CES Profile: PG Alum Cat Fish '08

Excerpt:

Cat Fish '08 Politics & Government Major

Cat is currently working in Adam Smith's DC office as a Scheduler/Legislative Correspondent: "DC is a very young and upcoming city. Within the last few years, there has been a huge influx of young people to DC who are politically active and passionate about what they are doing. It is very easy to adjust to living here, because people are social and there is so much to get involved in."

Read CES' interview with her here, and find out more about the Alumni Sharing Knowledge Network:

http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/offices--services/ces/students/connecting-with-alumni/alumni-interviews/legislative-correspondent/

PAID INTERNSHIP: 1/20 Deadline!

We've had several students do this internship in past and they have raved about it. Excellent experience and paid to boot--you can't do better...

2011 Bike Month Internship
City of Tacoma
January 24th-May 31st

The City of Tacoma is seeking a motivated, dependable, creative intern to help develop and implement events for Bike Month 2011. Our objectives include encouraging employees to bike to work and getting the community involved in activities as varied as the Tacoma Bike Swap, a bike art event at the Tacoma Art Museum, and a month-long Bicycle Commuter Challenge.

This internship pays $12/hour and the work schedule will be about 10-12 hours/week from mid-January to mid-April with flexible hours depending on your class schedule. From mid-April through the end of May, the workload will be more demanding and require a greater time commitment of about 20 hours/week, including some weekend and evening hours for events. Work will be done primarily at the Tacoma Municipal Building, with some off-site meetings and events.

The Bike Month intern will be given a great deal of responsibility and autonomy and must be self-motivated and well-organized. Interns must be able to interact professionally with public agencies, businesses, and the general public.

Skills necessary to successfully execute this work include:
• Independent thinking
• Good communication
• Outgoing personality
• Solid research and computer skills
• Investment in bike issues
• Event planning
• Strong work ethic

The intern must have a driver’s license and should also be a cyclist.

Please email a resume and letter stating your interest, skills and qualifications to by Thursday, January 20th at 5:00pm to:

Diane Wiatr, Mobility Coordinator
City of Tacoma
dwiatr@cityoftacoma.org
(253) 591-5380

P&G students at Puget Sound: earning a graduate degree, but not getting one?

I received a nice note from a former student enrolled in a good graduate program a few days ago. The message was similar to lots of feedback I've received over the years, so I thought I'd share this one:

"Professor Sousa,

I wanted to write to let you know that I made it through my first term as a grad student. I felt like it was easier than upper-level classes at UPS...."

We're working you hard now, but just think about it--graduate school will feel like a cool breeze!

ICPSR Summer Undergraduate Internship Program!

ICPSR Summer Undergraduate Internship Program -- 2011

The Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR), the world's largest archive of digital social science data, is now accepting applications for its annual summer internship program. ICPSR is a unit within the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. ICPSR's data are the foundation for thousands of research articles, reports, and books. Findings from these data are put to use by scholars, policy analysts, policy makers, the media, and the public.

Interns spend ten weeks from June 7 - August 13, 2011, at ICPSR (Ann Arbor, Michigan), during which they will:

· Work in small groups and with faculty mentors to complete research projects resulting in conference-ready posters

· Gain experience using statistical programs such as SAS, SPSS, and Stata to check data, working in both UNIX and Windows environments

· Attend courses in the ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods of Social Research

· Participate in a weekly Lunch and Lecture series that covers topics related to social science research and professional development.

Compensation:
$3,000 - $5000* stipend, room and partial-board in university housing, and a scholarship covering the cost of fees, texts, and materials for coursework in the ICPSR Summer Program.

Application Procedure:
Interested individuals should submit a cover letter of interest, resume or CV, two letters of recommendation, list of relevant courses, and contact information for the required two professional or faculty references (that may be submitted under separate cover) to:

ICPSR Human Resources, Attn: Summer Internship Program, P.O.Box 1248, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1248

Email: careers@icpsr.umich.edu

Applications due by February 15, 2011.

* Stipend amount and citizenship requirement pending funding from the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates program.

From NBR: Asia jobs and other goodies

About NBR:

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution that conducts advanced independent research on strategic, political, economic, globalization, health, and energy issues affecting U.S. relations with Asia. Drawing upon an extensive network of the world’s leading specialists, and leveraging the latest technology, NBR bridges the academic, business, and policy arenas. To learn more about NBR, please visit www.nbr.org.

Current Employment and Internship Opportunities

Program Coordinator, Political and Security Affairs (PSA) Group

Strategic Asia Internship - Winter 2011

Winter Internship - Washington, D.C.

Web Design/Development Interns

Publications Winter 2011 Internship

Archival Internship

Program Coordinator, Political and Security Affairs (PSA) Group
Seattle, WA

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is seeking a Program Coordinator to perform a wide variety of executive administrative duties and provide project-based support for the Political and Security Affairs (PSA) group at NBR. This includes providing logistical and administrative support for the PSA Strategic Asia program. This is a regular, full-time, hourly, non-exempt position reporting to the Vice President, Political and Security Affairs Group. Salary DOE.

Responsibilities

PSA Executive Support: (20%)

• Serving as the primary point of contact for PSA senior staff
• Scheduling complex meetings and special activities for PSA senior staff; arranging travel and accommodation for complex trips
• Tracking and compiling reimbursements
• Performing other administrative duties such as minute-taking, filing, faxing, mailing, misc. errands; providing general office phone support; participating in and supporting other NBR activities as needed

PSA Project Support: (40%)

• Providing support in preparation and maintenance of PSA-related materials, events, and web-pages
• Assisting PSA staff in developing and maintaining project budgets; tracking project expenses; tracking staff labor hours, preparing budget reports
• Coordinating Independent Contractor Agreements process; tracking PSA project consultants’ honoraria and deliverables; coordinating with appropriate NBR departments
• Assisting with PSA events and activities; coordinating travel and accommodation for PSA consultants, and relations with event vendors; coordinating and preparing materials; assisting with post-event follow up
• Assisting with writing and editing, and publications management and distribution for PSA initiatives
• Assisting with maintaining and updating PSA databases; entering data and gathering information for institutional and project databases
• Gathering background information and creating customized and targeted correspondence in support of PSA development efforts; researching and identifying potential new business development targets for PSA development outreach

Strategic Asia Program Support: (40%)

• Providing organizational, administrative, and event planning support for Strategic Asia program, including drafting agendas, coordinating invitations, assisting with travel and accommodations, arranging venues, working with vendors, note-taking, etc.
• Drafting, reviewing, fact-checking, proof-reading, and formatting documents related to the Strategic Asia program
• Supporting Strategic Asia Director in coordination and maintenance of program budgets, publications timeline, event calendar, and external consultants
• Updating the Strategic Asia program private website and working with the web outreach team to coordinate updates to NBR public website (including Strategic Asia database); drafting HTML announcements related to the program
• Conducting substantive research in support of Strategic Asia and/or other PSA initiatives, including gathering and interpreting information, summarizing research papers, and providing market research
• Serving as the liaison between the Strategic Asia program team and the NBR Publications team to coordinate Strategic Asia book publication and distribution

Qualifications

The Program Coordinator must possess superior organizational, written and verbal communication skills, and will be able to flexibly manage a wide range of disparate tasks and responsibilities with a high level of professionalism. Discretion, confidentiality, and attention to detail are critical for this position.

The ideal candidate will be experienced in handling a wide range of administrative and executive support related tasks, have prior substantive experience in information gathering and logistical-support related activities, and will be able to work independently with little or no supervision. This person must enjoy supporting a small team of diverse people and programs.

Required Skills:

• Excellent calendar management skills, including the coordination of complex meetings and travel
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, especially in a diplomatic style while juggling tasks for multiple executives and team members
• Excellent proofreading and editing skills
• Creative information gathering and compiling skills and excellent ability to interpret and translate information based on project needs
• Highly organized, superb attention to detail, ability to work well under deadlines, flexible/adaptable to changing priorities
• Demonstrated experience using discretion and confidentiality
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to work well in team setting with minimum supervision
• Excellent computer skills using MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint) and SharePoint; HTML knowledge is a plus
• Experience with budget management and knowledge of QuickBooks is a plus

Required Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• At least two (2) years experience in a similar role
• Must be computer literate and possess knowledge of principles and practices of basic office management and organization
• Interest in Asia/political and security issues a plus; willingness and ability to learn on the job (whether substantive or skills-related) is a plus

Application Process

This position will be open until filled. To apply, submit the following to NBR:

• Letter of interest
• Resume
• Application form
• Three (3) references with contact information (i.e., name, title, affiliation, phone number, and e-mail)
• A brief writing sample

Please email application materials to: Ms. Kailani Chin-Hidano, Director, Human Resources, employment@nbr.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Strategic Asia Internship - Winter 2011
Seattle, WA

Are you interested in the international politics of Asia? Do you want to learn how scholarly research on Asian politics gets shared with U.S. policymakers? The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is recruiting an intern for its Strategic Asia program. This is an unpaid, part-time (10-15 hours per week), internship position mentored by the Director of the Strategic Asia program.

The experience of working on the Strategic Asia program will help prepare you for a future in the field of foreign policy. Students are encouraged to apply for credit and/or funding through their home institution, as this internship is unpaid.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Project Assistance: Drafting, reviewing, fact-checking, proof-reading, and formatting documents related to the Strategic Asia program, including but not limited to planning meetings and launch events; scholar and speaker invitees; key thematic issues; and related publications and/or other materials as appropriate
• Database Administration
: Managing information related to the Strategic Asia program, including tracking invitations, contract agreements, and chapter drafts; updating contact lists; managing filing systems
• Research Support: Providing substantive research support for Strategic Asia and/or other PSA initiatives, including and gathering and interpreting information and summarizing research papers
• Event Planning: providing administrative and logistical support for briefings, workshops, presentations, and conferences (drafting agendas; assisting with travel, accommodation, and venue arrangements; note-taking, etc.)
• Phone Support: Answering incoming calls to the organization
• Participating in and supporting other NBR activities as needed

Qualifications: Excellent written, oral, and research skills are required, as well as substantive expertise and interest in Asian politics and contemporary American foreign policy towards Asia. In addition, the ideal candidate should be a motivated self-starter who can work independently or as part of a team, pays acute attention to detail, is organized, and works well under pressure. Candidates who possess capabilities in an Asian language will be given particular consideration.

Application Process: This position will be open until filled. To apply, submit the following to NBR:

• letter of interest
• resume
• application form
• writing sample
• three references with contact information (i.e., name, title, affiliation, phone number, and e-mail)

Please email application materials to: Ms. Kailani Chin-Hidano, Director, Human Resources, employment@nbr.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Winter 2011 Internship
Washington, D.C.

Are you interested in the international politics of Asia? Do you want to learn how scholarly research on Asian politics gets shared with U.S. policymakers? The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is recruiting interns for its Washington, D.C. office. These are paid, part-time (15-20 hours per week), winter internship positions.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Providing project support in preparation for the 2011 Pacific Energy Summit, which has a focus on the role of natural gas in emerging markets in Asia
• Research and administrative support to projects in the Political and Security Affairs group, including the Shalikashvili Chair in National Security Studies and Strategic Asia, research and related assistance in both English and Chinese with special emphasis on research for the PLA Conference
• Providing support for the Washington, DC-based activities of the National Asia Research Program, including event planning and attending to the administrative needs of Research Associates and Fellows
• Contribute to a “constituency map” of U.S. Government Asia-related policy leaders and of Asian policy think tanks
• Provide support on NBR DC public events, and support other office needs as necessary

Other responsibilities may include:

• Project Assistance: drafting and proof-reading project descriptions, concept papers, etc.; helping maintain project documentation, web-pages, and filing systems
• Research Support and Writing: providing substantive research assistance for project teams and scholars, providing market research, summarizing research papers, undertaking literature reviews, and performing other research and writing assignments as needed
• Publications Support: reviewing, fact-checking, proof-reading and formatting publications; assisting with publications distribution (including mailings), etc.
• Database Administration: maintaining and updating project databases; data entry and research for institutional and project databases
• Event Planning: providing administrative support to conferences, workshops, presentations, and briefings (drafting agendas; assisting with travel, accommodation, and venue arrangements; note-taking, etc.)
• Phone Support: Answering incoming calls to the organization and handling them appropriately
• Participating in and supporting other NBR activities as needed

Qualifications: Excellent written, oral, and research skills are required, as well as substantive expertise and interest in Asian politics and contemporary American foreign policy towards Asia. Successful candidates will possess the ability to conduct open source research using Washington, D.C.-area libraries and other public resources.

In addition, the ideal candidate should be a motivated self-starter who can work independently or as part of a team, pays acute attention to detail, is organized, and works well under pressure. Candidates who possess capabilities in an Asian language will be given particular consideration.

Application Process: This position will be open until filled. To apply, submit the following to NBR:

• letter of interest
• resume
• application form
• brief writing sample on a topic related to your field of study
• three references with name, title, affiliation, relationship to you, and phone number

Please email application materials to: Ms. Debbie Cooper, Assistant Director, Washington, D.C. Office, dcooper@nbr.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Web Design/Development Interns
Seattle, WA

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is looking for team players who are interested in applying and expanding their existing technical skills and who are familiar with best practices in Web design and user experience. We have a strong technical team, and this opportunity would allow for the individual to develop skills in leading edge technologies and gain on the job experience.

These are paid, part-time (10-15 hours per week) internships. The Intern will report either to the Director for Online Communications and Brand Development or to the Senior Project Manager for the Center for Health and Aging as his/her general supervisors, depending on the internship position. Web Design/Development interns will assist in accomplishing specific project objectives such as:

• designing and developing websites;
• developing and maintaining HTML/CSS templates;
• testing, tracking, and resolving bugs;
• converting Visio and Photoshop layouts to CSS/XHTML;
• making design edits;
• updating and maintaining website content;
• constructing HTML emails and newsletters; and
• providing technical support and coaching to other staff.

Qualifications

The successful internship candidate must have some or all of the following qualifications:

• substantive experience in hand-coding cross-browser CSS and XHTML;
• ability to work on database-driven sites, integrating front-end templates with back-end functionality;
• knowledge of WC3 standards such as XHTML and accessibility guidelines; and
• familiarity with analytics (e.g., Google Analytics, IIS log analyzers, etc) and SEO optimization.

Application Process

To apply, submit the following to NBR: a cover letter that details your interests and availability, a resume, an application form, and three references with contact information (i.e., name, title, affiliation, phone number, and e-mail). Please send applications by email to:

Ms. Kailani Chin-Hidano, Director, Human Resources, employment@nbr.org.

This position will be open until filled.

Publications Winter 2011 Internship
Seattle, WA

Are you interested in the international politics of Asia? Do you want to learn how scholarly research gets published in print or online? The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is seeking a part-time intern to assist with NBR publications, including:

• Asia Policy, a peer-reviewed journal devoted to bridging the gap between academic research and policymaking on issues related to the Asia-Pacific region
• Strategic Asia, an annual edited volume presenting research that transcends traditional estimates of military balance by incorporating economic, political, and demographic data on the region and then asking what "strategic Asia" will look like in five years
• NBR Analysis, a policy essay series
• NBR Special Reports and other occasional papers

The experience of working on NBR publications will help prepare you for a future in the field of foreign policy research and publication. Students are encouraged to apply for credit and/or funding through their home institution, as the internship is unpaid.

Overall responsibilities:

• assisting in fact-checking, formatting, copyediting, and proofreading manuscripts
• assisting in the sales and distribution of publications
• supporting the Publications Department and NBR in other activities as needed

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will be a current BA or MA degree student with a strong interest in publishing, international relations, and the Asia-Pacific region. A successful applicant will demonstrate acute attention to detail, the ability to work both independently and as part of a group, and a commitment to providing intellectual public goods. Superior writing skills, a strong understanding of English grammar, and a passion for language are also required. Working knowledge of Microsoft Word is a requirement, and familiarity with Excel and SharePoint are a plus.

Application Process:

This position will be open until filled. To apply, submit the following to NBR:

• letter of interest
• resume
• application form
• writing sample
• three references with contact information (i.e., name, title, affiliation, phone number, and e-mail)

Please email application materials to: Ms. Kailani Chin-Hidano, Director, Human Resources, employment@nbr.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Archival Internship
Seattle, WA

Are you interested in Washington State and U.S. history? Do you want to learn to use your skills to build a historical archive of nationally important documents? The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is seeking a fall intern to assist with archiving for the new Senator Slade Gorton History Center and John M. Shalikashvili Chair in National Security Studies, which contains:

• Historic, original source documents from the 9/11 Commission (The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States), political campaigns
974-2000 video footage and news coverage from around the state and U.S.
• Historic, original source documents from the career of General (ret.) John M. Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The experience of working on the NBR archives will help prepare you for a future in the field of archives and records management. Students are encouraged to apply for credit and/or funding through their home institution, as the internship is unpaid.

Key responsibilities include:

• Properly and securely storing historic documents, photos, film, and other medium

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be a current, second-year student pursuing an M.A. in Archives and Records Management with a strong interest in archiving and organizing modern American History. A successful applicant will demonstrate acute attention to detail, the ability to work both independently and as part of a group, and strong initiative.

Application Process

This position will be open until filled. To apply, submit a completed application form, a cover letter that details your interests and availability, a resume, and three references (including name, title, affiliation, relationship to you, email, and phone numbers) to:

Ms. Kailani Chin-Hidano, Director for Human Resources, The National Bureau of Asian Research, email: employment@nbr.org, phone (206) 632-7370

About NBR:

The National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research institution that conducts advanced independent research on strategic, political, economic, globalization, health, and energy issues affecting U.S. relations with Asia. Drawing upon an extensive network of the world’s leading specialists, and leveraging the latest technology, NBR bridges the academic, business, and policy arenas. To learn more about NBR, please visit www.nbr.org.

Summer in Bulgaria!

ARCS SUMMER SESSION

The American Research Center in Sofia sponsors a three-week summer session on Bulgarian history and culture. The session consists of lectures at the American Research Center in Sofia with visit to sites in and near Sofia and historical and cultural excursions throughout Bulgaria. Lectures and site reports are given by leading experts from Bulgarian universities and museums.

The program is open to graduate and advanced undergraduate students, high-school and college teachers, and other scholars with a serious interest in Bulgarian history and culture. The total cost for participation not including international travel is $2,000 (full room and board, use of research facilities, local travel, and lectures). Applications may be downloaded here and should be returned by e-mail to Dr. Emil Nankov (ehn2@cornell.edu) no later than February 15. Applicants need to submit also a statement of interest (up to three pages), a CV, and, in the case of student applicants, two letters of recommendation (sent separately by e-mail). A limited number of grants to cover part of the participation fees will be available to the student applicants, to be awarded on the basis of merit. The approved participants will receive a notification by March 15. The participation fee and a photocopy of a valid medical insurance card will be due by April 15.

Congrats to Professor Veseth--WA Professor of the Year!

Congratulations to Professor Mike Veseth of the International Political Economy Program on being named Washington State's Professor of the Year. Read all about it on the IPE blog--
http://ipeatups.blogspot.com/2010/11/professor-veseth-named-washington.html

12/3: The Bomb! A talk

boom!

Passport issue of Shaukat Kashmiri: Dr Shabir Choudhry

Sardar Shaukat Kashmiri is a nationalist leader who is always surrounded by controversies. He is among those leaders who have seriously challenged the status quo in Pakistani Administered Kashmir. He has suffered for his politics and sad thing is that, like many others he is accused of being an ‘Indian agent’.

Many people ask me to stay away from him because, in their view, Shaukat Kashmiri is pursuing an Indian agenda and regularly receives hefty amount of money from India, which he distributes to his party members in Pakistani Administered Kashmir. When I ask them for some evidence in support of this serious allegation they produce none; but still urge me to trust them.

Making silly allegations and calling political opponents agent of one country or the other is part of political culture of Pakistan and Kashmir. The State of Jammu and Kashmir is occupied by three countries and they all don’t want to vacate any part of the State, if anything, they want more Kashmiri territory.

Like India and China, Pakistan also wants to maintain its control over the parts of the State of Jammu and Kashmir not legally taken over by them. New Delhi is responsible for human rights abuses in Kashmir, but to lesser extent, Islamabad is also directly responsible for human rights abuses; and also responsible for suffering of the people on both sides of the divide by perpetuating the dispute and by ensuring that the status quo is maintained.

Yet those Kashmiris who receive large amounts of funds to advance a Pakistani agenda on Kashmir are considered as loyal, and they feel proud to be ‘soldiers’ of Pakistan. They openly say they want to be part of Pakistan. But those leaders who are accused of being ‘Indian agents’ never say they are ‘soldiers’ of India or that they want to become part of India; and yet they are accused even though there is not a shred of evidence against them.

This double standard must stop, and culprits of this policy must be opposed by all those who believe in equality, freedom of speech and freedom of political activity. If right of free speech taken away from a society, then slowly but surely that society becomes a totalitarian society with no civil rights.

Shaukat Kashmiri was arrested by secret agencies of Pakistan in 1992 and in 1998. Even at that time allegation was that he had contacts with the secret agencies of India. On both occasions, despite solitary imprisonment and torture, Pakistani secret agencies could not prove a shred of evidence against him; but the rumour mill was churning out lies and propaganda against him. On both occasions he was released without any charges.

Those who didn’t like Shaukat Kashmiri and his politics needed no more evidence, to them mere arrest by the ISI was sufficient to prove that Shaukat Kashmiri was guilty. Those who arrested him and those who were making wild allegations against him were not asked to provide any evidence, onus was put on the accused to prove that he was not guilty – what a justice.

My colleagues and I opposed Pakistani sponsored ‘jihad’ and extremism in Kashmir in mid 1990s, but we did that from safety of London and Geneva. Despite that Pakistani agencies and ‘Jihadi’ groups opposed us tooth and nail; and in some cases issued warnings of death and severe punishment. I was and still am subject of verbal abuse and threatening phone calls.

Shaukat Kashmiri, on the other hand, started exposing Pakistani policy on Kashmir in 1992, while he was still living in Pakistani Administered Kashmir, where he was vulnerable and did not have a large following or international contacts which could have been of some help to him during difficult times.

Of course he was guilty – guilty of openly declaring that militancy in Kashmir was a ‘proxy war of Pakistan’, which was designed to ‘bleed India’ and not to liberate Kashmir. He said it was not ‘jihad’, as the aim of sponsors of militancy and the JKLF leadership was to communalise the Kashmiri struggle and divide people in name of religion.

To say such things at that time, and from position of vulnerability, it was tantamount to signing a death warrant for himself and his colleagues. Instead of getting compliments for his vision and courage he is getting criticism and unfounded allegations.

Now in 2010, Shaukat Kashmiri faces a different kind of allegations. Many in position of authority and some political activists claim that he has compromised his ideology and his political stand. This time, according to rumours, he has met the ISI and made some compromise.

If that was true, then why he and his family is denied passports that they could visit their family and friends in Pakistani Administered Kashmir? This denial is clearly human rights issue, as Shaukat Kashmir and his family have every right to travel to their motherland and meet their relatives and friends; and Pakistani government is in breach of this fundamental right and obligations it assumed under the UNCIP Resolutions.

During KNP Study Tour of Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistani Administered Kashmir in October, one political activist said to me: Your friend Shaukat Kashmiri has made a compromise with Pakistan. He has compromised his ideology and political stand.

I said to him, if that was the case then why Pakistani authorities are not issuing passport to him and his family. His claim was that because his deal was with the army or more appropriately with the GOC Murree, and the ISI didn’t like that. Both GOC Murree (military commander stationed in Murree who wields exceptional powers in affairs of Pakistani Administered Kashmir) and the ISI are in direct competition in controlling affairs of this territory. According to him, ISI officers also met Shaukat Kashmir, but they could not reach any agreement; and his subsequent deal with representatives of the GOC Murree have annoyed the ISI; and it was because of that he is having problems with the passports.

To me and many other thinking Kashmiris, this is another propaganda campaign against a nationalist leader and a loyal son of soil. Shaukat Kashmiri is a pro Kashmir leader; and like me and many others, openly oppose forces of extremism, communalism and hatred, and that appears to be his real crime. As a Kashmiri, he doesn’t have to be pro or anti any country, but he has every right to promote a Kashmiri interest; and he must not be punished for this.

It is advisable that Pakistani authorities issue passports to him and his family, as that is their right. By denying what they are entitled to Pakistani authorities are not going to win their hearts; but it is possible that their unreasonable and illogical action might generate anti Pakistan feelings among some other Kashmiris.

Writer is Head Diplomatic Committee of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs.Email:drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com

Kashmiri Journalist filed a Case against Government for the denial of Passport.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir High Court (HC) has issued notices to State Government, Police and Secretary, Union Home Affairs and Regional Passport Officer (RPO) on a petition filed by Ajaz Ahmad War, a journalist by profession, seeking direction to respondents to issue passport to him. 

A single bench of the High Court, comprising Justice Hussnain Masoodi today directed the respondents to file objections with two weeks against the petition. 

Mr War, in the petition filed by his lawyer M. Aijaz today, alleged that he has applied for an International passport on February 27, 2008 and deposited Rs 1000. 

He said after the issuance of the passport was delayed abnormally he made a representation to the Chief Minister who directed the Additional Director General of police, CID, for immediate action as per existing policy and also to intimate the action taken in the matter. 

The petition alleged that nothing happened in the matter as a consequence thereof he approached different authorities and also asked for a report under RTI Act. 

The petition said that the CID department in its reply to Chief

Minister on January 9, this year alleged that Mr Aijaz was brother of Hilal Ahmad War, Chairman of the Peoples Political Party (PPP) and Jameel Ahmad War, a pro-freedom leader .CID department has written in its reply that Jameel Ahmad War is the close associate of Syed Ali Shah Gilani and Syed Salahuddin which is one of the reasons of the denial of passport to Ajaz Ahmad War. 

The department declared him a threat to security and warned that separatists may use his visit for anti national activities. 

However, the department said that he himself was not involved in any anti national activities. Finally the Public Information Officer, Police headquarter communicated to the petitioner through a letter that as per the existing guidelines the issuance of passport to the petitioner is denied. 

However, the petitioner approached the First Appellate Authority by virtue of a representation that in the light of the norms

guidelines issued by the Chief Minister that if a relation of an applicant is involved in any anti-social or anti-national activity and the applicant is not directly involved cannot be denied the passport.

The appellate Authority acceded to the request of the applicant and communicated to IGP, CID, to consider my case for the issue of passport. 

However, the IGP CID declined to clear the name of the petitioner

for issuance of the passport. 

Mr War prayed for direction to concerned authorities for issuance

of passport to him.

The notices were accepted by Additional Solicitor General of  India on behalf of secretary union home affairs and RPO, Srinagar and Additional Advocate General for state government, IGP, CID and Senior Superintendent of Police headquarters.

CAN PAKISTAN PRODUCE ONE ARUNDHATI ROY TO SPEAK TRUTH: DR SHABIR CHOUDHRY

Arundhati Roy, a famous Indian writer and human rights activist has, once again, made headlines and won minds and hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She said what she believed – Kashmir is not legally part of India.Kashmir is not part of Pakistan either, although both countries control State of Jammu and Kashmir and have no desire to relinquish their control over these areas.

There is demand in some parts of India that Arundhati Roy should be charged for ‘sedition’. But there are many rational people who support her. Alok Tiwari, a prominent Indian journalist wrote in her defence that what she said was ‘definitely against the government line on Kashmir. It was also against the popular opinion. Mercifully, there is no law that obligates us to toe the government or popular line. Going against it is dissent, not sedition; and democracies thrive on dissent. They do not shun it.’

India claims to be the biggest democracy on earth, and that democracy is alive and kicking, at least, in India, if not in Jammu and Kashmir. Demand of a genuine democracy is that people must be allowed to express their views without fear or intimidation; and Arundhati Roy is an Indian citizen, and at least, she should be entitled to enjoy fruits of democracy. Alok Tiwari further writes:

‘Freedom in a society is tested by its tolerance of what most of its members consider offensive. Freedom to say goody-goody thing is actually no freedom. If we assert before the world that Kashmiris in India are living in freedom, it means even those Kashmiris who would rather not be part of India. They have as much right to air their opinion as the rest of us have to assert Kashmir is an integral part of India. If we find Geelani’s ideas offensive then let us come up with better ideas to counter them.’

It is best for government of India to resolve the Kashmir dispute rather than charge all those who express their disagreement on Kashmirpolicy of government of India. The Kashmir dispute is real. It will not go away by closing eyes; or by using force.

In Kashmir there is a strong resentment against what Indian government do there; and that anger and sense of alienation will not go away by continuation of the present policies. The government of India has to come out with a new policy and new approach and satisfy demands of the people, as policy of gun and bullet cannot win minds and hearts of the people.

Arundhati Roy is brave and honest in her assertions on Kashmir. She had courage to say that India’s claim on Kashmir is not correct; and is against popular will of the people of Kashmir. She said all that even though Jammu and Kashmir ‘provisionally’ acceded to India; andIndia’s claim on Kashmir rests on that ‘accession’.

That ‘provisional accession’ had to be ratified by the people of Jammu and Kashmir; and due to Pakistan’s refusal to withdraw troops from Kashmiri territory, as demanded by the UN Resolutions, conditions for a plebiscite could not be created to hold a referendum to test will of the people, hence the present forced division and suffering of the people on both sides of the LOC.

Despite India’s claim on Kashmir and its claim to democratic ideals, people like Arundhati Roy speak against India’s Kashmir policy. They tell government of India that hearts and minds of people could not be won with use of force. They tell the government that you cannot make people Indian by pulling their finger nails.

On the other hand Pakistan also occupies two parts of State of Jammu and Kashmir, namely Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, from which Pakistan generously gave away around 2200 sq miles to China in 1963 to improve bilateral relations. 

Pakistan has military strength to control the Kashmiri territory under its occupation, but has no legal cover to justify this occupation. It has no legal mandate to be in control of the Kashmiri territory, but still has managed to divert attention away from areas under its control and call them ‘azad’ meaning free; and many Kashmiri collaborators happily advance the cause of Pakistan.

Many in Pakistan, especially writers and scholars know shallowness of Pakistan’s stand on Kashmir. They also know that people of so called Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan are not happy with what Pakistan and its secret agencies do to the people of these areas; and yet they decide to remain quiet. Their conscience does not trouble them, and they follow the government policy on issue of Kashmir. They happily promote government’s version on Kashmir, knowing well that it is based on lies.

They know, as it has been confirmed by many impartial surveys that people of Jammu and Kashmir DONOT want to join Pakistan; and yet they broadcast lies that people of Jammu and Kashmir are desperate to join Pakistan. They are reluctant to speak about plight and exploitation of the people living under Pakistani occupation; and will only focus on events taking place on other side of the LOC.

Can Pakistani society produce one prominent writer, scholar and human rights champion who has guts to challenge Pakistan’s Kashmirpolicy; and tell the world that Pakistan’s control of Kashmiri territory is not legal? Someone who could tell the world people of Jammu and Kashmir State living on this side of the LOC are also deprived of their fundamental human rights. Or is this too much to ask, and Pakistani writers, intellectuals and scholars will continue to follow the out of date policy of Islamabad?

Writer is Head Diplomatic Committee of Kashmir National Party, political analyst and author of many books and booklets. Also he is Director Institute of Kashmir Affairs. 

Obama’s visit: Crackdown in Lal Chowk

Srinagar: Police and paramilitary CRPF Thursday carried crackdown in the nerve centre Lal Chowk here.

City reporter said that police and personnel of CRPF carried out surprise frisking of pedestrians and shopkeepers near Ghantaghar (clock tower) around 1500 hours.

They said that apart from frisking the individuals, the policemen and paramilitary troopers checked the identity cards of the people after keeping them in a queue.

Quoting eyewitnesses, he said that people were allowed to move towards their respective destinations after searches.

Official sources said that the searches were carried to keep at bay the possibility of any untoward incident in wake of the US President Barrack Obama’s visit to New Delhi. US president is visiting on three day trip in first week of November. No arrests were made during the operation, they added.

Kashmiris Peace Conference asks India and Pakistan to resolve Kashmir Conflict according to wishes of Kashmiris

Kotli, AJK, Sunday, October 03, 2010. (PCP) Kashmir Peace Conference (KPC) on Sunday urged India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir dispute according to wishes of Kashmiris in order to foster peace and prosperity in South Asian region.

“India and Pakistan should rescind Indus Water Treaty (IWT) to accommodate the Kashmiris and water use charges must be spent on local development under a new justified accord about regional rivers.” the Conference demanded.

The KPC was organized by Press For Peace (PFP) which is an independent research and advocacy organization working for the promotion of sustainable peace and human development.

In the conference venue various pro-peace slogans and were displayed, which included: ‘No Peace without Justice’, ‘War Is Expensive; Peace Is Priceless’, ‘Give Peace A Chance’.

A large number of people, including the heads of political parties, intellectuals, representatives of civil society organisations and lawyers joined the event.

Marvi Memon , Member Standing Committee for Kashmir(National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Khalid Ibrahim, President , Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Party), ), Sardar Ejaz Afzal, President Muttihda Majlis e Amal (MMA), Sardar Saghir Khan Advocate, Chairman JKLF, Shoukat Maqbool Butt, Chairman, Kashmir National Liberation Front,, Qayyum Raja, Chairman Justice Forum, Malik Muhammad Nawaz Minister AJK ,Tahir Khokhar Minister Tourism AJK, Cahudhary Muhammad Yaseen ,Vice President PPP, Muhammad Matloob Inqalabi , Information Secretary PPP, Shazia Akbar, Advisor to PM ,Mir Latif Advocate ,Dr.Mushtaq A Sajid ,Dean University of AJK,Syyed Yusuf Nasim, Chairman APHC, AJK),Mrs Saffia , and officials of the PFP; Mrs Tanveer Latif , Dr Nighat Younas, Khalil Gorsi Advocate, Rafiq Mughal, Youaf Kashmiri and others spoke on the occasion.

The speakers condemned the recent human rights violations committed by forces in Indian Kashmir and pledged to support the right of self determination of Kashmiri people. They also highlighted the miseries of people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, especially affecteees of Mangla Dam and earthquake 2005 and criticized the negligence of government which ‘completely failed to resolve the public problems’.

A declaration was issued at the end of the Conference, which encompassed the core issues related with three regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit Baltistain.

Appreciating the peace initiatives between Indian and Pakistani regions of Kashmir, it demanded to rectify the flaws and complicated procedures in Line of Control(LoC) Bus and Truck services to make them people friendly and economic well being of the area as well.

The KPC expressed profound concerns over the alleged embezzlement in the funds of rehabilitation of quake affected areas of AJK and urged to ensure transparency and speedy implementation of projects to lessen the miseries of people.

“All mega development programs and Hydro power projects in all units of Jammu and Kashmir must be executed according to the global standards of ecology, development and water conservation and reservations and concerns of local communities must be addressed as well”, it further said, adding that demands of afectees of Mangla Dam Upraising Project and Neeelum Jhelum Hydro Power Project should be fulfilled.

The conference asked universities of different regions of Kashmir to grant scholarships to students of local areas to cultivate culture of mutual respect, harmony and understanding.

The participants of the Conference also vowed to struggle for merit, rule of law to achieve the goal of a democratic and moderate society.

Member National Assembly of Pakistan, Marvi Memon vowed to support the voice of Kashmiris at every for.

“People of Kashmir are striving for a legitimate and unalienable right, which could not be suppressed by brutal force.”

Minorities of India may Demand ‘Separate Homeland’: Hilal War

Srinagar, October 02, 2010: People’s Political Party (PPP) Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War termed Babri Masjid judgement a politically motivated, simply to appease the fanatic Hindus of India. The judgement is not on the expected lines of justice and has far reaching consequences , in  view of the fact that RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal , Ram Sena, Hindu Maha Saba, BJP etc. along with other pseudo secularists will further their design to carry forward their programme of Hindutva, said Mr.War.  He sad that this judgement will encourage the  Hindu fanatic groups of India to ask for desecration and demolition of many more shrines and mosques and other places of worship of Muslims in various parts of India on the same parameters as fixed in the judgement.  ‘The judgement is legally, constitutionally and logically wrong , biased and is against the golden principles of Justice’ . ‘This has resulted in total miscarriage of justice and the minorities have been reduced to irrelevance’, said PPP Chief.
PPP Chief, Hilal War said that the Muslims of India have been all along at the receiving end. They stand driven to wall and their future course of action will depend on the future circumstances of historical events. The only hope left to such minorities was in the judicial system. The unfortunate part played is that the judgement has attempted to dug history of 500 years from Hindu point of view only. This process shall throw open flood gated of digging more and more  in history which will provide renewed cause of action to divide and sub divide the Indian society on communal basis which does not go in tune with the concept of  spirit of secularism at all .   
The judgement has provided deep rooted tremendous and powerful incentive to the communal forces of India for gearing up their strategies. The judgement has reinforced and added fuel to the fire. Therefore, it will result in chaos and confusion in entire India which ultimately will destabilize and India, said Mr.War. This will lead to a chaotic Indian society where every religious minority will feel insecure and unsafe and will have no faith, trust and confidence in the judicial system of India. PPP Chief said if the same is not checked the religious minorities of India including Muslims, Christians and Dalits etc.  will be constrained to demand for a Separate Homeland within India.

Life returns to normal across Valley for a day

Srinagar: Barring few areas of Ganderbal and Baramulla districts, life across the Valley on Saturday limped back to normal as Hurriyat Conference (G) called off the strike and government lifted curfew and restrictions to provide breather to the people.
Reports and eyewitnesses told KMW that life in Srinagar and most of the parts of the Valley returned to normal this morning, ever since curfew was clamped across the Valley following massive pro-freedom demonstrations on Eid-ul-Fitr on September 11.
After 20 days of disturbances, particularly due to curfew and restrictions, all shops, private offices, business establishments, petrol pumps across the valley resumed their work. The markets that wore a deserted look in the recent days, were bustling with shoppers.
The transport also returned to almost all the roads and highway in all the ten districts of the Valley.
Choked roads, traffic jams, unruly scenes were witnessed at many places in the city centre as people swarmed to make necessary purchases. Traffic cops had a tough time while regulating traffic at important roads and transaction.
The commuters travelling in the city, particularly through Maulana Azad road, residency road, Hari Singh high and Jehangir chowk faced inconvenience due to frequent traffic jams triggered by the heavy flow of traffic.
Meanwhile, uneasy calm prevailed in Kangan area of Ganderbal district where curfew is in force as militants and a joint team of Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) are engaged in a fierce gunfight.
Sources said that the curfew has been clamped in the area fearing protests against the killing of militants.
Tension also persisted in Palhalan area of Baramulla district where curfew was clamped following protests against the alleged forces atrocities.
However, life was normal in other areas of the district.
Press Bureau of India correspondent from North Kashmir said that after remaining crippled for weeks, life returned to normal in all the three districts of the North Kashmir.
In Baramulla, Bandipore and Kupwara, all shops, business establishments, private offices, petrol pumps resumed their activities while transport plied normalcy on district and inter-district routes.

Sangrama youth succumbs, toll 110

Srinagar: A teenager injured in Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and police firing in Sangrama area of Baramulla district last month, succumbed to injuries at the SK Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar Saturday morning. With his death, the toll in the ongoing unrest since June 11 has mounted to110.
16-year-old Mohammad Omar, son of late Mohammad Ismail Sheikh was injured when CRPF and police fired upon pro-freedom demonstrators in Potkhah Muqam area of Sangrama on September 16. The teenager with bullet injury in thigh was removed to SKIMS for treatment. He was operated upon by a team of doctors. However, after battling with life for fifteen consecutive days, the teenager succumbed to injuries last night.
“The teenager was brought to hospital with thigh injury on September 16. His blood vessel was damaged due to firearm injury. Last night, he succumbed to injuries,” Medical Superintendent SKIMS, Dr Syed Amin Tabish, when contacted told Press Bureau of India.
Omar, a tenth standard student of Government higher secondary school, Wagura was an orphan. His father was assassinated by unknown gunmen in Naribal forests of Rafiabad in mid-90. After the death of his father, Omar and his widow mother shifted to Sangrama from their Zahampora, Uri residence.
When the body of the Omar was brought to his hometown, thousands of men, women and children came out on roads and staged pro-freedom demonstration.
Amidst chanting of pro-freedom and anti-India slogans, the teenager was laid to rest at a local graveyard.

PPP Chief urges the separatist leaders to register a complete boycott against All Party Delegation

Srinagar, Sept 19 :People’s Political Party (PPP), Chairman, Hilal Ahmad War, before Press Conference Kashmir is in the middle of one of the worst crisis since 1947 – a crisis that is humongous both in terms of its impact and the far reaching fallouts that it carries along. This fresh round of uprising against the Indian occupation has already consumed more than a hundred lives in just 100 days and the worst part is that the victims are being projected as perpetrators by the Indian State.  Through sheer might of its military, police, media and other wherewithal, government of India is crushing our legitimate movement and also trying to portray us as troublemakers who can’t rest in peace. India wants to continue with its oppressive policy   by arming its forces with “unimaginable” powers to kill anybody, anywhere, at any point of time just to make sure that this Intifada passes off as a matter of misgovernance and misgivings between Kashmiris rather than an independence movement.
The post-Eid persecution that the Kashmiris are facing is something that isn’t spontaneous but it is a sinister plot that was hatched before the auspicious day after the Indian agencies started seeing the writing on the wall. A couple of incidents of arson where blown out of proportion and given prominence in the media to overshadow a mega show of people’s sentiment for the independence on Eid. An abrupt war hysteria was created through the news channels and a vicious propaganda was unleashed against the peaceful Kashmiris to discredit our genuine struggle and just cause.
Any political & economic packages or other sorts of appeasements or nefarious plans implemented through K. C. Pant, Dulat, Jethmalani, Wajahat Habibullah, Advocate Ashok Bhan etc by Govt. of India are destined to meet a disgraceful failure. By buying loyalties using traitors and pseudo-freedom fighters for elections or dialogue will get India nowhere and neither will it help in creating peace in Kashmir. It is highly advisable for Dr. Manmohan Singh & other Indian leaders to accept the hardest realities of Kashmir problem & concede the right of self-determination to the people of J & K State, so that the South Asia gets guarded against the otherwise inevitable horrors of nuclear war.
In view of the aforesaid position and ground realities our party PPP has rightly and thoughtfully advocated a 3-point formula since 10th August , 1996 which if acted upon, shall save J & K State from armed turmoil & also ensure peace & prosperity in the subcontinent of India & Pakistan. People of J & K State shall never allow any person, political party or conglomerate to act as their political attorney in connection with the settlement of Kashmir dispute. The Kashmir problem is the question of life & death for the people of J & K State who alone can directly settle this problem through fair & impartial referendum. The role of India & Pakistan is the role of co-operation only but the role of adjudication is the prerogative & inherent right of the people of both sides of control line. Let Indian leaders learn a lesson from Algerian liberation war against France, American war of Independence from Britain, Indian war of Independence commanded by Subhash Chander Bose, Irish war of Independence from Britain etc. and bow before the aspirations of J & K people by conceding their right of self-determination before it is too late.
A slew of lies, fabrications and cooked stories has now been topped by a typical Chanakya policy of deceit and cunning formation of the All Party Delegation to visit Kashmir. May I ask the UPA Chairperson and the Prime Minister of India what purpose this delegation will serve in calming the tempers and bringing about peace except it being a time biding tactic and an attempt to co-opt a handful of people secretly by the use of money and other sops. We warn the Indian government that it should face the ground realities and understand no peace is possible unless the burning Kashmir issue is resolved. Kashmiris won’t settle for anything less than Azadi and the sooner India realizes it, the better it would be for all the parties involved i.e. India, Pakistan and the principal party Kashmir. We didn’t sacrifice a hundred thousand youth in the last twenty years, and many thousands before that, to go for a sell out or accept a solution within the Indian constitution that the Kashmiris have never accepted.
Can the All Party Delegation walk on the streets of Srinagar and talk to the youths? No. Can it reach out to the people? No. Because it knows if it does, the reality will dawn before the world once more. Kashmiris who have been taking to streets by tens of thousands continuously for more than three months now have an unshakable resolve to fight India within the jurisprudence of United Nations Charter for the legitimate right of Self-determination and get freedom.
It’s such a shame that these people are coming here to rub salt into our wounds by unleashing their forces on us on one hand and trying to sweet talk us into their trap on the other. This show of hypocrisy and subterfuge must end and it should occur to India that the only resolution to the crisis is giving Kashmiris their right to self-determination.
This visit of the delegation is nothing but another drama in the political theatre of Kashmir directed and produced by the Indian Home Department. No pro-freedom leader is going to meet them and they are seen as unwelcome guests by the Kashmiris. I request all the Kashmiris and our pro-freedom friends too to completely stay away from this deceitful exercise and not fall in the Indian snare. Let India come out with a concrete, honest and genuine initiative to resolve the issue, every Kashmiri would welcome it. We’ve nothing against India except that she has subjugated us and is unwilling to set us free. But India must know freedom is a birth right and nobody, however mighty, can snatch it.  

Some Prominent leaders are working for RAW and IB: PPP Chief

Srinagar September 10, 2010:On this auspicious Occasion of Eid, People’s Political Party (PPP), Chairman, Engineer, Hilal Ahmad War asked the people of Kashmir, “do not forget those who lost everything in the devastating floods in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of Pakistan in your prayers? And do not forget those valiant youth of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir who kept the torch of freedom burning by facing Indian bullets”. Mr. War further asked people to beware of Pseudo Freedom fighters who are dressed in pro-freedom clothing but in actually they are working for Indian RAW and Intelligence Bureau of India. These Pseudo Freedom fighters are acting like monsoon frogs. These leaders suddenly appear before public when their masters asked them to do so in order to serve their interest and to sabotage the freedom movement. He has appealed people of Kashmir to refrain from attending function or public gathering of such so-called leaders. He said that these leaders are trying to fool common Kashmiris by exhibiting photo-ops and fake unity shows.

Mirwaiz, Malik join hands

Srinagar, September 10, 2010: Srinagar: In a major development chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and the JKLF chairman Yasin Malik joined hands on Friday and announced to carry forward the ongoing movement jointly.

Both the leaders while addressing the Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid here in old city said that they would share a common platform from today onwards and vowed to take the ongoing movement to its logical end. After offering Friday congregation prayers both the leaders led a massive procession from Jamia Masjid onwards. This is the first time that Mirwaiz and Malik shared public space since September 2003 when the then Hurriyat Conference suffered a vertical split with Syed Ali Shah Geelani floating a parallel amalgam with the support of hardline elements.

Speaking on the occasion, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq welcomed Malik’s participation in the Friday prayers at the historic mosque as “positive” response to the amalgam’s unity call. “Whenever, we have called for forging unity among the pro-freedom leadership, Yasin Malik and his party has been at the forefront,” Mirwaiz said, adding he was happy that Malik had repeated the same at “this critical juncture of the freedom movement.”Reiterating that unity was imperative was taking the martyrs’ sacrifices to the logical conclusion; Mirwaiz said his led factions of the Hurriyat Conference will double the efforts for forging unity in the pro-freedom camp after Eid-ul-Fitr. He also appealed men, women and children to march towards the Eidgah grounds tomorrow and urged people across the Valley to participating in the congregational Eid prayers at the place. In his Friday sermon at Jamia Masjid in interior city, Mirwaiz welcomed Malik saying he had "exhibited positive response" to the unity appeal at this crucial juncture.

"I am hopeful that other separatist leaders will also respond positively in the larger interest of the movement so that a consensus can be arrived at in bringing uniformity," Mirwaiz said.

Addressing the gathering, Malik also called for unity in order to achieve the goal of the ongoing movement."Today, our struggle is peaceful and if attempts are made to crush it by use of force, the youth will be forced to pick up the gun again. The responsibility for such an eventuality will rest with the government," Malik said.

Last Friday, the moderate Hurriyat had appealed for unity among separatists and sent two delegations to Geelani and Malik in this regard. Mirwaiz had requested them to offer Eid prayers at Eidgah as the first step towards unity. Although Geelani had planned to offer Eid prayers at Hazratbal, he urged the people to offer prayers at Eidgah minutes before his arrest on September eight.

After the prayers, Mirwaiz and Malik jointly led a protest march from Jamia Masjid compound to nearby Nowhatta Chowk. The protest rally dispersed off peacefully.

Omar meets Pranab, Antony over Kashmir problem

New Delhi: Ahead of Friday’s crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meet in New Delhi to discuss the ongoing violence in the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday to seek their supports for his demand for amendments in the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

Abdullah, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, had then highlighted the need for making AFSPA more humane, and requested Manmohan Singh to kick start a political dialogue with the separatists at the earliest.

“Yes, I have requested the Prime Minister to take a decision on amending the AFSPA or at best withdrawing it from some areas where it was not required. To begin with we may choose four districts in the state on experimental basis. Some calculated risks have to be taken. Let us see,” said Omar Abdullah after his meeting with Singh, which lasted for around 45-minutes.

“If I am not hopeful, I won’t be here,” he added, when asked whether the ongoing turmoil in the Valley would come to an end. Over sixty-nine people have been killed in the ongoing unrest in the Valley till date.

Army kills civilian in Bandipora

Srinagar, Sep 9: The army allegedly shot dead a civilian in Bandipora district on hursday.

The army had laid a siege in Kudra forests 75 kms from here. “They fired upon one youth. He was lying in a pool of blood. He had bled to death,” locals told.

Troops of 14 Rashtriya Rifles had laid an ambush in Kudar forests of Bandipora, 75 kms from here, last night when they noticed some suspicious movement at around 2.30 am today, the spokesman said.

"The man was challenged by the troops but he started running away, forcing the soldiers to open fire which resulted in injuries to the man," the spokesman said.

He said after ascertaining that the injured person was not armed, the troops gave him first aid and tried to evacuate him to a hospital but he succumbed to injuries.

A civilian was shot dead by Army in a case of ''mistaken identity'' during an ambush in the forests of Bandipora district, a Defence spokesman said.

The deceased has been identified as 32-year-old Manzoor Ahmad Pathwal, who was returning from his hut located in the forests. Police have registered a case and started investigations, the polie sources said, adding the body of the deceased has been handed over to his family after legal formalities.

Omar meets PM, Eid Political package likely

New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday evening and reportedly discuss ways to end the current impasse in the Kashmir valley.

It has been reported that Abdullah will brief Manmohan and his senior cabinet colleagues on the situation in the Valley and suggest measures to break the deadlock.

Official sources told that, the discussions will be followed up at the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and a full cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Political circles have been hinting at a relief package to the violence-hit valley to be announced on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr on Saturday.

The package is expected to include revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Srinagar and some other districts, withdrawal of causes related to stone-pelting in the past three months and an employment scheme.

Abdullah also wants to push for the release of political prisoners, new employment schemes, swift action against human rights violations, and an all-party meeting on Kashmir, followed by an all-party delegation's visit to his state.

This contentious issue is to be discussed at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). A top source says the Kashmir crisis will be discussed "threadbare." What's likely to dominate the agenda is whether to amend AFSPA. Those in favour of changes, sources say, would like to ensure that warrants are secured in advance for arrests, and that grievance cells are able to address citizens' complaints against the Army. The Defence Ministry's view, however, is that while these amendments are acceptable in a scenario where the army is called in to aid civil authority - for example, in the case of riots and civil unrest -but they are too restricting in Kashmir where the army has to take on well-trained, heavily-armed fighters.

4 killed in Kashmir, Death toll reaches to 69

Srinagar: Four more youth were shot dead on Monday in security force firing at North Kashmir's Pahallan Pattan taking the death toll to 69 since the unrest began on June 11.

Killing took place in Pahallan Pattan when security forces opened fire at protesters in a village on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway in Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.

The incident took place at Palahalan village, 35 km from Srinagar.

The injured were shifted to Srinagar for medical care, police said. Police used batons to chase away a group of youths who blocked the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad at Palhalan in Pattan area, 30 kms from here.

But the protesters indulged in heavy stone pelting, prompting security forces to open fire, said police.

The area was tense after the incident as villagers blocked traffic on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad highway. Eyewitnesses said that escort of senior police officer resorted to indiscriminate firing to disperse the protesters killing teenager Showket Ahmad on spot and injuring thirteen others who were hospitalized. The condition of three of the injured is stated to be very critical.

Three of the injured who sustained bullet injuries were taken to a hospital in Srinagar for specialized treatment. One of them, identified as Mohammad Ramzan Mir, 35, succumbed to his injuries on the way. Later the death of another two injured protester, identified as Noor Din Tantray and Mudasir Ahmad Mir was announced.

The fresh deaths brought more people out on the streets of Palhalan, chanting pro-independence slogans, witnesses said.

With the Hurriyat conference (G) led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani calling for a break in the ongoing agitation, people thronged markets for the second day today to prepare for Eid-ul-Fitr to be observed later this week.’

Muslims in the Valley will be offering special prayers throughout the night to celebrate ‘Shab-e-Qadr’ (‘the night of power’ marking the revelation of the holy Quran to Prophet Mohammad).

While private and a few public transport vehicles were plying since this morning, Srinagar city and other major towns of the Valley were agog with activity in the afternoon.

Schools and other educational institutions remained closed, while work in government and semi-government offices, banks, courts and other establishments was partially affected.

Traffic jams were witnessed at many intersections in the city as shoppers flocked to shops and bakeries.

Although other parts of the Valley remained by and large peaceful, residents of Batmaloo in central Srinagar staged a sit-in in their area demanding removal of CRPF picket.

Senior police officers visited the spot and assured the protestors that their complaints would be looked into, persuading those to call off their ‘protest’, police said.

However, a group of youth among the protestors started pelting stones at the security forces leading to clashes between the two sides. There were no reports of anyone getting injured.

Meanwhile police have taken a serious view of the firing and an enquiry has been initiated. Ammunition of the policemen is being checked to fix the responsibility. Those found involved shall be proceeded against strictly according to law without any favour.

Incidents of stone pelting have also been reported Pampore in Awantipora, Bohri Kadal and S D Colony Batamaloo.