Chiarman knm interview to IANS

After 21 days of freedom, 60 years of colonisationNew Delhi April 25, 2007 9:15:07 AM IST
Known as the Northern Areas in Pakistan and seen as part of its Jammu and Kashmir by India, the Gilgit-Baltistan area enjoyed freedom for just 21 days in 1947 and has since been denied basic human and democratic rights, says an activist from the region.
"Gilgit Baltistan is a colony of Pakistan and we don't even have rights that equal the rights of slaves of middle ages," says advocate Mohammed Iqbal of the Karakoram National Movement (KNM).
The group started in the 1980s by students who wanted social and legal rights later evolved into a movement for the right to self-determination as people began to feel that the area was legally part of a larger Kashmir and its status could not be determined until the core issue was resolved.
"This unique region that has endured a crucial period in history is forced to live like a state in the medieval times," Iqbal told IANS in an email interview.
"The area remained an independent state for 21 days after Nov 1, 1947. What happened afterwards is known to all," Iqbal recalls the history of area.
Soon after the area was occupied by Pakistan military-backed tribals.
"It (Gilgit Baltistan) is being considered an integral part of Pakistan as the Northern Areas, but the reality is far removed from the perception developed about the region during the last 60 years," he said.
To ensure that their "unheard" voices reach the world and to press for "reunification" of the territory, the KNM is holding an international seminar in Gilgit in May.
Amongst the invitees are Jammu and Kashmir politicians, both from the mainstream and separatist wings. These include National Conference President Omar Abdullah, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front's Yasin Malik, Sajjad Lone of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference as well as journalists.
"Apart from political rights, there is a long list of economic and social exploitation we hope to discuss in the proposed conference," Iqbal said.
"We want to press the demand for reunification of the territory and people (under Pakistan control) with the rest of the divided lot."
According to him, the Karakoram region should be included in the process of resolution of the Kashmir issue "as it is very much part of the pre-1947 territory of Jammu and Kashmir territory".
Karakoram - generally known as Gilgit Baltistan - is a territory spreading from Shinaki Kohistan to Chitral (in Pakistan) up to Tashkurgan (under Chinese occupation) and from Ladakh to Kargil in India.
When British rule came to an end in 1947, the region was conquered by Pakistan in 1948 tribal raids. Pakistan later "gifted" a part of the territory towards the extreme north to China.
Stringent Pakistani laws make the region inaccessible to foreigners and there are few media reports from the region. It's also unlikely that leaders from this side would be allowed to attend the conference.
Detailing the conditions they live in, he said that under Pakistani rule there is "limited political liberty to exercise as the region is without any constitutional and legal protection".
"The whole region is run under a single page Legal Framework Order (LFO) by the chief executive (of the region). There is a so-called elected body known as Northern Areas Legislative Council that has no right even to elect its chief executive or pass a no confidence (motion) to remove the head imposed by the Pakistani establishment," he added.
Things are beginning to change, however. Of late, political movements to restore democratic and human rights are slowly coming up with groups "firmly standing against state sponsored exploitation".
Dozens of KNM activists are in jail and hundreds are facing charges of anti state activities.
"More than six young workers were killed by state agents in Karachi and Gilgit recently.
"One of our great comrades Ghazi Anwar committed suicide in front of UN offices in Kabul in protest against the human rights violation in Gilgit and Baltistan," Iqbal recalled.
(Sarwar Kashani can be contacted at s.kashani@ians.in)
(IANS)