Sher-e-Punjab

Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights

http://www.npmhr.org

The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) was founded on 9th September in 1978, based on the Universal belief that "violation of human rights in any part of the world is a threat to the human race as a whole and protection and promotion of human rights anywhere is a concern for all". NPMHR is one of the only Human Rights platform in the occupied Naga areas of India and Burma. The formation of NPMHR was necessitated by the massive violations and suppression of human rights, in the midst of the political conflict between the Naga peoples and the states of India and Burma. It was also a period when the people of India were suffering immensely under state suppression in the form of the Emergency (National Emergency of India, 1975-77); and a general awareness of human and democratic rights was being created and debated upon. It was in this atmosphere that many people in India began to receive the Naga opinion with an open mind, during which it has been formed after much debate and discussion by a group of Naga students in Delhi. Over the years NPMHR has grown into a mass movement and has initiated a number of campaigns and launched a series of activities in the local and international level.

NPMHR thus emerged to give an organized expression to the Naga peoples fight for their rights while exposing to the people of India and Burma and the world, the imperialist policy that the ruling classes of India and Burma have been pursuing through State machinery against the Nagas. The Nagas have throughout their history maintained their political and cultural independence. The policy of treating a 'Political Issue' as mere 'Law and Order Problem' and the constant application of military force to suppress the Naga National Movement have resulted into a senseless cycle of violence.

NPMHR attempts to give a response to the campaign of annihilation against basic human rights including the right to life and self-determination. The concern of NPMHR therefore is not confined to the violations of civil and political rights but also social, cultural and economic rights against peoples. The activity of NPMHR includes organizing the people for protection and promotion of human rights. It also includes awareness building, campaign, documentation of human rights violations and dissemination of information, including litigation, organizing relief works, fact-finding teams, initiating intensive debates and discussions on the various issues confronting the society, etc

Declaration of NPMHR

Humankind has made history through the struggle for freedom from exploitation and subjugation. And history of the Naga people has taught us that there are forces both 'inside and outside' the society collaborating in strangulating social progress.

Our people have seen economic exploitation, political and military domination social suppression with the imposition of alien cultural and legal systems and the distortion of their history.

In the light of these experiences, the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights takes upon itself the task of initiating organized struggle for achieving the following;

To ensure and safeguard:

The right to life;

The right to work;

The right to live together as a people and the unification of all Naga Lands;

The right to hold and communicate one's beliefs;

The freedom of movement, assembly and association;

Free access to all place of learning;

Maximum participation of the people in the making of decisions affecting their lives;

Freedom from socio-economic exploitation. Political domination and military repression;

Against anti-democratic practices and the dismantling of institutions and social values Which legitimize and perpetuate these within our society;

Against the practices of arbitrary arrest, detention, torture and execution, and the use of unconventional weapons;

Against the imposition of undesirable alien legal systems and socio-cultural concepts and ways of life;

Organizational Structure of NPMHR

WORKING GUIDELINE

The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights is a peoples movement to facilitate, support and strengthen solidarity, unity and peace among the Nagas and also with other indigenous peoples and human rights organizations.

Coordination of the Movement/Organization
Considering the tragic circumstances leading to the imposed division of the Naga people and their land, the NPMHR will have unit offices at Kohima and Senapati with the Secretariat at Kohima. Outside the Naga areas there will be a unit at Delhi for the moment and creation of any new unit will depend on the merit of the circumstances and with the prior approval of the General Assembly. NPMHR will seek to work together with other organizations working on the similar principles and beliefs. NPMHR and its members shall not be a member of any political party.

General Assembly (GA)

The General Assembly will constitute the highest decision making body. All the Executive members will form the General Assembly. The General Assembly will be held at least once in a calendar year.

The General Assembly shall be the highest decision making body of the NPMHR.

The General Assembly will discuss, develop, debate, review and give policy direction to the organizational activities.

The venues of the Annual General Assembly of the organization will shift on rotation within the Naga areas and even outside depending on the circumstantial needs of the NPMHR.

The General Assembly will receive reports from the Secretariat and the various units.

The General Assembly will decide setting up of any unit.

The General Assembly will from time to time, commission specific working groups on issues which are of particular interest to the organization. The working groups will however be organized within a clear time frame and shall be decommissioned at the conclusion of the targeted task. The members to any of these working groups shall be made mandatory to submit a written report of the investigation/study carried out to the General Assembly.

The General Assembly shall constitute Committees as and when the necessity arises.

The Secretariat

The Secretariat will compose of Executive Council headed by the Secretary General that will facilitate general coordination works among the different functioning units and shall act as the clearinghouse for the organization. The Secretary General will be assisted by officials to carry out day-to-day activities of the organization and in accordance with the working guideline.

Purpose of the Secretariat

The goal of the NPMHR is to secure respect for the individual rights of all people and collective rights of the Naga peoples, territories, institutions and processes and to promote indigenous Naga model of consensual democracy which is socially and environmentally sensitive to development and conservation of our resource, land and territory.

It is within these goals that the Secretariat will carry out its works to:

Promote maximum participation of the people in the decision making process in the areas of human rights, ecological justice, social development, culture and education.

Strengthen networking and coordination at all levels.

Establish effective communication amongst various units, Secretariat and the Executive Council members.

Increase general awareness of the goals and activities of the NPMHR amongst its members, social organisations, governments, etc..

Maintain files and timely dissemination of information.

Produce and distribute of bulletin, annual reports and urgent actions.

Raise funds for organizational activities.

Network with other organizations and maintain relationship with the same.

Carry out advocacy and campaigns on local crisis.

Increase the capacity of the NPMHR in research, campaign, advocacy and technical services.

Prepare for the General Assembly and to assist the Executive Council in achieving and implementing the General Assembly decisions, and to ensure effective running of the Secretariat to secure the execution of the above mentioned tasks towards achieving the goal of the NPMHR.

Responsibilities of the Secretary General (SG)

Supervise and coordinate the activities of the Secretariat to ensure the highest quality of services to the Executive Council, units, and other committees appointed by the General Assembly.

Carry out from time to time appraisal of members of the Secretariat.

Designate member or employ consultant as may be required for the execution of assigned task as identified by the Executive Council.

Organize all necessary meetings, including preparation of the agenda and the taking and circulation of minutes of such meetings.

In the event of absence from the office, he/she should designate from the members of the Executive Council to ensure the continuity of the work.

The Secretary General shall work in close consultation with the Executive Council.

Manage the Secretariat in accordance with the working guidelines, its mission, policies, strategies, plans and budget; and carry out the decision of the Executive Council and General Assembly.

Represent the NPMHR as and when required and/or as previously approved by the Executive Council.

Maintain liaison with the Convenors of the different units and other coordination offices including networks and support social organisations to ensure coordination, cooperation and effectiveness.

Promote close contact and collaboration with organizations with similar objectives to broaden the NPMHR network.

Tenure

The tenure of the Secretary General will be for a period of 3 years and can be re-nominated.

Executive Council (EC)

There shall exist an Executive Council to coordinate, manage and oversee the organizational works in between the General Assemblies.

The EC will consist of five (5)-member team, which will be composed of members who will be nominated by the General Assembly.

The EC will have at least two requisitioned meetings in a month and more as and when necessary.

Convenors & Executive members in the Units

Each unit shall be coordinated by a Convenor who will be assisted by the Executive members locally nominated or appointed.

The different units will, if necessary, nominate or appoint some executive members
to assist their respective units.

The Convenor and the Executive members should have proper consultation with the Secretariat in its functioning and see to it, that the members work in full coordination on issues involving the organization vis-à-vis other organizations and matters which needs major political decisions.

The primary function of the Convenors and local executive shall be to supervise and
guide the functioning of the NPMHR as per the Declaration of the organization.

They shall receive and deal with suggestions, comments and other matters regarding the functioning of the NPMHR.

They shall determine who shall be considered invited delegates to the General Assembly.

They shall take urgent decisions in close consultation with the EC in between the General Assembly.

They will frame out policies on any important issue in close consultation with the Secretariat that will be ratified by the General Assembly.

Every Unit must submit a monthly report of its activities to the Secretariat.

Membership

Every Naga who subscribes to the declaration of the organization is in principle eligible for membership in the NPMHR.

Members of political parties shall not be eligible for membership to the NPMHR.

Responsibilities of the Executive members

The Executive members shall participate in all activities of the NPMHR.

All members shall endeavour to promote the aims and objectives of the NPMHR.

A member will cease to be a member if the person withdraws from the NPMHR or

When his/her membership is nullified by the General Assembly owing to non-compliance with the spirit of the NPMHR Declaration and working guideline developed for its members.

Any member that attends or conducts programmes representing the NPMHR must submit a detail report to the Secretariat.

Finance

The Secretariat shall prepare budget and submit it to the General Assembly for approval.

NPMHR will generate its resources to sustain its activities.

The Secretariat shall coordinate and maintain records of income and expenditure.

The General Assembly shall constitute a three-member Audit committee that shall present its report to the General Assembly.

A Finance Committee shall be appointed by the General Assembly comprising of three members.

NPMHR Information Center, Dimapur

The Information Centre, Dimapur, shall assist the Secretariat in dissemination of information of the NPMHR and the Naga People and to also coordinate information sharing among the struggling peoples.

Amendments to the working guidelines

Amendments to the working guidelines shall be submitted to the Secretariat through the convenors at least 30 days before the General Assembly.

Amendment to the working guideline will be done as per the endorsement of the General Assembly.

Contact:

Office of the Secretariat,
Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights
Midland – 251, Opposite World War II Cemetery,
Kohima – 797 001, Nagaland.
Telefax: +91-370-242541/241654
Email: npmhr1@usa.net
Website: www.npmhr.org

Revised and endorsed by the Kohima General Assembly, September 15-17, 2001


NPMHR's - A Response to Violation of Democratic Rights & Formulation of Priorities

NPMHR since its formation has carried out a consistent struggle to expose the Indian state Violations of Naga peoples basic Human Rights. In keeping with the objectives set out above, the NPMHR activists immediately carried out an extensive study tour of villages. The activists were given a rousing welcome in all the villages they visited and public meetings were held where people gave vivid accounts of the nature and the extent of human rights violation they had suffered. When the activists returned to Kohima they were joined by prominent elders and social activists at a huge rally in Kohima on December 15, 1978. In response to the prevailing situation and bitter experiences of the past years, the Rally unanimously passed the following Resolutions:

That the Armed Forces should be immediately withdrawn from all the civilian areas;

That all the Black Laws including;

(i) Assam Maintenance of Public Order (Autonomous District) Act, 1952;

(ii) Nagaland Security Regulation, 1962;

(iii) Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1972. Should be immediately revoked;

Condemn Mr. Morarji Desai's statement exterminate the (hostile) Nagas and I will not have any compunction in it;

Condemn all the atrocities committed on the Naga people in the past by the Armed Forces;

Condemn the State Government of Nagaland for its effort to prevent peaceful Rally-Procession by proclaiming Section 8 of Assam Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1953 over the entire Kohima Town for a period of one month in an obvious attempt to disrupt the NPMHR Rally at Kohima on December 15, 1978.

A report on the Study Tour and the December 15, 1978 Rally was brought out and distributed widely.

Programme

The NPMHR is a natural response to the campaign of annihilation launched by the state of India and Burma against the Indigenous communities and weaker section of the dominant societies. The concern of NPMHR is not confined to the violation of civil rights but the state structure and the development model which combined to generate the process of ecological depletion and violence in both the slate,

The Programme of NPMHR also includes awareness building, organising the struggle for protection and promotion of Human Rights, documenting and disseminating Human Rights violations which includes taking to the Supreme/High Courts of India against such violation.

Organising relief work for victims of Human Rights violations including economic programmes of rehabilitation also occupies on important aspect of NPMHR.

http://www.npmhr.org/inner.htm

Sher-e-Punjab

Welcome to the Naga International Support Center

http://www.nagalim.nl/

The Naga International Support Center, NISC, has been set up to focus attention on a very real but forgotten conflict. A conflict that resulted in a raging war on the frontiers of North East India and Myanmar, between the Naga peoples, India and Myanmar. Landlocked and inaccessible to outsiders, because of India's travel restrictions, Nagalim, homeland of the Nagas, has been practically isolated from the outside world. This being the main reason why the international community knows little about a war that has taken the lives of approximately 200.000 people.

The Nagas declared independence in 1947, one day ahead of the Union of India. The United Nations received this declaration and acknowledged the receipt of this communication, but until today the declaration of independence has not been recognized. After years of talks and negotiations in 1954 India invaded Nagalim and the conflict began in earnest. Much happened afterwards, see chronology of history, but in 1997 the governments of India and Nagalim announced a cease-fire and peace talks followed. The talks are held outside India. Among other host countries tacitly the Netherlands has been a venue a number of times. More than five years have passed but progress has yet to be made. Worse, the two sides are still struggling on agreeing about the area covered by the cease-fire. While this struggling is going on repression continues; villages are torched and civilians get killed. To support the peace process Nisc, as a human rights organisation, launches a publicity campaign. Nisc wants to make it known that the human suffering in the Nagalim and the rest of North East India should stop.

The Naga homeland, separated by a border between India and Myanmar, you will find in the map section.

In the interest of human rights and specifically the right to self determination Nisc stands by the oppressed Naga peoples. To enable us to do hold an international conference that will attract the attention on both the public and the international community and the press, Nisc truly needs your support.

http://www.nagalim.nl/

Other Naga resources:

Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights
http://www.npmhr.org/

National Socialist Council of Nagalim
http://www.nscnonline.org/

Sher-e-Punjab

amit

Not to be rude, but when I took a school trip to India 3 months ago, we also traveled to Nagaland. The Nagas seem to be happy being apart of India. It is just a small group of people. Besides, how will a nation be powerful if its in bits and pieces. Take a look at China. For India to be sucessful, the country must be united.

Also, you say that many minorities in India are being persecuted. With all the areas you named, who is a minority in India? Everyone is!

ajaybhutani

Well as we can see its a struggle against indian domination and voilation of human rights.
So why human rights are getting strangled ... bec armed forces have been posted there to control terrorism. Well why did the terrorism started in the first place. There were no armed forces there then ?Frankly the point is how many residnets of naga actually care under whose control it lies i'wd say quite a few say politicians terrorists and some other people whose vested interests lie with the movement.For others what matters is that there is peace and no voilation of human rights by armed forces or terrorists both. Now armed forces try to counter terrorists and in the process (knowingly and unknowingly) voilate human rights .There acts are then used by terorrists to explain to people how bad the govt/administration is .And as far as voilations by terroristss are concerned whats the use of staging a dharna or march . Clearly no use so what can really help is to stage a march agaist armed forces as at least teh atrocities by them can be controlled and the general public becomes more and mroe aware of what was done wrong by armed forces and rarely know are teh atrocities done by the terrorists (except only a few) .If teh terrorists plant a bomb on a railway station noone says taht throw the terrorists out but if armed forces kill someone as taht person was a terrorist adn was planning an attack tehhuman right activists come all teh way to coplain that they had no proof that he/ she was a terrorist and this sis a voilation of human rights .The wonderful thing about our media is that anythin anti govt will come up even if that means we need to put down a lot of facts unreported. I bet there would have been atrocities against naga's by terrorists but frankly adn a lot more than by armed forces . But has any human right activist/organization / some individual dared to put a march against the terrorists. I bet there would have been not more than a few and our greatful media would not like to put it on top as it wont sell . But what about the facts none cares as long as it serves their specific purpose.


Well its true that the govt itself has done a lot of mistakes obviously we need a special task force specially trained to work agaist terrorism rahter than normal army.But the media esp has more responsibilities .

Sher-e-Punjab

Naga International Support Center, NISC

www.nagalim.nl

A human rights organization

Press Release

Amsterdam, November 28 2004

The roots of the 50 year old Indo-Naga conflict lie with the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru

When the NNC leaders met Nehru in Delhi on March 11 1952 Nehru banged his fist on the table and screamed,

“Whether heaven falls and India goes to pieces and the whole country runs red with blood, I will not allow the Nagas to be independent. I can station one soldier for every tree in Nagaland.”

Regarding the upcoming peace talks in Delhi, for a peaceful solution NISC calls on the Government of India to carefully review the policy and correct the mistake of the past.

Some background to clarify the changing polices may be observed in the voices of India’s greatest leaders. For example, in 1947 the much revered Mahatma Gandhi, while speaking in Bhangi Colony, New Delhi on 19th July said,

“Nagas have every right to be independent. We did not want to live under the domination of the British and they are now leaving us. I want you to feel that India is yours. I feel that the Naga Hills are mine just as much as they are yours, but if you say ‘it is mine’ then the matter must stop there. I believe in the brotherhood of man, but I do not believe in force or forced unions. If you do not wish to join the Union of India nobody will force you to do that.”

Even as late as 1953 Jawaharlal Nehru agreed in principle, speaking in parliament on August 7 1952,

"We want no people in the territory of India against their will and with the help of armed forces... We want no forced marriages or forced unions. This great Republic of India is free, friendly and affectionate union of the states of India.” This declaration was followed by cheers.

Again on September 17, 1953 Nehru declared, "Whether it is Kashmir or ANY OTHER PART, we are not going to hold it by the strength of arms. Mature nations as we are ... we have to show our maturity by trying to understand things, by saying and acting in a manner that helps, not hinders."

Nehru has often spoken as a true statesman of peace, saying, "Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people."

Nehru characterized hostile nations saying, “It is the habit of every aggressor nation to claim that it is acting on the defensive."

He defined culture as, "… the widening of the mind and of the spirit."

Believing Nehru’s words of peace and understanding, a Naga delegation went to meet with him to seek a peaceful solution to the problem. Nehru unexpectedly betrayed his own words of peace and wisdom when confronted with the reality that Nagas had no desire to join the union. He said to the Naga delegation,

“Whether heaven falls and India goes to pieces and the whole country runs red with blood, I will not allow the Nagas to be independent. I can station one soldier for every tree in Nagaland.”

Jawaharlal Nehru then decided to send troops - more than 200,000- to occupy Nagaland saying “It will be a matter of days to crush the Nagas.” He ordered Nagaland to be invaded and annexed; the war began.

Thereupon in the early part of 1955 India sent thousands of her armed forces and occupied Naga territory. Armed forces were given full power to deal with the situation. A shoot-at-sight order was issued. Indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians started. Thousands were beaten up and imprisoned. Hundreds of villages were burnt down, grain was destroyed, and women were raped. The whole population was driven into jungles or herded into concentration camps. Thousands died of starvation, disease and torture. As a result 150,000 people died within ten years between 1954 and 1964. The Nagas resisted invasion and formed their own resistance army.

It has been 50 years now and the Nagas have not been defeated.

Although the world hailed Nehru, he was very short sighted in regard to the Naga people.

He created problems which he could not solve. His change of heart concerning the rights of people to peaceful independence and his invasion of Naga lands are at the very root of the 50 years of violent conflict that has disrupted the lives of the Naga peoples. A paternalistic attitude evolved in the government of India and was summed up in the 1960s by foreign secretary Gun Devia who said, “India wants nothing from Nagaland, Nagaland has not enough and it cannot be left in the jungle even if the jungle is beautiful.”

Today, there is a peace process taking place between the Government of India and the NSCN, with a cease fire and genuine desire to end the 50 years of unrest. Now, the Government of India and NSCN have the opportunity to solve the problems generated in the past.

NISC calls upon all parties to pursue peace for India and Nagaland, to bring about a solution honourable to both. Independence is the right of all peoples. Let these peace talks bring an end to 50 years of conflict and anxiety ensuring peace for the Naga generations to come.

For more information contact us at nisc@nagalim.nl and visit our website www.nagalim.nl

amit

Who cares what happened 50 years ago. Then the USA should be fined for having slavery.

ajaybhutani

yaar amit shere still lives in 1947 for naga , 1980 for punjab and 1990 for kashmir. He dsnt know how to move on and catch up with the updated situations.

Sher-e-Punjab

A NAGA PROTEST TO THE SECOND COLONISATION OF ASIA

Kaka D. Iralu

December 4, 2004

The first colonisation of Asia (which also included Africa, Latin America and Australasia) was done by the White races of Europe and the West from the 16th to the 20th centuries...

That colonisation ended after the Second World War. However, tragically, on the departure of the White colonisers from the Asian continent, a second colonisation of Asia took place before our own very eyes. This time it was not some White conquering races coming in ships and galleys, but yellow Asians murdering, raping, burning and torturing fellow Asians with the arms and ammunition that the White races had left behind on their departure. In the second wave of Asia’s invasions, smaller Asian nations like Nagaland, Tibet, the Saravaks, the Chakmas, etc. were colonised by bigger Asian nations like India, China, Pakistan, Malaysia, etc.

In the first colonisation of Asia, despite their many acts of atrocities, the White man conformed to certain rules of warfare and military ethics. The second colonisation of Asia by fellow Asians was however more horrific than the first one. In this second colonisation, people were even buried alive after terrible tortures. Women were not only raped but even subjected to grotesque mutilation of their private parts - a crime even animals are not guilty of. It was indeed the second rape of Asia that left in its wake thousands upon thousands of broken and twisted lives.

Now what right has these bigger nations of Asia over the smaller nations that they can without impunity forcefully colonise the smaller nations in Asia? I will never forget the words of Debashish Roy - the Crown Prince of the Chakma people - when speaking in the Indigenous Peoples Conference in Japan, he said: "Prior to the transfer of power in 1947, we Chakmas had our own kingdom with our own king. We also had our own national identity and geographical lands and we also fought against the British in defence of our history and our lands. He went on to state: "Tragically one fine morning on 15th August 1947, we were told that henceforth Chakmas had become East Pakistanis." The soldiers of East Pakistan next marched into Chakma lands, torturing, raping and occupying their ancestral lands with new East Pakistan immigrants. For twenty four years they suffered under the East Pakistani regime where many of them were forced to become refugees in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, etc. Debashish went on to say, "Then again after the Indo Pakistan war of 1971, another fine morning we were again told that we were now Bangladeshis - citizens of the New Bangladesh that was formed out of East Pakistan." Till date many of the Chakmas are living as refugees in other people’s lands - their own lands being occupied by bigger nations against whom they are helplessly outnumbered.

The same story can be recounted in pages after pages of agony, humiliation, desecration and occupation of smaller nations like Nagas, Tibetans, Sarawaks, etc. as bigger nations swallowed them and forced them to call themselves Indians, Chinese, Malaysians and so on.

In the case of Nagaland and India, India, in spite of the overwhelming and undeniable historical and political facts continue to claim that Nagas are Indians and Nagaland is Indian territory. After 56 years of her failure to fool the world with her lies, India now seems to be wooing some Nagas for partial integration of Naga territories under the Constitution of India. But whatever designs India may have, true patriotic Nagas will never succumb to such a sell-out of their national and geographical birth rights.

In this connection, another lie that India had tried to project to the world is that, "The Naga demand for independence has put India in an impossible situation, where if granted, it would lead other Indian States to demand the same thing and ultimately lead to India’s disintegration."

Here, let India and the world know this historical and political fact very clearly that Nagas are not demanding independence from India. After all, how can Nagas be demanding independence from India when Nagaland had declared her independence on 14th August 1947 - one day prior to India’s declaration of her own independence? This declaration was not done in secret as a copy of the declaration of Naga independence was sent to the UN and an acknowledgement duly received from Salt Lake, New York. In the light of these chronological, historical and political facts, if India would demand independence from the Nagas it could be considered, but to portray that Nagas are demanding independence from India is to blatantly try to re-write history. Here Nagas will not allow 14th August 1947 to bow down before 15th August 1947 and reverse or defy the sequential chronology of history.

Therefore let India and the world know that Nagas are not demanding independence from India or anybody else, but simply defending their already declared independence. They have been defending their independence with their blood and their tears for over half a century. Here let India and the world know that whatever the overwhelming odds may be, we Nagas are confident of this fact that our signature, written on the pages of history on 14th August 1947, will one day be acknowledged by the world community. No matter how long that takes, on our part, we will never surrender our sovereignty and our independence to India or any other nations under heaven.

Tronic

Ok, I just finished reading ALL of that personally let me tell you, MAN YOU ARE ONE SCREWED PERSON!!! You are an Indian yet you talk about India occupying Nagaland and crap. Let me just tell you one thing, Nagaland is PART of India, not a seperate country!!! And i'm guessin you probably believe in the creation of Khalistan. Well, let me tell i'm a Sikh too and i'm disgusted by people like you. The only freedom should go to Tibet as these monks are peaceful people and probably won't fight wars but let me assure you that is Khalistan, Kashmir and other states of India became independent, there would be a lot more wars especially against India. And if you think about it, what pride would you have in Khalistan??? Would we be recognized in the world Council? How much respect would we have??? Being part of India will get you so much more respect. Also if Khalistan is created you surely will be seen as a Sikh, as a Pakistani is seen as a Muslim, but that will also take away the diverse pride you have. You wil never be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with other Hindu's, Budhs, Christeans, muslims and be proud that you are all one, INDIANS!!! thats all i gotta say, just think about it.

lemontree

Tronic,
This guy is not a Sikh, he is a Pakistani. But I'm glad that he cares about the oppressed people.
So I'm using this thread to highlight the plight of the oppressed people of Pakistan.

__________________

Cheers!...on the rocks!!

lemontree

How minorities of Pakistan suffer.
THE BALOCH RESISTANCE MOVEMENT
By. B.Raman
(To be read in continuation of the earlier articles titled "Unrest in Balochistan" at
http://www.saag.org/papers9/paper804.html and "The Blast in Gwadar" at http://www.saag.org/papers10/paper993.html )

The law and order situation in Balochistan continues to deteriorate steadily despite the use of the Army by the military-dominated regime in Islamabad to put an end to acts of violence directed at the members of the Shia community, the Chinese experts deployed at the Gwadar port project, gas pipelines and other economic targets, including a local airport, and military personnel.

2. The responsibility for the restoration of law and order has been informally taken over by the Army without a formal proclamation and helicopter gunships, received in the past from the US for use in counter-terrorism operations directed against the dregs of Al Qaeda and the Taliban taking shelter in the areas near the Afghanistan border, are being used against the Balochi population, which has had nothing to do with either Al Qaeda or the Taliban, in an attempt to suppress their movement against the military-dominated regime and what is perceived as its attempts to reduce the Balochis to a minority in their traditional homeland.

3. There are various root causes for the resistance movement being waged by the Balochis:

Mounting anger over the denial of the benefits of the natural gas and other mineral resources of the province to the Balochis in the form of increased royalty payments.
The denial of any meaningful role to the Balochis in decisions relating to the construction and administration of the Chinese-aided Gwadar port project.
The influx of a large number of Punjabis and other non-Balochis into the province to work in the Gwadar project.
The continuing acts of discrimination against the Balochis in matters of recruitment to the Armed Forces and various civilian departments of the Government.
The establishment of more cantonments in the Province to enable the Army better maintain law and order.
4. The ground situation has been further complicated by the import of the Shia-Sunni sectarian divide into the province from Punjab and Karachi and by the influx of the dregs of Al Qaeda, the Taliban and the Uighur terrorist elements from the Xinjiang province of China into the province, where they have been given shelter by the local fundamentalist organisations with the tacit approval of the Government.
5. The root causes mentioned in Para 3 above have given rise to two kinds of anti-Islamabad and anti-military movements:


An overt political movement in the form of protest meetings, demonstrations and rallies not involving the use of violence. Four non-religious political parties of Balochistan, who have formed a united front, continue to play a leading role in this movement. These are the Jamhoori Watan Party, the National Party, the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) and the Baloch Haqtawar.
A covert freedom movement involving targeted acts of violence against economic targets and other infrastructure and military personnel.
6. The factors mentioned in Para 4 above have made Quetta, the capital of the province, the scene of periodic anti-Shia incidents and the bordering areas of the province safe sanctuaries for Al Qaeda, the Taliban and the Uighurs for mounting operations against Afghan and American troops in Afghan territory. The presence of the Uighurs has added to the security concerns of the Chinese, necessitating the deployment of a large contingent of the Pakistan Army, exclusively for the protection of the Chinese experts working in the Gwadar port and the Saindak copper extraction projects.
7. The frequent visits of Chinese security experts to the province and the recent high-profile joint Sino-Pak counter-terrorism exercise held in Xinjiang were meant to restore the confidence of the Chinese experts and to strengthen the co-operation between the counter-terrorism agencies of the two countries.

8. The reluctance or inability of the provincial authorities to act effectively against the dregs of Al Qaeda and the Taliban operating from the border areas of the province and to put an end to their terrorist infrastructure directed against the Americans and the Hamid Karzai Government in Kabul have brought the Pakistan Army and its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) under US pressure to mount operations against these dregs in Balochi territory, similar to the operations mounted by the Armyt since October last year against the dregs in the South Waziristan area of the Federally-Administered Tribal areas (FATA).

9. At a time when its troops inducted into the South Waziristan area have been involved in a bleeding guerilla warfare with the tribals and the Uzbek, Chechen and Uighur dregs in that area resulting in mounting military casualties, a further alienation of the local tribals and increasing anti-Musharraf feelings in the Armed Forces, the Pakistan Army is reluctant to get bogged down in a similar guerilla warfare against Al Qaeda and the Taliban dregs in Balochistan, which might further come in the way of its efforts to quell the Balochi resistance movement.

10. Senior army officers and the ISI are against getting involved in a two-front military operation in Balochistan--- one against the Balochi nationalists, who, in the Army's perception, pose a threat to Pakistan's unity and economic prosperity and endanger its relations with China and the other against the dregs of Al Qaeda and the Taliban, who do not threaten Pakistani lives and interests. Their first priority is quelling the re-emerging Balochi independence movement before it assumes alarming proportions similar to those of the 1970s.

11. Gen.Pervez Musharraf has been trying to follow a three-pronged policy:

Keeping the door open for a political dialogue with the non-religious political parties, who have confined their activities to an overt political movement against Islamabad without indulging in acts of violence.
A no-holds-barred military campaign against the Balochi youth who have started a violent struggle to achieve their objectives. While large sections of the Balochi population look upon these youth as freedom-fighters, the military has been projecting them as terrorists.
Avoiding getting bogged down in operations against the dregs of Al Qaeda and the Taliban in the bordering areas lest it weaken its operations against the Balochis. The Americans seem to understand Musharraf's imperative of quelling the re-kindled Balochi independence movement before acting against the dregs. The position might change as the US presidential elections approach, particularly if the reports regarding the presence of some senior Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders in the areas near the Iran border are confirmed.
12. The move for a political dialogue with the provincial political parties has been a non-starter till now in the absence of any indication of the military's willingness to consider their demands relating to the increase in the payment of royalty, suspension of the construction of the Gwadar project till its implications for the economic interests of the Balochis are examined, the stoppage of the influx of the Punjabis and other non-Balochis into the province and the abandoning of the plans for more cantonments. They also want the suspension of the military operations against the Balochi youth.
13.Musharraf has already made clear his determination to go ahead with the Gwadar and other Chinese-aided projects in the province and the projects for new cantonments. His Government continues to deny any military operations against the Balochi youth. Thus, the only issues on which his regime may be prepared to negotiate relate to the demand for more royalty and for more job opportunities for the Balochis. Even this has not been indicated openly and specifically.

14.There are two generations of Balochis now engaged in a simultaneous confrontation with the Islamabad regime. The first is the older generation, consisting of the grown-up members of the younger generation of the 1970s, which had spearheaded the post-1971 freedom struggle, which was brutally crushed by the late Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto with the help of the Army and the Air Force. In their midst, one could see recognisable faces like those of Ataullah Khan Mengal, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Khair Bux Marri etc and their progenies, who were born in the 1950s and the 1960s and fought with their elders against the Pakistan Army before giving up their armed struggle and taking up to politics.

15. The second is the post-1970 generation of young Balochis. Many of them are from the same legendary tribes which had waged a freedom struggle in the 1970s, but had no role to play in it, because they were still children or not yet born. Many members of this younger generation went to the Gulf countries in the 1980s and 1990s, served in the local police and security forces, acquired a certain expertise in the use of arms and ammunition and explosives and have since returned to Balochistan. It is these elements, which constitute the hard-core of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has been in the forefront of the current freedom struggle.

16. The BLA is a very well-organised and well-motivated cladestine organisation, with a high degree of invisibility. Very little is known about its leaders and cadres. One hears of them whenever there is a spectacular incident such as the eight explosions in Quetta on Pakistan's Independence Day on August 14, 2004, the ambush of a group of seven Pakistani army officers going for shopping in the Khuzdar area on August 1, killing five of them,, the abortive attempt to kill the Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Yousef in the same area the next day, the frequent disruptions of gas and oil supplies to Punjab by blowing up the pipelines, the blowing-up of the Sui local airport etc, but one rarely sees them.

17. The resistance fighters of the BLA are as invisible as those of Iraq and have been operating in a large number of small. autonomous cells, capable of opportunistic actions without the apparent need for a central command and control. Like the US Army in Iraq, the Pakistan Army in Balochistan has been totally foxed by their activities. It has been groping in the dark, without being able to identify them and penetrate their set-up.

(The writer is Additional Secretary (retd), Cabinet Secretariat, Govt. of India, and, presently, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, and Distinguished Fellow and Convenor, Observer Reserach Foundation (ORF), Chennai Chapter. E-Mail: corde@vsnl.com )

Aryan

"but let me assure you that is Khalistan, Kashmir and other states of India became independent, there would be a lot more wars especially against India."

If regions of separatism such as Khalistan and Kashmir did leave India, there would be less wars with India, as Pakistan would have less grievances, as would the Kashmiris or Punjabis.

"And if you think about it, what pride would you have in Khalistan??? Would we be recognized in the world Council? How much respect would we have??? Being part of India will get you so much more respect. Also if Khalistan is created you surely will be seen as a Sikh, as a Pakistani is seen as a Muslim, but that will also take away the diverse pride you have."

Khalistan isn't going to be a nation for sikhs, its just a political name for the nation state of (east) Punjab. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Punjab does have plenty of diversity, Sikhs, Christians, Hindus and Muslims. Sikhs are a multicultural and tolerant bunch, and although they would be in the majority, they certainly would not tarnish punjab's multiculturalism one bit.

Tronic

[quote=Aryan] "If regions of separatism such as Khalistan and Kashmir did leave India, there would be less wars with India, as Pakistan would have less grievances, as would the Kashmiris or Punjabis."

Yeah like muslims were happy after Pakistan was created??? How many wars have been fought after that??? And what grievances??? Why the hell should Pakistan even care about Khalistan??? Stop sticking your nose in other peoples business, I mean how many Sikhs did the ****'s kill after the partition??? You killed or drove almost all the Sikhs from Lahore(the true Sikh capitol) and Pakistani Punjab. And you talk in support of Khalistan... thats so hypocrit.


"Khalistan isn't going to be a nation for sikhs, its just a political name for the nation state of (east) Punjab. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Punjab does have plenty of diversity, Sikhs, Christians, Hindus and Muslims. Sikhs are a multicultural and tolerant bunch, and although they would be in the majority, they certainly would not tarnish punjab's multiculturalism one bit."

Khalistan would be created mainly for the sikhs as Sikhs wanted their own country after Indira Gandhi ordered the Indian Army to attack the Golden Temple. But remember, yes even though the Indian Army might have killed innocent civillians and it was very disrespectful by attacking a holy place, Does anyone know who the hell was barricaded inside the Temple??? Bindrinwala, who recieved Pakistani aid was barricaded inside with a handful of men and firepower. So tell me isn't it wrong to fortify a holy place like that??? Wasn't it his fault too??? So back to my point Sikhs in the 80's were going "If Muslims got Pakistan, and Hindus got Hindustan, What did we get??? After all we did play one of the largest roles in fighting off the British" So yeah Sikhs did want their own "Sikhland"
That saying is sort of worthless now, as Sikhs DO have recognition in India, i mean the PM is a Sikh for god's sake!!! and a very intelligent one too. So that phrase is sortta obsolete as Hindu's sort of look toward the Sikh religion as the protectors of the h