Sindhi Baloch Forum Ref.: SBF/14/08/02 PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE INFO. SECRETARY – AMBREEN HISBANI LONDON, 14th August 02 Sindhi and Baloch activists lodged Their Protest in front of Pakistan High Commission in London Fifty Five Years of Occupation and Oppression of Sindhis and Baloch Sindhi and Baloch activists gathered in front of Pakistan High Commission in London today on 14th August 02 to lodge their protest against the Government of Pakistan for the crimes and injustices that the Sindhis and Baloch people have suffered over the 55 years of the existence of Pakistan. Sindhi Baloch Forum is the first international alliance of Sindhis and Baloch, by World Sindhi Congress, Balochistan National Party and Baloch Voice. The social, political, human rights and environmental activists from different parts of UK came to attend this rally on this afternoon. Speeches were deleverd by Dr Lakhu Luhanna, Finance Secretary of WSC, Mr. Javed Mengal, ex – senator and BNP leader, and Mr. Balach Marri, Chairman of BV. SBF representative Dr. Rubina Shaikh and Malach Mrri presented a memorandum of demands to Pakistan High Commissioner at the end of the protest. Speaking to the gathering Dr. Lukhu Luhana stated that Sindhis have seen the colonial eras of Greeks, Arabs, Afghanis, Arghuns, Turkhans and Britishers but nothing compares with the systematic, cruel and calculated yoke of slavery that started with the inception of Pakistan for the people of Sindh. He also emphasised the on-going oppression of Sindhis under various regimes including Skinder Mirza, General Ayub Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto , General Zia and current military ruler General Pervez Musharf. Following were the only few grievances were highlighted by Dr Lohanna: · Repeated Federal dismissal of elected Assemblies of Sindh and other provinces in 1992, 1995, 1998 and 1999. · The Construction of Asia’s largest military cantonments in Sindh. Spending more than 65% budget on defence and debt servicing. · Forced migration of Sindhi Hindus from Sindh. Sindh was deprived of its educated and skilled middle classes. Continous migration from Punjab resettlement of Afghan refugees and the construction of Tarbella and Rawal Dam caused a great influx of immigrant from NWFP and Punjab to Sindh. This phenomenon of migration decreased the indigenous Sindhis from 90% of the population to 60% in their own motherland. · The allotment of the evacuated properties and the most fertile agriculture lands near Gudu and Kotri Barrage to immigrants and retired military and civil bureaucrats. · Forced Islamisation and denial of indigenous cultures and Sufi Traditions. State controlled media and School Curricula popularise Islamic heroes and preach pan islamism and two nation theory, which is against the grain of Sindhi people. · State sponsored civil war among various communities in Sindh. Total negligence of law and order in Sindh, resulting in the paralysis of civic life. · Continued efforts for the construction of Kalabagh Dam, which has been disapproved by all the provincial assemblies except the Punjab Assembly. Various dams and barrages have been built on River Indus resulting in the lack of irrigation in Sindh. Unveiling the plan of Pakistani Establishment Dr Lahanno highlighted that the colonialists are thinking about the worst case scenario that is if they can not control the rising aspirations of other nations. They are working on the strategy, particularly for Sindh, to desertify it to cultivate and prosper Punjab. The waters of river Indus have been blocked and diverted using a series of illegal dams and link canals. Javed Mengal, BNP leader shared his bitter experiences as legislator. He said " no matter how much sindhi and baloch tried to prove themselves as patriotic pakistani, the very ingrained inequity in power structure protected by constitution and military institution, we will always be seen as ‘law brockers’ and ‘traitors’". He observed that British colonialists were much better than Pakistan regime, because at least British Imperialist had a partially fair Adminstration of Justic, but in Pakistan there is a complete denial of any sort of justice. Mr Balach Marri, Chairman Baloch Voice stressed the miseries of the Baloch people under the dominance of Government of Pakistan. He stated that Baloch never accepted alien domination of Pakistani Establishment. Baloch have been engaged in a constant struggle for self governance since last 55 years which resulted in sever military operation by Pakistani Army in Balochistan and forced migration and displacement of thousands of Baloch’s to Afghanistan and other parts of the world. The People of Balochistan struggle for national independence has its genesis in history and culture. Strongly believer of right of self determination, the people of Balochistan have never accepted hegemony and domination of Pakistani establishment in any stage in 55 years history of Pakistan. Mr Marri highlighted that the brief history of Pakistani oppression against Baloch people and their struggle against the tyrants. This history begins when Balochistan was forcefully annexed to Pakistan though at that time Balochistan had its own Parliamentarian system there was House of Commons and House of Lords. Both the houses had anonymously voted not to join Pakistan. When Pakistan government couldn’t get the approval from the Baloch peoples representatives, they cunningly manipulated the members of the Quetta Municipality to vote for Balochistan’s annexation to Pakistan. Physically it was not possible for Pakistan government to announce the annexation of Balochistan and make Balochistan a part of Pakistan just by the approval of Quetta Municipality, so Pakistan had to individually addressed all the states of Kalat, separate them from Kalat State and forced them to join Pakistan. To exercise this plane Pakistan government deployed its naval forces on the coastline of Makaran ,Kharan and Lasbela, which was a part of Balochistan deployed its stooges in power and through them Pakistan made them to get separated from Kalat State and join Pakistan. In the next step Pakistan army was sent to Kalat, army arrested Khan of Kalat with the rest of the family and all the supporters of sovereign Balochistan. In 1970 election Nation Awamy Party win majority of the assembly seats in Balochistan and NWFP. Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was unwilling to hand over power to the elected representatives of NAP in Balochistan and NWFP, but did so because army was busy on Indian boarder and he was afraid of public upp rising if he tried to stop NAP taking power in the two provinces. But eventually when army came back from Indian borders he dismissed the governments in Balochistan and NWFP and deployed army in the area. In 1973 full army operation was launched in which thousands of civilians and political activist were murdered by army and all the nationalist leader were sent jail, and later were forced to exile in Afghanistan where they stayed more then a decade in destitute. When in late 70s they returned home they were starving as non of them had a penny left. Not a single persona among those who returned was rehabilitated by the Government of Pakistan, on the contrary they were and are being hunted upon even to this day by the Pakistan Regime. All three speakers concluded that these fifty five years Pakistani Government have given Sindhis and Baloch nothing but prisons, killings , suicides, sufferings, humiliation and alienation. Therefore, 14th August is the day when they conquered Sindh and Balochistan. This is the day for them to celebrate and for us to mourn. We the true and faithful sons and daughters of Sindh and Balochistan will carry this struggle until we get what is genuinely ours. Office No. 19 Ealing House. 33 Hanger lane London W5 3HJ , Tel/Fax +44 20 85667418 , Mobile +44 7940742229, Email: SBF-officers@yahoogroups.com