SRINAGAR&: In a major attempt to politicize the ongoing militant movement in Kashmir, nearly 40 major militant and pro-militant groups have agreed upon to come on a common political platform.
‘The new platform, named as “All Jamait Liberation Conference,” comprises nearly all leading militant organizations and their legal wings, the major one being the Tehreik-e-Huriyaat- e-Kashmir, and amalgam of 11 major militant groups.
The decision was taken at a two-day conference of more than 50 Organizations held under the chairmanship of Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, which began here on March 7. The participants felt that political unity was the utmost need in Kashmir today.
Outlining the political ideology of the Conference, a spokesman said it would strive for maintaining the Islamic character and Muslim majority status of the “disputed” state of Jammu and Kashmir and also struggle for the supremacy of Islam there.
The Conference held that the state of Jammu and Kashmir was a disputed ‘area’ and an unresolved issue between three parties India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir and it should be resolved on the basis of the wishes of its inhabitants.
The Conference, at the same ime, demanded that the Kashmir tangle should be resolved through implementation of the United Nations resolutions, calling for plebiscite which offers Kashmiris the choice to join India or Pakistan.
The Conference resolved to work for apprising the world leaders and organizations of the realities behind the ongoing “freedom movement” in Kashmir.
The meeting which was attended by representatives of government employees” unions like the Employees Confederation, held India as an “aggressor and forcible occupant of Kashmir” and pledged to break off the shackles.
The meeting set up a committee, comprising some known advocates and human rights activists for drafting the “Constitution and tenets of the Conference.
The idea of a common political platform among the militant circles had emerged following widespread concern over the abuse of gun by trigger-happy militants in the valley, nearly two months ago, a meeting of pro-militant moderate leaders was held which formed a “steering committee” to evolve the idea, the committee put up its report recently. The Tehreik-e-Hurriyat-e-Kashmir (movement for Liberation of Kashmir), which for the first time, brought the pro-Pakistan and pro”Azadi” groups together, had made an attempt to infuse a political element into the militancy, the attempt did not yield results as the gun continued to rule the roost.
The radical militant groups have time and again, warned against any political process which may try to subjugate the gun. After their initial enthusiasm to chastise the trigger-happy militants, the moderate militant leaders have been keeping mum over the gun against politicians. Finally, the moderates have reconciled to the concurrence of the gun and politics, by forming the All Jamait Conference. The initiative for the political platform was taken by the young Mirwaiz who heads the Awami Action Committee party. Both the times he had summoned the meeting at Mirwaiz Manzil, his official residence.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 12, 1993
