Americans for Resolution
of Kashmir
Chairman’s Message
January, 2004
Dear Friends:
In response to
recent developments with regard to the resolution of
the conflict in Kashmir, I issued the following
statement as part of a press release. Once finished,
I realized that it reflects clearly and completely
the position of ARK with respect to justice and
peace in Kashmir, and accordingly, we are posting it
here.
“ARK
remains firmly committed to its position regarding
the ground realities and the political, social, and
economic future of Kashmir. We reiterate without
compromise the single inviolable premise upon which
any solution must be based: the right of
self-determination for the people of Kashmir.
And we reiterate with equal resolve our call to stop
the killing in Kashmir.
India and
Pakistan are signatories to U.N. resolutions that
establish the fundamental right of
self-determination through a fair and impartial
plebiscite. If the Kashmiri people verifiably agree
to some different mechanism through which their
right of self-determination can and will be
exercised, ARK would stand firmly in support of such
a process.
What is
paramount is that the people of Kashmir must be the
ultimate determinants of their own destiny. For over
half a century, they have suffered at the hands of
those who failed to honor the various U.N.
resolutions intended to bring and end to this
tragedy. India has stationed a huge army of
occupation in Kashmir, and brutal violations of
human rights by this army continue to this day
despite India’s protestations to the contrary. ARK
reiterates its challenge to the government of India
to allow internationally recognized human rights
organizations unrestricted access to all areas
within Kashmir. While the cease fire on the Line of
Control is a step in the right direction, we are
nevertheless unyielding in our continued call for an
end to the killing, torture, and oppression of
innocent Kashmiris that continue in those areas that
are out of sight of the rest of the world.
ARK favors
neither Pakistan nor India with regard to an
ultimate outcome in Kashmir. From its inception, ARK
has stated that its sole and abiding interest is the
exercise of the right of self-determination for the
people of Kashmir. We have consistently decried the
commission of atrocities by the Indian army and
paramilitaries, as injustice ultimately begets
anger, and oppression breeds hatred. Neither
injustice or oppression, nor their consequential
emotions, are constructive to bringing peace to
South Asia or freedom to Kashmir. We exhort the
government of India to stop the killing in Kashmir,
to establish meaningful dialogue with Pakistan, and
then to commit to specific and meaningful actions,
within a defined timeframe, to cease, without
obfuscation or political chicanery, obstruction of
the Kashmiris’ right of self-determination.
Those who
would be leaders in South Asia must reject the
failed and dangerous politics of the past and
act in a manner consistent with the highest
ideals of freedom and justice. Any other course
of action will only serve to underscore the
decades of intellectual and political dishonesty
that have long characterized the politics of
this brutal conflict. Even as the world
celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, we still
await a demonstration of genuine commitment to
the fundamental right of self-determination by
those who continue to oppress the people of
Kashmir
ARK wishes you
and your loved ones a joyful New Year, as we
continue our pursuit of justice and peace in
Kashmir. We recommit ourselves to our organizational
goal of educating the American people about Kashmir,
and hope you will continue your generous support of
our efforts.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Giuda
Founder and Chairman
Americans for Resolution of Kashmir
chairman@a-r-k.org
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