The Hindu : Front Page : Hurriyat to lead rally to United Nations office

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Monday, Aug 18, 2008
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Hurriyat to lead rally to United Nations office

Shujaat Bukhari

“Movement for freedom” has entered a crucial stage: Geelani

— Photo: PTI

Resolute: Chairman of the moderate faction of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Omar Farooq (left) with senior Hurriyat leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in Srinagar on Sunday.

SRINAGAR: The city is on edge as the Hurriyat-sponsored Co-ordination Committee decided to go ahead with its proposed march to the United Nations Military Observers Group (UNMOG) office here on Monday to present a memorandum seeking the U.N. Secretary-General’s intervention in granting “right to self-determination” to the people of Kashmir.

After a marathon meeting attended by all senior Hurriyat leaders, the chairmen of both the factions, Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, told a crowded news conference that people had been asked to assemble at the Tourist Reception Centre ground near the U.N. office by 11 a.m. “The leadership will talk to them and after that the memorandum will be presented,” said Mr. Geelani.

He said the “movement for freedom” had entered a crucial stage and “we need to be cautious about saboteurs. There are people who are hell bent upon creating disturbances in our peaceful agitation but we will not allow them to do so.” Keeping in view the situation, the Committee decided to call off the strike for three days from Tuesday so that children could go to school and the working class could join duty. But on Friday, no prayers would be offered in any mosque in Srinagar.

Earlier, Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Kachoo Isfandyar Khan and SSP Syed Ahfadul Mujtaba met the Hurriyat leaders and conveyed to them their apprehensions over Monday’s rally. “We told them that even the youth were not in their control and we apprehend trouble; so to save Srinagar and the people you should call it off,” Mr. Khan told The Hindu. Sources said they suggested that the Hurriyat send a small delegation to the U.N., office but the leaders turned it down. The officers told them that the area where the U.N. office was located was sensitive. The sources said authorities were planning to impose curfew in Srinagar on Monday to avoid violence.

Omar’s plea to Centre

Meanwhile National Conference president Omar Abdullah urged the Centre to hold talks with the Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti in Jammu and with the Co-ordination Committee in Kashmir.

Expressing concern over the situation, Mr. Abdullah said both parties should be brought to the same table, bypassing vested interests. He warned that the situation was so grave and maintaining the unity of the State was difficult. “I cannot even imagine the consequences of such a disaster.” He said it was the economic blockade which led to this situation. “By resorting to road blockades, they have conveyed us that we are their slaves … We are at the edge of the cliff in J&K and I hope that the stakeholders will opt for a step backward.” “People have a right to express their anger, but I would appeal them to avoid any step that would derail or damage the peace process,” he said.

Mr. Abdullah said there was nothing outlandish in the demands that “voices of reason” within the Hurriyat were making. Most of these demands were almost the same as those recommended by various working groups. However, he suggested that taking another procession to the LoC for opening the road might actually delay its opening by India and Pakistan.

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