[Imc-zimbabwe] {KAC-LIST} Ist Day of Two Days Peace Conference of Kashmir

[kacouncil at kashmiri.com]

Ist Day of  Two Days Peace Conference on Kashmir.

Kashmir has suffered misguided verbiage- Karan Parker

WASHINGTON: 2 August 2008: The 9th international two day peace conference on Kashmir concluded here today

The conference was spread over six technical sessions where in different dimension for Kashmir dispute and its resolution were deliberated upon. 

The first session titled as India Pakistan Peace Process, Various Perspectives was presided over by Mrs. Karen Parker, Chairperson Association of Humanitarian lawyers. The panelists in this session where Mr.Bharat Bushan, Senior Journalists and writer New Delhi, Mr. Ashan Iqbal, Senior leader  of  the Pakistan Muslim League (N, Ms. Farzana Raja Member Pakistan National Assembly, of Pakistan Peoples Party.

Mrs.Karen Parker in her opening remarks said Kashmir problem has suffered misguided verbiage.  And the Kashmir problem cannot be put on the back burner. If India and Pakistan are not moving forward the people of Jammu and Kashmir have to approach the international community because the moral and legal foundation for attainment of self-determination is an internationally recognized fact.

Mr. Bharat Bushan referred to both positive and negative facets of the peace process. The positives that he mentioned where the people to people contact like cultural exchanges, musical concert, hotline access between the two governments, flag meetings on the borders. High level official visits from both sides. And the negative aspects he referred to are recurrence of the blame game, the trust deficit and succumbing to internal political dynamics.      

Ms. Farzana Raja, said, “The Pakistan Peoples Party will support any solution agreeable to all three parties, namely, Pakistan, India and the Kashmiris,” based on UN Security Council resolutions. She said that the UN resolutions do not forbid negotiations or reaching to the international agreements as long as they lead to a just and fair settlement in accordance with these resolutions. She said that the people’s party   has never supported the idea of resolution of the Kashmir dispute through military means, covert or overt. She said violence had never solved any problem. 

Mr.  Ahsan Iqbal told the We need to strive for making the subcontinent a region of peace and of shared prosperity. He said India and Pakistan must adopt a composite, holistic approach in their dialogue and move on all issues simultaneously, instead of putting some on the front and some on the back burner. He said the solution of the Kashmir dispute would have an impact on the war on terror and blame game was no way out and it will have to end. He asked India to move beyond its present political agenda. It should be realized that the citizenry has become the real stakeholder”

The second technical session was chaired by Prof. Richard Sharpiro, of California institute of Integral Studies. The session was  tilted India Pakistan Relations Breaking the Deadlock. The panelists  included Prof. Rodey Jones, President Policy Architecture, Senator Ms. Aneesa Zeb Tahirkheli, Senator of Pakistan,  Justice Rajinder Sachar Former Chief Justice of New Delhi, Dr. Hameeda Nayeem , Kashmir University,  Prof. Nazir Ahmed Shawl, Executive Director Kashmir Centre London and Ambassador Muhammad Yusuf Buch, Former Senior Advisor to United Nations Secretary General.

Prof Rodney Jones said that the normalization process has prevented the risk of war. He advised people of Jammu and Kashmir to create a receptive audience at the international level.
Senator Aneesa Zeb pleaded that the Kashmir representatives should be taken on board before a final solution. She said respects for rights and freedom of Kashmiris is of  paramount importance. 

Dr. Hamida Nayeem, said that the best way forward is the recognition of the rights of people and delinking Siachian glacier and LOC by both and decommissioning of weapons by militants simultaneously revocation of draconian laws or release of prisoners.. 

Prof Nazir Ahmed Shawl said that one of the potent means of breaking  in the deadlock over Kashmir is to motivate the Kashmiri people to step forward and be part rather than subject of peace overtures. The Kashmiris having a vital stake in peace for the region must be willing to be accommodating, understanding and willing to engage. This obviously is manifestly dependent upon the willingness of Pakistan and India to adopt this all embracing approach.

Mr. Muhammad Yusuf Buch said, “ In Kashmir, campaigns of murderous cruelty have been sustained for decades; when the population gets tired of militant insurgency, the repression seems to subside but when an act of police or paramilitary savagery is protested, the orgy of murder and rape is re-enacted. Attrition of the local population never changes into acceptance of the occupation regime. 

He said, “Barbarous campaigns in Kashmir enjoy a complete immunity from criticism or condemnation by Indians. A huge blanket of self-righteousness is spread over the savage scene and the actual goings-on are permitted little exposure.

He Said, “The Indian posture of admitting no wrong is receiving much encouragement from the very world powers that loudly swear a commitment to human rights. He said the “respectful protection” given to the regime in Kashmir by governments and media is a depressing example of “double standards”. He said the braking of the Kashmir deadlock would be greatly facilitated by the presence of a mediator who would define the obligations of the parties, spell out the contentious issues and remove the confusion in order to narrow the gap.

The third session titled Kashmir Dimensions in Human Rights and Justice was chaired by Pandit Jatinder Bakshi , President Jammu and Kashmir Peace and Reconciliation. The panelist included Prof. Angana Chateerji, Major General Jamshid Ayaz Khan, Presiodent Institute of Regional Studies, Ms. Victoria Schofiled, Author, Taqdees Geelani, President Hope, Mr. Ved Bhasin Chairman Kashmir Times Group, Zahid G Muhammad, Columnist and author, Dr. Waleed Rasool, AJK University.

Prof. Angana Chateerji made a presentation which was a reflection of pain agony as it exists in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. She during her presentation sobbed, sighed and cried bringing tears in the eyes of the most receptive audience. She questioned the sagacity and wisdom of the international community and lamented their in action to bring a halt to a disquiet and appalling aberration to the human rights of people who it seemed are without human rights. 

Gen: Jamsheed Ayaz Khan asked for an end to human rights violations and he supported the on going dialogue between   India and Pakistan but invoked them to work for a qualitative change in the human rights scenario.

Ms. Victoria Schofeld showed her great concern to the human right abuses on and declared that abuses eat the very soul of mankind. Therefore, human rigts should be protected by the rule of law.

Dr. Taqdees Geelani pleaded for a space in the political process to women because according to her the women in Kashmir have been made a weapon of war.

Mr. Ved Bhasin said that there existed despair in the state of Jammu and Kashmir because a stony silence has been maintained by the Indian State towards the human rights crisis which is being faced by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He was also critical of the New Delhi press which usually ignores the ground realities and human suffering in Kashmir.

Zahid G Muhmmad said, Human Rights are a consequence and not cause of the conflict. There is need for addressing the conflict for find a just solution of the problem to see end of human rights abuses from any side.

Dr. Waleed Rasool complained that the sullen silence of the international community is a great integrative for all the people who believe in democracy, human Rights and Justice.