JAMMU, JUNE 10: Forum for Democratic Rights has rejected the report submitted by the three Kashmir interlocutors, appointed by the government of India, by terming the entire exercise as a mere disappointment.
 The recommendations of K-interlocutors were discussed in a meeting of the Forum, held under the Chairmanship of Prof Zahoor-ud-Din.
 The members observed that the Kashmir was a political issue but the report has failed to adequately deal with this fact and avoided the question of the demand for some form of freedom or autonomy.
 “The report talks about confidence building measures- political, economic and cultural. The list of CBM’s is extensive but superficial. The fact is that normalcy is not possible without justice and a political resolution. This fact is evaded by the report”, the members observed, in the resolution passed after the meeting.
 It was felt that the interlocutors have also failed to realize that the poor governance and corruption no doubt makes ordinary people suffer but it was not the primary issue is Kashmir. “The urgent questions of State repression and justice are wilfully ignored”, they observed.
 The Economic recommendations of the report are deeply problematic, they said adding, for example, it suggests the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZ), which have already been established in India but caused widespread displacement and distress among people without creating employment or meaningful, democratic growth.
 “The report tries to push these anti-people economic policies in the name of ‘development’. This will be detrimental to people of the whole state”.
 The resolution added that apart from some brief references to ‘harsh laws’ and ‘judicial delay’ the report maintains a dishonest silence on the terrible crimes against humanity that have been committed with the connivance of the State in Kashmir.
 “The report is based on interactions with a very selective section of kashmiri people. The unequivocal statement that everyone the committee spoke to feel that Kashmir is an integral part of India is difficult to believe. This shows that the voices of the majority have been silenced”, it added.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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