Arrest of Baluch human rights activists in London
Pakistan bid to frame nationalists on terrorism
charges?
London – 5 December 2007
Two exiled human rights activists from Pakistan-occupied Baluchitan (a
former British protectorate) were arrested in London on 4 December by the
Metropolitan police in an operation code-named Operation Super
Sweep/Swift.
The arrested men are Faiz Mohammed Baluch and Nawabzada Herbier Marri (see
more details below). They are believed to have been arrested on
terrorism-related charges.
Human rights campaigner peter Tatchell said:
“I know one of the detained men, Faiz Baluch, and have worked with him
on campaigns against Pakistani human rights abuses in occupied Baluchistan.
In all the work that I have done with him, he and other exiled Baluch
activists have been engaged in an entirely lawful, constitutional struggle
for the independence of their homeland.
“these arrests are likely to
have been at the request of the Pakistan government, which has long been
seeking the extradition of Baluch nationalists exiled in London. If these
men are extradited they will never get a fair trial and they could face a
death sentence.
“I urge the British government to not give in to pressure from the
Pakistani dictator,
President musharraf. The
extradition of these men would result in their arrest, torture,
imprisonment and possible execution and possible execution.
“the Pakistan authorities have repeatedly sought to frame peaceful
nationalists and human rights campaigners, both inside Baluchistan and
abroad.
“Earlier this year, there was an attempt by Pakistan to secure the
extradition from Britain of Mehran Baluch, the Baluch representative to
the UN Human Rights council. The charges against him were false.
See this Guardian newspaper report,28March 2007:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2044324,00.html
“These arrests look like another fit-up
orchestrated by the Pakistan government to silence critics of Pakistan’s
tyrannical, murderous oppression of the Baluch people.
The Pakistani authorities are secretly colluding with the Taliban to
suppress Baluchistan (see details below),”said Mr Tatchell.
Concerning the two arrested men:
Faiz Mohammed Baluch was arrested and taken to an unknown location.
Probably Paddington Green police station. At the moment, he has no legal
representation.
Nawabzada Hyrbiyar Marri (known as
Hyrbiyar) was taken by police from his home in Ealing, London W13, at
around 5am on 4 December. Since his arrest, the police have been cordoned
off. The mobile phones of his children have been confiscated.
According to unconfirmed office is Detective chief Inspector Chris Byrne
of the Counter-Terrorism Unit at Nes Scotland Yard: 0207 230 2717. The
phone number for the officer in charge of the quarantined property in
Ealing is: 07900 136 818
The lawyer who has been appointed to represent Hyrbiyar is Jim Nichol:
0207 072 8336.
For further information:
Mehran Baluch, the Baluch representative to the UN Human Rights Council,
bassed in London: mehranbaluch@hotmail.com
Peter Tatchell, human rights campaigner; 020 7403 1790
Current news on the Baluch freedom struggle: www.balochvoice.com
and www.balochwarna.org
Details of the arrested persons:
Full Name: Nawabzada Hyrbiyar Marri
DOB: 4 August 1968
Address: 21 Heronsforde, Ealing
W13 8JE
Occupation: Journalist
Immigration Status; Work permit
Visa
Nationality: Pakistani
Faiz Mohommad Baluch
Nationality Iranian
Other details not known
Background briefing
Read this Guardian article abut Pakistan’s occupation of Baluchistan:
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/peter_tatchell/2007/08/pakistan_celebrates_baluchista.html
Watch this internet TV interview with Mehran Baluch, the Baluch
representative at the UN Human Rights Council:
http://doughty.gdbtv.com/player.php?h=6047ff19c2da48b68fed7e067a3af5
Baluchistan freedom struggle – Pakistan colludes with Taliban
By peter Tatchell
Baluchistan was former British protectorate. It secured its independence
in 1947. But less than a year later Pakistan invaded and annexed the newly
independent state of Baluchistan. The Baluch people have, however, never
given up their struggle for freedom.
After six decades of occupation and bloody repression, Pakistan is once
again escalating its war against the people of Baluchistan, detaining
without trail thousands of Baluchs and executing hundreds more. Because
Britain and the united States want Pakistan as an ally in the “war on
terror” they are arming Pakistan and acquiescing with its suppression of
the Baluch people.
Pakistan’s war against non-fundamentalist Baluchistan and its moderate
nationalist forces is strengthening the position of the Taliban who have
exploited the situation to establish bases in the region. From these bases
they launch terror attacks against the Baluch people and seek to enforce
the Talibanisation of Balochistan. The Pakistani government colludes wit
the Taliban’s murderous campaign, on the grounds that it helps o crush
the Baluch people and their struggle for independence.
Some of the Taliban leaders hide out in Baluchistan, from where they plan
and launch their military operations to overthrow the democratically
elected government of Afghanistan. Their campaign to usurp power in Kabul
is taking place with the tacit collusion of key figures in the Pakistani
government, military and intelligence services.
The Pakistans are allowing the
Taliban to use Baluchistan as a base for their war against democracy and
human rights.
The international community is looking the other way, allowing the Baluch
people to be suppressed and ignoring their right to self-determination.
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