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SRINAGAR, June 1: Police used force to break up a demonstration here on Saturday against recent British remarks critical of Kashmiri Mujahideen, arresting a top Hurriyat leader heading the protest.
Javed Mir, the acting chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, and a few other activists were blocked by baton-wielding police after marching only 50 metres.
Mir and five of his supporters were arrested and driven to a nearby police station.
The demonstration was called to protest comments by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who visited Pakistan and India earlier in the week.
In New Delhi on Wednesday, Straw said Britain and India “shared the view that there is one definition of terrorism ... (which) includes cross-border terrorism and terrorism labelled as freedom fighters”.
Mir and his supporters carried banners saying “Jack Straw, Kashmiris are not terrorists. (The dispute over) Kashmir is a creation of Lord Mountbatten.”
Speaking earlier to newsmen, Javed Mir held the world community responsible for the stand-off over Kashmir.
“If war breaks out between India and Pakistan, we will hold the world community responsible.”
He accused Western powers of “sleeping over the perplexed Kashmir issue”.
“The issue has been lingering on since 1947 and the world community has never shown a serious interest in getting it resolved,” Mir said.
“Had they (world leaders) been as serious as they have been in other parts there would have been no Kashmir problem.”
Mir said the United States should bring India and Pakistan to the table to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
“If the US can arrange meetings between bitter foes Israel and Palestine, why can’t it facilitate such a meet on Kashmir?” he said.
Mir was particularly critical of the former colonial power’s role in Kashmir.
“This problem is lingering on because they (the British) left it like that,” said Mir.
“It is Britain’s moral obligation to get this issue resolved,” said Mir.
“If the root cause (of the conflict) is addressed, peace will prevail,” Mir said.—AFP
