Our right to development, CPEC and Pakistan
Dr Shabir Choudhry 23
February 2017
Water is
absolutely essential commodity for human beings; and like other countries,
Pakistan also needs water. However, it doesn’t give them a right to dig a well
in the front garden of a weak neighbour to meet their water requirement. In any
case, why should I allow my unfriendly, uncaring and greedy neighbour to dig a
well in my garden when I know for sure he will not allow my wife and children
to drink water from there? He needs to learn not to usurp rights and properties
of others.
Our Right to development
A right to
development is a fundamental human right, because it is essential for the
development of human societies. A right to development enables human beings to
obtain other fundamental rights. My right to development is not and must not be
subservient to the right of development of my stronger neighbour.
In 1986 the UN
General Assembly passed Declaration on the Right to Development, according to
which right to development is an ‘inalienable’ human right of ‘every human
person’ and ‘all peoples’. Furthermore, people have right to
exercise ‘full and complete sovereignty over all their natural wealth and
resources’. This Declaration defined development as:
‘A
comprehensive economic, social, cultural and political process, which aims at
the constant improvement of the well being of the entire population and of all
individuals’.1
Development is indispensable means to acquire greater human rights; but
where governments or occupying authorities deliberately deny people a right to
development, it means they want to ensure that people do not enjoy other
fundamental rights. It is believed that the ‘development is vital to
eliminating the structural causes of human rights denials, violations and abuses’.
2
We people of Jammu and Kashmir also have a right to development;
however, it is sad that our right to development is subject to Pakistan’s
approval. In other words no development project, no matter how desperately we
need it, can be initiated in so called Azad Kashmir and in Gilgit Baltistan
until it is approved by Pakistan. Apart from that, Lent Officers of Pakistan
(senior officers of Pakistan appointed by Pakistan against our will to control
their colony) who are real rulers of these colonies decide what is good for us.
The Declaration says people have a legitimate right to exercise ‘full
and complete sovereignty over all their natural wealth and resources’. But
how can you exercise this right when you have so called ‘big brother’, ‘well
wisher’ and imperialist minded neighbour like Pakistan. The ruling elite and the
establishment of Pakistan have learnt to wage aggressive wars, loot, plunder
and exploit resources of others; and at times, resources of other provinces, as
in the case of East Pakistan and Balochistan.
Pakistani policy on development inside Pakistan could be different to
what they practice in Gilgit Baltistan and in Pakistani Occupied Jammu and
Kashmir. Take example of Neelam Jhelum Hydropower Project, which is being built
against wishes of the people of POJK. I have written together with other
concerned people that this project which will only benefit Pakistan will bring
an environmental disaster to citizens of Districts Muzaffarabad and Neelam. I
was strongly criticised for speaking about this exploitation. One citizen of
Muzaffarabad had 2 visits from the secret agencies who told him to shut up or
face consequences.
According to a report of Daily Times, Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning
and WAPDA were not interested in environmental assessment of this project. The
report further says:
‘The Azad Jammu & Kashmir government has told the federal government
several times that the clauses in the agreement must be implemented, yet the
Ministry of Planning and WAPDA did not pay heed to the environmental impact of
the project. The documentary evidence that was revealed to the Daily Times
showed that it was necessary to obtain the final approval from the
Environmental Agency of the AJK government for the project. The use of earth
moving machinery being used for the project is also producing large scale
pollution in the area; severely affecting the natural greenery. In this regard,
the Ministry of Environmental Change has also expressed its apprehension on the
standard of the machinery being used on the project’. 3
Readers may be interested to know that this Project was approved on
December 31, 1989 by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council
(ECNEC); and should have been completed many years ago, but due to
mismanagement it is still not completed.
Every house hold of POJK has to pay around Rs 20 per month for the
construction of this Project, even though all 969 MW electricity will go to
Pakistan; and we will only pick up environmental problems. Also readers should
know that the original PC-1of this Project put
cost of the project at Rs18 billion. During the Musharaf era, the ECNEC
revised the PC-1 in 2002 and the cost increased from Rs18 billion to Rs84
billion with a new completion date of 2008. In July 2013, ECNEC revised the
PC-1again the cost dramatically increased from Rs84 billion to Rs274 billion.
In March 2015, the PC1 was once again revised and the cost increased to Rs 414
billion. Farrukh Saleem, a Pakistani economist writes:
‘We started from Rs18 billion and have so far spent around Rs500 billion
and the project is yet not complete...There are other projects like the
Nandipur Power Project and the new Islamabad Airport. To be certain, not all of
it is corruption. The Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project is a 28-year long
story of gross incompetence and rampant corruption. And that, unfortunately, is
also the story of Pakistan’. 4
CPEC and Gilgit Baltistan
As stated at the start, I support Pakistan’s right
to development; but question is do they support my right to development and my
right to life? They can call me selfish, anti Pakistan, anti Islam, agent of
India, agent of America, agent of Britain, agent of Israel, agent of Iran,
agent of Afghanistan or whoever else; however, they should not expect
unconditional support and loyalty from me.
My unconditional loyalty is only to my family, my
village, my district and my State of Jammu and Kashmir; for everyone else it
has to be reciprocated. If Pakistani people and the ruling elite don’t accept
my right to life and my right to development; they must not expect any support
from me or from any other loyal son of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Copenhagen Declaration of the World Summit on
Social Development says, ‘There must be transparency in the development
process based upon freedom of information and right to know’. In Pakistan
and especially in the areas occupied by Pakistan good governance and
transparency is extremely bad; and people are denied of their fundamental
rights.
Pakistan has no direct land access with China. From
the Chinese territory, the CPEC first enters territory of Gilgit Baltistan,
legally not part of Pakistan; and runs through this disputed and volatile
region before it enters Pakistan. Without control or occupation of these areas,
Pakistan could not have the CPEC.
Pakistanis claim the CPEC is their life line and it
is a game changer, but how sad that fate of people of Gilgit Baltistan will not
change, even with the CPEC. Islamabad’s appointed puppet government do not know
details of the CPEC. At no time they were consulted or even properly informed
what was going on in name of the CPEC. All the signs are that it is going to
get worse for them, as the rulers of Pakistan in order to show they have total
control of these areas and there is no danger to the Chinese investment, are
going to be even more harsh and oppressive.
Instead of taking people of Gilgit Baltistan on
board or giving some benefits to the impoverished people who have been
suffering under the Pakistani occupation and oppression since 1947, Pakistani
governments are setting up more army camps and centres for secret agencies.
Army and secret agencies do not set up their camps and centres to promote human
rights issues and empower the local people. Their main task is to oppress and
intimidate local people that they do not speak out against Pakistani rule and
the CPEC which will further strengthen the hold of Pakistan and China.
The Chinese have little concern about human rights
issues. They don’t even care much about plight of their own people. Their
priority is economic, military and strategic objectives and not how Pakistan
treats their own people or people of Gilgit Baltistan, as long as there is no
serious law and order situation which can endanger the CPEC.
Due to the CPEC and its hidden agenda the region of
Gilgit Baltistan has once again become centre of international attention. On
one hand there is China and Pakistan and those who support the CPEC; and on the
other hand are those who oppose the CPEC. Those who oppose the CPEC fall in to
two categories:
1/ those who believe that the CPEC and Gwadar will
endanger their economic interests;
2/ those who
strongly believe that the CPEC is not just an economic project, because it has
a big hidden agenda?
The hidden agenda also has more than one dimension.
A/ Encirclement of India;
B/ Strategic agenda;
C/ Control of Arabian Sea;
D/ Influence and dominance of the Indian Ocean;
E/ To counter the American threat in the South
China Sea, create an alternative route for China in case of trouble in South
China Sea;
F/ Block the supply of goods by blocking or disrupting
maritime traffic from and to the Persian Gulf.
CPEC blessing or curse for
Gilgit Baltistan
Because of the above very important factors the
CPEC is perceived as a threat by many countries, which include India, Iran,
Gulf States, America, Australia, Japan, Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore
and many other.
Those who
believe that the CPEC has great hidden agenda have two options: Don’t do
anything and sit idle and let China complete the CPEC and strengthen its
position in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean; or act now and make it
difficult for China to accomplish its agenda. If they decide to challenge China
and Pakistan, it clearly means Gilgit Baltistan can also become a battleground
for the competing forces and their secret agencies.
The CPEC
route runs through rugged mountains and is inhabited by tribes which have
serious issues with Islamabad. The growing Chinese power and influence could be
checked and brought to control under mountains of Gilgit Baltistan or
Balochistan. If this option is taken by the powers that be, then it means more
trouble and suffering for the people of Gilgit Baltistan and Balochistan as
that could be the other battleground.
The
people and area of Gilgit Baltistan are among the most unfortunate. Even in 21st
Century they are deprived of their fundamental rights; those rights which are
taken for granted in many countries. There is even great level of confusion
about identity and legal status of these people and the territory they inhabit.
At the
time of Partition of the British India these areas were part of the Princely
State of Jammu and Kashmir. The UN Security Council Resolutions were also
applicable to these areas. However, people of these areas claim they are not
Kashmiris, but they are part of the Kashmir dispute. They still want protection
under State Subject Ordinance, which does not allow non Jammu and Kashmir
citizens to buy any land in the territory ruled by the Maharaja of Jammu and
Kashmir. In other words, they don’t want people of Pakistan or China to buy or
lease any part of Gilgit Baltistan.
In one
sense their claim is correct. They are ethnically not Kashmiris; just like
people of Jammu don’t like to be called Kashmiris as they are proud of Jammu’s
rich history and culture, and like to be called Jammuites. They also say they
are not Kashmiris, but they are part of the Kashmir dispute.
Anyway,
Gilgit Baltistan is legally not part of Pakistan, but it is ruled by Pakistan
with an iron fist. As far as power and privileges are concerned they are far
below the system or a kind of government given to people of Pakistani Occupied
Jammu and Kashmir, known as Azad Kashmir. They are not part of Pakistan but
Pakistan appoints a Governor there. In POJK, we have a dummy Prime Minister,
they have a Chief Minister.
Because
Gilgit Baltistan was legally or administratively not part of Pakistan, or
administratively part of so called Azad Kashmir or Jammu and Kashmir, it was
neglected and people suffered immensely since 1947. As far as America and the
West were concerned they also supported Pakistan on the issue of Jammu and
Kashmir, because Pakistan was part of their ‘team’ in the Cold War.
Now that
a new round of the Great Game has started; and different stakeholders are busy
jockeying for positions and concluding new alliances, it is possible that role
and position of America may change with regard to Gilgit Baltistan and the
region. The CPEC and the inherent hidden agenda clearly does not suit interests
of America, India, Japan, Iran, the Gulf States and many other countries of the
West; and that may change the balance in favour of the people of Gilgit
Baltistan.
Largely
thanks to Pakistan, people of the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir State have
only two options, namely join Pakistan or join India. Sadly, Pakistan and their
proxies called this a right of self determination. The UN Security Council
Resolution of 13 August 1948 demanded Pakistan to withdraw their troops from
the areas of the Jammu and Kashmir State under their control that India could
also withdraw ‘bulk’ of their troops and arrange a plebiscite. Since Pakistan
refused to withdraw as demanded by the UNCIP Resolution, no progress was made
with regard to demilitarisation and a plebiscite.
It is possible that in the fast changing geo
political situation, an initiative could be taken to empower people of Gilgit
Baltistan, and ascertain status of these areas. No doubt China desperately
needs to complete the CPEC. Gilgit Baltistan is a gateway to the CPEC. Just
like peace and political stability in Balochistan is must for the success of
the CPEC; similarly peace in Gilgit Baltistan is must for the success of the
CPEC, because this is the entry point and Balochistan is the end point.
On one
hand China desperately want to complete the CPEC as it is important for their
economic, defence and strategic objectives; on the other hand they are not very
comfortable with the present legal status of Gilgit Baltistan. In the past
Dixon Plan – a proposal for a regional plebiscite was rejected. In future,
there could be some great powers who want to advance the cause of a regional
plebiscite. This kind of regional plebiscite may not serve the cause of united
and independent Jammu and Kashmir; however, this may empower people of Gilgit
Baltistan and throw a spanner to hold progress of the CPEC.
Panos
Mourdoukoutas, writes in Forbes: ‘China desperately needs the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor. Its part of that nation’s vision to write the
rules of the next stage of globalization and help its export and investment
engines grow for years to come... He says that ‘China has to either appease India or “forget” about
the CPEC project’. 5
Question is will India go
to war with China and Pakistan over the CPEC? The article further says: “If
pro-Indian forces in Pakistan sabotage China’s CPEC route,” China should expect
an open confrontation against India, because that raises the possibility
of an open confrontation between China and Pakistan on the one side, and India
and its allies on the other. 6
On
one hand Pakistan oppress and exploit people of Gilgit Baltistan; and on the
other hand do not let people even complain that they are occupied or oppressed.
Pakistan's Minister for Planning, Reforms
and Development, Ahsan Iqbal said: ‘those protesting against the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will be charged under
anti-terrorism laws’. This means, any person speaking against the CPEC or
holding protests can face sedition charges. One citizen of Gilgit Baltistan
said:
‘If we complain we face allegations and seditions
charges; if we remain quiet, it means we let the occupiers and oppressors
exploit us’.
Abdul
Hamid Khan, Chairman of Balawaristan National Front said both China and
Pakistan are violating UN Security Council Resolutions because they plunder
‘all the natural resources, including mines (Uranium and Gold etc.), forest and
water resources and land have been snatched from the people by force and given
to Pakistani citizens, Pakistani Army, ISI and Chinese’. He further said:
‘Instead
of initiating an immediate withdrawal of its citizens and forces, Pakistan has
settled its citizens and multiplied its military personnel in the region by
thousands of times more...‘there is no
freedom of speech, right to peaceful political assembly, right to free travel
and political activities.......Nationalist political parties, which do not
follow the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) guidelines are not allowed to
perform political activities. Issuing death threats and intimidation to
politically-affiliated human rights activists in the region has become a daily
routine of the Pakistani occupation regime’. 7
BNF
Chairman is of the view that Pakistan is ‘hatching a conspiracy to sell out the
whole Gilgit-Baltistan to China under the pretext of the CPEC. This is clear
violation of the UN Security Council Resolutions; and further violation is
Pakistan’s attempt to change the State Subject Ordinance and settle loyal
Punjabis in Gilgit Baltistan who can help Islamabad to control this region.
Pakistan government has planned to establish
more than 29 special economic zones, and many projects. The local people have clear
resentment against the rule of Islamabad; and their system of exploitation
oppression. A non political forum called Awami Action Committee also expressed
serious concerns about the CPEC as there was nothing there for the people of Gilgit
Baltistan. While addressing a rally in Gilgit, Sultan Rais, Chairman of the
Awami Action Committee said, ‘The CPEC will pass through 600 kilometres area of
Gilgit-Baltistan but it is unfortunate that they are not getting even a single
industrial zone or any development project.
CPEC and Balochistan
Gwadar is now
presented as life line to Pakistan, but not many people know that Gwadar was
not part of Pakistan until 8 December 1958. Legally this territory was part of
the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman; and Pakistani Prime Minister Feroz Khan Noon
bought it for 3 million dollars.
Situation in
Balochistan compared to Gilgit Baltistan is much worse. Many years before the
inauguration of the CPEC, there was an armed struggle going on against Islamabad.
It is not coincidence that current militancy or ‘freedom struggle’, as the
Baloch rebels call it is the fifth one since 1947. In other words this is the
fifth time the Centre has attacked Balochistan and people have taken arms
against them.
The
Pakistani media is India centric, they specialise in highlighting events that
put India in bad light; but they ignore what goes on in Balochistan and in
Gilgit Baltistan. Activists of Balochistan Republican Party rejected China’s
interference in Balochistan and said Islamabad wants to build the CPEC ‘on
the dead bodies of Baloch people with Beijing’s help....The activists say that
CPEC was causing damage to the environment and would not benefit the people of
the region instead Balochistan’s abundant resources were being diverted for the
benefit of Pakistan’s most populous province Punjab’. 8
The
BRP activists further said: “We have seen that Pakistani media greatly aired
news about the death of Burhan Wani (Hizbul Mujahideen militant). Similarly, we
want the Indian media to take Balochistan issue and expose the atrocities done
by the Pakistan Army on the people of Balochistan before the world....The
activist highlighted that those who have raised their voice on the Balochistan
issue were crushed by the army. So far, thousands of party activists have been
killed by the Pakistani intelligence agencies’. 9
Conclusion
Despite
the rangers operation in Karachi, we all know there is no peace and stability
there, but the situation of interior Sindh is not much known. There are groups
and parties who have strong reservations against the CPEC in Sindh and KPK.
With
a caption of, ‘Sindh says big NO to Anti-Sindh CPEC & State Torture’,
JSMM issued a statement on 20 February 2017, which strongly condemned:
‘A
brutal crackdown on the secular Sindhi nationalist activists related to
Sindhudesh Movement. Tens of Hundreds of the houses were raided, women and
children were beaten....Activists and their relatives were abducted detained
and tortured.’
JSMM
called for a strike against the CPEC, but the authorities were ruthless and
threatened trade unions, transporters and shop keepers to keep away from it or
face the worst consequences. Despite the threats people observed a peaceful
strike by closing down shops.
In a
statement issued to press JSMM Chairman Shari Muhammad Burfat ‘thanked the
Sindhi nation for their response to the call of the strike against CPEC despite
all the brutal crackdown, brutalities and harassment tactics’.
He further
said, "the Sindhi nation has unanimously rejected CPEC and slavery of
Punjab, it has stood firm & courageous against the monstrous Pakistani
forces, their harassment tactics, abductions, torture, flag marches, propaganda
in these moments of fear, danger & evil, being weaker and empty handed it
has defeated enemy's wishes and has stated its will of defiance & civil
disobedience with courage and bravery. Sindhis as a nation have proved that
Nations could never be defeated by use of force & torture until they don't
submit their will. I have seen anger & will of Sindhi nation for their
freedom in their eyes today, and this has given me hope, that we will surely
defeat enemies of Sindhi nation and snatch our freedom."
He appealed to ‘International community, United Nations, USA, EU, Germany, England, France, Russia, India, Israel and all the civilized nations of the world to take serious notice of Sindh's rejection to CPEC that it demonstrated against CPEC, which he sees as Chinese military-strategic aggression over the Indian Ocean and existential threat to the historic secular natural Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtun, Gilgit-Baltistan, Uyghur nations & genocidal plan which will totally cleanse these nations from the globe of the Earth’.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Article 13. 1 says:
‘Everyone
has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each
state’;
and article
19 says:
‘Everyone
has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom
to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers’.
You
can call me selfish, irrational, anti Pakistan, anti Ummah or anti whatever, fundamental
rights of citizens of Jammu and Kashmir State will always be my top priority;
and everything else is secondary. If as a result of the CPEC of or issues
related to the CPEC – for example, in pursuit of China’s grand economic,
strategic and military objectives our fundamental rights are curbed, as far as
I am concerned the CPEC can go to hell.
If
the CPEC is designed to make my occupiers stronger, more aggressive, more
oppressive, more domineering, more despotic, more unaccountable, more
intimidating, more unapproachable, more unjust then why on earth I should
support the CPEC; and make myself more vulnerable and endanger our future and
future of our generations.
However,
on the other, if the CPEC is pro people, pro peace and stability; and promotes
our fundamental rights, including a right to development, a right to assemble,
a right to hold an opinion and express it, then I cannot see any reason to
oppose it.
Writer is a political analyst, TV anchor and author of many
books and booklets. Also he is Chairman South Asia Watch and Director Institute
of Kashmir Affairs. Email:drshabirchoudhr
References
1.
Preamble Declaration on Right to Development.
2.
The Right to Development, page 119
6. Ibid
9. Ibid
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