MEMORANDUM
DATED:23-10-2010

The President of United States of America,
Washington D. C.,
Your Excellency,
We welcome your visit to sub-continent.

Every time President of United States of America visits a country it gives rise to hope. People’s expectations rise.

We, members of Jammu & Kashmir High Court Bar Association also hold hope and expectation that issues confronting our people will be addressed to.

Dispute of final disposition of our state is pending resolution for last more than six decades. United Nation Resolutions, more than hundred meetings between Leaders and Governments of India and Pakistan, outbreak of three wars, public statements of Leaders day in and day out, have all failed to resolve dispute.
Human Rights Violations by State Forces are our major concern:
More than hundred thousand of our people have been killed in last two decades. One hundred and Eleven were shot dead only in last four months, including minor children and women. Whole valley has been converted into jail. The situation is so bad, and continues to be so; even the Secretary General of United Nations openly expressed his concern on violation of Human Rights.

American policy on Kashmir has always been positive. The U.S. Leadership has all the time encouraged stake holders to resolve the issues through dialogue. But despite it, the resolution of dispute does not seem to be possible in near future.

We believe that time has come when U. S. Government and Leadership has to intensify its efforts and openly express concern on the delay and beseech you to do, in the interests of lasting peace, everything possible to end the impasse which has already attained menacing proportions.

The U. S. Leadership has to walk extra mile before any tangible results are achieved. Time has shown that mere encouragement of stake holders, to resolve all their outstanding issues, is not enough. It is high time that some action is taken. Ground reality has to change. Status-quo is not an option. Active engagement with all stake holders has become a necessity. Effective role by U. S. Leadership is called for.

United States is a Super-Power. This should not only give pride to its people but they need to realize that it carries with it great responsibility. U. S. can no longer play passive role in world affairs, which threaten global peace.

People of the world look upto United States. The U. S. Leadership has to deliver and must deliver fast.
We also wish to remind your Excellency, that during Presidential Election campaign, you mentioned conflict attending our state, requiring urgent attention of International Community. We express our gratitude for showing concern.

How do we resolve Kashmir Problem?

This question faces every stake holder.
Solution should primarily come from all concerned parties. Home Minister of India openly admitted in Parliament that Kashmir State needs Political solution.

As members of civil society we can, on our part, only suggest the principles which must govern the process.
We believe that among several extreme political positions of stake holders, there are common grounds which when structured, can meet the concerns of all parties .

Democracy and democratic method of resolution must form the basis. Either the people can be asked by way of referendum as to in what manner disposition of state should take place or else if the stake holders find any solution through the process of dialogue, with U. S. acting as interlocutor to put the same to the people. Any other method of resolution will keep the issue alive and bring in more disaster to our people and the sub-continent.

There are no indefinite conflicts in History, we are told. Already three generations have been consumed by the conflict. We urge U. S. Leadership that it can and must, in the interests of global peace, seriously engage in the process of resolution. It must prove to the world that U. S. can come upto the expectations of the people’s of the world and live to its commitments. It can provide Moral Leadership too.

Let the beginning be made. We living in the conflict zone, eagerly wait to hear your Excellency.

with highest respects,

J&K High Court Bar Association.
Dated : 23.10.2010