Author: Nazir Masoodi
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: June 14, 2001
Pan-Islamist leader Syed Ali Shah
Geelani today rejected all possible solutions to the Kashmir issue within
the ambit of the Constitution. He warned that if Pakistan agrees to India's
overtures, it will be responsible for weakening the will of the Kashmir
people and their justified struggle for self-determination.
''Internal autonomy, easing borders,
conversion of the LoC into the international border, shifting of power
base are solutions. We reject such moves because these overtures will not
solve the 53-year old dispute,'' Geelani said. He was addressing a 6,000-strong
gathering at the funeral of a slain Hizbul militant at Lurow Jagir, 50
km south of Srinagar.
Geelani did not attend today's Hurriyat
executive meeting and sent his representative instead. He asked the people
to protest against what he called access by security forces on Friday that
goes against the recent Hurriyat announcement of suspension of protests
in view of the impending summit.
Hurriyat executive Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq has recently said that autonomy for the region could mark a good
beginning in breaking the ice over the dispute. Geelani, however, said
if Pakistan agrees to this formula ''it will break the will of the people
who have offered huge sacrifices for the last 12 years''. ''India could
not succeed in breaking the will of the people even after using inhuman
methods, killing of thousands of people, rape and burning villages and
towns, but any laxity on part of Pakistan will harm the sentiments of psyche
of people and it will be responsible for weakening of our movement,'' Geelani
said. The far-right wing leader said if the proposed summit does not concentrate
on Kashmir and fails to address the core issue in its historical background,
then it will prove another ''futile exercise between the two countries''.
The Islamist leader exhorted the
gathering and sought their pledge to desist from any move that ''belittles
the sacrifices of the people''.
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Tariq Bhat
Srinagar, June 13: Hurriyat leader
Abdul Gani Lone's statement that militants should avoid taking shelter
in religious places today kicked off a controversy at the meeting of the
conglomerate's executive council. The People's Conference leader had to
do a lot explaining but members were not satisfied. Most of them said the
remarks were unwarranted.
The Laskhar-e-Toiba today said its
men never use mosques as sanctuaries and the six militants who died in
the encounter at Charar-e-Sharief were trapped when they were offering
prayers. Lone also faced heavy criticism for calling the Charar incident
a security lapse. In such situation, the blame comes on militants, which
is contrary to the versions of eyewitnesses, members told him.
Murmers of dissent over the proposed
Musharraf-Vajpayee summit and the suspension of political activities and
protests was evident. Earlier, the venue of the meeting changed from the
Hurriyat headquarters to chairman Abdul Gani Bhat's residence. The day-long
meeting, however, yielded nothing official.
Umar Farooq refused to comment on
the developments while Lone said: ''There is nothing for the media today.''
Altaf Ahmed of the Muslim Conference said the meeting would continue till
late in the evening and any statement was unlikely.
No consensus was reached on issues
like the Hurriyat's role in the summit. The most contentious issue was
the suspension of political activities and protests. Pro-Pak executives
Qazi and Sheikh Aziz protested that the move didn't enjoy the backing of
all members.
