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| Fai outlined eight areas for establishing communal harmony | |
From Ghulam Nabi Fai, Monterey, California
Ghulam Nabi Fai, Secretary General of the ‘World Kashmir Awareness’, highlighted eight areas to create an atmosphere for communal harmony that will ultimately lead the people of Jammu & Kashmir to a meaningful and purposeful dialogue.
He was speaking at a Kashmir event near Naval Lodge Montere organized by the American Muslim Alliance which is headed by Dr. Agha Saeed, an eminent political scientist and a brilliant strategist.
The M.C. of the event was Agha Bilal Saeed, a well-known and prominent community activist. Mr. Mark Hinkle, former Chairman, the Libertarian National Committee also spoke at the occasion.
Dr. Fai elaborated the eight points as
i.The rights of all members of minorities in Jammu and Kashmir should be protected at all costs;
ii. All those persons who have been displaced from Jammu and Kashmir since 1947 should be encouraged to return;
iii.The members of the Pandit community displaced in the recent past should be facilitated to return and their rehabilitation guaranteed;
iv.The ‘Armed Forces Special Powers Act’(AFSPA) should be repealed as recommended by the leadership of civil society of India, like Justice Rajiner Sachar and Ambassador Kuldip Nayar;
v.The bunkers from villages and towns need to be dismantled;
vi.The release of political prisoners would go a long way to hasten the progress of peace and reconciliation in the region;
vii.The Kashmiris should be integral component of the ongoing peace process as they are the primary stake holders. They should be inclusive in the peace process with India & Pakistan as it will facilitate permanent, durable and honorable settlement of the Kashmir dispute;
viii.The leadership of both India Pakistan must recognize that there
can be no settlement, negotiated or otherwise, without the active and
full participation of the people of Jammu and Kashmir living on both sides of the Cease-fire Line, including the Kashmiri diaspora.
Fai emphasized that the resistance in Kashmir is not communal and should not be. The compulsions of Kashmir’s history and the demands of its future alike forbid religious conflict or sectarian strife.
It is important to note that the people of Kashmir should not
read their history wrong. It is a history of tolerance and amity between different religious communities.
Kashmiri culture has a long tradition of moderation and non-violence. This culture does not generate extremism or fundamentalism.
The people of Kashmir know that the conflict was never a fight between Hindus and Muslims. Nor was it a border dispute between India and Pakistan.
It has always been about the destiny, future and lives of 18 million people of Jammu & Kashmir, be they Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs or Buddhists. Can anyone deny the fact – of no small significance – that while the subcontinent under British rule was the scene of recurrent murderous strife, communal riots were unheard of in Kashmir?
That unquestionable fact brings out the real character of Kashmir’s heritage, Fai informed the audience.
When all is said and done, one simple fact stands out. The Kashmiri Muslims as such do have sentiments of regard and esteem for the Kashmiri Pandits which they cannot elicit from anyone else. Should this alone not be a basic consideration in our thinking about the future, Fai asked?
Mark Hinkle, speaking on the subject said Americans on the whole are ignorant about the situation in Kashmir. He told the audience that the policy makers including our Congressmen need to be educated and urged to take a principle stand on Kashmir.
Hinkle added that the world has changed after September 11,2001
but that does not mean that the people with genuine and just cause should be ignored. He said that it is an Americans tradition that when people demand human rights and human dignity, Americans feel morally obliged to help.
The non-violent and peaceful struggle of the people of Kashmir demands an urgent attention by the world community.
(Opinions expressed in write-ups/articles/Letters are the sole responsibility of the authors and they may not represent the scoopnews.in)
Editor, Scoop News.
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