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INTERFAITH INTERNATIONL
NGO with ECOSOC Special status
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57th session of UN Human Rights
Sub-Commission
Agenda Item 5 (c) Prevention of discrimination and
Protection of Minorities
Intervention by Mehran Baluch
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Mr. Chairman,
The Baluch Nation has been facing brutal repression by Pakistan’s ruling Punjabi oligarchy, which is a combine of generals, feudal lords and bureaucrats forged through matrimonial alliances, business interests and power sharing phenomenon.
Atrocities perpetrated on the Baluch nation has a long history going back to the days when a new state by the name of Pakistan was created in the sub-continent on the basis of religion in 1947. Even since, the ruling ethnic Punjabis, who are in an over all majority in this country have been struggling for an identity that is lost and a personality that is split. This makes them look for enemies within the country and outside it for domination and assertion. Since the Baluch are a traditionally secular, democratic and progressive nation with a long history of indigenous culture and social system heroically preserved in face of adverse pressures and proudly defended against adverse times, the Punjabi oligarchs feel threatened and insecure. Nowhere in the history of decolonized nations do we hear the new rulers bombarding and decimating segments of their own national as was by Pakistan army in Balochistan in the 1950s, 60, and at present.
The Pakistan air force is purchasing F16 fighter jets from the U.S, as per the specifications of the 1980s that the aircraft should be equipped with mountainous capability. We condemn the sale of any military equipment to the government of Pakistan because it is more then likely that it will be used against the Baluch people.
Apart from the lurking inferiority of a split personality, the ethnic Punjabi ruling group is unhappy with the natural rights that Baluch enjoy over their mineral resources in Baluch territory. They ceaselessly want the huge natural gas resources of Balochistan not to the benefit the local people but for those who militarily rule the country with impunity thousands of miles away in Islamabad. And when the Baluch protest the wanton loot of Sui gas reserves, the rulers come down with heavy hand throwing to winds all norms of good governance, human rights, constitutional rights and national interests.
Mr. Chairman, disappearance is the favourite weapon that the ethnic Punjabi rulers are using against the Baluch. More than 500 abductions have taken place in Balochistan in order to break the Baluch Students Organisation, whose members are on a hunger strike for last one month in front of Quetta press club.
The abduction on such large scales has shattered the Pakistan Human Rights commission so much so that even the members of this organisation have joined the hunger strikes. This is something unknown in the history of human rights violation. Mr. Allah Nazar Baluch, Ex-Chairman of BSO along with his other friends was abducted in March last and his whereabouts remain untraced so far. Haji Jan Mohammed Marri, Yar Khan Marri, other Baluch have been abducted and their families are on hunger strike. The families of these men even don’t about whether their love ones are alive or dead, if alive in which condition.
Ali Asghar Bangulzai another Baluch is missing form last five years without any charges. His tiny kids and other family member are on regular hunger strike. The Pakistani agencies and authorities have failed to tell the public about Mr. Ali if there are any charges against him. They neither bring to surface nor tell us about his whereabouts.
We may also refer to the massacre of Bugti Baluch in Dera Bugti in March in which about sixty people mainly Hindu Baluch were brutally murdered and their temples destroyed.
Mr. Chairman, the Punjabi ruling oligarchy has undertaken massive construction of Gawader sea port that lies on the Makran coast of Balochistan. While doing so, they see to it that the locals are denied employment opportunities and other genuine benefits. People from the Punjab province are brought in to fill hundreds and thousands of job placements. This naturally excludes the Baluch from gainful employment in their own territory and this is clear discrimination on ethnic basis.
Mr. Chairman, the process of changing the demographic complexion of Balochistan is high on the agenda of domineering Punjabi group in Pakistan. As the Gawader port develops large scale non-Baluch are brought in from NWFP and Punjab provinces, as labourers and workers. Their number is swelling rapidly and if no action is taken to stop it, it may be sooner rather than later that the Baluch will be reduced to a status of minority groups on their own land.
Mr. Chairman, Punjabi military is using military tactics to ensure the suppression and enslavement of the Baluch nation. It has raised more then 200 fortresses across Balochistan; this is a classic example of how colonial powers expand their domination. We are informed that Pakistan government wants to settle 6 to 7 million no-Baluch on Baluch territory and thus bring about complete demographic change in Baluch population.
Mr. Chairman, this is not first time that the issue of discrimination Baluch on of Baluch nation in Pakistan has been brought to your notice. As such, we appeal to you to ask the special Rapporteus concerned to visit Balochistan and witness the gross violation of human rights by the Government of Pakistan.
We also appeal to you to advise the military regime in Islamabad to stop atrocities against the Baluch, stop the wanton loot of our natural resources, and release the people arrested for defending the national interests of Balochistan and agree to give the Baluch their rightful place in the governance and administration of Balochistan. Economic disparities need to be removed and Baluch allowed to develop their indigenous culture and life style.
Thanks you Mr. Chairman.
