Kashmiris Learning Lessons from Cambodia

A group of individuals comprising educationists, journalists, peace and human rights activists, researchers and members of civil society organizations from both sides of Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir are currently visiting Cambodia.

The study tour includes conferences, workshops, and interactions with Cambodian people. This visit is sponsored by Conciliation Resources in fellowship with Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in Phnom Penh. Press for Peace team is also a part of this delegation.

Sharing his learning after a tour to Siem Reip, Cambodia, Press for Peace Director AJK Raja Wasim said that Jammu & Kashmir and Cambodia were two different examples of political conflicts but there were great similarities in tragedies faced by people of these two conflict zones. He observed that the biggest hurdle in achieving peace in a conflict area was the non-existence of a mutually agreed platform by different communities affected by that conflict.

To address this critical problem associated with Kashmir conflict, he highlighted the urgent need of a mutually agreed platform which should be supported by people of all religions, regions and races in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.  He expressed his willingness to extend his organisation’s full support for enhancing interactions and understandings between different communities in Jammu & Kashmir.

The delegation visited provinces Battambong and Siem Reip and parts of Pnom Penh during the first leg of the study tour. Before civil war Battambong was the largest and richest province in Cambodia and during the days of strife and tension, the whole area was viewed with much suspicion by Khmer Rouge leaders. Suspicion, disbelief and lack of trust on people residing across the Line of Control is one of the major hurdles in advancement of peace and harmony in Jammu & Kashmir.