This message for the expatriate Kashmiris, campaigning for the right of self-determination for Jammu-Kashmir and their supporters and sympathisers, was smuggled out from Sringar's central jail, where JKLF's chairman Yasin Malik and his senior colleagues were held for the 5th time in a year on 4th November 1997. Yasin Malik was released from prison on 23rd December, 1997 but re-arrested on 25th February, 1998 by the puppet State authorities for leading a campaign against 'elections' at gunpoint.
He was detained again in mid 1999 along with his colleague Shakeel Bakhshi.
On 4th October 1999, when rest of India was busy 'electioneering' this son of Kashmir along with his other colleagues including Javid Mir were re-arrested and sent to Johdpur jail in Rajistan.
Their only crime was to use their democratic right to appeal to their people not to participate in India's 'election farce'. As a result in some areas up to 95% of Kashmiri population boycotted the Indian elections.
YASIN MALIK IN HIS EARLY THIRTIES WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON ON 4TH MAY, 2000. HE HAS SPENT OVER 7 YEARS BEHIND BARS IN THE SO-CALLED BIGGEST DEMOCRACY IN THE WORLD FOR FIGHTING AGAINST INJUSTICE, CRUELITY AND FOR RIGHT OF SELF-DETERMINATION.
Mr Malik extends his greetings to Pandit, Sikh and Buddhist communities living abroad.
(The original text of the message below was written in Urdu).
My dear brothers and sisters
As the free world where you live prepares to celebrate the season's festivities and celebrates the NEW YEAR, I know that many of you will be putting off all celebrations since we in Kashmir cannot find anything to celebrate.
I want to tell you that do not despair. One day, when our motherland is free from foreign occupation, we will celebrate all seasons with fullest joy until then we must all make little sacrifices to make the dream of our many thousands of martyrs' become true.
I know that most of you will be worried about the plight of many of our brothers and some sisters in Indian prisons and about my frequent detentions this year but I want to tell you that we are all soldiers of a freedom movement which requires much more than a few months or few years in prisons. Our leader Maqbool Butt (Shaheed) not only gave his life for the cause of Kashmir but taught us to sacrifice our today for the sake of our children tomorrow.
Please prey for us so that the almighty Allah gives us the strength to carry on with our movement until we win independence for our motherland.
Meanwhile, I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Ramzan Mubarak and forthcoming Eid Mubarak to you and to your families and friends.
Signed
Your brother
Mohammed Yasin Malik
(Date withheld)
