wife was the forest officer who cleared this highly illegal demand of the shrine board. This started the process, which ultimately went out of hands of the local government. Due to some intervention and some subtle pressures from the higher ups the matters have come to a sorry pass. While Government initially opposed the order of the forest department, the high court stayed Government's decision. Following this the state Govt.'s buckling and transferring, and then cancelling the land transfer, to SASB started the process which today is threatening to destroy the efforts towards peace built over the period of decades.

It is interesting to note that Amaranth yatra by Hindus is rooted in one of the most mixed support structures; the cave where shrine is located was discovery of a Muslim Shepherd, Malik, in 1850s, since when the pilgrimage picked up. The descendents of the Malik family have been part of the management of the yatra till 2001. With SASB taking over, it started giving a Hindu tilt to the organizing process and the promotion of yatra went on at a hectic pace. The result was that there occurred a great increase in the number of pilgrims, from 12000 in 1989 to 400,000 in 2007. The period of yatra was extended from 2 weeks to 10 weeks and this resulted in adverse environmental effects, tons of human excreta and plastic material converted the nearby beautiful Lidder River into a sewer. It was one of the major reasons for melting of lingam, revered by the devotees, and attempts were made to put it into shape by putting dry ice. While BJP is calling for restriction of pilgrims to a particular number, e.g. 150 per day in Gangotri and Gomukh, for environmental reasons, here the unrestricted number of pilgrims and the aggressive promotion of the same are destroying the ecological balance of the hills. Also due to the patronage of the Governor the Shrine board virtually took over the functioning of Pehlagam Development authority.

The order of the Government transferring the land to SASB did result in the threat perception in already intimidated the Kashmiri residents of the valley. The perception that the land is being given to change the demographic composition of the valley affected the social thinking. One of the reasons for this perception was the common knowledge there that such a suggestion was given by Shimon Peres, the Israeli Foreign minister to Lal Krishna Advani, a few years ago. The spontaneous breaking out of protest in valley was used by Syed Ali Shah Gilani, belonging to the extremist faction of Hurriat Conference, who went on to fan the fire during the agitations and further aggravated the situation by calling for boycott of polls to be held in October,.

As such what a tragic pass we have landed ourselves into. Kashmir was the place of highest synthesis of diverse streams of our culture. Kashmiriyat stood for values of Vedanta, teaching of Gautam Buddha and the Sufi saints. Sixty years since the treaty of accession has been signed, its clauses were violated with impunity and military solution has been the main instrument of our action. The army which is meant to fight the external enemy is the mainstay of our policies there. This needs severe introspection.

The people of Jammu also have suffered due to their problems being neglected. There is a widespread feeling that problems of Valley are being addressed by the Center and Jammu region is being neglected. Genuine effort for all round redressal of grievances is the need of the hour. The incitement by sectarian elements and the communal elements has to be confronted head on by an active process of reconciliation, restoration of peace through dialogue with all the grieving parties and other components of civil society. There is an urgent need to recognize the wrongs done in last few years, wrongs which are contrary to the forest laws, and the norms about shrines. No where in the country any holy place has been allotted any part of a forest land, nowhere in the country the assertion and dominance of temple trusts or Dargah boards has been meekly accepted beyond the confines of its own boundaries, as in the case of SASB.

* We urge upon you sir, to take the matters with utmost seriousness and take further the efforts, undertaken by your Government, which are just a small beginning.

* Foremost of the measures needed is to lift the blockade of the valley by the agitators and to restore the supplies to the valley and transport of fruits from valley to the markets of the country.

* We urge upon you to immediately convene a high powered meeting involving SASB, Kashmir's Action Committee, representatives of political parties and civil society to find a peaceful solution to the imbroglio.

* We urge upon you to review the functioning of SASB which has assertively acted in direction which are contrary to norms.

* The society must prevail upon the communal and sectarian elements to postpone any call for agitation till normalcy is restored in the valley, and the results of dialogue process are made public. We are sure you will consider these proposals to ensure peace and amity in the country as a whole.

Anuradha Bhasin Jamwal
Apoorvanand
Arundhati Dhuru
Dhruv Sangari
Dunu Roy
Ganesh Devy
Ghanshyam Shah
Indu Prakash Singh
Jatin Desai
Jaya Mehta
(Dr) KM Shrimali
(Prof) KN Panikkar
Kumkum Sangari
Lalit Surjan
Mahendra Sangari
Mansi Sharma
Nandita Das
Ram Puniyani
(Dr) Saif Ahmed Khan
Sandeep Pandey
Shabnam Hashmi
Tapan Bose
Uma Chakravorty
Vineet Tiwari
Zafar Agha