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c u l t u r e i n t e r n a t i o n a l

A t r u e h u m a n r i g h t s d e f e n d e r !

Interview with Barrister
A Majid Tramboo

Director and Permanent Representative to the United Nations of International
Human Rights Association of American Minorities (IHRAAM) – an International
NGO in a Consultative Status with the United Nations

You have probably seen his face in the withdrew, but they still managed to
Palais des Nations many times. Barrister free one part of Kashmir, so, now
Majid Tramboo is not a newcomer there is Indian-held Kashmir and
in Geneva, for he is among those Pakistan-administrated Kashmir
numerous human rights defenders known as Azad Kashmir.
who come to Geneva several times a
year to participate in the sessions of Q: What is Kashmir? Is it a territory
the Human Rights Council. Barrister with recognized boundaries or only
Tramboo is fighting for human rights a region, is there a Kashmiri ethnic
all over the world through his NGO, group?
but the case of Kashmir, this famous Kashmiri is one who holds a state
state between India and Pakistan, has a subject of the state. There is not a
special place in his heart. As you surely particular ethnic group as such. The
know, throughout history, Kashmir majority of the population is Muslims,
has always been important owing to but there are also Christians living
its geographical location in the midst IHRAAM there together with other religious
of India, Pakistan and China. We had groups. In Kashmir, there are many
a chance to meet Barrister Tramboo, during his most recent churches – both Catholic and Protestant. Then, there are
visit to the City of Calvin. Now we will leave the floor to Hindu Pandits, who are living there. Unfortunately, in the
Barrister Tramboo: early 1990s, the puppet governor installed by India tried to
drive away the Pandits from the state, spreading fear among
Q: Barrister Tramboo, why are you here today? them of being exterminated. However, this was wholly false,
I have been coming here regularly for almost 30 years, attending and the majority of Kashmiri Pandits still live in Kashmir.
practically every session of what used to be the Human Rights There is a Sikh community in Kashmir as well. All of these
Commission and the Sub-Commission and now the Human form together the Kashmiri community.
Rights Council. The main purpose of my visit is defending
human rights around the globe, which is the objective of my Q: Do you have a special language?
organisation, the International Human Rights Association of We have various languages, but the majority-spoken language
American Minorities (IHRAAM). As I am a Kashmiri from is Kashmiri. We have what we call the Dogri and Gojri language
Indian-held Kashmir, it goes without saying that I have a with other languages, but the majority speak Kashmiri, which
particular concern about, and a particular interest in, defending is close to Urdu, and somewhat close to Persian, using the
the human rights of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Arabic alphabet.

Q: Please correct me if I am wrong. Isn’t the Kashmir issue is Q: How many people live in Indian Kashmir?
a conflict that has been going on since India and Pakistan got About 14 million people.
their independence in 1947?
Yes. On 14 August 1947, Pakistan got its independence, on 15 Q: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
August 1947, India got its independence, and we were in the came out with a Report about Kashmir recently. It was quite
middle. Unfortunately, the Indian government on or around a novelty in fact. Were you satisfied with the Report?
th
27 October 1947 invaded Kashmir sending troops in with Indeed, this is a novel Report. A lot of work has gone into the
airplanes to our capital, Srinagar. That is how the occupation subject over the years. Practically all the mandates of the Office
began. There was a sort of battle between the Kashmiri of the High Commissioner together with Special Rapporteurs
resistance forces and the Indian army. Obviously, the Indian have been involved over the years. They exemplified all the
army was backed by the British generals, the resistance forces gross human rights violations that are perpetrated in Indian-

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