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Minority Rights and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits

Written on October 22nd, 2009 in IDP by heidi

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(text revisited on Oct. 30, 2009)

By K.N. Pandit,

A clear cut definition of “Minority” as a component group of a given society has remained elusive.  At the United Nations, the Commission for Human Rights (now called Council for Human Rights) has been grappling with precise definition. The reason is that situations develop in different parts of the world in which a particular group of population suddenly gets disempowered and dispossessed. In more frequent examples the affected people could be political victims. It becomes difficult to define their category. Besides, there are many other circumstances that throw up an isolated segment of population.

Generally speaking numerical strength is taken a factor for determining a group as majority or minority. But if large groups are accepted as minorities and clubbed together, they might over-strip the majority group. In a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-linguistic country like India, the minorities when clubbed together are likely to claim large political power, social recognition and economic priority. Would they still be called minorities and deprived segments?  Continue Reading…

Jammu and Kashmir: Solution within the Indian Constitution?

Written on October 21st, 2009 in IDP by heidi

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Linked with Paul Beersmans – Belgium, and with Belgian Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir BASJAK.

Published on BASJAK, by Paul Beersmans, October 2009, 19 pdf-pages. – Report prepared for the HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, twelfth session Geneva, 14 September – 02 October 2009.

… 3. CONCLUSIONS (on page 17/19):

a. J&K, as it was before partition in 1947, is at present under the rule of three countries:

  • (1) China: Aksai Chin and a territory of 5.180 km2 ceded by Pakistan to China;
  • (2) India: J&K State comprising Jammu-region, the Kashmir-Valley and Ladakh (districts Kargil and Leh);
  • (3) Pakistan: Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas).

The population of these specific regions is totally different from each other: culture, history, traditions, language, religion, etc. In J&K State, this is also the case for the three regions: Jammu-region, the Kashmir-Valley and Ladakh region.  Continue Reading…