Kashmiris speak out for peace

Midnite Toker

<p>By Elizabeth Blunt<br>
<br><i>BBC correspondent</i><br>
<p>People living in Indian-administered Kashmir
have voiced overall support for more dialogue and democratic elections.<img border="0" src="http://www.indiamike.com/newsimages/kashmirmay302002bbc.jpg" align="left" hspace="5" vspace="5" width="120" height="152">
<p>That is the finding of UK-based polling organization, Mori,
which has published the results of an opinion poll conducted in the state in
April.
<p>It was commissioned by a British cross-party group of MPs
and the Friends of Kashmir.
<p>Despite differences between Hindu and Muslim majority areas on some issues,
results also showed a commitment to a distinct Kashmiri cultural identity - they
did not want to see the state divided.
<p>The survey was done before the threat of war loomed so
large, but at that point more than a third of those questioned were prepared to
countenance a war if it would lead to a permanent solution to the Kashmiri
problem.
<p>People living in the Hindu majority area of Jammu were
noticeably more willing to accept the idea of a war - in the Kashmir Valley a
far bigger majority was against it.
<p>Despite the differences between Hindus and Muslims there was
a clear consensus on certain issues: they did not want the state divided along
ethnic or religious lines and they wanted any solution to respect the state's
unique cultural identity.
<p><b>End to violence</b>
<p>They thought more economic opportunities would help bring
peace, along with more dialogue, both with the Indian Government and between
Kashmiris on both sides of the border.
<p>Even in Srinagar, where there is more sympathy for the
militants, most people wanted an end to militant violence and an end to<br>
infiltration from Pakistan.
<p>In general, the views of the Hindus in Jammu were
predictable.</p>
<p>Virtually 100% mistrusted Pakistan's motives, believed that
human rights violations were committed by the militants not the army, and wanted
to remain citizens of India.
<p>But the results from the Kashmir Valley were far more varied
and unexpected:
<ul>
<li>25% said human rights violations by the militants were
widespread, though<br>
not as widespread as those of the army<br>
<li>40% thought the presence of foreign militants had been
damaging to the<br>
Kashmiri cause<br>
</li>
</ul>
<p>And on the crucial question of nationality 9% of those in
and around Srinagar said they would be better off staying Indian, while 13%
would opt to become citizens of Pakistan.</p>
<p>The vast majority showed no enthusiasm for being part of
either country, saying they did not know.
<p>Perhaps they would have preferred a choice which was not
being offered: to be citizens of an independent Kashmir.
<p><i>Mori interviewed 850 people of different religions in 55
places within Jammu and Kashmir.</i></p>
<p><u>note: The survey was carried out before the current
crisis</font></u></p>

__________________
travel tips, blog, downloads, panorama photos, online security, tokes:
the tokezone