London Conference: Baloch Intelligentsia Calls For A United Front

LONDON: In an attempt to throw light on various issues facing the Baloch in their socio-political circumstances, BSYA convened a major conference entitled, ‘’The Baloch National Struggle: Past, Present and Future’’ that took place at Birkbeck, University of London on 28thJuly, 2013. An esteemed panel of Baloch intellectuals and writers were invited to share their insights and expertise on the conference subject to help the Baloch leaders, socio-political activists and the various sections of the Baloch national struggle to accurately assess the circumstances, and challenges faced by the Baloch in order to devise feasible strategies to organize themselves and achieve the objectives of their struggle. The conference commenced with the opening remarks of the conference moderator, President of BSYA Qamber Baloch who shared BSYA’s hope that this conference of respected intellectuals, researchers, analysts and writers having known academic credentials and belonging to different walks of Baloch socio-political life will positively contribute in the Baloch struggle for national salvation and emancipation. http://bsya-uk.org/2013/07/30/london-conference-baloch-intelligentsia-calls-for-a-united-front/

Pakistan’s crimes against humanity in Balochistan, An open Letter to Ban Ki Moon

Mr Ban Ki-moon

Secretary General, United Nation

1 United Nations Plaza,

New York, NY 10017

Dated: 28/07/2013

Dear Sir, The Baloch Social Media Activists forum would like to draw your kind attention towards the heinous crimes that the occupying Pakistani army is committing against humanity in Balochistan on daily basis. In order to contain the Baloch Freedom Movement, the Pakistani state has adopted a sinister strategy of eliminating the intellectuals and activists of Baloch society –with its systematic ‘dirty war’ which generally is called “kill and dump policy”. Pakistan’s notorious spy agencies, ISI and MI abduct Baloch political activists and subject them to untold agonizing tortures and subsequently throw their mutilated dead bodies on deserted areas across Balochistan. Since September, 2011 more than 700 mutilated dead bodies of around 18000 abducted Baloch political activists have been gifted to Baloch nation. The fates of the rest are unknown as Pakistani Guantanamo Bays abound in Balochistan and are off-limits to Human rights organizations and local as well as international media. Despite respected internal and international human right organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reports and courts orders, Pakistani state adamantly refuses to acknowledge and own the crimes against humanity that its security apparatus have committed and are committing in Balochistan. http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2013/07/pakistans-crimes-against-humanity-in.html

Justice for the ‘disappeared’

THE attorney general of Pakistan recently informed the Supreme Court that over 500 persons reported to be ‘missing’ were in the custody of security agencies.
This revelation comes after security agencies had for years denied involvement in cases of enforced disappearances in the country. Three years ago, Pakistan ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), undertaking to safeguard the right to life and liberty, including freedom from arbitrary detention, of its people. Coupled with a newly restored independent Supreme Court committed to defending human rights, many Pakistanis hoped the ratification would help improve Pakistan’s grave human rights record. But the expected improvements have not taken place — in fact, in some cases, the human rights situation has deteriorated. This remains true especially for enforced disappearances, which continue with impunity. It is now time for the Supreme Court to take the necessary steps to hold those state agencies (and agents) accountable that have subjected hundreds, if not thousands, of Pakistanis to enforced disappearance.http://dawn.com/news/1032711

Gone missing, Found Dead!

Grief stricken families of thousands of Baluchistan’s youth are made to think that does the UDHR (Universal Declaration of Human Rights) harness over the people of Baluchistan? Just like a person feared of losing something ,An army of a million is focusing Baluchistan, a province of just 6 million people. From Panjgur to Lasbela, Mastung to Kech, into the length and breadth of Baluchistan , the Baloch freedom fighters are hunted like deer by the Pakistani Army with the help of Air Controlled operations. The land of Houbara Bustard (The bird is only found in Canary Islands and in Baluchistan ) and the finest Date Palm is been colored red with the blood clots of Baloch youth. Extrajudicial killings and disappearances of Baloch youth continue unabated in Baluchistan with Army spokesmen denying like nothing had happened. The estimate is upto 11 thousand since 2002, however unofficial lists of some organized freedom fighting groups show up to 9 thousand of those who disappeared and found killed. I had a chance to talk personally to a victim family via social media, “ If you believe in some God, raise , raise voice for us, you will be granted blessings for that, they came , they put my brother onto a van, my 43 years old mother ran over to the van, she was trembling while she asked them to set my brother free, one soldier said “ Do not worry you all, if he did nothing against the state, he will be back, and even if he did, we will not kill him” would you believe after three weeks we got him dead just five miles far from my house, he was in blood with an anonymous writing, “ See what happens to those who challenge the writ of the state” Allahdad Mari went on weeping over and over. Suppressions never results positively , the Balochistan was an “ Expansion” instead of being an “Accession” , Baloch want freedom which can result no harm to the rest of Pakistan if understood broadly. Being sole proprietors of  60% of Pakistani Wealth, the generals with a cup of tea forget about feelings of a mother, father, sister  and brother.  One rebel is equal to a bundle of ammunition Pakistan Army has, with the passage of every passing day, Baluchistan is now generating tens of rebels.  The Lahore Times Read more: 
http://www.lhrtimes.com/2013/07/08/gone-missing-found-dead-177489/#ixzz2ZjMn1pBY 

Chinese & Pakistani conspiracies to exploit the resources of Balochistan against the consent & will of Baloch nation

In physics, every action has its equal and opposite reaction. In geo-diplomacy, "equal" isn't a given. China has responded to India's cozying up to Japan and Myanmar's slide into the Western camp by tilting toward Pakistan and Afghanistan. With all due respects to the strivers of Islamabad and Kabul, China is getting the worst of the bargain in trading nascent global power India and South Asian resource and agriculture powerhouse Myanmar for "failing state" Pakistan (the characterization recently offered by Ahmad Shuja Pasha, head of Pakistan's own ISI security service) and landlocked and miserable Afghanistan, whose main domestic product and export are both violence.  And then there is the contrast between the soon to be completed but politically vulnerable twin pipelines from Rakhine State in Myanmar to Yunnan in China and the "Gwadar-Kashgar corridor", an US$18 billion road, rail, and energy corridor fantasy that involves tunneling through the Himalayan mountains and also requires passage through Balochistan, a Pakistan province filled with resentful Balochis ripe for anti-Chinese violence even without the encouragement of the United States and India. Nevertheless, China has no alternative but to secure a set of costly contingencies in case hostility from India and Myanmar becomes overt. http://atimes.com/atimes/China/CHIN-01-120713.html

Baloch Women Taking More Prominent Role in Fight for Independence from Pakistan

Balochistan is one of the most underdeveloped regions in Pakistan, and has traditionally had a heavily male-dominated patriarchal society. Women have rarely had a role in public life. But things have been changing recently, as increasing numbers of women are taking up active and leading roles in the Baloch nationalist movement. One such women is Zarina Baloch. When her cousin was found murdered in February, it was a turning point in her life. Baloch’s cousin, Sangat Sana, was a young political activist who supported the idea of Balochistan’s secession from Pakistan. He had been missing for two years before his mutilated body was found.
“I was in Karachi when I heard the news that the mutilated body has been found in Turbat. I don’t have words. What can I do?” she says. “I heard there is a protest by BHRO the next day, so I have to join that protest and I joined. I even spoke to many news channels and told them that my brother has been killed. I got his mutilated body.” Zarina Baloch was a high school student then, and it was the first time she became politically active. Since then, attending protest rallies and sit-ins has become a part of her daily routine.She attended a recent protest rally in front of the Karachi Press Club, with other women, young and old. They’re all wearing traditional Balochi dresses with intricate colorful embroidery, and most of their faces are covered with veils. And at the back of the rally are a handful of men straggling along, and hardly as involved in the protest as the women. “Shame on the United Nation’s silence!” the protest leader chants. “Where are you UN?” This protest is about what is known in Pakistan as the “missing persons” issue.  http://www.theworld.org/2013/07/baloch-women-taking-more-prominent-role-in-fight-for-independence-from-pakistan/

The Growing Significance of Two Ports Of Balochistan (Gwadar and Chabahar)

Two deep-sea water warm ports situated roughly 70 kms away from each other on the gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea, are in news for various reasons in last few months. First, the Gwadar port in Baluchistan province of Pakistan built with Chinese assistance in the year 2002 and the other one is Chabahar port situated in Iranian Sistan-o-Balochistan province partially built with Indian assistance in the same year. The two rival ports are in the news for the involvement of two regional heavyweights of Asia, China and India respectively. Recently Pakistan has handed over the management of the Gwadar port to China Overseas Port Holding Company after a brief squabbled stint with Port of Singapore authority, the original manger of the port since 2007. Seeing this development, India pitched in and offered Iran $100 million aid to further develop the Chabahar port in the 4 May  visit of the External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. http://www.radianceweekly.com/366/10882/ib-role-in-encounters-exposed-union-home-ministry-in-a-dilemma-wants-to-play-dove/2013-07-07/foreign-affairs/story-detail/the-growing-significance-of-two-ports---gwadar-and-chabahar.html

Baloch professor gunned Down and colleague injured

Balochistan: A collage professor was gunned down while his colleague sustained injuries in Khuzdar, some 360 km southeast of Quetta on Thursday (July 11, 2013). 
 Degree Collage Khuzdar teachers, Professor Abdul Razaq Zehri Baloch and Professor Abdul Hakeem, were on their way home for iftar after teaching at a tuition centre when two armed bike riders opened fire on them at Chakar Khan Road of Khuzdar town near the local post office, police said. Both the professors were seriously wounded and were rushed to District Headquarters Hospital Khuzdar, where Professor Abdul Razaq Baloch succumbed to injuries. Hospital sources said that Professor Abdul Hakeem too was in critical condition. Police and other law enforcement agencies rushed to the site after the incident and cordoned off the area. A case had been registered against unknown persons and investigation was initiated. However, no group has claimed the responsibility for the attack. Khuzdar is one of the restive districts of Balochistan and teachers and journalists have also been attacked in this area in the past.
Courtesy of  Baluch sarmachar

15-July-Baloch-Martyr-Day

A Conference on Balochistan, The Baloch National Struggle: Past, Present and Future