'Set up India-Pak commission to investigate J&K unmarked graves'

A joint commission can be the biggest Jammu and Kashmir centric confidence building measure by the two countries for the people of the state, says J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Mukhtar Ahmad reports.  

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday urged setting of a joint India Pakistan Truth and Reconciliation Commission and said that 'it would be the biggest Jammu and Kashmir centric CBM (confidence building measure)'.

Replying to discussions on the issue of discovery of unmarked graves in the state assembly, the chief minister said 'the commission would find answers to many unanswered questions, and to the issue of the unmarked graves'.

"This can be the biggest Jammu and Kashmir centric CBM by the two countries for the people of the state who want to know all about it," he said and urged 'the leadership of India and Pakistan to discuss this issue in the dialogue and come forward with a joint strategy'.

The chief minister, however, said that 'calling these graves as mass graves was a 'misnomer' as the graves contained only one and in some cases two bodies, and not more than that'.

The resolution for discussions on the issue of unmarked graves was tabled in the state assembly by a ruling National Conference member of legislative assembly.

The chief minister said that 'those local who apprehend that their missing members were buried in these graves should come forward and help the government by providing their DNA profile, so that facts are ascertained'.

"My government would give due weight to the report and recommendations of the state human rights commission regarding unmarked graves. We are not here to hide the facts or conceal the truth, but our endeavour is to dig out the facts and bring these before the public", he said.

"This cannot be done overnight, but we have to take a start in this direction," he added. The chief minister said that 'misinformation is being circulated about these graves by tagging them as 'mass graves'.

"Most of the graves have only one person and a few are with two persons but no grave has more than two persons", he said.

 "We are circulating a wrong impression when we give the name of 'mass graves' to these unmarked graves identified recently and reported in the media", he said adding that 'it gives an impression to the outside world as if hundreds of people are buried in few graves, as had been done in Cambodia or during the time of Hitler."

He said 'these graves have appeared during the period from 1990 to 2006 and not related to the tenure of the present government. "I could have easily said that this matter does not pertain to my period, but for the importance of the issue and to give justice to the people, I categorically announced that the report and recommendations of the SHRC would be given due weightage and action taken to find out the facts and bring these before the people", he elaborated.

However, Omar said that 'it was essential to know all facts about these unmarked graves and give answer to every question in this regard'.

"We have to co-relate the figures. The figures quoted by media, SHRC and government differ. The official figure about the civilian killings during the period of militancy stands at 17,000, while separatists count them in lakhs," he said adding that 'one cannot be certain who is buried where'.

"Many people have been killed by militants; many militants have lost their lives in various incidents. Recently 14 militants have been killed in an encounter in Gurez area and they have been buried there with Islamic rites. Presently we know these were militants and if their graves are found after 20 to 25 years later, then similar questions may arise."

"Unless facts are ascertained the accusing finger towards the forces is not justified."

He said, "The legal maxim, innocent unless proven guilty should apply to all; whether men in uniform or others."

Omar Abdullah maintained that 'a large number of disappeared persons are living normal lives across the border. They have married and are engaged in various economic activities but they still exist as disappeared persons in Jammu and Kashmir.