Unarmed Freedom Fighters

Kashmiri Muslims have broken new ground by waging a non-violent separation struggle but the Indian authorities seem unsure how to respond

Muzamil Jaleel *

Flowing black beard, a headband with "Allahu akbar" (God is greatest) and a fluttering green flag. This has been the trademark picture of the recent azadi (freedom) processions of Kashmir, where hundreds of thousands marched the streets of this disputed Himalayan region seeking a separation from India.

From a distance, it seems as if the past has returned to Kashmir. But the present contains an irrefutable truth: in place of guns, the people carry slogans. The politics of protest this time is not about the argument of power, but about the power of argument.

Kashmir is the first conflict-ridden Muslim region in the world where people have consciously made a transition from violence to non-violence, and this includes the staunch Islamists too. In fact, the wisdom behind the use of arms to fight a political struggle was being silently debated within Kashmir ever since 9/11 blurred the lines dividing terrorism and genuine political movements. The deteriorating situation inside Pakistan too had tilted the balance towards a peaceful struggle.

Read on: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/31/kashmir.india

* (Muzammil comes from humble Kashmiri roots, with a strong sense of family and tradition. He was born in a village in south Kashmir's Baramullah district. As a journalist, has has shed vital light on conflict in Kashmir for the last decade. He has broken more than 50 stories, including the infamous sex scandals. He is also an intrepid reporter of rare courage. On one fellowship, he was a visiting scholar at the University of California-Berkeley. On another, he worked in London for the Guardian, the Observer, and the Times. His honors include a coveted Sankrit Award for excellence in Indian journalism and literature. He also won a Kurt Shorck Award for International Journalism administered by Columbia University.He spent two months looking at America, starting in New Orleans and ending up on Capitol Hill. Somewhere in there, he found time to get married in Portland, Oregon)

Kashmir Is Simmering

S.A.S.

On August 30 the patron of People's Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Muhammad Sayeed warned New Delhi of "bigger rebellion" if it ignored the Kashmir Coordination Committee (CC) and took "unilateral decision" on land crisis. The New Delhi, however, did not pay any heed to Sayeed's warning and a day after his statement did exactly what the former chief minister feared.

If media reports are anything to go by then the brief lull in Kashmir, due to severest-ever curfew imposed by authorities, will not last long. The volcano is simmering and it can explode at any time.

Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS), which spearheaded the agitation in Jammu, called off protests after the government agreed upon transfering 100 acres of land at Baltal and Domail on temporary basis.

A curfew was imposed in Jammu to stop people from participating in a "victory rally".

"More than 300,000 people may take part (in the victory rally) and there's a threat of militants disrupting the rally," Deputy Commissioner of Police Jammu, Mandeep Bhandari said.

Although, a juiliant crowd of hundreds of people defied curfew and filled the streets. Ironicaly, the policemen deployed to stop processions were seen dancing with the marchers.

"The shrine board will now exclusively use the land during the pilgrimage period," said Leela Karan Sharma, the head of SAYSS. "We are temporarily suspending our strike."

The decision, albeit, did not come as a surprise. Reports were doing rounds for more than a week that the honchos in New Delhi were making plans to temporarily transfer 100 acres of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) with an intent to "tackle Jammu agitation".

“We are placing so much emphasis on reducing the agitation in the Jammu region because as long as that agitation persists, the likelihood of the crowd coming onto the National Highway will remain,” India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) MK Narayanan told Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN TV channel’s programme ‘Devil’s Advocate’ (Aug 30). Interestingly, the same man had earlier denied reports of highway blockade by Hindu fanatics.

Narayanan admitted the transfer of land to Amarnath was wrong and should have been avoided.

Reports also suggested that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) was directed to take "proper stock of the situation" in the state before any such move was announcement.

Soon after the news of land transfer reached Kashmir, hundreds of protestors filled streets across Srinagar city to protest against the "unilateral" decision, and demanded the release of seperatist leaders. Police used teargas and fired into air to disperse the protestors. At least, ten protestors were hurt.

The protest took place when authorities briefly relaxed a curfew imposed to prevent pro-freedom rallies.

While the pro-India National Conference (NC) and Congress welcomed the decision, People's Democratic Party (PDP) condemned it and termed it "a move to disrespect the popular sentiments in Kashmir". The party president Mehbooba Mufti said that any decision on this "sensitive matter" should have been taken only with consensus and after consultation with the Kashmir Coordination Committee and civil society.

"All voices of peaceful dissention in Kashmir have been muzzled throwing democratic norms to winds and by contrast the government has gone out of its way to provide space to the sword wielding cadres' of communal forces who are receiving ideological and material reinforcement from outside the State," she said. "Our party had cautioned the Government of India against any such approach, but unfortunately no consensus was created between the political parties in Kashmir on the solution."

Strong condemnations also came from the Coordination Committee (an amalgam of Hurriyat, and representatives of various political, religious, social and traders organizations). The decision can further deteriorate the situation in the crippled valley. However, in the wake of any untoward incident, the police and paramilitary forces have been armed to teeth to quill the protestors with "iron fist". Anticipating a mass uprising in the valley, New Delhi has already airlifted thousands of canes and tear smoke canister to Kashmir.

The government has misread the equation and it is repeating the same old mistake again.

Amarnath Land Row: Towards a feasible solution

Syed Ali Safvi

The crisis in Jammu and Kashmir are compounding with each passing day. The two regions of the state are up against each other over a stretch of land. The administration is undecided on how to deal with the present turmoil. Going by the present ground realities, there seems no light at the end of the tunnel.

Here are some remedial measures through which the crisis in Jammu and Kashmir could be mitigated.

1) All the members of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), including the chairman, and of Mata Vaishno Devi Board (SMVDB) should resign and a new board should be constituted, comprising members of Hindu community belonging to the state, preferably Kashmiri Pandits. The government officials and politician should not be allowed to become members of the board. The board must be completely apolitical, governed byreligious heads having no political association with any political party, like in case of the Dargah (Khawaja Moin-ud-Din Chishti) Trust and Nizamuddin Dargah Management Committee (NDMC).

Likewise, members of Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Auqaf Trust (JKMAT) should also resign and the management of trust should be handed over to a body of Muslim scholars, belonging to the state. Politicians should not have any say in the Trust affairs.

2) Limit the number of yatris to Shri Amarnath Shrine as has been done in the case of Kailash Mansarovar (China) and Gangotri & Gamukh (Uttarakhand). Such a restriction will ensure smooth and effective management of yatra. It will also ensure foolproof security to yatris. Furthermore, it will also keep Kashmir's ecology, environment and fresh water sources ("80 per cent of drinking water to Kashmir comes from the streams of Lidder and Sindh, which are fed from glaciers through which the yatra takes place") clean. Experts believe that if the growing number of Yatris to the cave is not checked "it would render Kashmir fresh water streams un-ustable in the next two years." The experts have also opined that the increasing number of yatris would impact the area's wild life, and "generate huge amounts of green house gases." Nitish Sengupta Committee, which was formed after 1996 snowstorm in which 273 yatris died, too had recommended in its report (December 1996) that the number of yatris visiting the cave be regulated.

3) Limit the period of yatra. A two-month long yatra does not make any sense. Even the custodian of the Chhari Mubarak or holy mace, Shri Mahant Depender Giri has questioned the logic behind the extention of yatra period, which he says is "unspiritual". The time period of yatra should be curtailed by one month.

4) The Indian government should throw open the Srinagar-Muzaffarad road for trade so that Kashmiris don't feel choked and enslaved. Interestingly, during his visit to Kashmir in April this year, Indian Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said that the trade on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route could begin within three months. However, when fruitgrowers, facing Hobson's choice, tried to take their fruit, rotting by the roadside owing to the attacks and blockade, to Muzaffarabad they were showered with bullets.

5) Indian Prime Minister should personally intervene into the matter and hold unconditional talks with the members of Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS) and members of the Coordination Committee comprising both factions of Hurriyat, and representatives of various political, religious, social and traders organizations to chalk out an amicable solution accepted to both the parties.

6) The Jammu & Kashmir Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Act, 2001 should be changed owing to its communal nature. The law is against "Kashmir's syncretic traditions". Experts believe that "it (the law) is a poorly conceived law, having neither considered an environmental impact assessment nor having kept the environmental concerns in sight."

Kashmir's Mass Uprising

Syed Ali Safvi

Kashmir is burning. Jammu is not calm either. Both the regions, sadly, are up against each other over 40 hectares of forestland. So far more than 30 protestors have lost their lives in police firing in both the regions. The state is well and truly divided along regional lines, or, as some would prefer to say, along religious lines.

It all started when Jammu and Kashmir government decided to transfer 40 hectares of forestland in Kashmir to a Hindu Shrine Board, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). The decision triggered unprecedented protests in the valley where the order was seen as a conspiracy "to change the demographics of the valley". The state of Jammu and Kashmir enjoys a special status within the Indian constitution. According to Article 370 non-state subjects cannot purchase land in Kashmir.The land transfer issue united the sequestered Hurriyat Conference (HC). The protests snowballed into public uprising, and with mounting public pressure People's Democratic Party (PDP), a strong ally of the ruling coalition government in the state, pulled the plug on the government. PDP's withdrawal triggered a major political crisis in the state and paved the way for yet another spell of Governor's rule in the State - for the fifth time since 1977. The governor, N.N. Vohra - who also heads the SASB - rescinded the order.

While the protests in Muslim-majority Kashmir died out with the revocation of the order, the Hindu-majority region of Jammu erupted against the decision and accused the governor of "succumbing to the pressure of separatists and hardliners".While the Jammu was burning, the valley was relatively calm until Hindu fanatics in Jammu imposed economic blockade on the valley. Muslim truckers were beaten to pulp and vehicles were burnt by a band of Hindu vagabonds. Brandishing swords, tridents, petrol bombs and country-made pistols, they attacked Muslims and Mosques, and killed, looted, ransacked at will.

In the wake of economic blockade, Kashmir was reeling under an acute scarcity of essential commodities and, most importantly, life-saving drugs. Hundreds of fruit-laden trucks were stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar highway and at Srinagar's fruit mandi. Owing to the blockade of the highway by the sword-wielding mob of Hindu fanatics, these trucks were unable to reach their respective destinations. The Kashmir Fruit Growers Association (KFGA), in order to sell their harvest, decided to march towards Muzaffarabad. Hurriyat Conference issued "Muzaffarad chalo" call. A sea of around 1.50 lakh Kashmiris marched towards Muzaffarad on August 11 and bullets were showered on the caravan when it reached Uri (some 100 kilometres from Srinagar). The executive member of Hurriyat Conference (Mirwaiz), Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who was leading the protest along with Shabir Ahmad Shah, was killed along with eight others in an unprovoked firing by troops.

Interestingly, during his visit to Kashmir in April this year, Indian Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said that the trade on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad route could begin within three months. "The slow movement forward in this regard was due to the political instability in Pakistan, which now is over with the installation of a democratically set up government there," Ramesh opined. But when fruitgrowers, facing Hobson's choice, tried to take their fruit, rotting by the roadside, owing to the attacks and blockade, to Muzaffarabad they were showered with bullets.

The killing of Aziz spread like a wild fire across the valley and people took to streets to give vent to their pent up anger. Chairman of his faction of Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has accused the troops of "target killings". Night protests are back in Kashmir, particularly in the Srinagar city. The protests are reminiscent of the protests witnessed in early-90s when people would throng the streets and the Valley reverberated with anti-India, pro-freedom and pro-Pakistan slogans. The land issue has united the Kashmiris, irrespective of the political divide.Hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris took to streets on August 16 to mourn the death of Sheikh Aziz. The protestors, carrying green colour flags emblazoned with "Allah-o-Akbar" (God is Great), travelled to Pampore, the hometown of the slain leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz. A long cavalcade of buses, two wheelers, trucks, private cars, load carriers, auto rickshaws carrying mourners drove towards Pampore. It seemed as if all roads were leading to the Saffron town. A congregation of over one lakh assembled in the Eidgah of Pampore where the Hurriyat leaders, including Mirwaiz Umer and Syed Ali Geelani, addressed the massive gathering. Mirwaiz asked New Delhi to withdraw armed forces from J&K, revoke Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), release all political detenues from the State and throw Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road open for "free trade and travel". While Syed Ali Geelani said that the Kashmiris had launched a movement of 'Azadi Bara-e-Islam' (freedom for Islam) "which would be carried to its logical conclusion." He also asked the pro-India politicians to immediately resign or else face 'social boycott'.

Following Geelani's announcement, Mohammad Yaqoob Vakil, an old time colleague of Mirwaiz Umer Farooq who had earlier this year migrated to pro-India People's Democratic Party (PDP) returned back to Hurriyat on the same evening. The mood in Kashmir is upbeat. It seems this time Kashmiris will not settle for anything less than freedom. Pro-India parties and leaders are facing the wrath of irate protestors. In an unprecented move, Pakistani flag was hoisted atop the house of former forest minister and senior PDP leader, Qazi Muhammad Afzal at Ganderbal (some 30 km north of Srinagar) on the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day.Despite several rounds of All Party Meetings in Delhi and Jammu, the government has miserably failed to break the ice. Interestingly, when an all-party delegation visited the state to hold parleys aimed at solving the Amarnath land row, the delegation did not deem it necessary to hold talks with any of the separatist leaders or, more importantly, the fruit growers. Today the mood in Kashmir is different. Kashmiris, irrespective of age and ideology, want freedom. The valley is abuzz with pro-freedom slogans. Thanks to the land row, secessionist groups in the valley have regained their lost political ground. The Kashmiri youth are seen rallying around the seperatists, an ominous sign for New Delhi.

"National Conference and PDP may command the loyalty of the old and middle-aged, the youth-Kashmir's future-are with (Yaseen) Malik and those like him who speak the language of self-determination and empowerment," feels Prem Shankar Jha, India's leading strategic analyst.

The issue can destabilise the Indo-Pak peace process and with mounting international pressure on India over the killing of peaceful protestors, it has a potential to sabotage the Indo-US nuclear deal.The Pakistani government condemned "the excessive and unwarranted use of force against the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir". India retorted back, saying "These statements constitute clear interference in the internal affairs of an integral part of India - such statements by leaders of a foreign country do not help the situation. Nor do they contribute to creating the atmosphere necessary for the dialogue process between India and Pakistan to move forward."

Amnesty International has asked the Indian government to "ensure that it protects the right to life in accordance with its responsibilities under international law".

However, the fight is no longer over the land row, but for the "final settlement of Kashmir issue".

"Now, people want freedom from Indian occupation. The land issue is a thing of the past. Neither is there any need to talk about this issue nor would I ever talk on the subject to the (Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh) Samiti," Geelani said.

Presently there does not seem any solution in sight. The issue has slipped out of the hands of Indian government and the J&K Governor. It seems very unlikely that they would be able to put any brakes on the incessant protests. New Delhi didn't react fast enough when the land issue first came to fore. In fact, it allowed the situation to take alarming proportions. Had the honchos in New Delhi acted proactively, the situation could have been quite different today.

Of Omar's Labour and Farooq's Faux Pas

The protest over land refuses to die down. People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress had already earned the wrath of Valleyites and Jammuites alike, and now National Conference (NC) too has landed itself in trouble over the land row. The party was believed to take advantage of PDP and Congress' misdemeanour, but the statement of Farooq Abdullah that land be transferred to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has dented the prospects of NC quite badly. It has further opened the wide between the father-son duo of Farooq and Omar. When the land transfer issue rocked the Valley last month the NC patron was not in the State, in fact he was, as in the past, enjoying his stay in London while the Valley was burning. The NC president handled the crisis like a mature statesman and ensured that his party stays out from the quagmire in which Congress and PDP saw themselves sinking deep down the throat. His captivating speech in the House of Parliament not only won him many admirers in the UNPA camp, including its chairperson, but also presented him as a politician with brains - a rare combination these days. Even his beta noires were bowled over by his gesture.

There is no denying the fact that the father-son duo do not share a cordial relationship and are often seen at loggerheads. Omar has more often than not admitted that he is not so close to his father. "We have a formal relationship. He's not my buddy. I went to a boarding school and was a self-sufficient child.... We are twodifferent personlaities," Omar admitted. (Times Life, August 28, 2005).

The statement of Farooq about the land transfer has not only ruined the hard labour of Omar, but has further widened the gap between the father-son duo, the repercussion of which will soon be felt in the NC camp, most probably before the forthcoming Assembly elections.

There has been a spilit in NC for quite long now owing to 'generation gap' and different modus operandis. There are two camps within 'one' NC camp, comprising Omar's loyalists and Farooq's loyalists. And both the leaders have disliking for the other. Omar has over and again publicly vowed that the blacksheeps will be ousted from the party before the forthcoming Assembly elections, as was seen in 2002 when the then top notch and self-claimed 'credible' leaders of the party, including some ex-ministers, were 'shown the door'. The stage is set for the repeat of 2002.

In his guest column in 'Covert' magazine (July 1, 2008), Omar had overtly admitted that he tend to find difference between his colleagues and his father's colleagues. After Farooq's faux pas, the difference might have grown much further. Omar would be looking forward to tighten the noose on his father's loyalists, particularly those who are endorsing his father's statement. All said and done. Farooq has miscalculated the equation entirely and in a bid to win a battle he has taken his party to a stage where they might lose the war itself. His political experience notwithstanding, this is the high time Farooq leave his ego aside and learn some politics from his son.