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| "Kashmiris are our own people", says Chidambaram | | | ABID SHAH
EARLY TIMES REPORT
NEW DELHI, Aug 4: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has made a strong plea for peace in Jammu and Kashmir through a statement made here in the Lok Sabha today regarding the situation in the border State where, according to him, as many as 39 civilians died during the trouble that began on June 11.
Two days ago Chidambaram had assured the MPs to make a statement about the serious situation the State has been caught in. And when he spoke today he virtually extended an olive branch to the angry youth and the separatists' leadership by assuring to reactivate political process and dialogue once the violence was over.
He called Kashmiris as "our own people" and spoke feelingly about the tragic deaths of young people and children in the wake of violence that have been on throughout last month as also through the better part of June.
As a result of violence, he said, that 1,266 security personnel were injured and often public property, including police stations and Government buildings and vehicles were attacked and burnt. He said during June and July there were 872 incidents of stone pelting by protestors. Main excerpts from his speech:
"The situation in Jammu & Kashmir continues to be a cause for concern. It has taken a serious turn in recent days. Beginning June 11, there has been a cycle of violence threatening law and order and public peace. The violence in the State has followed a certain pattern. Usually, the violence is triggered by stone pelting by large crowds and their targets of attack are police stations, police outposts and other public property.
"In the discharge of their duty to maintain law and order, the security forces have been compelled by the situation to resort to lathicharge and, if the lathicharge failed to yield results, to tear-gassing. When all attempts to control the crowds failed and there was the danger of the crowds over-running the police station or police outpost, the security forces have been compelled to resort to firing. While the security forces have been advised to deal with the crowds in a restrained manner, the relentless stone pelting and the danger of police stations and police outposts being overrun have compelled the security forces to use force both in self defence and in order to protect public property. There have been 39 civilian deaths since June 11; of these 22 deaths have occurred since July 30. Each case of death has been followed by more protests, stone-pelting and violent attacks. There have been instances where the security forces have been fired upon by someone in the protesting crowds. There is reliable intelligence that some armed militants may have mingled with the crowds and fired at the security forces.
"The Central Government deeply regrets the loss of lives. Many of them were young men and children. I convey our deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased. A number of people have also been injured and the State Government has assured that they will be given the best medical treatment. Even while we regret these incidents, I would appeal to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to put an end to the current cycle of violence. I have a special appeal to parents: your children's safety and welfare is our paramount consideration - as it must be yours - and I would urge you to ensure that they do not join the violent protests.
"It is my duty to point out that the security forces have conducted themselves with commendable restraint in a highly volatile situation. They have shown courage and fortitude. There have been a total of 872 stone pelting incidents in June and July 2010 and 1266 security personnel have been injured in the last two months alone. On August 2, 2010, the Chief Minister chaired a meeting of the Unified Command in Srinagar. I am confident that the security forces will discharge the responsibilities entrusted to them by the State Government and restore law and order and maintain peace.
"On August 2, 2010, after a meeting with the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to put an end to the cycle of violence and maintain peace. He offered a dialogue for the redressal of grievances, including a dialogue to resolve the political issues that concern the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Delegations of Ministers have been sent to the affected districts. Earlier, an all Party meeting was convened in Srinagar on July 12, 2010 and certain administrative measures, including ex-gratia payments to the next of kin of those killed in the violence, were announced.
"The Government of Jammu & Kashmir is actively considering a number of political and administrative measures that will help restore normalcy in the State. However, the Chief Minister, while affirming his commitment to taking certain political and administrative measures, has made it clear that the current cycle of violence would have to end before he can take the initiative in this regard. The Central Government endorses his appeal and sincerely hopes that the cycle of violence will come to an end immediately.
"Government's policy on Jammu & Kashmir has been declared on many occasions. We recognise that the issues concerning J&K are issues concerning our own people; and they have to be addressed through the political process and through a dialogue with all sections of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Government has always favoured a dialogue. In fact, in 2009, the Central Government initiated a "quiet dialogue" with key political groups and individuals. I had hoped that the dialogue would open a window of opportunity to activate the political process in order to find solutions. However, that dialogue was interrupted on December 4, 2009 when there was an attempt on the life of Fazl-ul-Haq, a leader who favoured dialogue, and he was seriously injured.
"I may assure this House that adequate forces are available to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. In conclusion, I would urge all sections of the people of Jammu & Kashmir to heed the voices of reason and desist from violent protests. Mindless violence and destruction of public property will not lead to any solution. On the contrary, they will result in loss of lives and injuries to the protestors, an outcome that is entirely avoidable and that should be avoided at all costs. The people of Jammu & Kashmir have elected a Government and they must repose their faith in that Government to find solutions to the problems of Jammu & Kashmir. Once peace and order are restored, I am confident that we can explore the possibility of reactivating the political process that holds the key to solutions. On its part, the Central Government offers its full support to the State Government in restoring law and order, holding a dialogue, redressing genuine grievances, accelerating development programmes, and ensuring equity, justice and honour for all sections of the people of Jammu & Kashmir."
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