April 24, 2002	Wednesday	Safar 10, 1423

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SRINAGAR, April 23: A hardline leader of the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) said on Tuesday the coalition would boycott upcoming elections in occupied Kashmir and vowed no let-up in the struggle against Indian rule.

“Hurriyat will not participate in the coming (held) state assembly polls,” Syed Ali Geelani said.

The APHC has stayed away from earlier elections in occupied Kashmir.

“We boycotted polls in 1996 and 1999 and carried out an intense anti-election campaign,” said Geelani, who represents the Jamaat-i-Islami in the Hurriyat.

“No one should be under the illusion that Kashmiris will give up their fight.”

Geelani said the Kashmir dispute should be resolved either by talks or by implementing UN Security Council resolutions.

The hardliner also took a dig at Kashmiris who have called for changes in the freedom movement following the Sept 11 attacks in the United States.

“By making such statements they want to say that we should compromise and bow before the oppressor,” he said.—AFP