[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1879]]



                   KASHMIR ELECTIONS: FREE AND FAIR?

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 30, 1996

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, elections were recently held in Kashmir. It 
was the hope and expectation of many that these elections would clearly 
demonstrate the political preference of the Kashmiri people. The 
conduct of the elections themselves, however, made this determination 
impossible.
  At least one independent Indian-based NGO, the All Indian Peoples 
Resistance Forum [AIPRF], found that people in Kashmir were not in 
favor of the elections. They viewed the elections as ``a design to 
continue the `annexation' of Kashmir.'' This perspective was verified, 
according to the AIPRF, by the lack of participation in the referendum. 
In several of the polling sites, the turnout was no higher than 6 
percent by 4 p.m., a short time before the polls closed. Yet, the press 
reports in India indicated a final turnout of 60 percent. The AIPRF 
also found numerous instances of security forces pressuring people to 
vote when they were clearly reluctant to do so.
  Certainly, we should make every effort to support real self-
determination initiatives for the people of Kashmir. A referendum that 
is not free and fair is not real self-determination. I remain hopeful 
that the future of Kashmir can be determined through democratic and 
nonviolent avenues.

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