kashmir myths – azad kashmir is ‘free’ kashmir
State of Azad Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir usually shortened to Azad Kashmir (literally ‘free Kashmir’), is part of the Pakistani-administered section of the Kashmir region, along with the Northern Areas; its official name is Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It covers an area of 13,297 km² (5,134 mi²), with its capital at Muzaffarabad, and has an estimated population of almost 4 million.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
is an independent, nongovernmental organization, supported by contributions from private individuals and foundations worldwide. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly. As far as impartiality goes, nothing comes more fair than this group.
This is a report from HRW, dated September 2006.
‘Free Kashmir’ Far From Free
Government Opponents Face Torture, Censorship and Political Repression
(Islamabad, September 21, 2006) –
In Azad Kashmir, a region largely closed to international scrutiny until a devastating earthquake hit last year, the Pakistani government represses democratic freedoms, muzzles the press and practices routine torture, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.Based on research in Azad Kashmir (which means “free Kashmir”) and Pakistan, the 71-page report,
“‘With Friends Like These …’: Human Rights Violations in Azad Kashmir,” uncovers abuses by the Pakistani military, intelligence services and militant organizations.
“Although ‘azad’ means ‘free,’ the residents of Azad Kashmir are anything but,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The Pakistani authorities govern Azad Kashmir with strict controls on basic freedoms.”
Before a massive earthquake struck in October, Azad Kashmir was one of the most closed territories in the world.
Tight controls on freedom of expression have been a hallmark of government policy in Azad Kashmir. Pakistan has prevented the creation of independent media in the territory through bureaucratic restrictions and coercion. Publications and literature favoring independence is banned. While militant organizations promoting the incorporation of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir state into Pakistan have had free rein to propagate their views, groups promoting an independent Kashmir find their speech sharply, sometimes violently curtailed.
Under Azad Kashmir’s constitution, which Pakistan imposed in 1974, election candidates are prescreened to ensure that only those who support Kashmir’s union with Pakistan can contest elections. Anyone who wants to take part in public life in Azad Kashmir has to sign a pledge of loyalty to Pakistan, while anyone who publicly supports or peacefully works for an independent Kashmir faces persecution.
“There is a façade of an elected local government, but the federal government in Islamabad, the army and the intelligence agencies control all aspects of political life in Azad Kashmir,” said Adams. “The military shows no tolerance for dissent and practically runs the region as a fiefdom.”
Torture is routinely used in Pakistan, and this practice is also routine in Azad Kashmir. Human Rights Watch has documented incidents of torture by the intelligence services and others acting at the army’s behest but knows of no cases in which members of military and paramilitary security and intelligence agencies have been prosecuted or even disciplined for acts of torture or mistreatment.
Despite the Pakistani government’s criticism of human rights violations in neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir state in India, refugees from Jammu and Kashmir are discriminated against and mistreated by the authorities. Kashmiri refugees and former militants from India, most of whom are secular nationalists and culturally and linguistically distinct from the peoples of Azad Kashmir, are particularly harassed through constant surveillance, curbs on political expression, arbitrary arrest and beatings.
“The Pakistani government often pretends that the only problems faced by Kashmiris are in India,” said Adams. “It should start looking into ways of ending human rights abuses in Azad Kashmir.”
Human Rights Watch urged international donors, which have poured billions of dollars of urgently needed relief and reconstruction aid into Azad Kashmir since the earthquake, to insist on structural changes in governance and the promotion of both human rights and the rule of law. Recent corruption allegations against senior government officials highlight serious weaknesses in the rule of law and governmental accountability.
“As it supports reconstruction efforts, the international community must insist that Pakistan respect the human rights of the people of Azad Kashmir,” said Adams. “The Pakistani government must ensure that the people of Azad Kashmir can exercise their fundamental civil and political rights in an environment free of coercion and fear.”
Kashmir News Network.
Kasmiri Pandits-the original inhabitants of the Valley of Kashmir, are Kashmiris too. Their voice is NO less important than voices of any other ethnic or religious groups. This is one such voice Kashmir: Distortions and Reality and should be equally heard.
The Punjabi speaking districts of Mirpur, parts of Poonch and Muzaffarabad form the fifth distinct region. This corridor type belt is culturally, linguistically and socially part of Punjab. It is this small area which is called Azad Kashmir.
As apolitical and diplomatic strategy and to have a distinct base for harassing India, Pakistan has provided a symbolic administrative set-up here. There is a President, the Prime Minister, Assembly and other propaganda stuff but actual strings are pulled by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs of the Pakistan government.
To call this area Azad Kashmir is scandalous. Its correct description would be Pakistan occupied Punjabi speaking areas of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state. A large number of people from this area especially from Mirpur have settled in U.K., U.S.A. and other foreign countries. These people mislead the world by calling themselves Kashmiris and with huge oil funds (from Saudi Arabia) at their disposal, disinform the West by claiming to be fighting for self-determination of Kashmir. In this regard they talk of North and South Korea, North and South Yemen and even mention the Berlin wall. Some Westerners do take this patently wrong assertion on its face value.
This Human Rights Watch report (quoted above) confirms what is written here.
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ClapSo said this on July 15th, 2007 at 00:28
Thank you so much for this ongoing series of posts on Kashmir. It is so important for me to get this kind of information about the rest of our planet.
The scientifically impossible I do right away
The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer
little indian said this on July 15th, 2007 at 09:03
Thank you Clapso.
I intend to explore the myths that have been circulating.
I do not want just a single issue to take over my blogspage.
I will write gradually and in a sequence
that makes it easy to understand the chronology of events
which is extremely vital for understanding the cycle of violence and revenge that has been going on.
bendtherulz said this on July 16th, 2007 at 14:21
This is pretty comprehensive study and thanks for the links – will be checking out !
Tk care ~
little indian said this on July 16th, 2007 at 15:10
Thanks bendtherulz,
As I have said,
I am putting up links to documents and evidence that are usually and selectively ignored.
For the convenience of some.
I would rely on my readers to make their own judgement.
I do welcome any honest and unbiased support.
I will put up some more posts on Kashmir, gradually,
I do not want this issue to take over my blogspage,
that wasn’t the initial intention.
little indian said this on July 25th, 2007 at 12:07
Further to my statement in the original post as quoted.
This topic is closed to further comments.