From: hrcoord@igc.apc.org (Human Rights Coordinator)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian.telugu
Subject: INDIA: WINTER WILL BE HARD IN KASHM
Date: 8 Oct 92 17:02:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1720200001:000:4977
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!hrcoord    Oct  8 10:02:00 1992


From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: INDIA: WINTER WILL BE HARD IN KASHM

/* Written 12:04 am  Oct  8, 1992 by newsdesk@igc.apc.org in
igc:ips.englibrary */ Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all
rights reserved.  Permission to re- print within 7 days of
original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: INDIA: WINTER WILL BE HARD IN KASHMIR WHERE AN INSURGENCY
RAGES

an inter press service feature

by ranjan roy

new delhi, oct 5 (ips) -- winter is going to be hard for the third
year running in kashmir where indian security forces have
intensified operations to crush an insurgency that enjoys
widespread support among an alienated people.

the state administration claims 'operation tiger' launched two
months ago has been a success with over 170 muslim militants
killed in combat, but most kashmiris assert many of those who died
were bumped off after they were captured.

with the official media losing all credibility in the kashmir
valley, the rumour mills are churning overtime.

in srinagar, the state capital, there are no takers for the
official version that the cuts on hizbul mujahideen leader
saifullah's body were post-mortem marks. militant groups are
convinced saifullah was brutalised and killed.

indian and foreign human rights groups have reported gross
violations of fundamental rights in the valley. a british
parliamentary group claimed in london last week that over 200
people have died or disappeared in custody during 1990-91, but
india has dismissed the report as ''one-sided''.

in srinagar, governor girish saxena admits there are cases of
custodial deaths. but he told 'the hindustan times' newspaper last
week, ''in large-scale operations, where hundreds are arrested
every week, some incidents do take place.''

the incipient revolt in india's only muslim majority state erupted
into a full-fledged battle between well-armed militant groups and
security forces in 1989. the valley has been the scene of bitter
clashes that have paralysed the state and left nearly 3,500 dead,
according to official estimates.

new delhi has not been successful in dousing the separatist fires
in kashmir valley where the majority of the four million people
are muslims. india has time and again accused pakistan of
financing and arming the rebels.

the state has been a bone of contention between the two south
asian neighbours since 1948 when kashmir was partitioned during
the first indo-pakistan war. while new delhi claims full
sovereignty over the disputed region, islamabad says the muslim
population should be allowed to choose between the two countries.
(more/ips)

india: winter (2)

but even kashmiri guerrilla groups are divided on the issue.
while some like the moderate jammu and kashmir liberation front
(jklf) are fighting for independence from india, others want to
secede and join pakistan.

the jklf, based across the border in what india calls
pakistan-occupied-kashmir (pok), has announced plans to march into
india on oct. 24 to commemorate the installation of their
government in exile in muzaffarabad.

a similar attempt by jklf supporters to storm the border in march
was called off after pakistani troops stopped marchers at gunpoint
worried that the evenuotrigger tff a war. at least 16 people were
killed when pakistani forces fired to prevent jklf supporters from
breaching the barriers.

this time around, sardar abdul qayyum khan, prime minister of pok
is quoted saying we will not use force against the marchers...we
will persuade them.''

intelligence sources in new delhi said the border crossing is
planned at 40 points along the line of control and the 210-km
international border in jammu state.

india is likely to beef up heavy patrolling of its western border
with pakistan where both sides routinely exchange fire.  agencies
reported that heavy shelling on sep. 30 killed three people in
some border villages while 700 others fled to safety.

kashmir has been top of the agenda in recent talks between
islamabad and new delhi, but there has been little headway on an
issue that india insists must be settled bilaterally under a 1972
agreement between the two countries.

most indian observers believe insurgency in the strife-torn state
can be solved only if both countries include the militants in
peace negotiations.

new delhi's peace efforts have been stalled since 1990 when the
state was put under central rule. in recent weeks, the government
has again started talking of elections in kashmir.  junior home
minister m.m. jacob said they will be held ''soon''.

but officials in new delhi do not think the state is ready for
elections. ram mohan rao, adviser to the kashmir governor told ips
in new delhi today ltkiei ujbws such that political parties do not
feel confident of holding public meetings.''

he added that the state government has opened channels of
communications with militant organisations,'' but there can be no
talks till they give up the gun. (end/ips/np/rp/rr/an/92)