Mumbai Civil Society groups and individuals

April 20, 2005

 

Statement of Solidarity

 

We, the representatives of different people's movements, civil society and concerned citizens express our solidarity with the people of Kashmir on this Day of Solidarity.

 

We note with apprehension and regret that the 16-year-old armed conflict in Jammu and Kashmir has affected a large number of people, resulting in the loss of innocent lives, heightened conflict in the subcontinent, drainage of revenue, large deployment of military and even arms race. The political hierarchy in both the countries tried to take advantage of the situation, rather than addressing the core issues.

 

We are also aware that the massive militarisation of the valley through half-a-million personnel has resulted in gross human rights violations. An estimated 8,000 people have disappeared since 1990 and their fate is not known. More than 25,000 children have been orphaned; according to official figures, nearly 35,000 people got killed (unofficial sources put the number at 90,000); thousands widowed, and the democratic rights curbed. The mainstream media distorted many a time the issues, often narrowing down it to communal conflict, or falling upon the rhetoric of patriotism.

 

Similarly, we deplore the atrocities committed by the militants and the tight control exercised by the Pakistani military over people living in Kashmiri territories held by them. Reign of terror, either by the militaries or the militants, would prevent people from making a fearless choice and exercising their democratic rights.

 

There were high hopes from the present state government when they were elected to power. However, it is sad to notice that things have not improved much since then. The present government, which made human rights an election plank had promised people, through their Common Minimum Programme (CMP), that human rights violations would be stopped at any cost and the perpetrators would be punished. However, custodial disappearances, extra-judicial executions and other human rights abuses continue in the state.

 

While welcoming the different confidence building measures initiated by the governments of Pakistan and India, we request the concerned parties to include the people of Kashmir in this process of bringing in peace. We believe in people's participation in all efforts to restore normalcy and attempts to impose any kind of political settlements, which only suits the political vested interests in Pakistan and India, would be strongly opposed.

 

The peace processes between the people of Pakistan and India, notably that of Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy, are rays of hope in the dark. We extend our support for all such efforts which reinstate the people to people dialogue.

 

We believe that the first step towards resolving the present conflict is to get into a dialogue with the people. For that, it is required to restore all democratic rights, including scrapping of Section 144 clamped in the valley for 16 continuous years. Calling halt to all human rights abuses and enforced disappearances should be done with immediate effect. All perpetrators responsible for enforced disappearances should be punished under the law. The Government should appoint an independent commission to probe into all enforced disappearances (as done in other countries) to identify the state and non-state actors responsible.

 

Peace, as we understand, would come only with justice. Neither military, nor militancy can bring in peace if terror and violence is the rule of day. Non-violence would bring together the people and help them make decisions for their future, bereft of fear. We would support and involve with such a struggle for justice.

 

Signed by:

 

Jst. Krishna Iyer

Retd. Judge, Supreme Court of India

 

Adml. L. Ramdas

Former Chief of Staff, Navy

Chairperson, Pakistan India People’s for Peace and Democracy

 

Medha Patkar

Narmada Bachao Andolan

National Alliance of People’s Movement

 

Asghar Ali Engineer,

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism

 

Vijay Tendulkar,

Playwright

 

Anand Patwardhan

Documentary Film Maker

 

Thomas Kocherry,

National Fishworkers Forum

World Forum of Fisher Peoples

People’s Political Front

National Alliance of People’s Movements

 

Harsh Mander

Centre for Equity Studies

 

Jean Dreze

Member, National Advisory Council

Delhi School of Economics

 

Nikhil Wagle

Editor, Mahanagar

Media for People

 

Jatin Desai

Former Editor, Mid-day

Pakistan India People’s for Peace and Democracy

 

Sanjay Mangla Gopal

Samajwadi Jan Parishad

National Alliance of People’s Movements

 

Ulka Mahajan

Sarvhara Jan Andolan

Shoshit Jan Andolan

 

Dutta Iswalkar

Girni Kamgar Sangathana

 

Meena Menon

Focus on Global South