Begar - forced labour, human shields

Greater Kashmir June 4, 2010
http://greaterkashmir.com/ShowStory.asp?NewsID=16&CategoryID=11


Delhi must apologize
DIGNITY ASSAULTED
Er S A Rasheed recounts the horror he and his people have suffered at the hands of men in uniform
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Today when I recall the bitter memories of those days when I along with my villagers had to get up at 4 in the night with kerosene lanterns in our trembling hands to perform the most terrible, inhuman, unjustified and humiliating forced labour (called Begaer in Urdu and Kashmiri) for the army, I shiver. Known locally as “convoy duty” (as we were supposed to provide protection to army convoys), this is the most dreaded form of “national service” being taken from the hapless inhabitants of my area. It was not primarily the forced labour which army forced the villagers into, but people had to face torture, humiliation and a lurking threat of getting killed or maimed. Since army men feared militant attacks, hence we civilians on “convoy duty” were used as human shield. Those villagers who used to be on “convoy duty” on their turn, had to do all sorts of manual labour the whole day, from cutting firewood to washing their clothes and utensils of course without any remuneration. From each hamlet of Mawer area, (a mountainous area comprising of around fifty villages), a group of four or more civilians, depending on the population of village had to reach the main road, assemble at a spot identified by the troops and with the kerosene lantern in their hands had to wait for the army jawans to come. Once the army would reach near the group, civilians had to jump like monkeys to give satisfaction to army that they are not suicide bombers and then army people would come closer and conduct our body searches to ensure that they do not carry bombs. After this process the group of civilians had to start their duty, by taking long sticks in their hands to search the road and its peripheries for any landmines or IED planted by the militants. This search by civilians continued to the next locality where another group of villagers waited to take the “charge” and the process continued till last village of Mawer area.

After performing this hazardous “duty” which normally took two hours, the said group of people had to surrender their identity cards at the nearest army checkpoint which were located at villages of Qalamabad, Maratgam, Choutipora, Langate & Haril. During this tormenting forced labour for the army, it would depend on ones good luck or the mood of the army jawans and the intention of the militants to ensure that how safe villagers remain throughout the day of their tormenting “duty.”

After depositing the identity cards at the army checkpoints at daybreak, the villagers had to report at various posts, camps or at other spots of the area, where army would need their “services.” The villagers were required to construct bunkers, get illicit timber from forests, gather firewood, wash their clothes and clean their kitchens, construct roads for installations and do everything whatever was ordered by the army personnel. However, for maximum time of the day we had to be around the jawans’ bunkers to protect them from attacks from the militants. It was only in the evening that we were returned our identity cards and allowed to go back home.

Skilled laboureres like carpenters, masons, timber sawyers had to work in the army camps regularly without any remuneration. Buses, mini-buses, trucks and even personal vehicles had to be kept available for army whenever they needed them for various purposes.

“Begaer” is the horror that still sends shivers down our spine. And no inhabitant was immune to this barbarity of the men in uniform. Everyday 4 to 5 households from each hamlet would send one member from their family for the day’s “convoy duty.” This was done on a rotational basis. However, whenever army would require additional men for any service, from using them for human shield during encounters with militants to do manual jobs at their camps, they would pick up anybody irrespective of his age and job. If someone was the only male member of his family or a government servant he still had to go for the army duty at all costs. If one would offer a handsome amount to anybody to go for the “duty”, but nobody agreed for this given the humiliation and threat to life.

Like any other villager, I had to perform this begaer as my father was a retired teacher and brother was a student. Hence I had to take this duty for army all these years. Sounds unbelievable, but it is a fact that those houses which were located on roadside were occupied by the army during night time. Army would come and bundle inmates in one or two rooms during the evening time. Family members including children were ordered not to make a sound and they would occupy the remaining house and keep inmates hostage till the morning. This was done to check the moment of the militants during nights. My own house was used for this kind of operation on dozens of occasions. These practices continued from Jan 1990 to 3 February, 2003. It only ended when I along with few youths took the battle to roads when an innocent youth Shabir Ahmad Pir of Shirhama village was killed in custody by 30 Rashtriya Rifles on 3rd February, 2003. People staged a huge protest demonstration and inhabitants of whole Mawer area decided not to do the humiliating “convoy duty” for the army. Though we couldn’t give justice to Pir’s family but under tremendous resistance from the villagers, army and civil authorities declared an end to the dark era of forced labour. For the traumatized villagers, this was no less than freedom.

It was a great day for we the wretched villagers but I had to pay for it. I was expelled out of my home by my parents as they were angry for me taking frequent tussles with the army over their excesses against civilians. I had been earlier expelled by my parents on the same reason, for they feared that army will take revenge from the whole family for their son’s “waywardness.” This was my third expulsion and lasted four and a half months. I had to pay a bigger cost for being the rebel as I was jailed in November 2005 by police who accused me for having sympathy for militants. Even after my release I was being harassed for different reasons. I finally decided to resign from my engineering service and contested 2008 assembly elections as an independent candidate and got through inspite of opposition from various quarters and forces. The primary reason for participating in elections was very simple. I was of the firm faith that it is the only civilized and democratic way to expose the atrocities faced by the Kashmiri people at the hands of security forces, renegades and militants. I after getting elected to state legislative assembly filed some 24 cases before State Human Rights Commission on 10th Dec 2009 on the eve of International Human Rights Day, seeking justice for innocent killings by army, police, renegades and militants. One of the cases was regarding the forced labour which we had to endue for years and I sought compensation for 13 years forced labour, for myself and my people.

It is my firm faith that we must not have double standards. We must respect human right irrespective of religion, class or caste. A violator is a violator weather he is in uniform claiming to fight for the security of country or a militant claiming to be fighting for Azadi. Government claims that militants are terrorists, without a religion, outlaws and have no respect for humanity. If it is assumed to be true then atrocities committed by militants are nothing new and one should not be surprised as their acts should be seen in light of this definition by government. However, when we define security forces, that they are obviously supposed to protect life, property, honour and dignity of the citizens of the country irrespective of their cast, region, religion or political affiliation. Security forces are bound by law of the land hence there should be a difference between them and the militants.

My intention is never to embarrass the security establishment of the country, but I deem it my duty to make my countrymen understand that nobody is above the law that is why I as an MLA had registered the case against the forced labour and I am seeking Prime Minister’s intervention to get myself and my people compensated for the barbarity we have faced. Let PM apologize on behalf of State that he is grieved because his own people were subjected to forced labour and other inhuman acts for 13 years.

If the Government of India is sincere in its claims of reconciliation and bringing Kashmiris closer to country’s mainstream, then there should be public dislike and abhorrence for the humiliation Kashmiris have suffered. And apologizing the people of Mawer will be beginning for that humane approach of Delhi.

Confidence, self respect, dignity and honour of Kashmiris – this all is to be restored and compensating inhabitants of Mawar and its adjoining areas will be a step forward in the process. Now when the CID has established (vide their letter No. CID/HR/SHRC/18/2010 Dt: 23/03/2010) that my complaint regarding forced labour is true, let government compensate and tender an unconditional apology. This will be a encouraging message for the Kashmiris. And it will deter potential criminals from going ahead with their designs.

(Er S A Rasheed is MLA Langate North Kashmir, Ideas expressed are his own)