The Hindu : Ready for talks, says Hurriyat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 01, 2002

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Ready for talks, says Hurriyat

By Shujaat Bukhari

Abdul Gani Bhat

SRINAGAR SEPT. 30. Rejecting that elections would help in resolving the Kashmir problem, the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) today said it was ready to talk with New Delhi first as part of a comprehensive process involving Pakistan for finding a durable solution. Justifying the armed struggle, it said that Pakistan had no role in violence and it was an "indigenous movement."

In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, the APHC chairman, Abdul Gani Bhat, termed the electoral process as "undemocratic and unjust" which he said "is just to divert the attention from the real problem". Taking cover under what he called "the views of conscientious observers and journalists," Mr. Bhat maintained that elections had no relevance as far as the demand for right of self-determination was concerned. Attributing the voter turnout in the first and second phases of elections to religious faith, local rivalries, the presence of army in border areas, somewhere the issue of Azadi and coercion by security forces, he said "it was a process to overrun the people's desire in Kashmir".

Mr. Bhat strongly defended the Hurriyat decision to stay away from the polls saying that it was taken on the basis of "principles and needs as demanded by the situation''. He accused countries such as the United States of having "double standards" in addressing the issues. "In East Timor and Kashmir the problem is same. But there you are going for plebiscite and here elections are being thrust to further complicate the situation," he said. He denied that by having a new government in place, there would be any change vis-a-vis the Kashmir issue. "One will go another will come with similar agenda of targeting the innocent people," he said.

In a significant shift in the Hurriyat's stand, Prof. Bhat justified the armed struggle saying that it was part and parcel of democracy. "We are pitted against a mighty nation which at no 2 in the world after China and those who believe in justice come and help us," said the APHC chairman justifying the role of foreign militants as well.

"We there is repression the violent means are bound to be there," he said adding that these two things go together in U.S. and Iraq relations, NATO and Kosovo, U.S. and Vietnam. Look what happens in Palestine, an elected president is being asked to step down, what is this," asked Mr. Bhat.

Even the United Nations charter allows use of force against repression, he explained. Mr. Bhat also defended Pakistan saying that it was not involved in trouble in Kashmir. Asked about its role in militancy he said, "it is an indigenous movement and all that is said about (Pakistan) is a lie". "Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris and we will decide about its future," he said.

The APHC chairman said the Hurriyat was ready for talks with India first but with on condition that New Delhi accepts that "we will later talk to Pakistan to find a durable solution".

"If India and Pakistan come one step forward we will move ten steps," he said adding that only through dialogue the problem can be solved.

He said the Hurriyat had so far only talked to the Kashmir Committee, which was not set up by the Government, and not K.C. Pant, a Government-appointed interlocutor. "We made it clear to them also. You need to talk with a purpose and not for the pleasure of it."

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Ready for talks, says Hurriyat