'Voices of moderation in Kashmir need support'

Dr Rekha Chaudhry, visiting scholar, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), on Monday said that struggle for "separatism has not ended" in Indian occupied Kashmir and that "popular sentiment for autonomy, freedom remains, as it is." "It is reflective of the collective psyche of the people," she stated, pleading that peace has to come, and that "there has to be some dignity to be generated and some healing to be found."
Dr Chaudhry said voices of moderation in Kashmir require to be supported and strengthened.
The seminar on 'Separatist Politics in Kashmir' held under the auspices of the South Asia Studies, was attended by academia, scholars, students, media and officials, at the John Hopkins University.
About the recent municipal elections, she said, "15-20 percent people participated," while in Srinagar people "kept away from the polls," despite the fact that the authorities had done everything to ensure better security arrangements in the capital of the held Kashmir.
In an academic treatise, Dr Rekha dwelt at length on the genesis of the problem, dilating on the various separatist organisations active in Indian occupied Kashmir, and the history starting from the Dogra Raj, 1931.
Asked does India accept Kashmiris as a party, she said India would not say that, and added, the striving in Kashmir was a mixture of violence and discontentment.
The scholar said, she could not say if internal autonomy could be an option, in resolving the Kashmir issue.
Of the recently held municipal elections in occupied Kashmir, she added that in the Srinagar city, where there was the least threat of violence, there was "a willing total boycott" of elections.
"There are different reasons why people participate in elections, or otherwise," she commented.
Of India-Pakistan talks, she said it was imperative to continue with the dialogue process- "let's be on the table."
About the possible solutions, she said, these could be semi-sovereignty, autonomy, "as India is not going to leave the land." She, however, agreed that India reiterating that Kashmir remains an integral part of the state, could not satisfy the fighting Kashmiris.
However, she stated, Kashmiris have no choice but to negotiate with India.
Of the APHC, she said it has for long been a voice of moderation, so much so that India and Pakistan could both rely and benefit from it. According to her, the moderate Hurriyet leadership was in splinters.
She also referred to the two sessions of APHC talks with former Indian Home Minister L. K. Advani.
In response to a question, she agreed that "India did miss a lot of opportunities," because, she claimed that "Hurriyet moderates had been kneeling and saying we will deliver, give us something."
Dr Rekha disagreed with a questioner that Pundits in held valley were singled out and displaced, adding: "everybody was under terror." Pundits, she stated, were never part of the movement.
In the 1990, she said it was a kind of politics "that religious fundamentalists were also getting killed, dissenters were getting killed, Indian agents were getting killed, and Pundits as well were getting killed."
She, however, said it was not ethnic, while the question of violence in politics has continued since 1931; and claimed that Jammu Muslims were never part of it. Hindus and Budhists, she added, were easily identified with India.
The assertion that Kashmir is integral part of India, she said, was hard to sell. Vajpayee, she agreed had to refer to looking at and adherence to element of 'Insaniat' in finding a solution to the issue.
To a question, she said Kashmiris are "looking for symbols," such as start of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.
She said talk of autonomy resonates, and that National Conference did try to sell it in 1996, but it did not succeed.
On the matter of autonomy, she said it was important as to who was negotiating. She claimed that something nearer semi-autonomy could provide a solution.
Responding to a question, she said after killing of Ghani Lone, his son, Sajjad Lone emerged as a moderate voice.
Dr Rekha Chowdhary said Ali Geelani was supporter of the idea that Kashmir was an unfinished agenda of partition and that it would ultimately become part of Pakistan.
The JKLF leadership of Yasin Malik, she stated, had been successful in getting signed a petition for an independent Kashmir.
Of the violence, she said, it was now difficult to state "as to whose gun it is that kills the innocent in Kashmir"; and added, there was hardly a family left which had not been affected by wanton killing.
She said Kashmiris are disillusioned, and worried of the enormous cost of the struggle. People of the valley are being killed, in the name of sacrifices.
The visiting scholar of Jammu University, talked of democratic space, which she stated started in 1996 and by the year 2002, sufficient space was created.
About "the indigenous Kashmiri response of 1989," she said it started in the wake of 1987 assembly elections "which were perceived to be the most rigged elections in the history." "It was a Kashmiri response, because of the frustration that there is no political way left that the political elite could raise their voice," she said, adding that in the period, the first phase of militancy was seen in Kashmir which later became an armed militancy and a popular response. "It was result of the total collapse of political legitimacy."
Subsequently, she alleged that 'Jihadi' factor in the struggle was imminent, and referred to disbanding of the various 'Jihadi' outfits.