Geneva Declaration
Jammu
Kashmir International Peoples Alliance
People of
State of Jammu and Kashmir have been victims of aggression, extremism and
violence. Since 1947, they are forcibly divided and continue to suffer on both
sides of the Line of Control. This forced division and suffering must come to
an end, as people deserve to enjoy their fundamental human rights.
Democratic
and secular minded leaders of the former Princely State have met many times to
discuss and analyse the Kashmir dispute. These leaders belonging to various
parties met again in Geneva to examine the current situation. They unanimously expressed
their serious concern about on - going suffering and rise of extremism,
violence and intolerance.
After a
detailed discussion these leaders asserted that the Status – quo is not an
option. We loyal sons of the soil cannot remain quiet or neutral when our
sisters and brothers are victims of a proxy war and a proxy politics on both
sides of the forced division. For the sake of peace and stability and for the
future of our next generations, we have to challenge and fight those forces
which promote violence, extremism and religious hatred.
Our
suffering is not only due to policies of India and Pakistan; many Kashmiri
leaders are also responsible for our present situation and continued agony. It
is sad that some citizens of Jammu and Kashmir State are more loyal to either
India or Pakistan than to their motherland. For their petty interests and
political survival, they voluntarily became proxies of these countries and
continue to advance national interests of India and Pakistan.
We loyal
citizens of Kashmir strongly believe that these people DONOT want the status
quo to change, as it helps them to maintain their positions and continue to
benefit in name of the Kashmiri struggle. Furthermore, these so called leaders
do not represent true sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The loyal
sons of the soil not only examined the tribal invasion of 1947, and subsequent
provisional accession, and India’s assumed responsibilities under the
Instrument of Accession and under the UNCIP Resolutions; but they also
scrutinized the role of Pakistan and how Pakistani governments refused to
withdraw troops from the Kashmiri territories in accordance with the UNCIP
Resolution of 13 August 1948.
The
meeting emhasised that the Kashmiri struggle was to acquire our sovereignty and
national identity; but it is sad that our struggle was transformed in to a
territorial dispute in which a right to independence was blocked on suggestion
of Pakistan in 1948, and we only had to choose between India and Pakistan.
Furthermore, these leaders strongly criticized a deliberate policy of both
countries of keeping people of Jammu and Kashmir away from the process of
dialogue, whether it was at the UN or at bilateral level.
Some so
called Kashmiri leaders have made alliances and parties either to support the
cause of those who occupy us or to divide the people on religious and ethnic
lines. These proxy warriors are generating extremism and hatred to ensure that
people of Jammu and Kashmir remain divided, as that would make task of imposing
some kind of solution on the divided and frustrated people easier.
There are
other alliances which are inactive and have a laidback approach to the Kashmiri
struggle; and only show activity on certain dates and events. However, Kashmir
International Alliance will have a pro active and forward looking approach to
advance the cause of people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Loyal sons
of Jammu and Kashmir forcefully asserted that the State of Jammu and Kashmir is
one political entity, and must remain one. Those who want to divide our
motherland in name of religion or under some other formula are not our well
wishers, as they want to destabilize the region by another communal division.
The
meeting expressed deep concern on growing intrusions, and increased influence
of China in matters of Jammu and Kashmir. It is regrettable that some Kashmiris
are promoting an agenda of our occupier to make China a party in the Kashmir
dispute. It is bad enough that Jammu and Kashmir State is occupied by three
countries, but China was not and should not be a party to the Kashmir dispute.
The
leaders present in the meeting unanimously declared that they want to advance
pro peace and pro people policies that the suffering and miseries of the people
could be eradicated or curtailed. They will interact with all ethnic and religious groups,
journalists and human rights activists to build bridges of confidence and
tolerance; and formulate practical policies that can lead
to peace and amicable solution of the Kashmir dispute.
These
leaders unanimously:
1.
Declare that there is no military solution to the
Kashmir dispute and dialogue is the only way forward; and in order to support
the dialogue and peace process among all three parties to the dispute, politics
of gun, fear and intimidation must end. They emphasized that the Kashmir dispute
is not a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan; therefore, it could
not be resolved bilaterally. People of Jammu and Kashmir are the principal
party to this dispute and they must be part of the peace process;
2.
Assert that the State of Jammu and Kashmir, which
includes Gilgit Baltistan is one political entity and division of the State in
any form or shape will not provide a just and lasting solution; and that it
will further deteriorate the situation in Kashmir, as it will provide oxygen to
evils of communalism, sectarianism and hatred;
3.
Emphasis that the right to life is a fundamental
human right, and this right is badly violated in all parts of State of Jammu
and Kashmir, and in order to respect this right and safeguard this we request
all the armed personnel stationed there to exercise restraint, and move back to
their barracks. Also we request foreign militants to kindly leave Jammu and
Kashmir that we can start a new life; and we request local militants to
reconsider their policy and give peace a chance;
4.
Reaffirm their commitment to continue
their struggle to create a conducive environment in which people of the former
Princely State can determine their future;
5.
Note
that the Kashmir
dispute is a complicated one with many dimensions, and it may not be possible
to resolve it with one stroke, we therefore, suggest that it should be resolved
by step - by- step approach, and by putting confidence - building measures in place.
In this regard, all traditional routes should be opened that people of the
State of Jammu and Kashmir could interact with each other, and strengthen their
social, cultural and economic ties;
6.
Strongly believe that the State Subject Notification of 1927 is an
important law of Jammu and Kashmir, which defines who is a Kashmiri, and
protects our rights; we request Pakistani authorities to respect this law and
stop settlement of non - Kashmiris in Gilgit and Baltistan to change the
demography of the area;
7.
Request
Governments
of India and Pakistan to respect and honour civil and political rights of the
people of Jammu and Kashmir State; and also request government of Pakistan to
refrain from annexing areas of Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, as that will
further exacerbate the situation. Instead, we request the government to grant
autonomy to both areas under their control that the elected members could help
the local people with everyday social, political and economic problems;
8.
In this regard urge both
governments to repeal all such laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act, and Protection
of Pakistan Ordinanace which infringe fundamental rights of the people;
9.
Urge India and Pakistan governments to conduct an
impartial and transparent investigations to determine exact number of people
killed, imprisoned and disappeared since 1989; and those responsible must be
made accountable;
10.
Clarify that no single Kashmiri
political party or alliance has a representative character to speak on behalf
of all the people of Jammu and Kashmir, hence the peace process must be all
inclusive and broad based that all regional and ethnic leadership is
represented at the negotiating table;
11.
Call upon all the Kashmiri
leaders on both sides of the divide to forget bitterness and hatred of the
past, and agree on a common minimum programme for peace, stability and
prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir and South Asia.
The
following parties and groups have committed to their struggle in light of the
Geneva Declaration:
1.
Kashmir National Party
2.
United Kashmir People’s National Party
3.
Jammu and Kashmir Unity Forum
4.
Kashmir Diaspora Youth Movement
5.
Friends of Jammu and Kashmir
6.
United Kashmir Thinkers Forum
7.
Kashmiri Institute of Human Rights
8.
International Overseas Association
9.
South Asian Federation
10.
Swiss Kashmir Association
11.
Kashmiri Belgium Association
12.
International Kashmiri Women Front
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