UNITED KINGDOM: Leaders and activist of Baloch Community in London strong condemned the pro Taliban Pakistan’s intelligence and their agents for attacking Baloch girls with acids second time in the gap of a week. They said splashing acids on innocent children was against human values and no decent human being can even think of committing such unimaginable crimes. Baloch Community in London was shocked and petrified by such inhuman acts of the state intelligence agencies. They said it was a failed attempt by the state intelligence agencies and their agents to defame the secular movement of Baloch people; it is an attempt to mislead the world about Baloch struggle that the Baloch are committing Taliban style crime.
Baloch Community in London want to inform the world communities and all freeborn people that Pakistan has used all inhuman, brutal and extreme methods to crush Baloch freedom struggle but it failed. Our leaders have been killed, our children have been brutally murdered though aerial bombardment, our activists have been arrested and tortured for crime they did not commit but all such attempts have failed to stop the way of Baloch independence movement for a free, democratic and united Balochistan. Now the defeated and humiliated Pakistani intelligence are resorting to extreme violence against Baloch children as their last but failed endeavour to deter Baloch struggle.
The Baloch Community in London also strongly condemned the Balochistan provincial government for its failure to stop such heinous crime from happening. They said it was obvious that the provincial government of Balochistan is not able to stop the police, FC and Intelligence mafia from committing atrocities in Balochistan. Pakistan’s so called departments to stop crimes and justice institutions are also unable to direct the arrest of such savage criminals and punish them according to law, they alleged.
They said that “we demand from all concerned parties to arrest and punish these elements as they have committed atrocious and inconceivable crimes”. They also stressed on Baloch political parties, students’ Organisations and the Baloch nation as whole to unite and galvanise the Balochistan freedom movement and prepare for the challenges ahead. They said free, democratic, and united Balochistan was the only solution and revenge from the fundamental and extremist establishment of Pakistan for continuous abductions, rape, torture and murder of Baloch men, women and children from past 62 years. The sooner we get rid of these fundamentalist states the safer our secular and democratic society will become. Free Balochistan was the only solution to prevent these crimes from happening, the Baloch Community in London reiterated.
The Baloch Land is Known as Balochistan. It is larger in size than France. The Baloch people are living in their natural geographical boundaries. Balochistan was intentionally divided up with pieces going to three countries: Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Pakistan again, this Nation is cut into three pieces: Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan, and in Iran also Baloch land is divided into Khorasan, Hormozgan and Sistan va Baluchistan provinces. Freedom is the basic right of every nation.
Friday, 30 April 2010
Baloch Community in London condemnation statement against throwing acid on Baloch girls
Tribal elders Habib Marri and Malook Marri abducted while on their way to court
Occupied Balochistan: Mach region’s tribal and social leaders Habib Marri and Malook Marri have been abducted by Pakistani Intelligence agencies while on their way to an ATF (Anti Terrorist Force) court in Sibi. According details both tribal elders were going to Sibi to submit their bail applications when they were stopped on main road and taken away towards an unknown location. According their relatives the Police are denial about their arrest, so it is obvious that they have been whisked away by the personnel of intelligence agencies.
Mir Habib and Malook Marri had already spend four years in different torture centres and jails but they were granted bail by an ATF court in early 2010 and their case is under trial in Sibi. However, two weeks ago they were implicated in another case of an alleged attack on Pakistani FC in Margat region of Mach town in Balochistan. The arrest was made in a time when both tribal elders were on their way to attend the court for their previous cases and wanted to submit pre-arrest bail application for this new allegation against them.
It must be noted that Nawab Khair Bux Marri and Nawabzada Hyrbyair Marri were also nominated along with Habib and Malook Marri in this alleged attack on FC in Marget around two weeks ago. Balochistan’s political party, student organisations and other social and political leaders had strongly condemned the registering of case against Baloch leaders and had termed it a conspiracy against Baloch National movement for freedom.
Meanwhile the family of Habib Marri and Malook Marri showed great concern about the sudden about of their relatives. They appealed the ATF court Sibi, Pakistan Supreme Court, Balochistan High Court, and Human Right Commission to use their influence for the safe and early recovery and release of Baloch elders. They also urged the courts to take action against FC and intelligence agencies for illegally abducting Marri elders.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Three little girls injured in Kalat fanatic acid attack
Occupied Balochistan, Kalat: another three little girls have become victims of acidifying by apparently ISI supported fanatic group in the city of Kalat on Thursday afternoon.
According BBC Urdu News Service Eight year old Saima, 14 year old Shakila and 20 year old Fatima were on their way to Killi Pandunari from Kalat down when they become prey of acid attack by unknown motorcyclists. The predators fled the scene after throwing acid on the girls. It must be noted that two weeks ago acid were spilled on two girls in the town of Noshki in Balochistan. Baloch political and resistance Organisations had strongly condemned the attack and termed it a conspiracy against Baloch freedom struggle.
The injured children have been shifted to Civil Hospital Kalat for treatment. There is sense of fear and insecurity among the female folk who are working in different fields due to financial difficulties. No group have claimed the responsibility for the attack so far.
Spring returns, but over 1,000 in Occupied Balochistan have not
PRESS RELEASE
April 28, 2010
WASHINGTON DC: Baloch facing Pakistani atrocities, killings and forced disappearances as they struggle for independence of their homeland have found some natural allies: American nationals who say they were kidnapped by the infamous Inter Services Intelligence.
A group of Americans who were in Pakistan at different periods will join international activists to pay tributes to more than a 1,000 Baloch missing persons or Prisoners of Conscience, who have been abducted since 2005.
Those who have been invited to come and speak at the event include Wegger Chr. Strommen, ambassador of Norway; T. Kumar, Asia director of Amnesty International; Andrew Eiva, former executive director of Federation for American Afghan Action; Ann Wright, former deputy ambassador to Afghanistan and co-author of DISSENT -- Voices of Conscience; Dr. Nazir Bhatti, founder of the Pakistan Christian Congress and publisher of Pakistan Christian Post; Tommaso N. Boggia, of Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress; and Mohamad Ali Baloch, a senior Baloch activist.
The Norwegian ambassador has been invited as a Norwegian of Baloch origin, Ehsan Arjemandi, who was involuntarily disappeared by the Pakistani Military Intelligence on August 7, 2009 has not been recovered so far. Arjemandi, a Baloch human rights activist and former general secretary o the Greater Balochistan Liberation Organization in Oslo, Norway, was allegedly abudcted by a Military Intelligence team led by Major Mohammad Shahid on the Mekran Coastal highway while traveling from Mand to Karachi in Occupied Baluchistan.
The title of Friday's talk is:
Spring returns, but over 1,000 in Occupied Balochistan have not
Despite return to civilian rule, Pakistan military is still running the affairs in Occupied Balochistan in an iron-fist manner. Earklier this month, Mahboob Wadela was abducted by the intelligence sleuths. Likewise, the fate of a prominent leader of the Baloch Students Organization [Azad] Zakir Majeed who was forcefully disappeared from Mastung on June 8, 2009 is unknown. Dr. Deen Mohammed Baloch, a member of the central committee of the Baloch National Movement was involuntarily disappeared from Ornach on June 28, 2009. Earlier on February 13, 2009 Jalil Reki a central leader of the Baloch Republican Party was forcefully disappeared from Quetta and his whereabouts are unknown.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, "Violations of human rights in Balochistan are widespread and harrowing. Regrettably, the state has not addressed these complaints and themedia, either under pressure or on account of its own failings, has been unable to probe and report the dreadful reality on the ground. The most hair-raising are the continuing incidents of enforced disappearances. In addition to a large number of cases already taken up by HRCP, the Commission documented several new cases during this mission to Balochistan. This appears to be only the tip of the iceberg as a large number of families do not have access to any forum of protest or redress." The HRCP report clearly stated Pakistan military is still calling the shots in Balochistan. Islamabad has itself admitted nearly one thousand Baloch are still missing.
The American Friends of Balochistan, U.S.A., is of the considered view that if any Baloch freedom activist in Occupied Balochistan have violated Pakistani laws they must be produced and tried before a Pakistani court. Texas-sized Balochistan was occupied at gunpoint on March 27, 1948 against the wishes of the Baloch people. Pakistan, now nearing failure, is an Islamic republic where only a Muslim can become the head of government and head of state, while the fiercely Baloch people do not want to mix religion with politics.
The event will be held on Friday April 30, from 12 noon to 2 pm at the DC Cafe on P and 21st Street Northwest Washington DC.
The exact address is 2035 P Street, Northwest Washington DC, Northwest
Filafil and shawarma will be served. Drinks self pay.
Public welcome to attend, but RSVP ahmar_scribe@yahoo.com
"Martyrs of Murghab" memorail gathering in London
London: Baloch Unity Conference (UK) is organising a memorial meeting to honour the Martys of Murghap (Shaheed Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Munir Baloch and Sher Mohammad Baloch) on first anniversary of their cold-blood murder by Pakistani Intelligence agencies on 8 April 2009.
We request to all Baloch and other human rights activists to take part in the event to pay tribute to the Baloch Martyrs.
Your participation is much appreciated
Room name: Sapphire,
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 OR
Date: Sunday 2nd May 2010
Time: 2:30 - 5:00 PM
Nearest Tube Stations:
• Ravenscourt Park Tube Station
• Stamford Brook Station
• Hammersmith
Organisers and Contacts:
Shahid Baloch: 0786 9086966
Baloch_org@yahoo.com
Barrick Gold is responsible for fueling the conflict in Balochistan and death of the indigenous people
BHRC (Canada) speech at the Barrick Gold protest rally
Dear friends and comrades,
Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada is grateful for this opportunity to speak on behalf of the people of Balochistan and to express our solidarity with the oppressed people and nations of the world in their struggle for justice and freedom.
There is a saying in Balochistan that a Baloch child may be without socks, but when he grows up every step he takes will be on gold.
Balochistan, the southwestern province of Pakistan, is rich in mineral deposits and is the energy hub that supplies 30% of the country’s need for natural gas. It is also 44% of the total landmass of Pakistan. And yet the Baloch nation for the last six decades, since their forceful occupation by the Pakistani military in 1948, is systematically being marginalized from society and from their ancestral lands. At present, as we speak, there is a brutal military operation being conducted by the Pakistani army to crush the indigenous movement for sovereignty over their lands and natural resources.
More than 8000 Baloch political activists including 141 women and 168 children have been forcefully disappeared by the Pakistani military secret services. Hundreds of youth have been tortured to death and their bodies dumped in the wilderness dropped from military helicopters. This is a land where secret military death squads are involved in targeted killing of Baloch political leaders including the former Governor and Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, also the chief of the Bugti tribe who was assassinated on August 26, 2006. Balochistan is a land where gross human rights violations and slow motion genocide is an everyday reality.
Such are the circumstances of political turmoil and civil strife in Balochistan today where Barrick Gold is investing in gold. Let me tell you, the gold from Balochistan is not yellow anymore; it is the colour of the blood of our martyrs and national heroes. This is simply unethical, illegal, and against international law to invest in business ventures in a zone of conflict.
Reko Dik is an ancient volcano in the Chaghi district of Balochistan, which literally means sandy peak or sand dune in the Balochi tongue. This is the place where we have world’s fifth largest copper and gold deposit and where Barrick Gold is involved in digging and polluting the earth for riches that do not benefit the local inhabitants.
Ironically, the district of Chaghi in Balochistan is also the site to Pakistan’s 1998 nuclear test that ended all livelihoods for the inhabitants and their livestock. Local tribesmen and their families were hauled in military trucks on short notice and displaced into the remote desert without any compensation. Pollution and illnesses from the radiation have never been investigated because it has been declared as a sensitive military zone.
Barrick Gold is not only guilty of investing in a zone of conflict; they have also officially appointed military personnel of the Pakistani army, Colonel Sher Khan as the security director of the company’s site in the area. This man has personally commanded military operations in Balochistan and has openly threatened in media and news blogs that resistance to the state control of Balochistan’s resources shall be crushed at all cost.
The other shadowy person involved in the Barrick Gold racket is a Pakistani businessman living in the U.S., Mr. Muslim Lakhani who made millions by arranging and facilitating deals at the highest level for the Canadian company that includes not only the top brass in the army but the President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Zardari. Muslim Lakhani contributed generously to the Obama campaign in the recent U.S. elections. He is also on the Council of the prestigious Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington D.C., where he is mentioned on the Center’s website as the man who was able to bring to the market a discovery of one of the world’s largest reserves of copper in remote Balochistan. Mr. Lakhani is also a very close buddy of Pakistan’s former military dictator, retired General Pervez Musharaf who has been nicknamed by the Baloch people as the butcher of Balochistan.
Well, so much for the track record of violations of human rights and international law by Barrick Gold and its partners in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world. In a recent unanimous decision by the Chief Minister of Balochistan, Nawab Aslam Raisani and his cabinet ministers on December 24, 2009 cancelled the agreement with Barrick Gold for exploration of gold and copper in Reko Dik despite the pressure from Islamabad and warnings from the U.S. Ambassador and the Canadian Government. Chief Minister Balochistan stated that this is according to the wishes of the people of Balochistan and that any agreement, which undermined the rights of the indigenous people, would be cancelled.
Reko Dik, the sandy peak is indeed a symbol of our national pride and resilience of a people who know the price of freedom. Below this sandy peak lie 12.3 million tons of copper and 20.9 million ounces of gold and along the dusty paths of this remote land you will always witness a shepherd boy walking without socks on his feet.
In the end, the message for Barrick Gold from Balochistan is that each ounce of gold that you steal from us is drenched in blood and tears of our people.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Why Azad Kashmir is called Azad?
Tuesday, 27 April 2010 13:57
Written by Dr Shabir Choudhry
United Kashmir Peoples National Party arranged a seminar in London, titled: Challenges, options and role of Kashmiri Diaspora. The Seminar was attended by around 150 people from various walks of life; and addressed by many important leaders among them were pro independent prominent Kashmiris, Pakistani leaders, Pakistani analysts, Baloch and Swiss leaders.
The topic was important and all the speakers made valuable contribution to enrich the debate, but what caught my attention and attention of many other people was the remarks of Baloch nationalist leader and a former Provincial Minister, Sardar Hyrbayar Mari, son of Sardar Khair Baksh Marri and a brother of Balaj Marri who was killed by the Pakistani forces after the cold blood murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti.
In his written speech which was carefully delivered by Sardar Hyrbayar Mari, he paid glowing tribute to the struggle of the Kashmiri people which was in many ways similar to the struggle of the Baloch people. He said like Balochistan, Kashmir was also an independent country, but it was soon occupied; and now Kashmir is divided and occupied. He said one part of Kashmir which is occupied by Pakistan is called Azad Kashmir.
He said: There are hundreds of independent countries in the world, but no country write independent with its name, as it is understood that they are all independent. However with Kashmir Pakistani authorities have included azad (independent), it clearly means there is something wrong – daal main kuch kala hai – something sinister is at play; and they have something to hide. This word is included to fool people of Jammu and Kashmir, just to give them false sense of independence.
He further said: all oppressed and occupied people should unite and coordinate their activities to fight forces of occupation. We have no other choice, but to fight for our rights and our national independence.
One can disagree with the kind of politics promoted by Sardar Hyrbayar Mari, but no one can dispute that he is very committed to his cause and is sincere nationalist Baloch leader. Furthermore his observation on Azad Kashmir truly represents the situation in Azad Kashmir. Of course Azad Kashmir is not Azad or independent. It is a ‘colony’ of Pakistan, in which they have established a political set up that is more interested in promoting and protecting national interests of Pakistan than the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Read the rest of the article: http://australia.to/2010/index.php?op ... habir-choudhry&Itemid=140
Reports of intensified military operation in Marri area and allegation of poisoning the water Ponds
Occupied Balochistan: A spokesman of Anjuman Itehad Marri has reported that Pakistani Military has started a fresh military operation in Talli and surrounding areas, near Sibi. The spokesman accused the military of poisoning the water puddles, looting of valuables from people’s houses and trying to kidnap Baloch women during the operation. The Marri Itehad further said that the lives of people and animals in region are in grave danger because of the poisonous water.
According to details the Pakistani military has started a fresh military offensive against Marri Baloch nomads in Karmo Wadh, Talli and Daman regions here on Saturday morning.
Eye-witnesses say that at least two Marri Baloch, indentified as Bhagiya Wali Marri and Rindhan Marri have been abducted after severe torture on the spot. The Pakistani wicked military also tried to kidnap some Baloch women and children but nearby courageous Baloch came to their help and resisted (by throwing stones at the military) the arrest of Baloch women.
The Marri Baloch victims of Pakistani military operation reported that during the so called search operation the military had not only resorted to extreme violence but also they plundered the houses of those innocent nomads. They said that the Pakistani security forces took away their cash, wheat, valuables, bicycles, sewing machines, radios and other good of daily use from their houses. The inhuman forces ripped off the (Mashks), goat skin used for storing water. Several women and children sustained injuries during the security forces excesses and attempts to arrest as many people as they could.
Meanwhile the AIM reported Sunday that the operation has now been expanded in several other parts of Kohistan Marri including Kahan, Doi Wadh, Sohro and Meyan Kach. The spokesman said that Pakistani military has been firing which long range artilleries on civilian populations of the aforementioned areas whole day on Sunday. Luckily, no casualties have been reported in these initial military offensives. Gunship helicopters have also been flying in a low altitude in the air. However, no air strikes have been reported anywhere in the area so far. People in the region fear that the Pakistani force might be preparing for yet another massive operation in Balochistan and in particular in Marri and Bugti bordering quarters.
Ajuman Itehad Marri spokesperson reiterated that Baloch struggle for freedom cannot be stopped by such brutal acts; in fact such attempts of “besiege and destroy” Baloch villages will further provoke people to resist the occupying forces in the region. The AIM urged the people of Balochistan to stand up against such atrocities and arbitrary arrests of innocent people.
Source: DailyTawar & Independent sources on the ground
Quetta crackdown continues, another 42 innocent Baloch arrested
Occupied Balochistan,QUETTA - The Quetta Police after launching a crackdown on anti-social elements in the provincial capital claimed to have arrested 42 accused persons from Sariab area here on Sunday.
According to official sources, the police backed by personnel of Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) jointly raided the Mussa Colony and its adjacent areas and took into custody 42 suspects of target killings, bomb blasts, theft, robbery and terrorism.
Sources said that the accused persons were shifted to undisclosed locations for interrogation, and added that police also recovered arms during the raid.
The police had arrested dozens of accused persons from Sariab area in a massive crackdown few days back. A woman also died due to alleged torture of the police, which triggered protests in Quetta and other towns of Balochistan.
Monday, 26 April 2010
Life with the Balochistan Liberation Army
Full Frame: Lost in Balochistan
By Marc Wattrelot — Special to GlobalPostA photographer documents life with the Balochistan Liberation Army.
Full Frame features photo essays and conversations with photographers in the field.
Balochistan extends over 350,000 square kilomaters (about the size of Germany) and is the largest province in the Pakistan Federation. About 7 million people live in Balochistan and the population comprises Iranians, Pakistanis and Afghanis. Balochistan is among the richest provinces in Pakistan, with valuable natural resources in gold, cobalt and gas. But its people are the poorest, suffering for decades under the Pakistani government. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) seeks to address this economic discrimination. The armed group's resistance regularly makes headlines in the Pakistani national press.
Balochis cultivate a resentment toward centralized power, accusing the government of delaying provincial development while at the same time plundering Balochistan's rich resources. The BLA was most active starting in 2006 when a number of Balochi political leaders were killed. The BLA continues to target the Pakistani army, which it views as an occupying imperialist force.
In the photographer's words:
Balochistan is in turmoil. This vast mountainous desert at the crossroad of Iran and the Indian subcontinent share values with both cultural spheres but Balochis cultivate an original tribal culture. My time photographing in the dry red mountains with Balochis fighters was a powerful experience. I remember my fear before my first meeting with the 40 heavily armed guerrilla fighters, but at this time photographing was a way to keep a certain distance. It soon became an object of interaction and my key to entering the intimacy of the fighters. I remember the sweet light of the early morning after a harsh night with the fighters. I try to avoid any judgment but the Balochis I met were sharing and joking continuously with each other. They were ready to give their lives far from their families for a cause that few people have heard of and without any financial advantages. They were proud and sure about their fight.For me photography is a way to meet people. It’s a tool to see and listen better. The photographic process is a passage to reveal another face of the truth. What fascinates me is that a photograph is taken in less than a second but it can take months to prepare. I like the idea of staying long, watching, waiting for the good light and learning things. In some ways my camera allows me to live with people, to share with them even if their thinking is far from conventional.
About the photographer:
Marc’s work revolves around social issues and identity concerns mostly focusing on unrepresented communities and groups. He began his carrier by photographing the workers at an isolated shipping yard in Pakistan. This work was recognized by the Paris-Match Young Reporter Grant in 2003 and has been shown in Musee des Beaux Arts de Chartres, France.
He graduated from the Sorbonne University, Paris and from Sciences Po, Toulouse where he studied geography, political science and journalism (1999-2005).
Since then, Marc has been working in Pakistan, India, Afghanistan and China. His long-term work “Lost From Balochistan” on Balochistan province in Pakistan won an honorary mention at the 2010 Anthropographia Award. This story, exhibited in Paris and screened at Spain's Gijon Photojournalism Festival 2009, will be published in a book by 2010.
His photographs have appeared mostly in the French press: AFP, Marie Claire, Liberation, Paris Match, Match du Monde, ChinePlus and Figaro Magazine.
Marc Wattrelot is a 30 years old and based in New Delhi, India.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Thalibanization of Baloch Society
This incident was widely condemned by the Baloch leadership in Balochistan and abroad and political parties. Balochistan National Party and National Party held protest rallies; Baloch National Front and Baloch National Movement also not only issued strict statements against the attackers but also took out protest rallies and termed them anti Baloch and anti human elements.
The Baloch political parties and leadership believe that the attack was firstly to defame Baloch Independence struggle and secondly it was to create a fear among Baloch women activists who are actively taking part and interest in Baloch National struggle for Liberation. According them the attack clearly show that the enemy of the Baloch is very fearful of the mere fact that a large number of Baloch women are engaged in spreading awareness in Baloch society about the importance of freedom and equal rights.
Let us investigate the background of the incident; the incident took place in Chagai district of Balochistan, the largest and most backward district of Balochistan bordering Iran and Afghanistan. This district also hosts thousands of Afghan Refugees which include Taliban Sympathizers and most probably Taliban fighter as well, supported by Pakistani Intelligence agencies and Military.
Baloch Nation is known for its characteristics of being secular and progressive. In Baloch society women and non Muslim always enjoyed equal rights and were given due respect. In Baloch tribal code a Women is given so much importance that if two parties are at war and a women passes by or request to stop the war, both parties are bound to stop the war immediately. Similarly the non Muslims were protected against the Punjabi revolters during the 1947 partition of Indo-Pakistan by the Baloch.
Pakistani establishment and Intelligence agencies are continuously working on the Islamization and Thalibanization of Baloch Society in order to achieve dual benefit out of it i.e.
i. Undermine the claim of Baloch Nationalists in Pakistan and internationally by strengthening their natural enemies i.e. Islamic Radicals/Taliban
ii. Establish sanctuaries for the production and recruitment of Jihadis and Extremists to be used for International Jihad Supervised and managed by Pakistan’s wicked intelligence agency the ISI.
The attempt show Baloch Society infected with Islamic extremism is mainly important for what such accusations are trying to achieve politically: they could serve to mobilize international support for Pakistan, particularly from the United States, and neutralize opposition to a Pakistani military intervention. The charges are part of a larger effort to discredit Baloch nationalism. They should be seen alongside Pakistani attempts to use the specter of Islamism to undermine the claims of Baloch nationalism in Pakistan and internationally.
Following the policies adopted by Zia-ul-Haq in the 1980s, Pakistan’s government continues through its Ministry of Religious Affairs to encourage the setting up of madras’s in the Balochistan in order to penetrate deeper into the Baloch areas stubbornly opposed to the mullahs. Setting up these religious schools has been at the expense of secular education, the lack of which is even more noticeable in Baluchistan than in Pakistan. The budget of the Ministry of Religious Affairs for the province is said to be approximately 1.2 billion rupees, compared with 200 million rupees allotted to the Ministry of Education. It inevitably follows that the role of the clergy has been increased, angering nationalists who have long been demanding that the Ministry of Religious Affairs be dismantled.
In past few years the activities of “Islamic Thabligi Jumaat (Islamic Preaching’s Group)” has increased in Pakistan which is the main catalyst for the spread of Islamic extremism in the region. One finds it surprising that the preaching activity of the “Tabligi Jumaat” are increased in the areas of Balochistan where the Pakistani military finds more resistance from the nationalist forces, hence using the tool of religion to undermine Baloch nationalism is frequently used. Just as we witnessed after the murder of Ghulam Muhammad Baloch and Companions, nationwide revolts against the occupation forces started, the“Thabligi Jummat” also started their large scale preaching processions in the areas where the tension was more severe like Pangour, Turbat, Khuzdar & Noshki, but no such processions were held in calm areas like Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, or Kharan.
It’s the time for the Baloch Nation and the nationalist forces to drive a strategy to counter the efforts of the enemy to radicalize the Baloch Society as well as combat the forces spreading radicalism and those behind crimes against women & marginalized groups of Society.
Friday, 23 April 2010
Police station and security force vehicle blown up in Balochistan, Baloch student injured by FC firing
Occupied Balochistan: A remote control device planted on a motorbike heavily damaged Pakistani security forces vehicle in Gwader and left at least one soldier critically injured, a Baloch student has also reportedly suffered serious injuries due FC’s indiscriminate shooting.
According details Pakistani forces vehicle was attacked near Padi Zar Petrol Station on Thursday around 4pm when Pakistani occupation forces were patrolling in the area. In the attack one FC personnel identified as Lance Naik Zar Wali sustained injuries. The vehicle was also heavily damaged in the blast. Pakistani official sources say that a motorcycle was used in the attack which was blown up by a remote controlled device when the FC vehicle was passing by.
After the explosion occupation forces surrounded the area and started indiscriminate firing. Due to Pakistani forces firing a passer-by Student identified as Amjad S/O Siyaho received bullet injuries. He was shifted to District Civil Hospital for initial treatment but he has been shifted to Karachi due to seriousness of his injuries.
Eye-witnesses reported that there was a sense of fear and harassment as the Pakistani forces assaulted passersby, entered people’s houses and mistreated Baloch women after the incident.
Separately, unknown men have blown up an under construction Police station in Mashky, Balochistan. According to details unknown men planted explosive device near an under construction police station in Mashkay which went off and heavily damaged the building. No casualties have been reported in the incident.
It must be noted that fighters from BLF (Baloch Liberation Front) had blown up a drug den in Buleda near Turbat Tuesday-Wednesday night. The drug den was owned by a notorious drug dealer Arif Karim which was used as store and narcotics and liquor. There was no report of injury to anybody.
Doda Baloch of BLF claimed the responsibility of the attack and warned other drug dealers like Karim to stop destroying the Baloch youth’s life by selling them drug and liquors, otherwise they will be attacked in the same manner. He further warned those who are involved in snatching motorcycles, robbery and other anti-social behaviours to quit such disgrace activities which are production of slavery. He appealed the Baloch youth to join Baloch national movement for liberation because freedom and getting rid of slavery were the solution for the problems that Baloch are facing today.
Source: DailyTawar & Balochistan National newspapers
Imprisonment of Persians capture headlines, killing of 2 more Baluch brushed under the carpet
Occupied Balochistan: Iranians make headlines again by sentencing some persian activists to light imprisonment in Tehran. These activists were arrested during the demos after the presidential elections last year. However, Persian and English media is mouth-sealed about the hanging of the third innocent Baluch within a week in Kerman prison, and killing of another in Iranshahr.
The Baluch man hanged on 19 April 2010 in Kerman was named as Abdolnasser Moradzahi. He was accused of drug trafficking and enemy of the God. Iranian authorities continuously hang Baluch and other minorities on similar pretext.
Another Baluch student leader named Kyvan Guderzahi was electrocuted by secret agencies in Iranshahr, West Baluchistan. His body was discovered on 19 April. The authorities, however, declared this death as accidental, but his fellow students are certain that he was tortured to death by the secret agents because he was critical of the authorities.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Kandahar Break (The Movie)
Hameed Sheikh as Omar Baloch in "Kandahar Break" directed by David Whitney | |
Film: http://www.kandaharbreak.com/ Spoiler alert: the Baloch are saviors in this film. The movie is set in Afghanistan in 1999 and includes scenes with Baloch freedom fighters who explain their struggle. Additional links: synopsis, youtube, youtube2. Fan on facebook (back story), filmed, in part, in Kanak, Baluchistan. (cnn video and interview with Hameed Sheikh; interview with director David Whitney) |
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Baloch Woman killed, hundreds activists detained in massive search operation in Quetta
Occupied Balochistan, Quetta: Pakistani Security forces unleashed a massive search operation in Baloch-populated localities of Quetta city throughout Tuesday, killing the mother of a Baloch political activist and rounding up around two hundred people hailing from various spheres of life. The crackdown has opened floodgates of criticism of Baloch nationalist parties which have called for widespread protest rallies to condemn the door-to-door search operation at Baloch households.
According to the details, security forces arrested around three hundred Balochs in search operations in Qili Ismail, Kechi Baig,Qili Qambarani, Sariab, and Kili Sarday, Wali Jet localities of Quetta city. Eyewitnesses said personnel of police, Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) and the Frontier Corps (FC) entered into the houses and beat up different people before taking them into custody. The security forces have also been blamed for harassing and ill-behaving with Baloch women and children.
The whole day witnessed clashes between Pakistani government functionaries and the civilians who were beaten up, blindfolded and taken to unknown locations by the government. In one similar search operation, the mother of an activist from the Balochistan National Party (BNP), Sanaullah Mengal, was killed by the forces allegedly by applying violent means. Family sources and eyewitness said that the forces tortured the old lady which caused her death. The mother of the deceased was identified as Shahnaz Bibi.
The Baloch National Front (BNF) has strongly condemned the search operation and pledged to avenge the killing of Shahnaz Bibi saying that the Baloch traditions encouraged taking revenge for the killing of one person. The BNF, led by professor Saba Dashthayari and Shahzaib Baloch took out a protest rally in front of Quetta Press Club in the afternoon to protest against the arrest of hundreds of political workers and common civilians in the freshly launched search operation against the Baloch population.
The BNF announced to observe a complete strike throughout Balochistan on April 26 against the killing of Shahnaz Bibi and the arrests, saying that protest rallies would be taken outside press clubs in Turbat on April 22, Noshki (24 April) and Panjgur (25 April) to lodge a democratic protest against the grave violation of human rights in Balochistan by the security forces under the pretext of maintaining law and order.
Speaking in the protest rally, the BNF leaders said the Balochistan Package and the recent 18th Amendment Bill did not mean anything for Balochs, nor would it deter the Baloch national struggle in any form. The Baloch people do have a history of taking revenge for its martyrs rather than shedding tears over such instances when its brave sons are killed, they said. “We will not tolerate people like Mushahid Hussain Syed to step on the Baloch land,” said one of the speakers. Balochs have become very conscious about their national rights and the exploitation they have come under over the past many years.
The BNF leaders severely castigated the media for taking the government’s side and not reporting the widespread arrest of Balochs in the search operation.
Chief of the Balochistan National Party and former chief minister of Balochistan, Sardar Akhtar Mengal has also strongly condemned the crack down on the Baloch people in Quetta by terming it as a continuity of the previous government’s policies against the Baloch people. He described the arrests as the harbinger of a new military operation being launched in Balochistan.
He said the current governments in Islamabad and Balochistan were totally powerless and the real power still rested with the establishment which did not intentionally want the improvement of the situation in Balochistan. The establishment is working on a policy of genocide against the Baloch people while the Sariab Road operation has violated and disfigured the Baloch code of honor as the forces entered people’s homes and humiliated women and children.
The Mengal Sardar said the 18th amendment was totally meaningless for the Baloch people as no change had taken place in Balochistan even after the signing of the 18th amendment bill by the president of Pakistan. “There is no let-up in repression of the Baloch people. The democratic rulers are powerless. The military establishment wants to keep the Balochs as slaves in Pakistan but history clearly shows that we have never bowed on gunpoint and we will no surrender this time too,” he said.
The Baloch National Front (BNF) is going to protest against the operation in Karachi today (Wednesday) while Baloch students studying in Islamabad have also decided to take up the issue and demonstrate in the federal capital against the latest developments in Balochistan.
Anjuman-e-Itehad-e-Marri has also strongly condemned the brutal search operation against Baloch people in different areas of Quetta. According AIM’s statement the operation has been directly ordered by the governor and CM of Balochistan. “Along with the occupation force of Pakistan the state agent, so called Nawab and Sardars are also equally responsible for today’s attack and houses-to-house search in Baloch residential areas.
The AIM alleged that the murder of Shahnaz Bibi was an obvious act of terror by state (Pakistani) forces. They said Shahnaz Baloch’s murderers are not unseen; government of Islamabad and their appointed CMs and Governors are responsible for brutally killing her.
Baloch Bar Association has announced to boycott courts on 21 April against the arrest and killing innocent Baloch in Quetta. The Baloch Bar termed the grand search operation an illegal act of the government and they urged the International Human Right Organisations and International community to take notice of such brutal arrests and operation against innocent Baloch civilians.
The leader of BNM Asa Zafar while condemning the heinous attack and search operation in Quetta said that Pakistan security force cannot face the Baluch Sarmachaars, hence, they are targeting innocent civilians, including women and children. He said Baloch freedom struggle cannot be deterred by brutal and inhuman acts of the occupation security forces.
Monday, 19 April 2010
An ex MPA and serving police officers are involved in kidnapping for ransom and harassing people: BLA
Residents should not trust hand-written pamphalets. It is not our policy, Pakistani agencies and land mafia are trying to defame Baluch resistance organisations: Jihand Baloch.
Occupied Baluchistan: Baluch Resistance Organisation BLA has revealed that an ex PMA (Member of Provincial Assembly) and several serving police officers were involved in growing incidents of kidnappings for ransom and snatching motorcycles in different region of Baluchistan, in particular in Quetta. A spokesman of BLA (Baloch Liberation Army) Jihand Baloch told “Dunya News” that BLA was concerned about mounting occurrences of kidnapping for ransom and we (BLA) want to disclose that an organised group is involved in such action; this group is being looked after, assisted and protected by serving police officers and an ex MPA. He further said that we have compiled a detailed report in this regard. We have also found out that there are three or four groups that are involved in snatching motorcycles and other such incidents. BLA is making a list of all those engaged in these activities. On the right time we will share these lists and details with media, he explained.
The BLA spokesman further said some people are throwing pamphlets in order to harass the residents in the name of BLA. These people are trying to defame the Baloch resistance Organisations. We have investigated this matter and reached to the people involved in such activities; one property dealer is also among them (who are harassing other people in the name of BLA). Few days ago threatening pamphlets were thrown in people houses in Khalilurahman Road, Nava Killi and several areas of Saryab Road. I want to clarify that BLA has nothing to do with these pamphlets; we believe the land mafia is trying to scare people in the name of Baloch Resistance Organisations in order to occupy their properties.
He further said that this is neither our aim nor our policy and we want to tell the residents of Baluchistan that do not trust hand-written pamphlets. BLA doesn’t distribute such notices and it not a part of our policy; Pakistani agencies and land mafia are trying to vilify BLA. Jihand Baluch strongly warned all those people who are collecting funds in the name of BLA or harassing people in order to take over their properties. He said BLA asks these people to stop using the name of Baloch Resistance Organisation for their dirty purposes otherwise BLA reserves the right to take action against such people and we WILL take strong action against these people, he made it clear.
Strongly condemning the acidifying two little sisters in Daalbandin the BLA spokesman said that such extremist actions are contrary to Baloch code of honour and values. He said one so called organisation has carried out this attack which is conspiracy to disgrace the Baluch society. BLA is investigating the gory incident and whoever did it, strongest action will be taken against them.
Second attack on Balochs students in Punjab within a week
Punjab (Bhawalpur): Baloch students were assaulted by a group of Punjabi students in Bahawalpur, resulting in severe injuries to Shabir Baloch, Raza Ali Marri and Shahab Baloch. The Baloch students are members of BSO [Azaad]. Several members of BSO [A] have been victims of the series of attacks on Baloch students in Punjab. BSO [A] is a Baloch Student Organisation that advocates the Independence of the occupied state of Balochistan, which has been occupied by Pakistan and Iran; therefore the supporters of occupation have been attacking Baloch students wherever they find an opportunity to do so, with an objective to create fear amongst the people who advocate Balochistan’s Independence.
According to the details, Baloch students who are enrolled in the institutes in Bahawalpur on scholarship basis were in the rooms of their hostel in the precincts of Technical College Bhawalpur, when a group of Punjabi students belonging to MSF (which is the student wing of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz Sharif) came and began abusing Baloch people and their movement for Independence in order to provoke the Baloch student so that they would protest against it and the Punjabis would get an excuse to attack them, but the Baloch students remained calm and peaceful, not getting any reason to attack the Punjabi students choose to attack with the core reason of the students being Baloch and assaulted due to the vicious attack several Baloch students suffered severe injuries. After the attack the Punjabi students left the place without any fear and it was clear to the Baloch students that this attack was supported by Pakistan’s institutions.
When the injured students were taken to a local hospital the doctors refused to treat the severely injured students and told the students that they won’t treat any Baloch patient, as the Balochs are struggling for the Independence of Balochistan. This act of the Pakistani doctors sheds light on the common thinking patterns of occupying people who do not respect any profession or human rights. Peace loving world can understand the behaviour and hatred of Pakistan army against Balochs by seeing this example of Pakistani Doctors.
Baloch Student Organization Azaad on this incident appeals all the students who are studying out of their countries to raise their voices against the incidents, to safeguard the lives of Baloch students who have left their country to acquire knowledge but are being refused medical treatment after being severely injured.
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Two Baloch are abducted by plain-clothed agents with the help of police; no FIRs yet lodged
ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
URGENT APPEALS PROGRAMME
Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-046-2010
16 April 2010
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PAKISTAN: Two Balochis are abducted by plain-clothed agents with the help of police; no FIRs yet lodged
ISSUES: Disappearances; illegal arrest and detention
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Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the illegal arrest, abduction and disappearance of two persons from the Baloch Nationalist Movement on two separate occasions in April. Eyewitnesses in both cases saw the arrests carried out illegally by persons in and out of uniform, and the family of neither man have been contacted by the authorities responsible. The local police stations have refused to file First Information Reports in both cases.
Military and security agents remain largely unchallenged by the government on their high rate of illegal arrests and abductions – often with the help of uniformed police. This is despite a Supreme Court order in February for police cooperation on the issue.
CASE DETAILS: (Based on reports received from the victims' families and media sources)
Mr. Mahboob Ali Wadela (pictured left) is a senior member of the Baloch National Movement (BNM), which is part of the Baloch National Front (BNF), a nationalist movement struggling for greater autonomy of the province. He had been traveling in a passenger vehicle in Karachi bound for Gwader, a port city in Balochistan on 2 April for just a few minutes when it was stopped by uniformed police from Maripur station in Yousuf Goth.
According to passengers on the bus two vans resembling army vehicles arrived at the scene almost immediately and plain-clothed persons emerged and began to check the identity cards of the passengers. When they came upon Mahboob they reportedly pulled him from the bus with his luggage and drove him away in one of the unmarked vehicles. The passenger vehicle was then prevented from leaving the area by police for some time.
When Mahboob was identified, according to the driver and passengers, one of the plain-clothed persons had announced 'that’s the one we’re looking for'. The eyewitness account of the passengers, from Vsh News on 4 April, can be seen here with English subtitles:
Speaking to media, the victim's brother Mr. Faisal Baloch has said that Mahboob was in Karachi for medical treatment for kidney pain and was intending to return after a short trip to Balochistan. The family does not know why he was arrested and has not been contacted with information on his whereabouts. They fear for his security in illegal custody and are concerned that the medicine that he needs may not be made available, which could also put him in danger.
Although Faisal tried to lodge an FIR at Marripur police station – in the area of the abduction – police refused to comply. After his insistence they filed a written complaint in the Roznamcha or daily police diary which can be seen here, along with a seating plan from the bus company, bearing Mahmood's name (No. 6). No FIR has yet been registered.
Mahboob's mother, Mrs Shamim, has written appeals to the Sindh High Court, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (seen here), the prime minister, the provincial minister of the interior in Sindh and various other authorities to ask for information and assistance in locating her son. She has received no response.
Mir Bohair Bangulzai, another member of the BNF, was abducted from his car on Thursday 1 April 2010 from Askari Park in Quetta, Balochistan. According to eyewitnesses he was driving home when he was stopped by uniformed police officers. Persons then emerged from a double cabin Toyota Hi-Lux jeep and despite the efforts of passersby to rescue Bangulzai, abducted him and drove away. The vehicle was driven by a person in plain clothes who identified himself as Frontier Corp (FC) personnel.
Though man's relatives have contacted the local authorities, Quetta police have illogically and illegally cited false police procedure: they have told relatives that they will investigate the incident before they file an FIR.
Throwing acid on Baloch Women is a heinous crime: Hyrbyair Marri
London: patriot Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri while regarding the acid attack on two innocent Baloch girls in Dalbandin as a horrific act, has said that Baluch women held the highest place in Baluch society. No honoured Baluch or National defender can even think of doing any such unforgivable act because in Baloch society the position and honour of a woman is above everything. He said Baluch are secular and there is no space for religious extremism in Baluch society.
Narrow-mindedness and disrespecting women is not Baloch code of honour. Baluch Women played a significant role in Baloch freedom struggle alongside Baluch youth (men). The enemy seems very fearful of the growing popularity of liberation movement in Baluchistan and hence the hidden powers are trying to sabotage Baluch struggle through their newly invented acts of savageness.
Those who are deliberately attempting to persuade the Baluch (youth) towards religious extremism must know that the Baluch Nation has very rich traditions and codes of honour. Baloch have their own high standards of dignity and honour. Nations’ minds cannot be enhanced by acidifying them but positives changes can be made only through good behaviour and honouring Baluch traditions.
Baluch brothers and sisters if want to live in a dignified society then they must understand the background of Baloch history and take active part in Baluch freedom struggle on ideological basis.
Acidising two Baluch sisters, a conspiracy against Baluch freedom struggle: BNF
Baloch youth should take a stand against barbaric people: BSO (Azaad)
Occupied Baluchistan: BNF (Baluch National Front) has strongly condemned the acid attack on two innocent Baluch girls in Daalbandin town in Baluchistan. They termed the attack a conspiracy of Pakistani Intelligence Agencies against Baluch freedom struggle. BNF said after Talibanising Pashtun Tribal regions of Waziristan and Swat the Intelligence agencies (ISI and MI) are now instigating and supporting the Jihdi groups in Baluchistan.
The BNF said it was a failed attempt of the agencies to create fear among Baloch women in order to prevent them from taking active part in Baloch National Liberation Struggle. “Women have a very high position in Baluch society and if women interfere between wars the war will stop. Also raising hand on a woman in Baluch society is also considered a disgrace”.
BNF said that Pakistani agencies have exposed themselves by throwing acid on innocent Baluch girls. They also strongly condemned attack on Baluch students in Government College of Technology in Faisal Abad and chanting slogans against Baluch leaders and termed the attack as an anti Baluch policy of Punjab.
Earlier acting president of BNM Mr Asa Zafar had alleged that it was the same so called group that attacked Baluch students on International Cultural Day programme. He said this group was spreading terror in the name of Baluch traditions and culture.
Friday, 16 April 2010
Another attack on Baloch students in Punjab.
The students wing of Punjabi political leader Nawaz Sharif, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan has attacked Baloch students in Government College of Technology Faisalabad’s hostel, badly injuring Ahsan Baloch, Chengez Baloch, Ahmed Baloch and Ajmal Baloch, who are members of Baloch Student Organization (Azaad). The planned assaulters warned all the Baloch students to leave Punjab immediately and chanted slogans against veteran Baloch leader Baba Khair Buksh Marri, Balochistan and Baloch people.
Previously Baloch students have been assaulted in different cities of Punjab and several Baloch students have been severely injured due to these attacks, whereas these attack are being carried out with the support of most powerful Sharif family in Punjab who have strong relationships with Pakistan army. The culprits are not only being safeguarded by Pakistan’s bureaucracy but are also being encouraged to torture Baloch students in Punjab.
Baloch students who have very few institutions to get enrolled in, are forced to go to Punjab in order to further their higher studies, but the threat to their lives in Punjab is darkening the future of Baloch students who would be having no access to higher education. Baloch students in Punjab should be treated as foreign students and the threat to their lives in not only threat to the lives of Baloch students but it is a threat to the lives of every foreign student who have left their countries to acquire higher education. Baloch Student Organization (Azaad) appeals all the foreign students around the world to stand against these inhuman activities of Pakistan and stand together to further the voice of humanity.
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Peter Tatchell: The people of Baluchistan have a right to self-determination
Ever since its annexation by Pakistan in 1948, Baluchistan has been subjected to a quadruple whammy of military occupation, political domination, economic exploitation and cultural hegemony. Just like Israel's settlement programme on the West Bank, Islamabad has a settler scheme to colonise Baluchistan. It is encouraging Punjabis to move to the region. The aim is to make the Baluch people a minority in their own homeland.
Punjabi supremacists have imposed an alien language, Urdu, on Baluchi-speaking people. Borrowing from the tactics of apartheid in South Africa, which forced black children to be schooled in Afrikaans, Islamabad has dictated that Urdu is the compulsory language of instruction in Baluch educational institutions. The cultural conquest also involves the radical Islamification of the traditionally more secular Baluch nation. Large numbers of religious schools have been funded by Islamabad with a view to imposing Pakistan's harsher, more narrow-minded interpretation of Islam. This is fuelling fundamentalism.
The West's attitude towards the plight of the Baluch people is less than honourable. Because Britain and the US want Pakistan as an ally in the "war on terror", they have armed Pakistan and acquiesced with its suppression of the Baluch people. Pakistan's war against Baluchistan is strengthening the position of the Taliban, who have exploited the unstable, strife-ridden situation to establish bases to terrorise the... Baluch people and enforce the Talibanisation of Baluchistan. The Pakistani military... bases in Baluchistan are also hideouts from where Taliban fighters mount military operations in Afghanistan.
If the nations of the world want to strike a blow against the Taliban and fundamentalism, they should seek an end to Pakistan's repression in Baluchistan and support the Baluch people's right to self-determination. Baluch secular nationalism could act as a powerful bulwark against the Talibanisation of the country, which ultimately threatens all the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan – and the wider region.
The best way to resolve this issue would be a UN-supervised and monitored referendum to allow the people of Baluchistan to freely and democratically determine their own future. If tiny East Timor can be an independent nation, why not Baluchistan?
Monday, 12 April 2010
Sabz baath Baluchistan TV reporter along with five friends arrested by Pakistan FC
Occupied Balochistan, Turbat: A reporter of Sabz Baath Baluchistan along with five comrades has disappeared after they were detained by the FC, Baloch political parties and relatives strongly condemn their abduction and demanded the immediate release of Baloch reporter and friends. According to details Sabz baath Baluchistan, a private TV channel’s reporter Abid Ameen Baluch’s family has reported that on the night of Friday the Pakistan FC (Frontier Corps) have stopped the car of Mr Baluch and his friend at Atta Shad Degree College road and detained Abid Ameen Baluch along with five of his friends.
According colleagues of Abid when they contacted the FC about their arrest the FC has confirmed that the Baloch reporter and his friends were in their custody, the FC also said that they will be released after preliminary interrogation. The next morning when Mr Baluch and his friends did not return home, the family and friends contacted the FC again; first they would not pick the phone, eventually when they did answer the phone they said “We don’t have any Abid Ameen in our custody and neither did we detain anyone”. This sheer denial of the FC has added to the concern of the family of friend and they are extremely worried about the safety of Baloch reporter and his friends.
On the other hand Amin Baluch’s colleagues and family have protest in front of Turbat press club and demanded their immediate release. They said Pakistani security forces were terrorists in the guise of protectors of the people.