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Kashmir: 'Our aim is to set up Islamic Nizamiyat' - Q&A: Sayed Ali Shah Geelani 275 Reads

Saturday, August 23, 2008 - 07:43 AM

Aasha Khosa / New Delhi August 24, 2008, 2:18 IST

The allotment of land for the Amarnath shrine board was a trigger for the azadi sentiment in Kashmir, Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, who has emerged a crowd-puller among the separatist leaders, tells AASHA KHOSA

We all know the history of Kashmiri separatism but what was the immediate provocation for the ongoing massive protests?
The upsurge has not happened suddenly. The sentiment for “azadi” was always there. However, the transfer of 50 acres of forest land to the Amarnath shrine board made Kashmiris realise once again how insecure they feel. This acted as a trigger. Suddenly, people have started thinking about the 100,000 acres of land that is with the Army. Under the guise of “Operation Sadhbhavana,” the Army has usurped huge parcels of land and seems to be expanding its network. I have information that the Army has seized 23 acres of land for opening a school in Pahalgam.

The schools being opened by the Army are for Kashmiri children. Why object to this?
I know the schools are meant for Kashmiris. But they are also meant to make them sing Vande Mataram and not offer namaz. The aim of these schools is to turn Kashmiri children into pure Indians. This is cultural aggression on our Islamic values and is not acceptable to us. In fact, apart from fighting for the right to self-determination for 62 years, we have also been fighting against the cultural aggression by India.

So the transfer of land is not the real issue as many have been saying.
Yes, they are right. Land is not an issue for us. It has just acted as a catalyst to shape peoples’ sentiments into an upsurge.

There are differences even among the separatists — some raise the slogan of azadi while people like you want Kashmir to go with Pakistan. How do you resolve this dilemma among yourself, beyond your occasional shows of unity?
Our unity is based on a single point — implementation of the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir (which ask India and Pakistan to hold a plebiscite in undivided Jammu & Kashmir to find out if the people of the state want to be with India or Pakistan). However, I do agree that there are differences among us. While I am for Kashmir going to Pakistan, there are voices that seek independence from both India and Pakistan. I also agree that there are people in Kashmir who would like to go with India. They argue that India has done so much for Kashmir. Others are fascinated by its secularism and democracy. But then we must not forget that there were discordant notes even when Indians fought the British.

Your party, the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, has expanded its network. What precisely do you stand for?
Ever since my release from prison on August 7, 2004, I have been spreading my message across Kashmir. I have a three-point target. First is to impose an Islamic nizam (jurisprudence) in Kashmir. Islam should govern our lives, be it in our political thought, socio-economic plans, culture or the ongoing movement. The creed of socialism and secularism should not touch our lives and we must be totally governed by the Koran and the Sunnat (precedents from Prophet Mohammad’s life). Secondly, I have been propagating that we must fight against anti-Islamic forces. These forces come in our way under the garb of nationalists, secularists, racists, linguistic chauvinists, and so on. Thirdly, I have been telling the youth to work for the right to self-determination which is granted to them by the United Nations. I have been drawing huge support from the youth for this as a result of which you see lakhs of people on the roads today.

Kashmir: Pakistan: Militant chief vows to fight on until Kashmir is liberated from India 292 Reads

Sunday, April 06, 2008 - 09:02 PM

By SADAQAT JAN,
Associated Press Writer AP - Monday, April 7

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - An Islamic militant leader vowed Sunday to keep battling India until it grants independence to the Himalayan Kashmir region and urged increased backing for Muslim fighters in conflicts elsewhere in the world.

Syed Salahuddin, chief of the Hezb-ul-Mujahedeen militant group, also said rulers of Muslim nations "have become facilitators of the enemy" _ an apparent reference to collaboration with the United States.

Salahuddin spoke at a gathering of about 500 people who chanted "Our way of life, jihad, jihad!" and "God is great!" Organizers said they included militants from India's part of divided Kashmir and Afghanistan as well as relatives of those killed in the two conflict zones.

Signs promoting jihad, or holy war, were displayed inside a hall in a mosque in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. Video CDs purportedly showing militant operations in Afghanistan, Kashmir, Iraq and Chechnya were on sale.

Hezb-ul-Mujahedeen is the largest of about a dozen rebel groups that have been fighting for Kashmir's independence from India or its merger with Pakistan since 1989, a conflict that has killed more than 68,000 people, mostly civilians. Pakistan has denied that Hezb-ul-Mujaheedeen operates on its territory.

Salahuddin, one of India's most wanted men, delivered a speech in which he repeatedly branded U.S. President George W. Bush as "satan."

"Jihad will continue in Kashmir as long as a single Indian soldier is there," Salahuddin said.

"Muslim nations...are not supporting the mujahedeen in Kashmir, Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq and Chechnya," he added. "Muslim rulers have become the facilitators of the enemy. Muslims have been labeled as terrorists and handed over to the enemy to receive dollars."

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but the territory is claimed by both countries. The two archrivals have fought two of their three wars over the disputed territory since their independence from British rule in 1947.

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/ap/20080406/tap-as-gen-pakistan-militant-chief-d3b07b8.html?printer=1

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