As a concerned Kashmiri I decided to fly to Union City to attend the Forum/Symposium At 8:45 a.m. l approached the registration desk where three women were helping to register a few early arrivals. When I stated my name some nine people began looking at me as though as I had come from Mars. I was asked to wait. I went back and forth five times to obtain my registration card and each time I was told to wait. It was at this point! Realized that I being a Kashmiri Muslim I would have problems In the meantime Mir Masood another Kashmiri Muslim was also refused registration. Later all Kashmiri Muslims most of whom had driven all the way from Los Angeles were not allowed to go inside the meeting hall.
The F.I.A.A. under the camouflage of secular India seems to be a front for Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan. To put more fuel on the fire the Kashmir American Forum had invited Balraj Madhok as their chief guest. This is the same man whose party the Bharatiya Jana Sangh wants to make India a Hindu state
For the past three years a reign of terror has been let loose in Kashmir by Indian security forces; 15000 persons have been killed 55000 injured 12000 jailed hundreds of women from ages 7 to 80 raped and hundreds of houses have been burned Within every mile you see bunkers check points road blocks and army camps. The Kashmiri Pandits left their homes in the Kashmir Valley of their will. Jagmohan the Governor of Kashmir at that time thought he could create communal riots but that did not happen. Now those Kashmiri Pandits are refugees in India. Does the Indian Government care? Ask them.
I know some Pandits have been killed in Kashmir. I feel extremely sorry for them and their families. However every day the Indian army personal take young Muslim boys from their homes to the borderline where they are shot dead. The government of India announces that it killed militants who were crossing the borderline. This is an absolute lie. Every day 20 to 30 are killed by the Indian army. Who should our hearts bleed for? For whom should we shed our tears? Ghandis India is bringing nothing but shame and disgrace upon itself by massacring the innocent people of Kashmir.
The Government of India is interested in real estate and not the people of Kashmir. My request to all Kashmir Pandits and to all peace loving people in the world who believe in human rights and value human life is to ask India to stop this brutal killing of Kashmiri people and to: Accept Kashmir as a disputed territory (according to UN Resolutions); Ask for direct negotiations between Kashmir Pakistan and India and Work for a free Kashmir.
The door is still open. Together we can make a difference and heal all wounds. If we wait too long the door might close in our face At that time Balraj Madhok will not be able to open it. If we want peace in Kashmir then we must work for justice for the people of Kashmir. India has made Kashmir a hell for the people who live there. We have to live together so let us not make any more enemies amongst us. A free and united Kashmir will help and benefit each and every one of us By alienating each other and having closed door seminars with speaker who don’t even speak your language does not solve the Kashmir problem.
Tasneem F.Khan
Los Angeles CA
Article extracted from this publication >> December 11, 1992
