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| I'LL NOT LIKE AL-QAEDA PRESENCE IN KASHMIR: YASIN MALIK | | JKLF TO GO FOR HUNGER STRIKE AND COURT ARRESTS TO PROTEST RIGHTS ABUSES IN KASHMIR | |
Srinagar, Aug 28,: In protest against the alleged rise in human rights abuses in Kashmir at the hands of troops, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front has decided to go for a day-long hunger strike here on September 7 and court arrests in all major townships of Valley on September 9.
Returning home after his three-month long stay at United States the chairman of pro-independence JKLF, Mohammad Yasin Malik on Monday asserted there has been "an unprecedented escalation in human rights excesses committed by security forces in Kashmir even after the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh made a promise of zero tolerance to abuses on May 25 in Srinagar".
"I have decided to go for hunger strike on September 7 and we extend an open invitation to all intellectuals and students to participate in this. I expect them to be there with us. On September 9, we will offer arrests in all the major towns of Kashmir like Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara, Handwara, Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian," Mr Malik said.
Malik, who was speaking at a well-attended press conference here today, threatened to take harsh steps in future if end was not put to "rights abuses". He, however, hoped Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will translate his promise of zero tolerance into reality on ground.
Feeling in better health condition after his surgery in US Mr Malik gave details about his meetings with US Congressmen, intellectuals, policy makers, academicians and students there and said in days ahead he would work hard to "ensure the morals of Kashmiri freedom struggle are strengthened and will strive to increase the pace of our historical march towards liberation".
"…and I feel confident that the undeniable truth and logic of our case found resonance in the official policy discourses going on in that country(USA). ….I'm happy to report that my efforts won Kashmiris many new friends within the intellectual and expert circles that influence policy and opinion there," visibly upbeat JKLF chairman said.
Malik said it was for the first time he was invited inside the White House to hold detailed discussions with US President George Bush's key advisors which he described as positive developments with regard to "Kashmiri freedom movement".
He informed about a chance he had there to address the annual convention of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) at Hartford, Connecticut comprising a gathering of 15,000 American Muslims where Mr Malik spoke in favour of non-violence and Islamic teachings. "We must keep our principles fully intact and wed those with right actions, not driven by emotions but by logic and rationality," Malik said he told the gathering there.
About a question why he did share platform with pro-India politicians at SKICC on the occasion of golden jubilee celebration of an Urdu daily 'Aftab' on August 27 when he repeatedly has refused to participate in roundtable conferences on Kashmir issue in the past, Malik said: "The forum at SKICC was not about political negotiations on Kashmir. It was a ceremony of a newspaper".
JKLF leader also said members of his organization will meet soon to decide about fresh dates of 'Safar-e-Azadi' (journey to freedom), which was earlier scheduled for the month of June-July.
He dismissed the reports about the presence of Al-Qaeda in Kashmir as a mere hearsay. Whether or not he would like the international armed group to fight here for Kashmiris, he said: "I will not like presence of Al-Qaeda in Kashmir".
Malik preferred shying away from giving lessons of non- violent struggle to armed groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. "I don't wish to interfere in their ways and means," the pro-freedom leader said.
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