Srinagar, Nov 15: With leaders making different noises about the dialogue offer of New Delhi, the Coalition of Civil Society Sunday stepped in to make peoples voice felt. 
In a seminar “Civil Society Concerns About Dialogue” participated by cross section of people and civil society actors, the Coalition of Civil Society resolved that it favours the dialogue for resolution of Kashmir dispute. But it said dialogue needs to be conducted under the international guarantees and all the three stakeholders, resistance leadership, India and Pakistan have to be part of it. It described the people of Jammu and Kashmir as primary stakeholders and said their concern should be first addressed.
The participants unanimously adopted the resolution.
“The civil society favors the institution of dialogue for the resolution of disputes including determination of the political status of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir. We believe any dialogue must address the aspirations of the primary stakeholders-the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” the resolution adopted by the civil society said.
The resolution said the concerns of the people of J&K, the primary stakeholders, are first addressed to in any exercise for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute including in the current proposed dialogue. However it added that New Delhi has not reviewed its “arbitrary constitutional position on Jammu and Kashmir to facilitate any genuine dialogue process.” “The liberation struggle of people of Jammu and Kashmir in its historical perspective has not been acknowledged in the political processes New Delhi has conducted so far. This proposed dialogue seems to be about administrative matters, Indian security concerns and not about determining the political status/sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir,” the resolution said. 
It said the negotiating position that a section of Kashmir’s resistance leadership is taking to the table is not clearly pronounced.  “Those who intend to enter a dialogue with New Delhi are going to talk about disengagement with India in some other form than the principle of right of self-determination and relevant UN resolutions,” the resolution adopted today reads.
The resolution expressed concern that New Delhi’s appointment of India’s Home Minister as the “point-man” on the latest offer of dialogue suggests that the government of India was not going to address the question of sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir, but treating the issue as internal law and order affair.
“The agenda and format of the current dialogue offer is not transparent. The offered format is not democratic in nature as there are no inherent mechanisms to put to public vote the conclusion, if any, of the quiet dialogue.” 
“The conditions on ground are not conducive for any expected outcome to be implemented due to heavy military presence of Jammu and Kashmir.  The current format might dilute the international character of the Kashmir dispute rather than acknowledge it,” it said.
Renowned lawyer, Zaffar Shah while addressing the gathering said: “Before entering any dialogue, resistance leaders must know the content of the talks. However, dialogue is the way forward and civil society representatives can also be the frontline in the dialogue process.”
Author, Abdul Majid Siraj said that mere bilateralism had always been harmful to the Kashmir dispute. “People of Kashmir are the primary stakeholders,” he said.
Dr Syed Zaffar Mehdi, said the mainstream parties can’t be part of any solution.
Naseer Khoda of Doda Peace Forum said the people of Jammu had sacrificed for the achievement of collective political rights while Abdul Rashid of Global Peace Foundation Handwara said, “The role of gun was over and dialogue was the need of hour.”
Journalist, Shuja’at Bukhari said “Quiet diplomacy is a tool to evade accountability. India has not moved an inch toward people of J&K so far in terms of political resolution.”
The representative of Majlis-e-Mashawarat Shopian said that Government of India would never disclose the identity of the rapists and murderers of two Shopian girls.
“We cooperated at every level with the state and central investigating agencies since the heinous crimes were committed in late May, 2009. Instead, the state has been utilizing all sinister, covert and overt measures to obfuscate the Shopian case. So, we’ve no faith in undertaking any dialogue with the Indian state. How can Kashmiris talk to the same state without any international guarantee on an issue,which has a large bearing? And in the season of purported dialogue India is even now unwilling to accept Kashmir as a dispute,” they said.
Prof. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, Kashmir University said “the dominant response from people about the dialogue was always skeptical.” “India has forfeited its credibility as a serious negotiating partner right from taking the Kashmir issue to the UN, violating 1952 agreement, destroying article 370, not following Simla agreement or Musharraf formula. We degrade ourselves by presenting ourselves for an uninvited dialogue. India has to first establish its credibility as a serious partner. This is not a question of rehabilitation of certain disgruntled activists. This concerns the destiny of all the individuals of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Prof Hameeda Nayeem of Kashmir University said “The resistance was mainstream as majority of people want freedom. Pro-India politicians represent themselves only. Media should not become a part of dirty game of elevating some leaders and degrading others at the cost of others.”
Poet Zareef Ahmed Zareef said that, “We need to get united and forge a consensus on how to proceed ahead. We need thinking and serious minds to assess the situations and formulate the matching responses. In the light of past experiences, we should proceed for a meaningful and purposeful dialogue.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 IST