From: vivek@ecst.csuchico.edu (Vivek R. Prabhu)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Kashmir massacre (?)
Date: 8 Jan 93 22:35:18 GMT
Organization: California State University, Chico
NNTP-Posting-Host: cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu

In article <1993Jan8.100624@IASTATE.EDU> jakhan@IASTATE.EDU (Javed Ahmed Khan) writes:
>In article <1ij7hvINN34t@charnel.ecst.csuchico.edu>, vivek@ecst.csuchico.edu
>(Vivek R. Prabhu) writes:
>
>Hope you wouldn't mind me disagreeing with a little with what you've written :)


Sure, I do not mind.

>
>
>
>
>The (BSF or other) jawans on the ground have really not shown such political
>acumen in the past and I would be skeptical they would have shown it this time;
>Punjab notwithstanding. 


The alienation in Punjab, from the administration is due to the excesses
of the Punjab Police, and in some rare cases, the CRPF. However, that is
not an excuse for the security forces,  to  be careless in their outlook
towards the common people. An extremist battle cannot be won by guns but
can be won over by good deeds. The same is the situation in Kashmir.


>> In fact, in Kashmir, the security forces, have been specially directed
>> to be humane in their approach, since Girish Saxena, is a man who does
>> not tolerate any excesses by the troops there.  He has been consistent
>> in taking action against any erring security personnel,  no matter how
>> mild a charge has been against them. 
>
>
>
>I don't recall reading reports of a dressing down given by Saxena in the
>past. Do you remember any instance?


Oh Yes indeed. In 1991, after the allegation of rapes against the BSF in
Spore, the Governor gave a firing to the Area Commandant,  asking him to
ensure the security of the people there,  and when the allegation itself
was found to be false, the man was sent back again. Also in almost every
case, where an excess has been brought to the notice of the Governor, he
has proceeded top suspend the Officer concerned, and transfer him out of
the region itself. The actions, however, I must agree are not publicized
widely, given the common reason of not trying to lower the morale of the
forces.



 
>> From the reports, it is therefore, quite evident, that it was a battle
>> between the terrorists, and the security forces, which resulted in the
>> blaze in the explosive dump. 
>
>
>Its difficult to determine which with such conflicting reports. The policy
>of restricting access to the press and human-rights organizations to the
>valley leads to greater confusion and is part of the problem. 


I agrre very much. This is a policy, that requires serious reconsideration
and would go a long way in restoring credibility. There is a saying in the
political circles, "An open media, and transparent Government,  can be far
more credible in its motives, than in bluff, bluster, and propaganda".



>Suppose the security did indulge in the massacre, trying to brush it under the
>carpet is not going to win the population to our side. It only brings the
>problem to a point of no return. Acknowledging our mistakes and bringing to
>light the atrocities perpetrated by the millitants is a more honest way of
>convincing the common man that we are not out to sunjugate them. Duping
>ourselves in believing that the govt. or the security forces are angels and
>giving them a free hand is not going to solve the problem. We as citizens have
>to convince ourselves that the govt. forces are on the side of truth and 
>righteousness. The press must be allowed to gain access to the valley.


As I said, I agree with you, and I would use the same logic above.



>> You have to remember one thing, if the security forces would have been
>> involved in the massacres which have been alleged to have been done by
>> them, then they would have constantly alienated the entire populace by 
>> now, and would have been totally unable, to gain the kind of successes 
>> gained by them so far. Notable among which have been,  the destruction 
>
>
>
>Going by the trickle of news coming out, I would tend to believe that the
>population out there are fed up with both the militants and the govt. forces.
>They are trapped in the cross fire and they the the losers in all cases.


Yes, it is only a case, at present, of who is the lesser evil. In the case
of Kashmir, it is the Security forces, who are a lesser evil.


>
>--Javed.


Regards,
Vivek.

-- 
vivek@cscihp.ecst.csuchico.edu (Vivek R. Prabhu),
Research Assistant, Systems Engineering Lab., Dept. Of Computer Science, 
School Of Engineering, Computer Science And Technology,
California State University, Chico, California.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.indian