"Liberal Democrats should be ashamed to have published such prejudiced report"

European Union parliamentarian Richard Howitt visited Kashmir this week to investigate the findings of EU rapporteur Emma Nicholson's report "Kashmir: present situation and future prospects," which had been released in December. Raising questions about the democratic credentials of the Pakistani government and its commitment to the people and institutions in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the report generated considerable heat both here in Kashmir as well as across the border. In a wide-ranging interview with Kashmir Observer correspondent M Farooq Shah at the Grand Palace Hotel, Mr. Howitt reflected on the failures of colonial powers, considered the effectiveness of Europe's liberal democrats, and commented on the progress of the Indo-Pak peace process.

Farooq Shah: How concerned is the European Union about the problem of Kashmir?

Richard Howitt: The European Union is very much concerned about the problem of Kashmir and it's resolution. The EU has over a period of time been actively engaged in trying to work out what exactly is happening on the ground in Kashmir, which is why I'm here on a fact-finding mission: so that we're able to frame a Kashmir policy.

Farooq Shah: A few years ago in an interview with a British Magazine, the former British Foreign Secretary said, I quote: "The British Government had been complacent about Kashmir at the time of Indian independence, when it quickly became the most contentious issue between India and Pakistan." Do you also believe that Kashmir problem has its genesis rooted in the British Colonial Rule?

Richard Howitt: I've no problems in confessing that a lot of the problems we have to deal with now are a consequence of our colonial past and due to some serious mistakes especially during the last decades of the British Empire. Many territorial disputes that exist today are on the illogical borders created by colonial powers. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 - in which Britain pledged support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine - and the contradictory assurances given to Palestinians were not entirely moral.

Farooq Shah: Kashmiri families have been divided by a ceasefire line for 57 years, one of the longest standing disputes since the end of the WWII. How do you view this situation from a human angle that loved ones cannot meet freely amongst themselves?

Richard Howitt:I've been trying to meet a maximum number of people directly or indirectly affected by the conflict. From individuals, lawyers, victims of violence and statistics gathered from different sources - including different human-rights bodies such as Amnesty International, etc. - suggest quite an appalling human tragedy as far as the LoC is concerned. Behind these statistics are people with thousands of stories to tell of the tragedy that has come to symbolize the line of control that runs over hundreds of kilometres of forested hill and inhospitable terrain, defying logic in some places as it splits families and divides villages. From any angle, not to talk of a human one, the LoC is some thing that touches my heart.

Farooq Shah: Of late, the EU has been having a proactive role in international affairs, specifically in conflict areas. However, Kashmiris feel let down that EU could have played a more meaningful role in having the conflict resolved. How do you react to that?

Richard Howitt: Traditionally any suggestions with regard to Kashmir dispute is not accepted by the two sides and so the important thing for the international community is that any problem that we undertake - that includes my own visit to Kashmir - is undertaken with a due humility, with a respect to the sovereignty of the countries involved and with a motivation of friendship and working constructively to bring positive influence to the problem. However, it is right that we are all subject to international law, to international human rights standards and humanitarian laws and it is essential that international visitors to Kashmir and to any conflict in the world ask hard questions about the observance of human rights and advocate for the strongest compliance with international law. I want to express my profound concerns about the consequences of the conflict. I met victims of violence who've told me heartfelt stories about how they have lost their loved ones and it is important that each of them is given justice. There can be no compromise ever in complying with international standards of human rights.

Farooq Shah: Emma Nicholson's report on Kashmir is in sharp contrast to the European Parliament's Adhoc Delegation Report adopted by the committee on foreign affairs in November 2004 which accepted Kashmiris were a party to the dispute. That seems nowhere in the Emma's report?

Richard Howitt: I'm here because of the European Parliament to debate about the future policy of Kashmir. The report that has been drafted is the work of one person that has never been subject to any vote of European parliament. I understand and I know that that report does not reflect the ground realities in Kashmir. I know from very many consultations that have taken place with international organisations and with governmental sources, but I felt that this issue is so important that I did not want to rely on second-hand sources before we undertake our debate and that is why I'm here and although my own movements have been restricted, I've met with victims, lawyers, NGOs, government and the army and I'll be meeting with politicians across the political spectrum and I believe that I would be able to go back to the European Parliament and to engage in debate and help shape the European Parliament policy that does reflect the ground realities and the proper aspirations of the Kashmiri people. We want to come clean on the Kashmir issue and address what is actually happening on ground.

Farooq Shah: You've rejected Emma's report, saying: "The Liberal Democrats should be ashamed to have published such an appallingly prejudiced report that, if passed by the European Parliament, would actually be counterproductive in holding back the peace process currently underway between the governments of India and Pakistan."

Richard Howitt: I stand by all of those words. I'm on an international visit here not to criticise another political party or politician individually during this visit. I can do that in European Parliament and it would not be appropriate for me to do that here in Kashmir but I do not believe that the draft report produced is fair or accurate or unbiased and that is one of the reasons that I'm here to make sure that I understand the ground reality.

Farooq Shah: It's believed that her report goes contrary to the aspirations of Kashmiri people as it is alleged that she didn't go for collecting her data from original sources and put into words whatever was told to her by a group of retired officials of Indian Army. What've you to say to that?

Richard Howitt: I can't comment on what her sources are but I've met representatives today from civil society and members of the legal community who wanted to see her but did not.

Farooq Shah: Europe is emerging as a super-market which has its stakes in India as far as trade goes. How do you think this should affect EU's intervention in Kashmir vis-à-vis Indian standpoint considering Emma's report which is believed more in favour of India than Pakistan?

Richard Howitt: Of course, we want trade to flourish between Europe and the rest of the world. We want tourism, environmental changes but having said that Europe is foremost in the world holding principles of democracy and justice but we would never compromise on the principles of human rights and the international law.

Farooq Shah: As a result of the conflict, the collateral damage to the environment, ecology, wildlife, education, healthcare in Kashmir etc has been phenomenal. Do you take up these issues with Indian officials at any level?

Richard Howitt: Our concern at Europe about environmental issues is very much real. We've not talked about it as yet with the local or the Delhi government. We're very passionately concerned about the humanitarian aspect of the conflict. First of all my concern is motivated by promotion of peace and conflict resolution. Nevertheless, this morning I'll be looking at the Dal Lake project and I think it'll give us the idea about the environmental destruction here.

Farooq Shah: India has time and time again shown its unwillingness to engage international mediation on Kashmir. Do you think that international intervention could have facilitated a speedy resolution to the conflict?

Richard Howitt: I believe that international engagement is one of the confidence building measures that should take place that people like me visiting out of friendship and supporting the principles of peace, a conflict resolution and human rights that can only be a positive influence in the Kashmir dispute. We are not seeking to preach or to determine or to interfere. We're seeking to foster friendship and reflect our own experiences, including my own country experiences of Northern Ireland, where we had a deep and difficult dispute over many years, and I hope in the next period it would be possible for European and international NGOs to work more freely across Jammu and Kashmir and for international visitors like myself to be able to travel and work more freely. We respect the security threats locally. We respect the challenges that exist for the state and I believe the international engagement can help be a part of the solution.

Farooq Shah There're several options being discussed with regard to the Kashmir conflict. As you've mentioned your experiences of Northern Ireland, do you think some thing close to that could be worked out here?

Richard Howitt: Each conflict is individual and there's no readymade solution and I certainly don't suggest that Northern Ireland nor any other conflict in the world can provide an intermit answer to the problems in Kashmir. But I do believe that our experiences in Northern Ireland can assist people here in moving towards conflict resolution. In that arena the border has been made less significant. There's been significant joint working between two sovereign governments. We've seen a process of demilitarisation take place slowly, reduced terrorist violence, reduced army presence step by step and we've seen former terrorists ultimately disarm and join the democratic process and if any of those things were to take place here then I think Northern Ireland can be one example that can help find a solution.

Farooq Shah: Isn't it possible for the European Union to get people holding different views on Kashmir on board to work for a lasting solution to the problem?

Richard Howitt: I've discussed ways as how to get people on board representing different thoughts on Kashmir. I'm not suggesting in any sense that there'll be any formal European mediation in this regard but what I do know as far as my work on Israeli- Palestinian conflict is that the European Parliament, European research bodies and non-governmental organisations have been instrumental in getting people on both sides in the Israeli-Palestinian divide to gather in private--sometimes unofficially, sometimes with people who've recently retired but still have good links and contacts with their respective governments and just as that the back channel or the track-II diplomacy in the Indo-Pak peace process and dialogue, and may be these sort of informal gatherings can take place in Europe or facilitated by Europe which will then play a more formal role that can perhaps increase the mutual understanding in the dialogue process.

Farooq Shah: European Union is well aware of the unprecedented build-up of armies on both sides of the line of control. Among several confidence building measures being discussed and implemented, demilitarisation is one tricky issue. How does European Union understand demilitarization?

Richard Howitt: First of all I don't believe to the best of knowledge that there's any official position of the European Union on that. India is a sovereign country, whatever grievances and aspirations people have in Kashmir, India has a right to protect itself as all sovereign countries. However, I'm going to discus all these issues in private, not least with the army but with the Indian government through the course of my visit. Some of these questions are best addressed in private. There're are large armies on both sides of the line of control and I'm not saying that their activities are the same or the numbers are the same either absolutely or relatively, but clearly having and maintaining large military forces on both sides of the line of control is a big drain economically to the government of both sides and most of the people have told me while I've been here that the very presence of the military itself produces all sorts of problems. So clearly, if it is possible to create an atmosphere of peace, trust and confidence to enable troops to be withdrawn from both sides, that is some thing that I'd be discussing with the Indian government.

Farooq Shah: Are you aware of the human rights situation in Kashmir? How do you see it?

Richard Howitt: I want to express that I'm profoundly concerned by what I've heard about the human rights record here based on meeting victims of violence here. As vice-president of the European parliament human rights sub-committee, I've gathered a lot of valuable data and statistics, individual stories and testimonies that I'll be taking back with me to Brussels to ensure that all of this is heard in the highest echelons of the European decision making bodies.

Farooq Shah: There's a travel advisory against visiting Kashmir. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has been trying hard to have the advisory lifted, though without success. What role can you play as an important member of the EU in this regard?

Richard Howitt: Well the travel advisory is a statute order by individual governments including my own government in United Kingdom for some one who informally came to Srinagar as tourist. What I've experienced is that Kashmir is a very beautiful place in the whole world as I took a walk around without anybody with me. If you're successful - which I really hope you are - in restoring peace to your society, I'm sure that European visitors would come and that would definitely help in the economic reconstruction of Kashmir after years of conflict.

The interview appeared in Kashmir Observer