Q&A with Mr. Muneer Malik on Gwangju Prize

How does it feel to be awarded the 2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights?

Deeply humbled. It is a great honour to have been awarded the prize although deep down inside I believe that it belongs to the lawyers of Pakistan.


What does the award mean to you? What do you think of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights? What is its significance in promoting peace, democracy and human rights?

Personally, for me it will be one of my most cherished achievements. The Gwangju Prize links the historic events of May 18th 1980 to democratic movements around the world- it serves at least two purposes- first, it reminds other democratic movements of the sacrifices of the citizens of Gwangju and second, it encourages other movements to emulate them. Peace, democracy and human rights are indivisible concepts and the benefits are shared by the entire humanity. The Prize demonstrates that the people of Gwangju deeply care about democratic movements around the world.


Why do you think you were chosen?

I believe that it was not me who was chosen but the lawyers of Pakistan for a struggle that has no parallel in the 60 year history of Pakistan.


What are your works, programs and activities? Tell us what you have done in the past and are doing now.

I am presently in the process of writing a book on the lawyers’ movement. I am practicing law and still actively engaged in the movement for restoration of the judges who were deposed in November 2007 in consequence of the proclamation of Emergency. Since the last 25 years that I have been actively involved in one form or the other in the human rights movement in Pakistan.


What of your least known works would you want others to know about you?

I am engaged in doing charitable work and am managing a charitable trust set up by the Malik Family. This trust provides scholarships to needy students in Pakistan.


How will the Gwangju Prize advance and promote your work?

I intend to use the Prize to set up a foundation to “Save the Constitution and promote Democracy”. It will make my work more credible.


As winner of the Gwangju Prize do you have ideas or plans for which the Gwangju Prize could be promoted? What role could you play to promote it?

I would like to work with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan- of which I am a founder member- to make human rights activists more aware about the Prize and the 18th May movement so that activists are encouraged to work harder in their field with a view to being nominated for if not winning the Prize.


If given a chance to lead past winners of Gwangju Prize what activities or issues should be addressed? Or do you think there’s a need for the past winners to band together for common cause or causes?

I believe in collective leadership. I would welcome the opportunity to interact with previous Prize winners and to explore the common causes that we would effectively work together on. Ideally I would like previous Prize winners to issue joint statements on various issues and events as a means of mobilizing international public opinion.


What do you think of the current democracy, peace and human rights situation in Asia? What should be done to keep and sustain a more democratic, peaceful and human rights respectful Asia?

The situation is Asia is far from desirable. We see an increasing tendency towards authoritarian rule, abuse of human rights, lack of access to justice, increasing poverty and inequality. These are issues that we need to mobilize public opinion on.


What would you like to say to the May 18 Memorial Foundation and the citizens of Gwangju for giving you this award? Any final words?

The lawyers of Pakistan salute the indomitable will and commitment of the citizens of Gwangju to the principles of democracy, peace and human rights. The courage of the May 18th martyrs shall inspire men and women who yearn to be free for generations to come. I thank the citizens of Gwangju and the Memorial Foundation for empathizing with the Pakistan Lawyers’ Movement, the main aim of which is to build a society based on true justice for all under the principle of equality.

Citation of the 2008 Gwangju Prize Committee on Muneer Malik

Statement on the Decision on the
2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
Award Winner Muneer Malik

Pakistan, which has the sixth largest population in the world, became independent from England in 1947. Religious differences and conflict led to the separation of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and other current states in the continent.

Against this backdrop, the domestic political status of modern Pakistan is far from stable. The present Pakistani President Musharraf, who has total political control, seized power in October 12, 1999 through a military coup d'etat, ousting the popularly elected former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Since then, the military authorities have been in command of all political, social, and economic matters. The recent series of political events lead to negative forecasts on the state of democracy and human rights situation in Pakistan.

A former leader of the Pakistani Supreme Court Bar Association, Mr. Muneer A. Malik, was born in 1950 and became a lawyer in 1975. After becoming appointed as the secretary general for a local lawyers' association in the 1980s, he played a leading role in the popular movements that called for the restoration of democracy, in opposition to the dictatorship of General Zia ul Haq. This resulted in Mr. Malik imprisonment on charges of engaging in anti-government activities in 1981.

Mr. Malik worked as a human rights lawyer to improve human rights and restore democracy in Pakistan. In 2007, he took a leading role in fighting against the attempt made by President Musharraf to oust the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in order to protect human rights and the independence of the judiciary. When the fight continued for the restoration of rights and the independence of the Pakistani judiciary, he did not give in to suppression, assassination attempts and the closedown of his office. His health deteriorated from alleged food poisoning that he was released from prison to become hospitalized. He had to endure all those difficult times in prison and even after his release. He did not give up. As soon as he regained his health and freedom, he has been continuously fighting for the freedom of the media and the independence of the judiciary.

(foto source: http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/004871.html)

The 2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee chose the Pakistani human rights lawyer Muneer A. Malik for this year's award winner. It was the judgment of the jury that the political and social situation of Pakistan today, which Mr. Malik is fighting against, is quite similar to Korea's past, when the people had to endure a period of military dictatorship. The fight by Mr. Muneer A. Malik for the restoration of democracy and human rights is the kind of spirit that Koreans should remember at all times. The 2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee would like to send message of encouragement to all the citizens, human rights activists and lawyers in Pakistan, who are fighting all together with Muneer A. Malik.

The 2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Prize Committee

Committee Chairman:
Mr. Noh Young Min
Korean National Assembly

Committee Members:
Mr. Kim, Chil-Jun
Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission,

Mr. Lee, Gwang-Ho
Director of the Pusan Democratic Movement Memorial Association

Mr. Moon, Guk-Joo
Executive Director
Korea Democracy Foundation

Mr. Yun, Gwang-Jang
Chairman of the Board of The May 18 Memorial Foundation

April 17, 2008
Gwangju, Republic of Korea

Links on Muneer Malik Awardee of the 2008 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights

1) Newspaper

http://www.nationmultimedia.com
http://twurl.nl/vr2fia


http://www.koreatimes.co.kr
http://twurl.nl/0oh6hp

2) Pakistani Bloggers

http://www.zibb.com
http://twurl.nl/jf15rv

http://www.teeth.com.pk/blog
http://twurl.nl/f433r0

http://karachi.metblogs.com
http://twurl.nl/2hn44u

http://brpbhaskar.blogspot.com
http://twurl.nl/thfpny

http://www.sepiamutiny.com
http://twurl.nl/ddwc44