NEW DELHI: Even as the Kash- problem continues to fear the orts of some non-Government animations (NGOs and non-of all groups are beginning to pry addends. The recent removal of kers from the Hazratbal shrine, T intervention from members the People’s Union of Civil retires (PUCL), namely, colonist Kuldip Nayar and former of Justice of the New Delhi the Court, Rajinder Sachar, was haps an example of this process, rover two years now the PUCL, dig with other organization strike Citizens For Democracy (CFD).

The Kashmir Coordination committee has been working bed the scenes, creating an interface between the militants and political leadership in New hi. Also, nearly six rounds fusions have been held been he Union Home Ministry’s n and another non-official Up constituted last year-the their Consultative Group.

In Chopra, who is a member or think-tank, pointed out that role of the entire non-official bod-should be described as placatory” and not” ‘mediator.” the achievements of the various groups have brought about mutual but collective, cumulative results.

As he purist, “We are like sounding boards. And the collective view generated from our meetings the visits of teams like the other PUCL to Kashmir, and other conferences, is that a wider degree of autonomy should now be accepted for the people of Kashmir, large segments of the BJP are also willing to accept this.”

 At the same time, Rajinder Sacchar says it is important to remember that the Organizations are not seeking a more well-defined or official role i solving the Kashmir tangle. “We do not arrogate any role to ourselves nor do we claim we can influence either the militants in Kashmir or the Government here,” he explains.

Pran Chopra reveals that members of the think-tank, which includes politicians like former bureaucrats like BG Deshmukh and Journalist strike BG Verghese, have however been pressing the Government to release Kashmiri detainees like Abdul Ghani Lone, Shabir Shah and Sayeed Giani, According to him, after the release of Yasin Malik, it looked imminent on more than one occasion that these men would also be freed but it was postponed.

“Besides the imminent release of these men, the other positive signal I see is the isolation of outfits like the Harkat-al-Ansar and the fact that the militant groups are now engaged in internecine battles” he says.

“V.M. Tarkunde, human rights Activist and president of the Kashmir Coordination Committee, admits that his organization’s role as well as that of the PUCL and the CED has been to influence public opinion and create a conducive Atmosphere for talks between the Militants and the Government. And while the removal of the bunkers is being seen as a breakthrough of Sore, the release of Yasin Malik and their discussions with the Hurriyat leaders have been precursors to the process.

 What is distressing, Tarkunde feels, is that while the NGOs were talking interns of a tripartite conference and granting a larger degree of autonomy to Kashmir, the Government is insistent that they should find a”natural”  solution.

“The Government” according to Tarkunde, “is Still hopeful of the People turning against the militants and the credibility of Political leaders there being restored. But is being unrealistic. It is not possible to keep people in bondage forever, Ultimately you will have to yield and it is better for the Government to yield now with grace.”

Kuldip Nayar agrees with Tarkunde’s view and Says that by now, it is evident that the Government or its agencies do not have any real contact with the Militants in the Valley. On the other hand, because of the frequent trips he and others have been making to the Valley, leaders belonging to factions like the Hurriyat Conference and the JUKLF have developed some faith in them. The Meeting of minds has taken place first, because of the publicity received by their reports on the human Rights violations in the Kashmir.

Now leaders like Yasin Malik, are seeking them out and this has resulted in the contentious issues’ like that of the Huzratbat bunkers being amicably resolved, “The! Benefit is that Some sort of climate bas been created for future talks The people in Kashmir are very happy with us and there is one less irritant for the Government to re move,” Nayar concludes.

Article extracted from this publication >> August 26, 1994