The Hindu : Geelani for trilateral talks to resolve Kashmir dispute

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003

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Geelani for trilateral talks to resolve Kashmir dispute

By Our Staff Reporter

Jammu Sept. 15. The senior separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who was elected chairman of the breakaway group of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference today, has said that trilateral negotiations between India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be the basis for a final solution of the Kashmir dispute.

Talking to reporters after his election, he said, "the previous chairman had lost the confidence of people and there was no way left except to go in for a change. We stand for a trilateral dialogue between India, Pakistan and people of Jammu and Kashmir for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. These talks should be mediated by the United Nations. The rights of the absolute majority of the State have to be respected. The struggle will continue at the political level and through peaceful methods." Denying that he was causing disunity among the separatists, Mr. Geelani said, "unity is not an end in itself but a means to achieve that end. "

Describing his new post as a crown of thorns he said, "the movement is above personalities and I will work for a final solution of the Kashmir dispute. But in doing so no compromise would be made towards maintaining the people's inalienable right to decide their political future." Asked whether the new group would occupy the Hurriyat's official headquarters, he said, "we do not care about buildings. Our movement can even function from a tent."

On September 7, 13 APHC members had "ousted" the Hurriyat chairman, Maulvi Abbas Ansari, and declared the Muslim League chief, Masrat Alam, the interim chairman. The split was caused by Mr. Ansari's apparent refusal to expel the People's Conference from the APHC as demanded by Mr. Geelani. He had charged the party with having fielded proxy candidates in last year's Assembly elections, an allegation denied by the party.

It was an open secret that the "coup" was masterminded by Mr. Geelani, and during the series of meetings held after the split, he had been asked to take "charge" of the conglomerate.

After today's meeting, Mr. Geelani's supporters charged the authorities with putting him under house arrest as he was to be taken in a procession towards the Muslim League headquarters. Senior police officers, however, described the reports as wrong and said only extra police personnel were deployed to avoid untoward incidents.

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