We Salute Our Journalists

Syed Ali Safvi

Press plays a pivotal role in shaping the public opinion. It plays an all important role in developing the conscience of the society. But, in a conflict zone, like Kashmir, it has a much greater responsibility.

Writing against the government policies or state highhandedness may be a routine and trouble-free affair for the journos living in apparently cozy atmosphere in Posh area or metro cities, but the same becomes a Herculean task for the scribes in a conflict area, where you are being literally watched and monitored 24x7. In such a hostile ambience where bulk of the reporters 'manufacture' reports, TRUTH becomes the first and foremost casualty. But then, there are few who muster courage and report TRUTH without caring about the consequences and we cannot but appreciate them.

In a recently organized seminar on "The Growth of Press in Kashmir" by the Mass Communication Professionals' Guild (MCPG), chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Haseeb Drabu – the chief guest on the occasion – made some mortifying and demeaning remarks about the Kashmir press. I fail to understand how come a learned person like Drabu, who is not completely alien to journalistic field given that fact that he edited 'Business Standard' for over six years, forgot the basic principle of journalism ethics which says, "you cannot be judgmental."

It sounds outré to hear a discourse on journalistic profession from a complete 'unprofessional' person who has spent a greater part of his life sitting in the palatial bungalows oblivion of the ground realities in Kashmir.

One cannot find the likes of Sanghvis, Aikman and Fisks every where, but we, Kashmiris, are proud of the fact to have produced some of the brilliant journalists who have stood through thick and thin and have often put their lives at risk in order to report the TRUTH. These journalists are far, far better than the Sanghvis who, more often than not, play into the hands of the establishment.

When human rights violations, fake encounters, custodial killings, et al are routine phenomenon and the order of the day, how can a story on Dal Lake or any developmental work, for that matter, make it to the front page.

…and where is the development any way! Laying down the railway lines, reopening the exhibition ground cannot be termed as real development. These 'developments' make no sense for the dejected Bemina residents where three chief ministers have failed to complete a single bridge from the past 15 years. These works make no sense when the roads narrate a dismal tale of the share callousness of the state government.

There is no denying the fact that the successive state governments have not only failed to develop the social infrastructure but have also miserably failed to protect the interests of the denizens of the state. Moreover, the pseudo-intellectuals add fuel to the fire. They have that uncanny knack of criticizing and castigating the Valley populace. Like in cricket it is easy to criticize a batsman from the stands, but only the batsman in the centre – engulfed by players – knows what he goes through. The same is the case with Mr. Drabu. His example is like those spectators only!

We have to be true to our own selves. As George MacDonald said, " Friends, if we be honest with ourselves, we shall be honest with each other." I believe many of us still lack that honesty.

According to the data several Kashmiri journalists, including a woman scribe, Asia Gilani (JKCCS), have been killed in the strife-torn region of Kashmir since the eruption of mass movement in 1989. Among others, the journalists who were killed while doing their duties include Mushtaq Ali (ANI), Ghulam Muhammad Lone (News Agent), Ghulam Rasool Azad (Paper Owner), Muhammad Shaban Wakeel (Al-Safa) and Pervaz Muhammad Sultan (NAFA).

Among those tortured and illegally detained include Muhammad Maqbool Sahil (Chattan), Rehmattullah Khan (Editor, Rehmat) and Syed Iftikhar Gilani (Kashmir Times/Voice of Germany). Gilani was released after several months of illegal detention during which he was subjected to severe torture. The other two journalists are still languishing in Indian jails.
We salute our journalistic fraternity for showing the utmost audacity and commitment in order to sketch a real picture of Kashmir, sometimes with the colour of their own blood. We salute those indefatigable journos who braved the tyrannical establishment and highlighted the atrocities of the forces and in the process laid down their lives for a cause – the cause so dear to their hearts, the cause of projecting the TRUTH.

Let the TRUTH prevail.

Towards Resolving The Kashmir Dispute

The solution of Kashmir imbroglio is accessible provided all parties are committed to resolve the dispute. Both New Delhi and Islamabad have been doing a lot in this regard but their efforts have not yielded concrete results. The last few years have witnessed a tremendous improvement in the relationship between the two nations. However, when Kashmir, which is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan, comes for discussion the atmosphere of hope turns into despair and both the countries are unable to come to a joint agreement. Both the nations must know that the good relations will last long only when the made-complex issue of Kashmir is resolved, otherwise such Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) will turn out to be fruitless only.

India and Pakistan are so allergic to each other that they are not going to accept any solution proposed by either of the two. The reason is that the leaders of the two countries don't trust each other and the history too does not augur well for them. Musharraf's proposals of 'demilitarization' and 'self-rule' was turned down by India without considering them worthy of giving a serious thought. In such a hostile and hopeless situation, the solution of Kashmir crises looks very much elusive. It is very pathetic on part of the Indian leaders not to come up with any proposal. If they don't like the proposal put forth by Musharraf why they don't then come up with their own proposal? This clearly shows how "serious" and "committed" they are to resolve the impending dispute over Kashmir. You cannot castigate others and yourself remain silent at the same time. Either you have to accept the proposals or come up with one. The history bears testimony to the fact that India and Pakistan can't reach any solution and the measures they take are only to make an impression in the international stage that Kashmir is being 'seriously' discussed. In fact, both the countries are merely killing time and the status quo will mean that Kashmir crises will continue unabated.

Pragmatically, there seems to be only one way out to put an end to nearly 60 years of mayhem in Kashmir: free and impartial plebiscite under the aegis of the United Nation as per the UN Resolution, with the inclusion of a third option, Independence, just to update the 'old' Resolution. Let the people of Kashmir decide about their future. The UN Resolution can peacefully and permanently solve the Kashmir dispute. After all, it was responsible to permanently solve the dispute in South Africa and Angola. Ironically, one of the largest democracies in the world, India, has refrained from granting the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir, which happens to be their democratic right.

The referendum should be held in two different phases:

Phase one: Independence or Union

Phase two: Union with India or Pakistan

(The second phase will come in effect only when the majority of the Kashmir population vote against Independence in the first phase).

Here are various measures which need to be taken to ensure free and impartial plebiscite:

i) Complete cease-fire: The two countries should announce the complete cease-fire along the Line of Control (LOC) to ensure that there is no untoward incident. The government of Pakistan should take militants into confidence. Mirwaiz Umer Farooq once said in an interview that Hurriyat can convince militants on cease-fire and if Hurriyat can do that then I believe Pakistan government should not find it an impossible task.

ii) Demilitarization: After the cease-fire is ensured, India should call back its troops from Indian Administered Kashmir (IAK) and, simultaneously, Pakistan, too, should follow the suit by calling back its troops from Pakistan Adminis-tered Kashmir (PAK).

iii) Post Demilitarization: After the demilitarization, the UN security forces should occupy both sides of the divided Kashmir. The UN can ask for reinforcement from any member country (of course, except from India and Pakistan) to maintain law and order in the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir and pave the way for an impartial and peaceful plebiscite. The observers of the United Nation should remain in Kashmir and should keep a close vigil on the scheme of things, and when the situation becomes conducive, the observers should go for referendum. Since, people of Kashmir do not want the solution of Kashmir on ethnic or religious basis, therefore, the Pandits who left Kashmir in one of the most unfortunate incident in the history of Kashmir (which of course was a handy work of the then Governor of J&K, Jagmohan), should be called back as an integral part of Kashmir's culture and identity, they too would decide the future of Kashmir along with their Muslim brethren.

The referendum, as already stated, should be held in two phases:

First Phase: - In the first phase people of Kashmir would vote between independence or Union. The referendum would be held under the aegis of the United Nations and one representative each from India and Pakistan would monitor the democratic exercise. If the people of Kashmir vote for the Union, then second phase of voting becomes inevitable.

Second Phase: - In the second phase of voting, people of Kashmir would choose between Union with India and Union with Pakistan. Their 'will' must only decide with which country they want to associate their future.

However, both the countries should respect the consequences of the electoral verdict without being egoistical. If Kashmir decides to accede to Pakistan then Jammu and Ladakh will, by default, go to India and in case the Kashmiris favour India, even in that case Jammu and Ladakh will remain a part of India because there is apparently no dispute over Jammu or Ladakh between India and Pakistan.

Therefore, there is no denying the fact that unlike the common belief, Kashmir can survive as an independent entity. If the people of Kashmir decide to be Independent, both India and Pakistan have to guarantee its Independence. For a start, Kashmir would not have its own currency but the currency of both India and Pakistan would be accepted as legal tender money. Kashmir, as an independent state, would have a free trade with both India and Pakistan and both the countries would invest in its economy. It is an admitted fact that only fruit and tourism industry, if properly managed, are enough to keep the economy of Kashmir afloat.

However, the onus is on the United Nation to finally show its existence and play the role to resolve the Kashmir dispute. In the world of globalization no country would like to be engaged in war or constant dispute. Similar is the case with India and Pakistan.

Now, this is the high time for both New Delhi and Islamabad to show flexibility and see the Kashmir imbroglio from a pure humanistic point of view instead of perceiving it from the nationalism angle. As things are going nobody can rule out the possibility of yet another full fledged war between the two estranged neighbors of Asia. Since, both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and if the war breaks out then the whole South Asia will face a disaster. Let the recent warmth at Havana last so that the situation takes a healthy turn. Hope we see a better tomorrow.