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Pakistan Link - June 14, 2002
SF Rally Calls for Resolving Kashmir Problem
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
San Francisco: A peace rally was held on June 10 at the United Nations Plaza in downtown San Francisco to express concern over the military standoff between Pakistan and India that could lead to a catastrophic nuclear confrontation. The rally, jointly sponsored by Pakistani, South Asian and American organizations and peace groups, called for according the right of self-determination to the people of Kashmir.
Ms. Leila Soraya Salazar, Grassroots Organizer and master of ceremony, expressed concern over the deteriorating situation between Pakistan and India. She said, “We are against war, we want peace.” Ms. Zalazar thanked Mr. Inam Chaudhry, President of Kashmir Foundation, for initiating the rally to highlight the concern of the peace activists.
Mr. Chaudhry, in his brief speech, observed that the  United Nations resolutions should be implemented and Kashmiris should be given the right of self-determination.
The activists carried banners and placards and chanted slogans that reflected the mood of the rally. The slogans read: No Nukes, Peace Now, Dialogue Now, Uphold Human Rights of All, Peace in Kashmir, When Governments Go to War People Die, Kashmir is for Kashmiris, Self-determination for Kashmiris, War is Not an Option for Nuclear Powers, South Asians Against War and Racism, Stop Military Buildup, and End State Violence in Gujrat
The speakers at the rally stressed that the governments of both India and Pakistan must abandon the path of war and settle their disputes in accordance with the dictates of international law, in particular, UN Security Council Resolutions of 1948 which give the people of Kashmir the final right to decide their own destiny.
Ms. Samina Faheem of the Pakistan Democratic Forum argued that today, there are people in Pakistan, Kashmir, and India who are open to new and creative solutions and who are open to fair and reasonable compromises. “We lend our full support to such individuals and groups on all sides because they stand to bring necessary flexibility and creativity to lessen polarization, affect de-escalation, and help create an atmosphere in which meaningful negotiations can take place.”
She called for an immediate disengagement of forces and cessation of hostilities and pointed out that a durable peace in South Asia is not possible without the solution of the Kashmir problem. “Enduring peace in South Asia necessitates justice for the people of Kashmir. Justice for the Kashmiri people will mean lasting friendship between peoples of Pakistan and India.”
The rally was organized by Pakistan American Democratic Forum, Pakistan Association of San Francisco, Kashmir Foundation, Friends of South Asia, California Peace Action, People’s Nonviolent Response Coalition, Coalition against Communalism and Global Exchange.
The peace rally ended with the signing of a petition that will be sent to the Indian Consul General in San Francisco and the Pakistani Consul General in Los Angeles. The petition reads: “We, the Undersigned, come together to say no to war and escalation of violence in South Asia and demand the following:
1. That the Indian and Pakistani governments work towards peace and not war. The people of India and Pakistan want peace and we demand that their governments not use war as a political weapon.
2. An end to ALL violence, including violent rhetoric and threats of war. We condemn all war, particularly nuclear war.
3. That Pakistan and India devote their resources to human needs and to ending social injustices, not on armaments and military expansion.
4. A de-escalation of the military build-up and war rhetoric.
5. A constructive and open dialogue between peoples and governments. Governments should resume political and diplomatic negotiations immediately and re-open communication lines between the peoples of India, Pakistan and Kashmir.
6. The people of Kashmir have the right to self-determination.
7. No US military intervention. The US should lead by example by immediately declaring a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons and initiating multilateral negotiations on the rapid elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide.
8. The United Nations should act to foster dialogue and negotiation between India and Pakistan and a de-escalation of violence and war rhetoric.”
[Ms. Samina Faheem, the former National Coordinator of the American Muslim Alliance and Coordinator of the AMA/PADF Hotline is now the Executive Director of the American Muslim Voice.]
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