Forooq Siddiqi Writes to World Leaders

The Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Rajbagh, Farooq Siddiqi has appealed world leaders to take proactive steps to resolve the Kashmir dispute in line with the United Nations Charter.

In an open letter addressed to the leaders including Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan, Lakhdar Brahimi and Ms Augsen Sue Kyi, Farooq Siddiqi deplored that the so-called largest democracy of the world had abandoned the basic principles of democracy in Kashmir and was selective in the implementation of these principles while being filled with desire to occupy Kashmir by force.

The JKLF Rajbagh Chairman maintained that India continued to colonise Kashmir where the concentration of occupation army is the largest recorded in history.

Full text of Farooq Siddiqi’s letter is as follows:

Distinguished members of, The Elders

Mr. Nelson Mandela

Ms. Ela Bhatt

Ms.Gro Brundtland

Mr. Jimmy Carter

Mr. Muhammad Yunus

Ms.Graca Machel

Mr. KofiAnan

Mr. Lakhdar Brahimini

Mr. Fernando H Cardoso

Ms. Mary Robinson

Ms. Augsen Sue Kyi

One of the most debated issues in the world that has had the stature of fetching headlines of and on in the 20th century and still going strong, being debated at the dawn of 21st century as an unresolved issue, capable of dreadful transformation in a region which is already wrought with volatility.

Unfortunately for mankind the obscure solution to this issue is shrouded in a splashed blanket of distrust between India and Pakistan, in the geo strategical doctrine of powerful nations of the west, in the geo economic interests of rising economic giants of Asia.

As if it was not enough it has become an arm twisting apparatus for the western countries to gain concessions from India in the field of defense, economy or diplomacy, at the same time as a healing touch of diplomatic maneuver towards Pakistan when and if needed.

Historians, Archeologists, Writers, Poets, Travelers, have shrouded Kashmir in their own model.

In the mysterious finding of past, Professor von DenJenkin found Radio Activity in the Nara Nag temples of Kashmir in his book “Chariots of God”, while Sir Aural Stein described the importance of silk route in the ancient times that led to the lost tribe of Jews to have settled in Kashmir.

In medieval times it became a safe and welcoming shelter for Central Asian refugees who ran away from the terror unleashed by Czhengh's Khan.

In the history of Kashmir lies the occupation of Sikh rule, Pathan invasion, the infamous treaties of Lahore and Amritsar, the Dogra rule, the resistance and surrender of Sheikh Abdullah, the instrument of accession, then occupation of India and control of part of Kashmir by Pakistan.

We debated and heard of UN resolution in New York and agreements in Tashkent, Simla, Lahore and Islamabad.

In the chronology of history lies a nation most debated about.

While the powerful nations and their institutions propagate the values and ethics of functioning governance, by pre conditioning it to the respect for democratic principles and human rights.

Ironically they are unconcerned and silent at the stumpy standards of moral and ethical code of behavior of India 's function as a democratic country, thereby negating, the concept and essence of democracy.

India, deceitfully, publicizes and takes refuge in calling itself as “largest democracy of the world”. I do not refute the mathematical part of it, but I would say it is the largest non functional democracy.

The first Prime minister of India takes a solemn pledge in Indian parliament to allow referendum in Kashmir and never keeps it, the latest Prime minister of India talks of lofty principles of democratic functioning in the joint session of senate and congress of United states by saying that “Democracy is not defined by what is written in the constitution but how it functions on ground”.

While all these claims are made by India in international forums it continues to colonize Kashmir with its armed forces in history’s largest recorded concentration of army, unprecedented , be it the army of Alexander the Great or the occupations of Nazi’s in Europe.

If someone wants to find the reminiscence of 20th century colonial rule, Kashmir is the place to visit.

He will find how claimant of largest democracy in the world holds civilian people under siege with 800 hundred thousand army presence within its streets, villages and hamlets.

He will find how claimant of responsible democratic country uses inhuman laws and methods to stifle the voice of freedom

He will find how under the garb of fighting terrorism it uses its acquired military might to unleash terror in the Valley of Kashmir upon civilian people in order to negate the basic unalienable right to decide their future as guaranteed by international community.

He will find how willfully it shut its eyes to daily killings of men, women and children as a matter of routine governance in Kashmir.

Democracy do not function in the absence of freedom, it has no relevance when people are besieged.

If democracies commit human rights abuse that are committed in Kashmir by India, then democracies are not defined by moral power of people, but the powerful define democracy, thereby undermining its purpose of governance.

Kashmiries are not up against India in the of religion, however hard the Indians would want to portray it. The armed struggle by JKLF was not started to defeat Indian military might nor was it against non Muslims, but it was to get the focus of international community towards Kashmir, which is achieved

India has taken sanctuary and advantage in the changed perspective after 9/11. in the notion of “war against terror” to keep control of Kashmir and International community at bay.

It was evident during President Bill Clintons visit when the Massacre of Chati Singhpora was orchestrated

President Clinton made a reference to the Chatti Singhpora massacre after he spotted some Sikhs at the Atlanta function. "I see these Sikhs here, I thank them for coming here," he added.

"The most heartbreaking thing that happened on my trip to the Indian subcontinent," he continued, "is that about 40 Sikhs were murdered in Kashmir."

Clinton said, "People who don't want their turmoil to be eased used my trip there as a pretext to highlight the difficulties. And somebody, we don't know who, killed 40 perfectly innocent people -- who, I might add, had never before been targeted in all the conflicts in Kashmir."

It is erroneous for Indian Politicians and bureaucrats in Delhi to label Kashmir in the context of war on terrorism, because the issue existed before the war on terror started and further is ingrained in the denial of self determination of people, unlike in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine where the issue is based rather than denial of self determination.

The concept of war on terror is specific in its function but abstract in nature and without a definition. It can not be generalized to suppress the freedom struggle that is guaranteed as legitimate by the UN Charter.

India and Pakistan does not have the propriety rights to negate UN resolutions, these are promises of international community to Kashmiries.

Simla, Lahore, Tashkent, Islamabad, declarations are bilateral “resolves” between India and Pakistan based on what weaknesses and strengths both these countries had at each given times when these agreements were made. Kashmiries, were at no point of time part of these “resolves”

The distrust between India and Pakistan which has plagued the subcontinent in the second half of 20th century and impeded the development and progress of more than a billion people has to come to an end.

The issue of Kashmir is neither a dispute between its neighboring countries nor an issue of territorial demarcation. It is an issue of people whose dignity has been shattered by continuous occupation.

While Kashmir being one of the most recognized issues in this regard by the international community, we are faced with a belligerent country which calls itself as the largest democracy in the world.

It totally disregards, not only its own agreements and commitments that it has had with the international community but with its own people as well as with the people of Kashmir.

It denies the existence of an issue in the perspective of what a civilized developing democratic country (as it calls itself) must realize and in doing so; it does it without any remorse and responsibility.

It disregards a resolution that it accepted in UN and persistently gives preference to some covert instrument of accession, signed in the dead of a night by a 20th century Maharaja who himself was confined within his retreat, in order to keeps a nation hostage.

Can countries, because of their size and influence dictate the moral codes and conduct of international resolutions and agreements? If it is so, then we have yet to define our selves as civilized nations.

It is difficult to comprehend that how the largest so called democracy of the world abandons the basic principles of democracy in Kashmir.

India’s democracy is selective in its implementation and filled with desire to occupy

Kashmir by force.

Is it not the moral obligation of the international community to define and point out as to, where does the onus of responsibility lie for retracting from their own accepted stand?

India needs to divorce its efforts of trying to gain retreat in the changed perspective after 9/11, in the notion of war against terror to keep physical control of Kashmir and avert the pressure from International community.

It needs to prove its credentials through action in adhering to the democratic principle which it very proudly exaggerates in front of world community. Its credentials as a democratic country are jeopardized when one witnesses how it has, civilian people under siege with 800 hundred thousand army presence within its streets, villages and hamlets in Kashmir.

It needs to prove the democratic high morals which its present Prime minister daringly pronounced while addressing the joint congress of United States which I quote” Democracy is not defined by what is written in the constitution but how it functions on ground”

It needs to prove that it does not use its acquired military might to unleash terror in the Valley of Kashmir upon civilian people to enforce its will to negate the basic unalienable right of self determination of Kashmiries.

It needs to prove that colonization of Kashmir is a misconstrued concept and decolonization is as relevant today as it was, when it fought for its own freedom against British rule

It needs to accept the fact that people of Kashmir are not up against in the of religion but for an opportunity for a fair democratic verdict to choose their future course of their nation.

It needs to realize that human right violation can not be part of governance and realize that moral power of peoples will, can not be stifled by the might of military power indefinitely.

We saw that a functional democracy in Canada gave people of Quebec a chance through referendum for independence and did not send army in Quebec to occupy it with force; that is how a functional democracy works.

India must re-evaluate its democratic principles

Once visible and effective steps are taken by India and it reevaluates its functionality, models for solution of Kashmir will fall in place.

The solutions lies in the reiteration of India’s first stand about Kashmir that was made by India before international Community and in the parliament, that the solution of Kashmir shall be based on Right of people to choose their own political destiny as per the democratic principles of referendum and self determination.

This is not something that a supposedly largest democracy should shirk from, if it really believes in functional democracy.

Encouraged by your manifesto regarding the conflicts around the globe, I hope that your organization takes proactive steps to uphold the UN charter in the mountains of Kashmir.

Farooq Siddiqi

Chairman

Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front

Head Quarter,

Raj Bagh, Srinagar,

Kashmir