[Reader-list] FW: Attacks on Minorities in Kashmir Valley

[Kshmendra Kaul]

It is said that the 'essential character' of a person is revealed in both situations of being the victor or the vanquished and in both states of mind whether it is unbounded exhilaration or suffocating misery.  
 
I am intrigued as to what 'situation' or 'state of mind' Murtaza Shibli is in. I also reproach myself for having not being too good a judge of people. On 24/07/08 I wrote to Murtaza Shibli " You are one of the few commentators on Kashmir that I always look forward to reading. Your perspectives are always interesting."
 
Maybe I am too harsh on myself. I was talking about "perspectives" and not loss of rationality of a frenzied disjointed mind that Murtaza Shibli suddenly seems to be afflicted with in the last few days since there has been an upsurge of the 'separatist voices'.
 
On 25/08/08 Murtaza spoke about "inflating figures of Pandit migration". Today he started of in one mail saying that in the 'crisis' 150,000 Muslims had died. In the very next posting, a couple of hours later he revised it downwards to 100,000. A 33 percent change in 2 hours. 
 
A report by Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) says " The JKCCS estimate the death toll in Kashmir since 1990 is 70,000." It appears that the estimate is upto 2004. Now according to Murtaza Shibli, the figure stands at 100,000 in 2008. Or is it 150,000? (of Muslims only)
 
According to JKCCS, from 1990 to 2004 there were an average of nearly 14 killings every single day of the year. 
 
After that, according to Murtaza Shibli Between 2005 and 2008:
 
EITHER (at 100,000 figure)  there were an average of over 20 killings of Muslims in Kashmir every single day of the year
 
OR ALTERNATIVELY (at figure 150,000) there were an average of over 54 killings of Muslims in Kashmir every single day of the year
 
I hope this analysis gives some useful perspective to those who have been keeping a regular watch of "Kashmir Affairs" (pun intended).
 
Here I must quote another portion from the JKCCS report. It was in 2006 and maybe they too see things differently today. It said:
 
"""""Not all of the 70,000 victims of this dirty war died at the hands of Indian forces. Many were victims of militants. Some of these deaths were either in the nature of internecine killings or deliberate targeting. Some of these were caused by the use of weapons such as grenades and mines which when exploded in crowded areas cause more damage to the non-combatants than the combatants they are aimed against."""""
 
There can be no comparison between the tens of thousands of deaths of Muslims in Kashmir compared to Non-Muslims even if it were claimed that not 209 but 2090 Kashmiri Pandits were killed. It feels animal like to compare such figures or to taunt "your 209 against our 100,000 (or 150,000)"
 
Incidentally in a News Report by Shivam Vij, IGP of J&K SM Sahay is quoted as saying about the "Police Report stating 209 KPs were killed):
 
""""""“We have not prepared any such report and don’t know what these media reports are alluding to,”""""""""" 
 
Why does Murtaza Shibli feels aggrieved by KPs talking about "our killed" or about "migration" or "Exodus"?
 
In another (public forum) Murtaza warns the members that """""...there is a deliberate attempt to raise side issues like migration/exodus etc."""""" and goes on to say """""""In a much bigger forum at Sarai, some of our Pandit friends have been continously raking the migration issue with progandistic and false details.I have just compiled a brief response to put the migration/exodus into perspective."""""""
 
The now used construct for the word "Kashmiri" by Murtaza Shibli and those he includes or excludes in that construct is interesting. Just a few weeks back on 03/06/08 Murtaza Shibli wrote:
 
""""""  there are majority of the people in erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir who do not consider themselves as "Kashmiris" at all and hence the argument of speaking on behalf of entire people of Jammu and Kashmir is at best what you have referred to as "Colonialistic cliche" or at the worst plain silly. I would again like to repeat that people from Jammu, Ladakh and Gilgit and Baltistan do not consider themselves as Kashmiris and have different demands and follow competing socio-political trajectories."""""
 
You might also notice the 'changed' Murtaza Shibli from the following quotations. I have many more. 
 
0n 08/06/08 Murtaza Shibli wrote in a response:
 
"""""""The so-called dream of Azadi and its protagonists live in denial. What I meant in my earlier email is that such people who claim to about Azadi have not been able to create a single institution during the past twenty years, so their judgement is flawed. They may have an idea, but ideas die without actions and for the past twenty years, kashmiris have been led to slaughter rather than any meaningful political action"""""""
 
On 01/05/08 Murtaza Shibli wrote:
 
""""Just a correction that is technical but shows how our 'leaders' are discordant with the real facts in Kashmir.
 
There are no MASS GRAVES in Kashmir so none were discovered. It was only that unmarked graves of Kashmiris were highlighted by APDP, they are littered everywhere on Kashmir's landscape.""""""
 
On 16/03/06, Murtaza Shibli agreeing with a comment that there was no "political movement" but a "grand circus" in Kashmir, wrote:
 
"""""" You are absolutely right. unfortunately this movement was prostituted. and that prostitution was institutionalised by none other than Pakistan. If you see Pakistan's role, they have corrupted all the people with money. first they did it with post-1990 leaders. From Sheikh abdullah to moulvi farooq, they gave money to everyone. and now all that is left in
the name of 'representatives of kashmiris' is a bunch of people getting salaries from pakistan and nothing else.""""""

Kshmendra Kaul
 
 
 
--- On Sat, 8/30/08, Kashmir Affairs <kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

From: Kashmir Affairs <kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] FW: Attacks on Minorities in Kashmir Valley
To: reader-list at sarai.net
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2008, 4:25 PM

Dear Sonia,
I have very recently asked Vijay to come and discuss issues on public forums. I
would like you to forward it to him and of course Vijay is most welcome to
'defend' himself.
Honestly, his mail made me sick and only one question came to my mind. Why do
Pandits hate us....all of us Kashmiris. And they keep on manufacturing stories.
Regardless of 209 Pandits killed in Kashmir in comparison to more than 100,000
Muslims, i have always felt their pain despite the fact that we have been at
their as well as Indian state's receiving end. My question to Vijay is has
he ever felt my pain and thousands who have been tortured to death. Has he ever
condemned the killings of Kashmiris at the hands of Indian paramilitary forces.
Sick as it may get, now he is manufacturing stories. I wish i could use
anything stronger than condemnation to him.
 
Murtaza
 
----
Murtaza Shibli
www.kashmiraffaris.org

--- On Sat, 30/8/08, S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com> wrote:

From: S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] FW: Attacks on Minorities in Kashmir Valley
To: "Kashmir Affairs" <kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk>,
"Sarai" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Saturday, 30 August, 2008, 10:04 AM

Wow, that's pretty strong language, Murtaza.  You know Vijay, as I do.  In
all these years I really can't say I've seen him being communal or even
using communal language in anything he's written or advocated.  I think he
ought to have a chance in defending himself.  Will you forward this
discussion or should I?

I really posted his email in good faith thinking it may help diffuse some of
this horrid Jammu Hindu/Pandit-Kashmiri Muslim divide that's dominated the
Reader's List for some time, little realizing that this too will add fuel
to
the fire.  What a pity.

sj


On 8/30/08 2:24 PM, "Kashmir Affairs" <kashaffairs at yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

> Sonia,
I would like to take this opportunity to expressly condemn Vijay Sazwal
> for yet again playing mischif against Kashmiri Muslims. In his
'appreciating
> guise' on Kashmiri Civil Society, he is carrying on his propaganda
against
> Muslims and cooking up stories about imaginery harrassement. Pandit
groups,
> mainly believed to be working for IB, have been doing this for more than
two
> decades now.
If Vijay is telling the truth, which i don't believe, he must
> mention the incidents rather than spreading false stories. As much i
> appreciate personal contact with him i have had with with for few years
now, I
> have to condemn him for his mischief and spreading lies against the
Kashmiri
> Muslims majority at the behest of I don't know who. By doing it once
again, he
> has sided with rabid-anti-Kashmiri forces including various Pandit groups,
who
> are allegedly being spreading rumours and propaganda against Kashmiris. A
> personal friend, Prof. Rattan Lal Hangloo, is on record about Vijay Sazwal
> launching a campaign against Prof. Hangloo for not blaming Kashmiri
Muslims
> and Islam for the current trouble in Kashmir. Moreover, Vijay has been
part of
> propaganda brigade that has been spreading lies about Kashmiri Muslims and
> talking about so-called Holocaust of Pandits when only 209 Pandits died in
the
> crisis as compared to 150,000 Muslims majority of them by the
 Indian army and
> paramilitary forces.

I don't see any appreciation in Vijay's letter. It is
> all venomous propganda against the Muslims.
best,
Murtaza

--- On Sat,
> 30/8/08, S. Jabbar <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com> wrote:
From: S. Jabbar
> <sonia.jabbar at gmail.com>
Subject: [Reader-list] FW: Attacks on Minorities in
> Kashmir Valley
To: "Sarai" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Saturday, 30 August,
> 2008, 7:56 AM

A note of appreciation from a Pandit organisation for the
> appeal sent out by
Khurram and others.


------ Forwarded Message
From: "Dr.
> Vijay Sazawal" <sazawal at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:41:58 -0400
To:
> <vks at kashmirforum.org>
Subject: Attacks on Minorities in Kashmir Valley

Dear
> Friend,

I am sending this note to just a few friends in the valley to let
> them know
that the minority community currently residing in the valley - which
> is down
to a few thousand now - greatly appreciates the following gesture by
> the
civil society in Kashmir (see attached story in the Kashmir Observer).

I
> have spoken to valley based Kashmiri Pandits almost on a daily basis.
> Even
though the local media did not highlight the fears of the minority
> community
earlier, the reality is that last week they had a very rough time.
> There
were numerous incidents in Pulwama, Anantnag, and Srinagar and
> Baramulla
where Pandit homes or persons were surrounded by a few ruffians
> and
subjected to oral threats ranging from, "Are you still here - when are
> you
going away to Jammu," to "time has come to burn your place and we
will
> not
let you or your family escape."

Again, I want to make it clear that I
> hold no one among you or any leader
among the majority community responsible
> for it. But the reality is that it
did happen and it is to the credit of a few
> Pandit leaders who calmed the
community down. I will appreciate if journalists
> would mention in their
columns that harming or even mildly threatening Pandits
> is not helpful to
their cause whatever that may be.

Thank you for your help
> in this matter. If anyone needs further details, I
will be glad to provide the
> same.

Regards,

Vijay Sazawal
www.KashmirForum.org
> <http://www.KashmirForum.org>
Washington, DC


Kashmir Civil Society Calls
> For Ceasefire
Srinagar, Aug 29- Kashmir civil society has expressed concern
> over reports
in New Delhi based media about possible attacks¹ on minorities in
> Kashmir
and have urged upon the governments and the militant leadership to
> implement
a comprehensive ceasefire in the wake of present peaceful people¹s
> movement
to realise the right of self-determination.
They have also urged the
> community and religious leaders, political parties,
militant leadership and
> government to ensure the utmost respect and
tolerance for the minorities.
²We
> the conscientious people of Jammu and Kashmir believe and uphold that
the
> human life and its dignity are sacrosanct and in this regard we feel
deeply
> concerned and aggrieved over the news story carried by sections of
Indian
> media on 28th August 2008, in which it is reported that the
> Indian
Intelligence agency has expressed fears about the possible attacks
> on
minorities in Kashmir², a signed statement by several prominent citizens
> and
groups said today.
³Since 1989 there have been some massacres of minority
> communities under
mysterious circumstances, which created an atmosphere of
> fear and mistrust
amongst the communities. It is surprising that every time
> these killings
take place, the people¹s movement of Kashmir is at a critical
> phase. The
killings of Kashmiri Pandits in early 1990s or the massacre of 36
> Sikhs at
Chittisingpora in 2000 (during the visit of US President Bill
> Clinton) or
killings of innocent Hindus at Kulhand and other places creates an
> aura of
mystery around all these cold blooded killings. Investigations ordered
> by
government to probe these killings have always been inconclusive.
> Bill
Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States in his foreword to
> Madeline
Albright¹s book titled ³Mighty and the Almighty² has clearly accused
> Hindu
fanatics of massacring innocent Sikhs at Chittisingpora², the
> statement
said.
The statement is signed besides others by  Grand Mufti, Mufti
> Mohammad
Bashiruddin, Mirwaiz Riyaz Hamdani of Shah Hamdan Mosque, Agha Syed
> Hassan
Mosavi of Anjumane Sharie Shiayan, Islamic Study Circle, Jammu
> Kashmir
Coalition of Civil Society, Chamber of Commerce and Industries
> Kashmir,
Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owner¹s Federation, Valley Citizens
> Council,
Chairman Kashmir Traders Federation and Noor Ahmed Bilal ­ President
> Kashmir
University Teachers Association. ³In the present scenario where
> the
non-violent mass uprising for the attainment of right to
> self-determination
of people of Jammu and Kashmir is resonating not just in
> India but also in
the International media and institutions, the reported
> threat to minority
communities whether Hindus or Sikhs is a serious concern
> for the civil
society of Kashmir², it said.
³In view of the above mentioned
> concern, we urge upon the community leaders,
religious leaders, political
> parties, militant leadership and government to
ensure the utmost respect and
> tolerance for the minorities and refrain from
any such act which makes the
> lives of minorities uncomfortable. The
minorities should not be treated as the
> cannon fodder to carry out the
agenda of vested interests in sabotaging the
> people¹s movement of Kashmir.
In the wake of present peaceful people¹s
> movement to realise the right of
self-determination, the only democratic
> process for peace making, we urge
upon the governments and the militant
> leadership to implement a
comprehensive ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir. We the
> people of Jammu and
Kashmir while welcoming the United Jihad Council¹s
> recently announced
statement, in which they promised to halt their activities
> within civilian
areas, request them to broaden the scope of their statement
> into a
comprehensive ceasefire covering the entire Indian administered Jammu
> and
Kashmir. This would also mean their respect and primacy to the
> people¹s
movement.²
The statement further urged the government of India to
> halt the brutal use
of force against the people and respect the people¹s right
> to assembly and
freedom of expression both in Kashmir and Jammu terming the
> arrests and the
killings unacceptable.
³We consider this as the testing time
> for all of us as humans. We certainly
have been victimised but the challenge
> for the conscientious people is
always to be humane besides being politically
> correct², the statement said.
³In the present situation where the political
> leadership has been arrested,
communications blocked, curfew imposed, there is
> every likelihood that
situation may descend into chaos. It is therefore we
> urge international
community to take cognizance of the situation where in the
> whole population
of Kashmir is being pushed towards the wall. For
> international institutions
it is the time to intervene for preventing the
> catastrophe and for the
restoration of people¹s rights², the statement
> added.
³We take this opportunity to assure our Hindu and Sikh brethren who
> form the
inseparable part of our cultural and political mosaic that they will
> find
their Muslim brethren besides always. Whatever be the circumstances we
> have
lived and suffered together and would continue to strive together for
> our
political emancipation².
Others who have signed the statement include
> prominent physician, Dr. Altaf
Hussain, columnist Arjimand Hussain Talib,
> academics Dr Hameeda Bano, Prof
Shaikh Showkat Hussain, Dr Noor Ahmed Baba and
> poet Zareef Ahmed Zareef.


------ End of Forwarded
> Message

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