DATE=9/23/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDIA / SEPARATIST (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254251
BYLINE=PAMELA D'SOUZA
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In India, the leader of a Kashmiri separatist
party says the government of India (on Thursday)
denied him permission to go to New York to attend the
United Nations General Assembly session. As Pamela
D'souza reports from New Delhi, Kashmiri separatists
are seeking a U-N brokered referendum on separate
statehood for Kashmir.
TEXT: Omar Farooq, the Mirwaiz or hereditary
religious leader of Kashmir's Muslim population, was
prevented from leaving for New York by officials at
New Delhi's International Airport.
The Kashmiri separatist leader says he intended to
represent the people of Kashmir at the U-N General
Assembly session, where Islamic countries have been
granted observer status. Mr. Farooq said, while in
New York, he would also attend a meeting of the
International Organization of Islamic countries, where
his party, the All Party Hurryat Conference, has
observer status.
Mr. Farooq said he also hoped to meet U-S State
department officials to brief them on the situation in
Kashmir. Kashmiri separatists want the United Nations
to organize a referendum on the future status of
Kashmir. They compare their situation to those
seeking independence in East Timor - a claim the
Indian Government says is absurd.
India has so far refused to comment on why Mr. Farooq
was denied permission to leave the country. Mr.
Farooq says India does not want Kashmir on the UN's
agenda.
// FAROOQ ACT //
I think it vindicates my stand that India
doesn't want that we should go and tell the
facts to the world. Because what other reason is
there; if they say that their policy's
transparent and they have nothing to hide, why
are they worried that if a Hurryat
representative goes to the world and goes to the
UN. If they are confident about their policy in
Kashmir, about the approach to Kashmir, why
should they be, what do you call, feel
uncomfortable allowing the people from Kashmir
to go and speak their mind to the world.
// END ACT //
Kashmiri separatists have called for an election
boycott in Kashmir during India's staggered month-long
general elections that end on October 3rd.
Mr. Farooq says the elections are a farce and he
accuses Indian security personnel of forcing people to
vote. So far few voters in Kashmir have bothered to
vote in the elections. Mr. Farooq's All Party Hurryat
Conference says it wants Kashmir to be a separate
state. India controls two thirds of Kashmir and
Pakistan one third but both countries claim the region
in its entirety. (Signed)
NEB/PD'S/KL
23-Sep-1999 10:45 AM EDT (23-Sep-1999 1445 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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