Thousands of Kashmiris linked hands to
form a 56-km (35-mile) ’’human chain'' on Friday to protest Indian rule
over most of their disputed Himalayan region, witnesses said.


"We will snatch freedom,'' ’’freedom is our right,'' ’’why should we not
get freedom,'' the protesters chanted as they formed the line from
Muzaffarabad, capital of Pakistan-ruled Azad (Free) Kashmir, to the
Chakothi border point with Indian-ruled [Occupied Kashmir].


The demonstration, organised by the Kashmir Solidarity Forum, an
alliance of 12 political groups in Pakistani Kashmir, was held on the
52nd anniversary of the ratification of the United Nations charter to
attract world attention to the dispute. The Forum said earlier this week
that an All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference, an umbrella
organisation of some 30 political and religious groups, would organise a
similar human chain from Indian Kashmir's summer capital of Srinagar to
the military control line with Pakistani Kashmir.


"We have done this because we are angry with the United Nations for not
getting its resolutions (for plebiscite) implemented,'' said resident
Ibrar Jilani. The Forum, whose "human chain" plan is backed by all major
Pakistani political parties, wants a U.N.-organised plebiscite in
Kashmir to decide its future. New Delhi rejects this, saying all of
predominantly Muslim Kashmir is part of Hindu-majority India.


Four pro-independence Kashmiri groups were to march in Muzaffarabad
later on Friday in a separate demonstration. Since 1990, an estimated
20,000 people have died in incidents linked to the separatist rebellion
in Indian Kashmir, which New Delhi says Pakistan backs. Pakistan denies
this and says it gives the militants only moral and political support.


[Source: Pakistan News Service (PNS) Newsletter: Vol. 13 No.M27-SP-KASH]