Talha not happy over briefing on Balochistan

Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Senator Talha Mehmood Thursday expressed his dissatisfaction over the in- camera briefing to Senate on Balochistan situation, adding that there was a huge gap between the ground realities and the briefing.
“What was briefed to the Senators was already known and there was nothing new. There was a huge gap between the facts presented to the House and the ground realities,” he told media at Parliament.
He said some neighbouring countries’ are actively involved in creating turmoil in Balochistan to de-stabilize the country.
The Senator called upon the political forces to sit together to sort out all the problems being faced by the country. However, he emphasized upon the implementation of the resolution, passed by joint sitting of the Parliament on national security, in true letter and spirit.
He said the federal and the provincial governments should initiate development projects in Balochistan to create opportunities for the local people, who have great sense of deprivation.
It is also responsibility of the government to control the law and order situation in Tribal areas of NWFP, Swat and other troubled areas, which is putting negative impact on other parts of the country.
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Two Editorails: Needless accusations and Baloch backlash

‘Startled’ is the word used by this paper’s reporter to describe the reaction of senators on Wednesday when they were briefed on Balochistan by the PM’s interior adviser. Was Rehman Malik’s argument a throwback to the old days when it was easy for the state to justify the bulldozing of a movement after labelling it as pro-India or pro-Soviet or pro-Afghan? Conversely, we know that when the government is not using the ‘foreign agent’ excuse to browbeat an errant subject, it is applying the refrain to conceal its inability to overcome a problem. Either way, it spells trouble for Pakistan and Mr Malik could have avoided the situation.His statement is hardly in keeping with the friendly messages President Asif Zardari has been sending to both New Delhi and Kabul. Also, the time is long gone when people would readily accept the state’s version about events in a ‘remote’ part of the country. Assertions without evidence can cause grave harm. The adviser should know since he had himself asked for an explanation after a Lahore police official linked India to two terrorist attacks in the city in recent weeks.It is his turn to come up with proof now. He spoke of thousands of Baloch insurgents being trained in Afghanistan with the support of India. By doing so, he also exposed himself and indeed the state he represents to the anger of the Baloch who may view the statement as part of a smear campaign which insinuates that they are susceptible to inducement by Pakistan’s ‘enemies’. It is good that we have a forum in the media where the accused can respond with statements of their own, but that doesn’t in any way rule out other, more severe, reactions.Let’s be under no illusions: others may well want to exploit situations inside our country to their advantage in the name of their own national interest. The world as it is today offers ample opportunity for such covert operations but we can only tackle these issues by first addressing the local realities behind them. As some senators maintained during the briefing, pointing fingers could further complicate relations with our neighbours.The senators were absolutely right in calling on the adviser to be discreet with his words, insisting they would rather hear him out in-camera. If something concrete emerges from the in-camera session, it can be taken up with those deemed responsible.http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/balochistan/needless-accusations-hs

Canada protest against the murder of three Baloch political leaders

Canada; BHRC (Press Release on April 23, 2009) Balochistan Human Rights Council of Canada, Vancouver, chapters through their rally appealed to the United Nations and Canadian government to notice and help to stop further extra judicial killing of Baloch leaders and activists by Pakistani intelligence agencies and to get to the heart of the catastrophic and unbearable situation of Balochistan. We are gathered here today against the judicial killing of three significant Baloch leaders whom were kidnapped in broad day light on April 3rd, 2009 from a court chamber. They were Advocates of Kachkol Ali in Turbat, Balochistan. He was a Balochistan Assembly opposition leader and he has been an eyewitness of brazen kidnapping of three Baloch leaders. The Pakistani state sponsored terrorist intelligence first tortured three leaders inhumanly, in barbaric methods that these three leaders suffered gun shots in their head. They committed the murder of three Baloch leaders: Mir Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Munir Baloch and Sher Mohammad Baloch. According to reports their dead bodies were carried by Pakistani Army helicopters and thrown 35 kilometers away from the location they disappeared and their dead bodies were found on April 8th, 2009 in the hills of Balochistan. Of great notice is that the leader Mir Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, who negotiated with the United Nations staff along with the prominent Baloch leader Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, was a participant in releasing United Nation refugee agency director John Solecki. It was due to the efforts of these Baloch leaders that the United Nation refugee agency executive was released on April 2nd, 200. And surprisingly the next day of his release three Baloch leaders were kidnapped by Pakistani intelligence agencies. The UN and US Embassy in Islamabad have both strongly condemned the barbaric acts and murder of three Baloch leaders. The United Nations showed their condolence to their families and called their murder a “serious concern”. BHRC is highlighting all human rights violations against their people in Western (Iranian occupied Balochistan) and Eastern (Pakistani occupied Balochistan). Iranian government is executing Baloch religious scholars and human rights activists because Baloch are a Sunni minority who are ruled by a Shia majority regime.BHRC of Canada wants to remind the democratic world and the United Nations that since 2005 the there has been operations by the bloody Pakistani military against the Baloch people. Till today, there are hundreds of innocent Baloch included political activists, leaders, students and 141 Baloch women who are under the Pakistani military detention. They are being tortured and even 23 year old female Baloch teacher Zarina Marri has been kept as a sex slave by Pakistani military officers. But they keep denying, similarly in January 2005 Pakistani military officer Hamed raped a female physician, Dr. Shazia Khalid in Sui, Balochistan. The state head, former dictator Pervez Musharraf, declared that his army officer is not guilty, till today he is free without any charge. In Balochistan all the disappearances have been exposed by Baloch families who’ve tried all avenues such as hunger strikes, rally, press briefing, demonstration and have been approaching the Pakistani court and justice system for four years. They have been demanding to bring their loved ones to court, charge if they have committed any illegal act or else release them. But years have passed; there is no progress on this till today even under the present civilian government of Pakistan.BHRC condemned both non-democratic and fundamentalist regimes of Pakistan and Iran their human rights violations against the Baloch people in both occupied Balochistan.

Wheel-jam and shutter down across Balochistan, four cops hurt in grenade attack

QUETTA: A partial shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was observed in the provincial capital on Wednesday to protest against the killing of three Baloch leaders. The Baloch National Front (BNF) had called for the strike. The majority of businesses and commercial centres remained closed in Kalat, Mach, Sibi, Dhader, Mastung, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Panjgur, Awaran, Mashkay, kharan, Nokshi, Gwader and Makuran. The traffic in these areas remained off the roads. A large number of police personnel were deployed at the entry and exit points of the provincial capital as well as at key locations. Enraged people in Quetta pelted the passing by vehicles with stones and shops business places have been set on fire. Schools and other education institutions remained closed while presence in offices was thin due to unavailability of public transport. Reports coming from else where in Balochistan also said that some minor incidents of violence took place but generally the situation remained calm as compared to previous days protests.Four policemen among 5 injured in Quetta grenade attackQUETTA: Unidentified militants threw a hand grenade at policemen deployed on the outskirts of the provincial capital on Wednesday, injuring four policemen and a passer by, police said. The officials said police personnel were on duty in the Hazar Ganji area when unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade at them. Policemen Baqir Ali, Rajab Ali, Nadir Ali and Muhammad Asif, and passer by Islamud Dun, were seriously injured in the attack. The wounded, taken to a nearby hospital, were in critical condition, the officials said. The assailants managed to escape from the scene, they added. Shalkot police station has registered the first information report (FIR) against unidentified militants and the investigation is underway.

Government schools and buildings should hoist the flag of Independent Balochistan

Quetta: unknown person distributed pamphlets in khuzdar, Mastung, Turbat and Panjgur areas of Balochistan, which contains threats to the administration of the government schools not to hoist Pakistani flag and stop singing Pakistan's National anthem. The leaflet spread fear and harassment among the government officials, they are now reluctant to hoist Pakistani flag in government buildings and schools.According to local media reports non-Baloch staff at government offices and schools are transfering their jobs to different areas and those those whose job are not transferable are thinking to resign if not protected. The non-residents of Balochistan siad that provincial government is completely silent over these threatening leaflets. They warned if no action is taken many schools will be shut-down.Meanwhile protest demonstrations continue across Balochistan against the brutal murder of three Baloch political leaders. BSO activists have set up token hunger strike camps in different regions of Balochistan against the army operation, against the cold-blooded murder of Baloch leaders and against the forced-disappearances in Balochistan. On the other hand the eye-witnesses of the abduction of three Baloch leaders from their lawyers office said that they are receiving death threats from Pakistani agencies. According the witnesses they are told to shut-up else they'll suffer the same fate as their leaders.It is worth noting that Asian human rights watch has already published a news release, which says that Mr kachkol Ali Baloch's (the lawyer the three murdered Baloch leaders) life could be in danger as he's the only eye-witness to the abduction of Baloch leaders.

Iran President's Remarks Prompt Walkout At U.N. Conference

Geneva -- Dozens of Western diplomats walked out of a United Nations conference on racism Monday when Iran's hard-line president called Israel the "most cruel and repressive racist regime." The United States, which is boycotting the conference, called Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remarks hateful -- injecting new tension into a relationship that had been warming after President Obama sought to engage Iran in talks on its nuclear program and other issues. The meeting was chaotic almost from the start, when two rainbow-wigged protesters tossed red clown noses at Ahmadinejad as he began his speech with a Muslim prayer. A Jewish student group from France said it had been trying to convey "the masquerade that this conference represents."
Ahmadinejad, the first government official to take the floor at the weeklong event in Geneva, delivered a half-hour speech that was by turns conciliatory and inflammatory.
At one point he appealed for global unity in the fight against racism.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-racism21-2009apr21,0,1919067.storyThen he said the U.S. and Europe helped establish Israel at the expense of Palestinians after World War II.
"They resorted to military aggression to make an entire nation homeless under the pretext of Jewish suffering," he said.
Jewish groups had lobbied for a boycott of the conference, warning it could descend into anti-Semitism or other anti- Israel rhetoric, which marred the last such conference eight years ago in South Africa.
At the first mention of Israel, about 40 diplomats from Britain, France and other European Union countries exited the room.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the event proved the U.S. was right to boycott the conference.
Source: http://www.latimes.com

BALOCH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ( CANADA ) press release - and Demonstration

Toronto, April 17, 2009 – Baloch Human Rights Council (Canada) held a protest rally in Toronto to express their shock and concern over the abduction, torture, and extra judicial killings of the three Baloch leaders, Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Munir, and Sher Mohammad Baloch by the Pakistani military intelligence agencies. The rally was attended by Baloch community of Toronto, World Sindhi Institute, Canadian Kashmiri Association, and Pakhtunkhwa Peace Forum.
The rally was addressed by Humaira Rahman of WSI, Javed Khan of Pakhtunkhwa Peace Forum, Mumtaz Khan of Canadian Kashmiri Association, and Zaffar Baloch of Baloch Human Rights Council ( Canada ). The speakers condemned the torture and cold-blooded murders of the three Baloch leaders by the Pakistani military intelligence agencies and demanded the killers to be brought to justice.
The speakers expressed their concern over the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan and appealed to the international community to take serious notice of the deepening political crisis in Balochistan.
They demanded an immediate halt to the ongoing military operation in Balochistan and the withdrawal of the 80,000 troops from the province. The rally asked for immediate release of the disappeared persons, political detainees, including the 141 Baloch women kidnapped by the Pakistani intelligence agencies.
The speakers demanded that the Baloch peoples’ right and sovereignty over their lands and natural resources should be unconditionally accepted by the Pakistani government in accordance to UN charter of rights of nations, including the political and economic freedoms and the right to self determination.

Baloch are NOT ethnic

realised some Baloch and non-Baloch use a wrong terminology ' ethnic' or 'ethnicity' about the Baloch in Iran or Pakistan. The Baloch people are indigenous native inhabitants of Balochistan, under the political geography of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. As such, they can be described as a nation, not an ethnic group in any of these three countries.
Therefore, I see no problem in referring them as 'the Baloch nation' in Iran, Pakistan or Afghanistan. Likewise, one may use the terminology of 'nationality' about the Baloch in each of these political entities. For example, one may use the term 'Baloch Nation' when talking about Baloch people in general.
However, one may argue that the Baloch are not a 'nation' as they have not their own politically independent modern state. Although, I appreciate their argument, I believe that in today's 'post-modern' age - if I am allowed to use this concept- the use of 'nation' or 'nations' cannot be limited within formal political entities.
Obviously and quite rightly, many commentators use the term 'nationality'. For example, one may say that there are different 'nationalities' in Iran such as Kurds, Persian, Baloch, Turkmen, etc.
The main mistake/ concern is the use of 'ethnic groups' or 'minority ethnics' when we refer to the Baloch or any other nationality within their own land. As I understand it, 'ethnic groups' or 'minority ethnics' can only be used about people who are not native to a land/ country in recent historical sense. For examples, the 'Indian Mohajers' who migrated to 'West Pakistan' after Indian partition are an ethnic group.
The Armenian people in Iran are an ethnic group, as they were initially brought to Persia during Safavid dynasty. The German people in Russia- who were sent to different parts of Soviet Union during Stalin's rule- can be described as German ethnic group in Russia (Although Both German and Armenian are 'proper' nations in Germany and Armenia).
As far as the Baloch are concerned, they are not an 'ethnic group' in Balochistan. The Baloch are native people in the land of Balochistan, whether it is in Iran, "Pakistan" or Afghanistan. The concept of Baloch migrants is another issue. The Baloch in India (new post 1947 Hindustan), Arab countries, Africa, Europe, Americas, ... are indeed 'ethnic groups' within those countries. There is no American or European or Arab or Indian Balochistan, whereas we have Balochistan within Iran, Pakistan or Afghanistan.
There are nations/ nationalities of Scots, Welsh, English and Irish in Britain. There is a Basque nationality in Spain. There are Kashmiri, Punjabi, Bengali, ... nationalities in India. There are nationalities such as Pakhtuns, Tajik, Turkmen, Baloch, ... in Afghanistan. No one refers to the Welsh or Scots as 'ethnic groups' in Britain. They are 'nations' within Britain. However, 'Indians' or 'Jamaican' and other people (apart from English, Welsh, Scots, Irish) are referred to as 'ethnic groups' or 'minority ethnics' or 'ethnic minorities'.
In short, the Baloch are NOT ethnic groups in Pakistan, Iran or Afghanistan. There is a Baloch nationality in Iran, Afghanistan or Pakistan. As far as 'national question' is concerned, I'll leave it to politicians who are more qualified to answer it. My main concerns are the issues of 'concepts', names, literary and cultural terminologies.

Come and join us in a demonstration on Sunday

Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC), World Sindhi Congress (WSC), and Sindhi Baloch Forum (SBF) are jointly holding a demonstration to protest against the cold blooded murders of Baloch political activists Mir Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Sher Mohammad Baloch and Lala Muneer Baloch by the Pakistani Military Intelligence. They were picked up by the army personnel on 3 rd April, 2009 from the office of their solicitor in Turbat Balochistan. The Baloch leaders were blind folded and taken to an unknown destination. They were shot and their dead bodies were thrown from a military helicopter next day 20 miles away from Turbat.
Don�t let War Criminals Get Away With the Murder
The demonstration is aimed to draw the attention of the international community towards the barbaric brutalities committed by Pakistani military in Balochistan and to highlight the crimes committed against humanity by the Pakistani state intelligence agencies in Balochistan.
All democratic, peace and freedom loving people are requested to attend the demonstration and demand justice for the Baloch.
Venue: In front Of BBC World Service, Bush House, Strand,
London WC2- 4PH
Day: Sunday 19 April 2009
Time: 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm

Issued by: Samad Baloch
Secretary General
Baloch Human Rights Council London 15 April 2009