New Delhi
7 December 2005
Ahead of Norway Prime Minister Jens
Stoltenberg's meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a Norwegian
'mediator' with experience of studying conflict zones in South Asia and
elsewhere has suggested that Kashmir Valley be recognised as an India-
Pakistan "condominium' with increasing level of autonomy.
Dr Johan Galtung says Jammu and Ladakh can remain with India and
Pakistan Occupied Kashmir with Pakistan. He advocates a "change of
topography" instead of "moving the borders". Premising his argument on
"conflict transformation" as opposed to conflict "management" or
"resolution," he asks India and Pakistan to "clean up the past" and
"rewrite [school] textbooks" for closure.
Modelling his proposal on the "European Community," Dr Galtung said an
open border, free flow of goods and services and possibilities of
investment and settlement should serve the purpose of peace in the
Indian sub-continent. "Some constitutional changes in India and Pakistan
will be required," he observed.
Urging a switchover from the "culture of grievances" to a "culture of
solutions," he suggested a Commission of historians of India and
Pakistan should "look at history of Kashmir" in order to "furnish the future
richly with ideas". He felt rewriting of textbooks could include an
acknowledgment of the wrongs done because "a solution is not a
document signed" by political leaders.
For Sri Lanka, Dr Galtung suggested an "asymmetric bicameral
federation" that would offer the Tamils "more" and questioned the new
Lankan president's desire for "maximum devolution within a unitary
state." He said no real development coupled with no attempt to clean up
the past had not helped matters in the strife-torn island nation.
He also urged India to improve relations with her neighbours for peace
and stability as there were "limits to arrogance."
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