Eighteenth Session of the Human Rights Council (September 12 – September 30, 2011)

Agenda Item 3 (General Debate): Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development

World Environment and Resources Council (WERC)

Non-profit Organization in Special Consultative Status with United Nations Economic and Social Council

Intervention by Senge Hasnan Sering on Freedom of Expression, Political Activity and Peaceful Assembly

I thank you Mr. President for this opportunity to speak about the state of freedom of expression, political activity and peaceful assembly in Pakistani occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, where the natives live under complete censorship as their homeland has been converted into a military garrison. The media representatives and political workers face continuous harassment and torture for exposing the inhumane treatment of the locals by their occupiers.

Recently on 25^th of August, offices of Daily K-2 and Karakoram Publishing Network were vandalized by secret service agents while two journalists were arrested and tortured for exposing incidents of gang rape involving government employees as well as accounts of extra judicial murders, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions in the valley of Hunza.

Hunza which was hit hard by the flashfloods and landslides in 2010 has this time come under heavy police and para-military attack leading to two deaths and detention and disappearance of dozens of flood victims and political workers.

Prominent among them are Manzoor Parwana and Babajan Hunzai, who were punished for supporting the Ladakhi refugees living in Gilgit-Baltistan; and for opposing illegal involvement of Chinese mining companies in the region. Babajan Hunzai is currently placed in an interrogation cell and the international community is requested to pressure the regime of Pakistan for his earliest release. Manzoor Parwana has several sedition cases against him for publishing military crimes of Kargil War of 1999; and criticizing the rulers for promoting sectarianism and altering religious and ethnic demography to weaken indigenous identity and tighten state control.

Manzoor, Babajan and others have been charged under laws which do not apply to the disputed territory of Gilgit Baltistan which remains outside the constitutional boundary of Pakistan. Support to these defenders is vital since they have no access to an international judicial system.

To conclude, Pakistani occupation of Gilgit-Baltistan has created serious humanitarian crisis. Special attention of UN Rapporteurs and their immediate visit to the region is requested to help address these grievances.

I thank you Mr. President

Dated: Sept 16, 2011