Yasin MALIK ----------- Yasin MALIK (Phonetic: Ma-lick) President, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Addressed as: Mr. Malik (C) President of the oldest and most influential individual Kashmiri separatist organization, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Yasin (39) is a former militant who has renounced violence in favor of dialogue and peaceful agitation for an independent Kashmir. While a leader of the armed struggle, he has killed in the name of Kashmir, but has become an advocate of non-violence since coming in from the cold. He is open to contact with Embassy officers. (C) From Srinagar,s congested and poor Maisuma district (a hotbed of separatist sentiment often referred to as &the Kashmir Gaza8), Malik joined the Kashmir independence struggle as a teenager, first with the Islamic Students, League (1985-1987). He was one of the polling agents for Mohammad Yusuf Shah (alias Syed Salahauddin), who ran for a seat in the J&K Legislative Assembly in the 1987 state elections, but whose loss as a result of rigging caused him to take up arms against India. Shah later became the Supreme Commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen and the head of the Muzaffarabad-based United Jihad Council. (C) After the 1987 polls, Malik was imprisoned for a short time. Following his release, he and four friends crossed over to Pakistani Kashmir where he received small arms training and joined the JKLF, headed by Amanullah Khan. Returning to the Valley in 1988, he began a full-fledged armed struggle, becoming JKLF Chief Commander after the death of Ashfaq Majeed in a grenade explosion. Yasin was arrested on August 6, 1990 and was released from prison for years later, after which he has eschewed violence. The JKLF is considerably weakened since the early 1990s. It has split and suffered defections of key leaders and advisors in the Valley, as well as among supporters and sympathizers abroad. It is not possible to say with complete assurance, which of the JKLF organizations in Pakistani Kashmir and abroad accept his leadership. (C) In 1995, Malik developed serious differences with Amanullah Khan, after which he split the Valley-based organization off from the Pakistan-based JKLF. He reluctantly joined the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), but has always had an uneasy relationship with its leaders, partly for ideological reasons (he favors an independent Kashmir), but also because he has a difficult personality and thinks he has suffered more for the cause than other. After the Hurriyat split into moderate and hardline factions in September 2003, Yasin kept out of both. He also opposed Hurriyat dialogue with DPM LK Advani during the NDA government in 2004 and has focused on a campaign to gather signatures which calls for Kashmiris to be involved in the peace talks between India and Pakistan. He now as some 1.5 million, which he exhibited in April 2005 at the Gandhi Peace Foundation in Delhi, impressive undertaking which is the only clear evidence by any Kashmiri separatist of grassroots support. (C) Malik has become increasingly bitter in recent years, on the grounds that Kashmiris are being ignored by India and Pakistan, and that President Musharraf has distanced himself from the Kashmiri cause. Following an unsatisfactory meeting with Musharraf in New Delhi in April 2005, Yasin announced that if Kashmiris are not be involved in the peace process, he would launch a non-violent movement in both sides of Kashmir. He is also annoyed about the PDP (Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehboba Sayeed) taking credit for the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Bus. (C) Moody and temperamental, it is often difficult to have a dialogue with Malik because of his gloomy personality. A bachelor, Yasin has had a series of health problems, a result of his imprisonment, including kidney problems facial palsy. This requires him to be in New Delhi regularly for treatment. He speaks good English and considers himself something of an intellectual, despite his lack of formal education (he claims his dream job is to be a headmaster at a boarding school). (C) Born on April 3, 1966, Yasin was interested in a career as a model before the rigged 1987 elections changed his life direction, according to one journalist who knows him well. He has traveled to U.S. at least twice, ostensibly for medical reasons, but he has also engaged in separatist politics there. New Delhi has not renewed his passport. He smokes quite heavily and is a vegetarian. He speaks very good English.

While the process of exploring various “solutions” to Kashmir Issue was initiated soon after the birth of Kashmir “problem” out of the Indian and Pakistani guns in October 1947, till recently the process was confined to a bilateral Indian and Pakistan official framework or in the cases of Dixon and some “secret” talks between Kashmiri leader Sheikh Abdullah and American officials, to the UN and US circles. Over the past few decades, especially after the uprising in the Indian occupied Kashmir, the process seems to have expanded and proposals are being mushroomed from a wide range of individuals and agencies including Yousaf Bach a veteran Kashmiri from Valley settled in US after working with UN since the birth of Kashmir Problem; Bava Krishan Dev Setti from Jammu who fought hand in hand with other Kashmiris against maharaja system and migrated from Mirpur when Pakistani tribes and troops invaded the State. The Kashmiri organisations that proposed different solutions include National Conference, JKLF, Hurriyat, (by now Peoples League and PDP has also come up with their proposals) All Parties National Alliance, International Kashmir Alliance, Association of British Kashmiris, Balawirstan (Gilgit-Baltistan) Front etc. Some Western Think Tanks, BBC and South Asia based NGOs have also forwarded various proposals for peaceful resolution of the issue.

To,The Prime Minister
Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Muzaffarabad,

Dear Sir
I wish to draw your kind attention towards an appalling incident happened in the jurisdiction of Azad
Jammu and Kashmir which has caused deep antipathy among the people of the region, who feel
insecure after the illegal detention of four citizens from the capital city - Muzaffarabad.
As per details Mr. Faizan Butt, Mr. Shahid Qayum, Mr. Ali Rathore and Mr. Shafiq Butt were
allegedly kidnapped by staff of security agencies in Muzaffarabad on November 21, 2009. One of
them has been released after many days of mental and physical torture and inhuman treatment;
however, the remaining three are still under any secret location. The Family members of abductees
insist that the police have refused to lodge FIR regarding the incident.

International People's Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir (IPTK)
http://www.kashmirprocess.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 2, 2009

Read Online Download Full Report (PDF) Press Release Photos Video Documentation Extended Bibliography

Table of Contents Acknowledgements -- 7 I. Graves -- 9 II. Explanations -- 21 Concern, Crimes Against Humanity, and Mass Graves III. Context -- 33 Political Situation, People's Tribunal, This Report, Methodology, and Reprisal IV. "Exhumed Truths" -- 47 Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipora Districts V. "Encounter"/Fake Encounter: An Index -- 69 VI. Recommendations -- 87 Appendix I: First Information Report from IPTK Convener -- 97 Appendix II: First Information Report on IPTK Conveners -- 98 Appendix III: Human Rights Council Letter of Allegations -- 100 and Government of India's Response Appendix IV: Relevant Conventions and India's Status -- 103 Appendix V: List of Photographs -- 104 As used in the report, in the order that they appear

 THE SECULAR NATIONALIST MOVEMENT IN JAMMU KASHMIR;

A time for reflection, redefinition and reorientation.

THE NEED TO FORM A UNITED FRONT

The recent constitutional changes introduced by the so called ‘democratically elected’ government of Pakistan, in Gilgit and Baltistan have profoundly altered the status of these territories of the divided and disputed state of Jammu Kashmir. Hitherto, these parts of the state were called by the Pakistani establishment as ‘The Northern Areas’, and have been ruled by the successive governments of Pakistan, as a colony, under various Acts. The people have been deprived of basic political rights of franchise with socio - economic deprivation suffered by the entire population, since 1948. These parts were annexed under a lease agreement in April 1948 (a remnant of British Imperial legal instrument), with the then president of Azad Kashmir, which itself has a semi- colonial status as a Pakistan controlled territory without having a constituent assembly of its own. It is governed, instead, by a federal Act of Pakistan legislature with very limited powers confined to local administrative sections of the AJK part of the state.

The appointment of a governor in Gilgit Baltistan is not only a flagrant violation of the trust obligation Pakistan holds in the UN, it exposed the true nature and intentions of Pakistani political establishment. It also reveals the weaknesses of Kashmiri Nationalist movement to assert their stance and affect any change in the policies of the colonial masters.

Till few days ago it were only the Kashmiri nationalists who raised the issue of the human and democratic rights of Gilgit-Baltistan people especially JK APNA (Jammu Kashmir All Parties National Alliance), JK PNP and such groups from Gilgit Baltistan  as GBNA, GBUM, and BNF etc. However, the ‘decree’ issued by the Pakistani PM regarding changing the political status of the GB has, it seems’ brought various shades and opinions and political parties of Kashmir closer than ever.

Within two days of this announcement i have received numerous phone calls and emails from Kashmiris across Britain, across the division line in Kashmir and Middle East belonging to different political groups as well as some ordinary citizens showing their concern about this step of PPP which many see as ‘forcing Giglit-Baltistan away from Kashmir State’ and ‘begining of making the division of Kashmir permanent’. 

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To:           The President of India,
                The Prime minister of India,
                The Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India,
                The Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir, Srinagar   

Copy to:   The President of Azad Jammu Kashmir,              
                UN Secretary General,

PETITION:
We, the People and the Civil Society of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, express our anguish and concern over the denial of rights of people of Jammu Kashmir to obtain the possession of the remains of their fellow subject of the state ,  Maqbool Butt to burry according to their own cultural and religious  tradition.

Maqbool Butt was killed by hanging on Feb.11, 1984 in Tihar, Delhi as the consequence of retaliation expressed by that time Indian Regime. He was hanged to take the revenge of the killing of an Indian Diplomat by some unknown organization claiming to be Kashmiri. An act of shame for a country called India.   Even after His Death, his body was not handed over to his family and people, rather buried in Tihar Jail, Delhi. People and civil society of Jammu Kashmir do respect him for his legendary struggle for the restoration of freedom in Kashmir. He is now hero of our nation.  To pay tribute to Maqbool Butt, People of Srinagar have already built and reserve a grave for him in Martyrs Grave Yard of Eidgah, Srinagar. But his formal burial is still awaited.

We Demand:

• Government of India to behave and understand the feelings of the people and civil society of Jammu Kashmir about Maqbool Butt.
• Government of India to Hand over remains of Shaheed e Kashmir for proper burial.
• Secretary General of United Nation to use his influence to convince govt. of India for release of remains of Maqbool Butt.
• President of Azad Kashmir and Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir to take appropriate measure to obtain the remains of Shaheed e Kashmir.

Sincerely,

Maqbool Butt Foundation
www.maqboolbutt.com
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