Paul KeenanThe Church sees no division in a disputed land, writes Paul Keenan
When it comes to the disputed region of Kashmir, there is little space for unity between India and Pakistan.
Both lay claim to the great swathe of territory wedged between the nation states, and both control various parts along a fractious border – a leftover ‘matter’ since the days of Empire rule by Britain and after independence in 1947; Kashmir has been, and remains, an often fatal breach between the two. Indian-controlled Kashmir, especially, has been beset by violence over the last 30 years with a resurgent secessionist movement determined to bring the territory (India’s only Muslim majority region) under the control of Pakistan.
More than once in that time, this campaign, together with border clashes between national armies, has brought India and Pakistan (both nuclear powers) to the brink of all-out war, and has claimed more than 100,000 lives along the way.
This ‘verge of war’ aspect is once again frighteningly close to reality with events of recent months.
The spark for the latest turbulence came on July 18 when police in Indian-controlled Kashmir moved against a known militant, Burhan Wani, killing him in the process. Angry demonstrations followed Wani’s death, leading to a curfew which did little to prevent daytime disturbances, in turn leading to the wider use of the pellet guns so frequently used by Indian forces in suppressing protests, it is claimed, through
non-lethal force.
Deadly effect
As for militants, their response came with deadly effect on September 18, when four gunmen infiltrated an army camp in Uri and killed 18 soldiers in a surprise attack with guns and grenades before they were killed. Cue outrage across India to match that of Pakistan on behalf of the battered protestors of Kashmir, and trigger fingers once again moved angrily into place.
What hope their might subsequently have been of a level-headed approach on the part of international peace brokers was dealt a devastating rebuke last week, when India turned its ire on the entire United Nations as part of a diplomatic ‘set-to’ in the chamber of that body.
Over the course of a General Assembly debate on October 5, India’s Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin berated the UN as a talking shop seemingly unable to meet the challenge posed by the Kashmir dispute.
“It is a body that ponders for six months on whether to sanction leaders of organisations it has itself designated as terrorist entities,” he said. “At best, it is now a body that can be described as an interesting and random mix of ad-hocism, scrambling and political paralysis. The global governance architecture now calls for comprehensive reform.”
For her part, Pakistan’s Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi shot back that India itself is responsible for thwarting the ability of the UN Military Observer Group to function.
The verbal fireworks were matched only by a sudden outbreak of cross-border artillery exchanges across the line of control in Kashmir, with blame apportioned according to national fidelities.
What unity of purpose there is in Kashmir – it is there – lies unseen by political observers of zones of control and flashpoint borders. To see it, one must pinpoint the Catholic Cathedral of St Mary in Jammu, and from there extend the Catholic Diocese of Jammu-Srinigar to its fullest. Such an exercise brings one to the realisation that the Catholic territory covers all of Kashmir, uninterrupted by the line of control.
Of course, it is pointless to suggest that a diocese containing a Catholic population representing less than 1% of the whole in Kashmir grants some powerful gift to the Church in keeping jingoistic parties safely separated, but the ‘stake’ in the territory means that the Church has not been found wanting in its efforts.
The first loud voiced raised was that of the Syro-Malabar Archbishop of Faridabad, in India, Kuriakose Bharanikulangara who, at the end of September, and amid passionate sabre-rattling on both sides, urged both Pakistan and India to pull back from the brink.
“With the rhetoric we are hearing, I fear this may grow into an explosive situation which will be tragic,” he said, adding, for local sentiments, “Mahatma Gandhi had said that an eye for an eye will make everyone blind.”
The renowned figure of Gandhi was again invoked when Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, President of the Interritual Episcopal Conference of India (CBCI) loudly declared October 16 as a day of prayer for Christians across all India for peace in Kashmir (in a call similar to that of Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai, President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference).
In a near poetic appeal to all communities, Cardinal Cleemis said: “On October 2, we celebrated the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi; October 4 was the feast of St Francis of Assisi, messenger of peace. On October 11 we celebrate the Hindu feast of Dusserah, which is the victory of good over evil; Muharram, significant feast for Muslims, falls on October 12; on October 20 Sikhs recall the birth of Guru Granth, while on October 30 we will celebrate Deepavali, the feast that marks the victory of light over darkness. Among all these religious feasts, our beloved country faces an extraordinary challenge, especially on its borders. The Catholic Church, with all other believers, wants to pray for justice, peace, prosperity, harmony and unity.”
Beyond prayers and soothing words, it is the Catholic Church which has also been to the forefront of direct action on behalf of the people of Kashmir.
While prelates in India have continued to sound support for government and suffering soldiers, volunteers on the ground have launched a campaign to fund and operate an eye clinic to assist those struck by the pellet guns used by the troops during protests (online images in this regrad are truly disturbing).
Working outside the reticence shown by Muslims locally to organ donation – reportedly due to traditional beliefs at odds with Islamic law, which has no major objection within ethical constraints – Church members are actively pursuing such a clinic with a view to helping at least 800 people in need of corneal replacement due to pellet damage.
The diocesan call regarding the clinic is now being echoed by local surgeons, sharing as they do the mutual concern for human wellbeing over the cause of borders and national pride.
As The Irish Catholic went to press this week, a sense of calm was returning to much of Kashmir, though the Church’s efforts were not winding down as a consequence.
This is a wise move. Rumours abound that the lull is to allow farmers to bring in their harvests ahead of a new round of protests.
Whatever the truth, the Diocese of Jammu-Srinigar, which knows no physical bounds, will similarly not recognise the role it has in catering to all, on whatever side of the line they place themselves.