KASHMIR: THE YOUTH IS COMING, THE YOUTH IS COMING Zafar Choudhary Editor, Epilogue Magazine, Jammu email: zafarchoudhry@epilogue.in

source: http://www.ipcs.org/article/jammu-kashmir/kashmir-the-youth-is-coming-the-youth-is-coming-3210.html

KASHMIR: THE YOUTH IS COMING, THE YOUTH IS COMING

Zafar Choudhary

Editor,Epilogue Magazine, Jammu

email: zafarchoudhry@epilogue.in 

#3210, 11 August 2010

In early June when angry protests breached a promising wave of peace in Kashmir, the top separatist leaders were widely blamed for instigating violence. For weeks, separatists were kept under detention and their contacts with the ground severed, but the protests did not stop. Now, when most of them have been released and they have made fervent appeals for peace, the unrest still continues. Apparently, the government is failing to recognize that separatist politics has passed on to the third generation which has no leaders to follow.

The first killing of this season was on 11 June when the Valley, flooded with tourists, was seething with anger after it was found that three Kupwara youths allegedly killed by Army and branded as militants, were actually innocent locals. Kashmir was completely shutdown in protest, on 7 June, when the PM arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit. The action of security forces on protesters on the eve of the PM’s visit triggered a reaction leading to a chain of protests. While quelling the protesters in downtown area of Srinagar on 11 June, cops fired teargas shells in which a teenager died. At this stage the separatist leaders actively stepped in, calling for more protests. By 21 June, seven boys had been killed and life was thrown out of gear. 

The Chief Minister made changes in its Police administration, and made an appeal to civil society. The premise on which he based his arguments was perhaps grossly misplaced. The CM blamed the ‘few’ separatist leaders for instigating violence, and a ‘few misguided youths’ for taking the law into their own hands. The appeal did not make any impact as the death toll mounted. And curfews continued. Over the next couple of days, the ‘few leaders’ and ‘few youths’ were identified, and the Police began rounding them up. Some 40 separatist leaders were detained, most of them under the Public Safety Act. Identified by the government and the media as ‘moderates’, another two dozen separatists were put under house arrest and no less than 1000 ‘misguided youths’ were thrown in Police lockups across the Valley. Despite this, protests continued.

The people keeping the Valley agitated were far more than anticipated. While thousands of youths stayed firm on the streets, engaged in direct confrontation with security forces, elders, women and children too joined them. Mobs went on rampages setting public properties on fire. When the death count of 50 days crossed 50, the government reversed its strategy. Hard-line leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani were released and curbs lifted from others. Through its backdoor engagements, the government managed a statement from Geelani calling upon the youths to reject violence and embrace peaceful methods. The Government complimented this gesture by lifting curfew from several areas, eased restrictions and promised to go soft on those booked for arson. Five days after change of strategy from both sides, five fresh killings had been reported and curfew was re-imposed on many areas. With the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan beginning on 12 August many expect violence to recede. If violence ebbs over the next few days, it would be divine intervention, rather than political or security measures that takes credit.

Political, administrative and security measures have failed in Kashmir because the governments in Srinagar and in New Delhi have not yet comprehended the differences between the separatist politics of the older and younger generations. If Kashmir’s separatist sentiment was led by Geelani or Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the protests and violence would have ended on two occasions in past two months –first, when they were put under detention and their mechanism of influencing youths through media or direct contact was taken apart and, second, when they made appeals for peace. Alas, no one is listening to them. 50% of Kashmir’s youth is under 19 and each one of them is essentially a Geelani unto himself. 

Their stand on Kashmir further hardens when leadership, both in Srinagar and New Delhi, keeps them under constant confusion regarding the status of Kashmir and future options. Kashmiri leadership clearly states that Kashmir is a political dispute. They, however, never declare the minimum they would be prepared to grant. New Delhi does this in a more dangerous way. When 63 years after accession, the Home Minister declares that “Kashmir acceded to India in unique circumstances, it has unique problems and needs unique solutions” he reiterates Geelani’s view in a more subtle manner. Leadership in Delhi has never clearly said what is negotiable and non-negotiable. 

The third generation in the Valley is completely different from its predecessors. The first generation showed faith in leadership, the second generation was in search of new leaders and the third generation doesn’t want any leaders. Its time for India to be frank and express to these angry youths, the maximum they should expect. If they agree, well and good If they don’t, at least the country and the Kashmiri youths will be in better know of their future course of action.