Ban Ki-moon’s second appeal for Kashmir

UNMOG keeps Kashmiris connected with UN
SRINAGAR: It is for the second time since the Amaranth land row agitation that the UN secretary Ban Ki-moon has intervened and issued a statement on the latest situation prevailing in the Kashmir valley. Many here believe that the UN secretary general’s intervention is also the outcome of large number of memoranda he gets from different groups and people through the UN Military Observers Group (UNMOG) office here at Sonawar.

In his latest statements, Ban Ki-moon has appealed the Kashmiri leaders to address problems peacefully. According to reports he has also appealed to all concerned parties in Kashmir to exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully. His spokesperson Farhan Haq told media persons in New York, "In relation to recent developments in Kashmir, the Secretary-General is concerned over the prevailing security situation there over the past month. He calls on all concerned to exercise utmost restraint and address problems peacefully." During the Amaranth land row agitation Ban Ki-moon had issued similar statements while expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in the valley.

For the last 20 years of armed struggle the UNMOG office has been centre of attraction for the people and the separatist leaders. During the early 90s people in lakhs would visit the office to hand over the memoranda for UN Secretary General urging him that UNO must intervene and facilitate the right of self determination to Kashmiris as has been promised by Indian leaders.

They also demanded implementation of the UN resolution on Kashmir paving way for the right of self determination. The trend of leading marches to UNMOG office also became a routine affair in Kashmir. It would not only involve people from Srinagar city but people from all corners of the valley would throng to the office. However, attempts were repeatedly made to thwart such marches. Those in the march were fired upon at several places including Zakura, resulting in the killing of number of people. Finally the marches to UNMOG were stopped by government with the impositions of curfews for several weeks.

After the formation of Hurriyat Conference the practice of taking out march to UNMOG office was revived though the number of people participating in them was lesser than what it would be in early 90s. Since then the human rights groups and lawyers would also visit the UN office at Sonawar to hand over the memoranda.

The Amarnath land row agitation witnessed people again in lakhs taking part in marches including towards the UNMOG office. But in August, 2008 the government sealed all the roads leading to the UNMOG office and did not allow people to go there. Subsequently the march culminated at Tourist Reception Centre ground where the separatist leaders addressed them.

While the people wanted to move towards office despite restrictions, the separatists leaders advised them not to take such a step as it can lead to more blood shed. The protestors dispersed peacefully. However, as a symbolic gesture, small groups of leaders, human rights activist and lawyers were allowed by the authorities to hand over the memorandum at the UNMOG office.

The officials of the UNMOG have been attracting media attention from time to time. During the first Hazratbal siege, when government officials used to brief the media at TRC regularly, the UNMOG officials were always part of the briefing. The then senior bureaucrat Mehmood-u- Rehman asked them to leave which they did during a briefing. Even during late 80s the then chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah had asked the UNMOG officials to wind up their office at Sonawar as it had no relevance.

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