Baloch Voice Foundation is organising a three-day international conference on February 22-24, 2010 at Bangkok, Thailand. The theme selected for the
Conference is, “Balochistan Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges”.
The Conference seeks to provide a forum for open and objective discussion on issues relating to the state of Balochi identity, culture and the problems
that Balochis are facing collectively in the world today in general and within the Pakistani state in particular. Eminent scholars, experts and analysts from
all over the world are being invited to participate in the deliberations. We intend to publish the proceedings subsequently published in the form of a book.
Given the critical times that Balochis are passing through as a nation today, Baloch Voice Foundation considers it useful to organise a meeting of Baloch
leaders, scholars and civil society activists, along with political scientists and strategic analysts focussing on Balochistan from Pakistan and around the
world in a neutral venue and discuss the issues concerning the people of Balochistan. The basic purpose is engage in a brainstorming exercise to find
out the ways and means through which Balochs can resolve the problems that they are in today.
>> Details of the programs
Munir Mengal
Baloch Voice Foundation, Paris, France
Conference is, “Balochistan Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges”.
The Conference seeks to provide a forum for open and objective discussion on issues relating to the state of Balochi identity, culture and the problems
that Balochis are facing collectively in the world today in general and within the Pakistani state in particular. Eminent scholars, experts and analysts from
all over the world are being invited to participate in the deliberations. We intend to publish the proceedings subsequently published in the form of a book.
Given the critical times that Balochis are passing through as a nation today, Baloch Voice Foundation considers it useful to organise a meeting of Baloch
leaders, scholars and civil society activists, along with political scientists and strategic analysts focussing on Balochistan from Pakistan and around the
world in a neutral venue and discuss the issues concerning the people of Balochistan. The basic purpose is engage in a brainstorming exercise to find
out the ways and means through which Balochs can resolve the problems that they are in today.
>> Details of the programs
Munir Mengal
Baloch Voice Foundation, Paris, France
| A Message from Baloch Society of North America First of all, on behalf of Baloch Society of North America, I would like to congratulate and thank our brother Mr. Munir Mengal Baloch for organizing this important conference in such a critical time in Balochistan's history to highlight the plights of Baloch people internationally. I hope this conference will be a milestone and it will energize Baloch struggle and take it to next level. My special Thanks to all guest who travelled from motherland Balochistan despite all the obstacles and difficulties that they faced back home and made it to the conference. This shows their love and strong commitment to Balochistan. I also thanks to all the distinguished guests who came to show their support to the suffering Baloch people in the occupied Balochistan. Dear friends, It is unfortunate that I'm not here personally present with you all to celebrate the success of this conference, but believe me my heart and mind is with you all. I was told by some of the anti-Baloch, anti-conference elements to not come to this conference, or else I should bring my coffin with me. They think Balochistan is their personal property but this conference proved that they are wrong. I would like to say this to them, Balochistan belongs to all Balochs. If they think that they can harass, intimidate and threaten Baloch activists to make them quit they are seriously mistaken. This conference is being held despite of strong opposition from these anti-Baloch elements who are disguised as 'Baloch nationalists' and the credit goes to Sangat Munir Jan Mengal and to all of you who came from far away to make this conference a success. I congratulate all of you, on behalf of Baloch Society of North America, and wish you all a great successful conference. Best Regards, Dr. Wahid Baloch, President of Baloch Society of North America (BSO-NA) 1629 K Street NW, Suit 300 Washington D.C., 20036 Tel: (202) 349-1682 Fax: (202) 331-3759 |
UNPO Denounces Human Rights Violations in
Balochistan, Pakistan
Monday, 22 February 2010
Marino Busdachin, General Secretary of UNPO, has criticised the heavy handed tactics of oppression employed against the Baloch people at an
international conference currently taking place in Bangkok, Thailand.
The conference entitled “Balochistan Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges” is bringing together international thinkers and Baloch
intellectuals from countries around the world and from Balochistan itself in order to discuss Baloch related issues.
In a statement, Busdachin criticized Thai authorities for their role in preventing 18 invited participants from attending the conference. He denounced the
increasingly common phenomena of forced disappearances of individuals in Balochistan as illegal and immoral, especially when partnered with a
systematic use of torture and the atmosphere of impunity enjoyed by the Pakistan military.
Busdachin further denounced the gross violations of human rights in Pakistan as “criminal” and demanded that they no longer by tolerated by the
international community. He added that the UN Human Rights Council needed to take these issues seriously at the next plenary session of the Human
Rights Council if it seeks to preserve its status as a mechanism worthy of its title.
The conference seeks to provide a platform for debate on self-determination in Balochistan where little dialogue currently exists. It is argued that the
government must acknowledge that the implementation and maintenance of rule of law, democracy and accountability would help allay some of the
fears of the Baloch people and assuage some of the frustration which perpetuates some of the more forceful calls for greater self-determination.
The conference ends on February 24 2010. Please refer to the UNPO website for further information in the coming days.
http://www.unpo.org/content/view/10755/81/
Balochistan, Pakistan
Monday, 22 February 2010
Marino Busdachin, General Secretary of UNPO, has criticised the heavy handed tactics of oppression employed against the Baloch people at an
international conference currently taking place in Bangkok, Thailand.
The conference entitled “Balochistan Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges” is bringing together international thinkers and Baloch
intellectuals from countries around the world and from Balochistan itself in order to discuss Baloch related issues.
In a statement, Busdachin criticized Thai authorities for their role in preventing 18 invited participants from attending the conference. He denounced the
increasingly common phenomena of forced disappearances of individuals in Balochistan as illegal and immoral, especially when partnered with a
systematic use of torture and the atmosphere of impunity enjoyed by the Pakistan military.
Busdachin further denounced the gross violations of human rights in Pakistan as “criminal” and demanded that they no longer by tolerated by the
international community. He added that the UN Human Rights Council needed to take these issues seriously at the next plenary session of the Human
Rights Council if it seeks to preserve its status as a mechanism worthy of its title.
The conference seeks to provide a platform for debate on self-determination in Balochistan where little dialogue currently exists. It is argued that the
government must acknowledge that the implementation and maintenance of rule of law, democracy and accountability would help allay some of the
fears of the Baloch people and assuage some of the frustration which perpetuates some of the more forceful calls for greater self-determination.
The conference ends on February 24 2010. Please refer to the UNPO website for further information in the coming days.
http://www.unpo.org/content/view/10755/81/
Links: http://www.dailyintekhab.com.pk/#
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2010/02/100222_balochistan_conf_np.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2010/02/100222_balochistan_conf_np.shtml
BALOCHISTAN
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges
First Baloch International Conference in Bangkok, Thailand
Feb 22 - 24, 2010
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges
First Baloch International Conference in Bangkok, Thailand
Feb 22 - 24, 2010
| Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 2:42 PM Congratulations to the Organizers of Baloch Conference This is a great event that Baloch intellectuals have finally succeeded in holding an international Conference to discuss the problem of Balochistan. The Organizers deserve all praise. We wish them all success. Sincerely yours: Jumma Khan Baloch e-mail: balochjk@yahoo.com |
Balochistan: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Meeting the Challenges
Concept Note
Balochis of Pakistan have been on the wrong side of history for no fault of their own. They were the victims of imperial conspiracy and colonial
oppression during the colonial period and they have been under illegal occupation since 1947. The state of Pakistan has treated Balochis as second-
class citizens and viewed their genuine demands for cultural autonomy and economic justice with suspicion. The elites of Pakistan have regarded
Balochistan both as a strategic outpost and a resource rich terrain which can fill their coffers and boost the economy of Pakistan. Balochistan has lured
them with its rich resources and strategic geopolitical location.
Balochistan has 48 per cent of total territory of Pakistan and mere 5 per cent of population. It is endowed with rich mineral wealth (natural gas, coal and
minerals). With the construction of a new deep sea port at Gwadar, Balochistan has even become more strategically important for Pakistan. It is
projected to act as the hub of an energy and trade corridor which will connect Pakistan with China and the Central Asian republics.
However, the Balochis have been treated with absolute scorn and contempt. In terms of human develop index, Balochistan is at the bottom of the table
in Pakistan. There has been no plausible effort to develop this human resource of this state. The infrastructural and physical developments (Gwadar
port, Mirani dam, coastal highway, and cantonments) introduced in the state are limited to some pockets and aimed at enriching the economy of the
Pakistani state. Such lopsided development has resulted in the creation of colonies where people from other states are being encouraged to migrate
and settle down. At another level, new cantonments have been established to ensure the state’s control over the territory and people of Balochistan.
Impartial accounts have suggested that “the development scene in Balochistan is appalling and the extent of relative deprivation in the province is
unspeakable”. 25 per cent of the population has access to electricity (national average, 75 per cent). The male literary rate is 18.3 per cent and the
female literacy rate seven percent. Compared to the 340 vocational institutes and commercial and law colleges in Punjab, Balochistan has only nine
such institutes in urban areas, with poor infrastructure. It has the highest infant and maternal mortality ratio in South Asia.
All in all, the demographic changes taking place over the years have reduced Balochis to a minority in their own land. The Pashtuns dominate the north
and soon, Punjabis will dominate the south. The Balochis will be sandwiched between the two and forced to toe the line. Despite being a resource-rich
province, Balochistan is today marked by a high rate of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and infant and maternal mortality. A government report
revealed in October 2009 that Balochistan is the most backward province in terms of HDI in Pakistan. It is almost 21 per cent below the national
average while Sindh is below the national average by 10 per cent.
Any voice of protest from the Balochis has been silenced through brutal display of state power. Rather than addressing the genuine grievances of the
people of Balochistan, the state of Pakistan has tried it best to suppress dissent through force and fraud. Agreements have been made in the name of
Holy Quran and then dissolve without any qualms. Baloch leaders starting from Nawab Nauroz Khan till Nawab Bugti and Balach Marri have been
termed as traitors and liquidated by the Pakistani state. The return of democratic rule after the fall of the military regime headed by Musharraf has not
changed matters much. The army is busy eliminating all promising Balochi youth who have raised their voice against the gross injustice and military
excesses in the name of preserving the integrity of the Pakistani state. The politicians have tried to evolve a political solution to the problem but they
have only rehearsed the measures taken in the past, which were unacceptable to the Balochis. The state has brazenly promoted Islamist elements in
Balochistan to wipe out the ethnic identity of the Balochis and destroy their secular credentials.
In these circumstances, it has become impossible for the Balochis not to raise their voice of concern against such brazen oppression. In fact, a
significant section amongst the people of Balochistan considers Pakistani occupation of Balochistan as illegal. They regard the signing of accession by
then Khan of Kalat as being done under duress and argue that the representatives of the people of Balochistan had decided against joining Pakistan.
That is why they continue to fight for total independence of Balochistan from Pakistani hands. The more moderate elements who have demanded
autonomy for the province and just share in the national resources, in terms of their contribution to national economy, have also been disillusioned with
their stand and concluded that they cannot expect Pakistani state to grant them their due without a fight.
After the failure of the democratic methods, a large section of the Baloch youth has launched an armed struggle to liberate their territory from Pakistani
control and this has been termed a movement to realise their right for self-determination. Many among them have demanded reopening of the case of
accession and delegitimize Pakistani claim that Balochis joined Pakistan put of their free will. There are also concerted efforts to acquaint international
community with the gross human rights violations and genocide attempted by the Pakistani army during the last five years. Balochi diaspora in Europe,
the Gulf states and north-America are now closely coordinating their activities to lend moral support to their hapless brethren fighting an unending battle
with the fourth largest army in the world.
In this context, it will be useful to organise a meeting of Baloch leaders, scholars and civil society activists, along with political scientists and strategic
analysts focussing on Balochistan from Pakistan and around the world in a neutral venue and discuss the issues concerning the people of Balochistan.
It is proposed hereby to organise a three-day conference in either Bangkok or Singapore and invite about 20 participants to attend it and engage in a
brainstorming exercise to find out the ways and means through which Balochis can attain their goal.
The objectives of the conference are:
i) To provide a historical analysis of the Baloch struggle for their rights and independence.
ii) To enumerate the acts of genocide and human rights violation by the Pakistani army and bring out a compendium for wider circulation.
iii) To critically analyse the policies of the Pakistani state vis-à-vis the Balochis.
iv) Evaluate the role played by the Baloch leadership, both past and present, and point out their short-comings.
v) Isolate and analyse the ways in which the state is trying to address the problem
vi) Identify the ways and means through which Balochis can coordinate their activities and sustain their struggle.
The end products will be following:
i) A compendium of human rights violation by the Pakistan army in Balochistan.
ii) A book containing the papers presented at the conference
iii) A dedicated website for coordinating the activities of disparate sections
BALOCHISTAN: Bangkok Conference pictures
Now it is Pakistan Vs Balochistan.
Bangkok Conference, titled "Balochistan Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges" invited he ire of Pakistan. Here are some pictures of
conference and protesters at "The FourWings Hotel", Bangkok.
Related Links:
Meeting the Challenges
Concept Note
Balochis of Pakistan have been on the wrong side of history for no fault of their own. They were the victims of imperial conspiracy and colonial
oppression during the colonial period and they have been under illegal occupation since 1947. The state of Pakistan has treated Balochis as second-
class citizens and viewed their genuine demands for cultural autonomy and economic justice with suspicion. The elites of Pakistan have regarded
Balochistan both as a strategic outpost and a resource rich terrain which can fill their coffers and boost the economy of Pakistan. Balochistan has lured
them with its rich resources and strategic geopolitical location.
Balochistan has 48 per cent of total territory of Pakistan and mere 5 per cent of population. It is endowed with rich mineral wealth (natural gas, coal and
minerals). With the construction of a new deep sea port at Gwadar, Balochistan has even become more strategically important for Pakistan. It is
projected to act as the hub of an energy and trade corridor which will connect Pakistan with China and the Central Asian republics.
However, the Balochis have been treated with absolute scorn and contempt. In terms of human develop index, Balochistan is at the bottom of the table
in Pakistan. There has been no plausible effort to develop this human resource of this state. The infrastructural and physical developments (Gwadar
port, Mirani dam, coastal highway, and cantonments) introduced in the state are limited to some pockets and aimed at enriching the economy of the
Pakistani state. Such lopsided development has resulted in the creation of colonies where people from other states are being encouraged to migrate
and settle down. At another level, new cantonments have been established to ensure the state’s control over the territory and people of Balochistan.
Impartial accounts have suggested that “the development scene in Balochistan is appalling and the extent of relative deprivation in the province is
unspeakable”. 25 per cent of the population has access to electricity (national average, 75 per cent). The male literary rate is 18.3 per cent and the
female literacy rate seven percent. Compared to the 340 vocational institutes and commercial and law colleges in Punjab, Balochistan has only nine
such institutes in urban areas, with poor infrastructure. It has the highest infant and maternal mortality ratio in South Asia.
All in all, the demographic changes taking place over the years have reduced Balochis to a minority in their own land. The Pashtuns dominate the north
and soon, Punjabis will dominate the south. The Balochis will be sandwiched between the two and forced to toe the line. Despite being a resource-rich
province, Balochistan is today marked by a high rate of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, and infant and maternal mortality. A government report
revealed in October 2009 that Balochistan is the most backward province in terms of HDI in Pakistan. It is almost 21 per cent below the national
average while Sindh is below the national average by 10 per cent.
Any voice of protest from the Balochis has been silenced through brutal display of state power. Rather than addressing the genuine grievances of the
people of Balochistan, the state of Pakistan has tried it best to suppress dissent through force and fraud. Agreements have been made in the name of
Holy Quran and then dissolve without any qualms. Baloch leaders starting from Nawab Nauroz Khan till Nawab Bugti and Balach Marri have been
termed as traitors and liquidated by the Pakistani state. The return of democratic rule after the fall of the military regime headed by Musharraf has not
changed matters much. The army is busy eliminating all promising Balochi youth who have raised their voice against the gross injustice and military
excesses in the name of preserving the integrity of the Pakistani state. The politicians have tried to evolve a political solution to the problem but they
have only rehearsed the measures taken in the past, which were unacceptable to the Balochis. The state has brazenly promoted Islamist elements in
Balochistan to wipe out the ethnic identity of the Balochis and destroy their secular credentials.
In these circumstances, it has become impossible for the Balochis not to raise their voice of concern against such brazen oppression. In fact, a
significant section amongst the people of Balochistan considers Pakistani occupation of Balochistan as illegal. They regard the signing of accession by
then Khan of Kalat as being done under duress and argue that the representatives of the people of Balochistan had decided against joining Pakistan.
That is why they continue to fight for total independence of Balochistan from Pakistani hands. The more moderate elements who have demanded
autonomy for the province and just share in the national resources, in terms of their contribution to national economy, have also been disillusioned with
their stand and concluded that they cannot expect Pakistani state to grant them their due without a fight.
After the failure of the democratic methods, a large section of the Baloch youth has launched an armed struggle to liberate their territory from Pakistani
control and this has been termed a movement to realise their right for self-determination. Many among them have demanded reopening of the case of
accession and delegitimize Pakistani claim that Balochis joined Pakistan put of their free will. There are also concerted efforts to acquaint international
community with the gross human rights violations and genocide attempted by the Pakistani army during the last five years. Balochi diaspora in Europe,
the Gulf states and north-America are now closely coordinating their activities to lend moral support to their hapless brethren fighting an unending battle
with the fourth largest army in the world.
In this context, it will be useful to organise a meeting of Baloch leaders, scholars and civil society activists, along with political scientists and strategic
analysts focussing on Balochistan from Pakistan and around the world in a neutral venue and discuss the issues concerning the people of Balochistan.
It is proposed hereby to organise a three-day conference in either Bangkok or Singapore and invite about 20 participants to attend it and engage in a
brainstorming exercise to find out the ways and means through which Balochis can attain their goal.
The objectives of the conference are:
i) To provide a historical analysis of the Baloch struggle for their rights and independence.
ii) To enumerate the acts of genocide and human rights violation by the Pakistani army and bring out a compendium for wider circulation.
iii) To critically analyse the policies of the Pakistani state vis-à-vis the Balochis.
iv) Evaluate the role played by the Baloch leadership, both past and present, and point out their short-comings.
v) Isolate and analyse the ways in which the state is trying to address the problem
vi) Identify the ways and means through which Balochis can coordinate their activities and sustain their struggle.
The end products will be following:
i) A compendium of human rights violation by the Pakistan army in Balochistan.
ii) A book containing the papers presented at the conference
iii) A dedicated website for coordinating the activities of disparate sections
BALOCHISTAN: Bangkok Conference pictures
Now it is Pakistan Vs Balochistan.
Bangkok Conference, titled "Balochistan Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges" invited he ire of Pakistan. Here are some pictures of
conference and protesters at "The FourWings Hotel", Bangkok.
Related Links:
Related links:
First Day of the Conference
Bangkok , 22nd February ,2009
Paris-based Baloch Voice Foundation is hosting a three-day international conference on 22-24 February 2010 in Bangkok. It is being attended by
leading Baloch activists from Pakistan and from around the world. Human Rights activists from Hong Kong, the U.S. and Europe are also attending it.
The first day of conference began with a protest by some Pakistanis in front of the hotel where the conference is being held. There were about a dozen
protesters carrying placards which said “Stop the Event”, and “We reject Feudal Lords”, assuming the meeting was a forum for Baloch sardars and
feudal lords. Ironically, inside the conference hall, there was an unanimous position that the days of the Sardars were over and a new generation of
Baloch leadership is emerging on the horizon to lead the Baloch resistance movement.
Marino Budsachin, Secretary General of United Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), the international NGO based in New York, delivered the
keynote address and held that the Baloch grievances against the Pakistan state were genuine and their demand for independence was justified.
However, he made an assessment of the regional and global scenario and advised the Baloch leadership to take note of the hurdles on the way.
Pointing out the brutal records of the Pakistan army and the lack of international concern for the Blaoch cause, Mr Busdachin said that the Baloch
should aim at autonomy first and then think of independence for themselves. In his message to the conference, Selig Harrison, noted American
political analysts and expert on Balochistan, deplored the acts of repression by the Pakistani state and harped on the critical necessity of raising a
common political front and consensus on programme of action for the Baloch movement to be successful.
In his initial presentation, Munir Mengal summarised the five different phases of the Baloch struggle for independence and held that the salient features
of the movement were: Baloch constitute a “nation” in fullest sense of the term and had a common ethnic bond and common historical experience;
from the 17th century until 1948 Balochistan maintained its independent status, when it was annexed forcibly into Pakistan; despite the use of brutal
force to suppress the Baloch movement, the Balochis have shown greater devotion and commitment to their just cause; Pakistan wanted the territory
and not the people of Balochistan; and that There is an increasing realisation that we need to come together, forget our differences and work towards
the singular goal of ‘Independence’. He quoted the statement of Baloch rebel leader Allah Nazar to indicate that Balochis would prefer death to living
under indignity and suppression.
The message of Khan of Kalat Suleman Dawood, which was read out by Tariq Baluch, his representative to the conference, held that independence
was the only way available for the Balochis at this critical juncture of history. He emphasised the need for unity and said that armies can defeat armies
but can never defeat a nation. Mr Baluch argued forcefully that the Baloch nation was deceived by Pakistan throughout history. He was critical about the
role played by the Sardars and held that the situation had changed a lot during the last few years and especially after the killing of Nawab Bugti in 2006.
He hoped that the new generation of leadership would be able to show the way forward.
Ismail Amiri, Baloch activist from Seistan-Balochistan in Iran, argued that the condition of over 4 million Balochis in Iran was also equally bad and
urged international community to take note of the miseries and sufferings of the Baloch people at large.
The second working session was devoted to the impact of Baloch conflict on human rights situation. It began with an emotional appeal by Ali
Arjumandi, brother of one Ehsan Arjumandi, who disappeared under custody, to take note of the excesses being perpetrated in Balochistan by the
Pakistan security forces. Baseer Naweed from the Asian Human Rights Council (AHRC) made a detailed presentation of the cases of human rights
violation in Balochistan and said that study of several cases of missing persons and torture by the AHRC revealed state complicity in most of the cases.
He was critical of the justice delivery system in Pakistan and said that it required public awareness and constant vigilance and appeal to put pressure
on the security forces and the government. The participants in the conference agreed that it was difficult to get justice in Pakistan in the prevailing
circumstances in Baochistan. Munir Mengal, who had himself experienced forced detention and torture held that Baloch nation had lost all its faith in
Pakistan and had no other alternative but to take radical measures to protect their identity and genuine rights and interests.
>>> http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2010/02/balochistan-summary-of-first-day-of.html
Bangkok , 22nd February ,2009
Paris-based Baloch Voice Foundation is hosting a three-day international conference on 22-24 February 2010 in Bangkok. It is being attended by
leading Baloch activists from Pakistan and from around the world. Human Rights activists from Hong Kong, the U.S. and Europe are also attending it.
The first day of conference began with a protest by some Pakistanis in front of the hotel where the conference is being held. There were about a dozen
protesters carrying placards which said “Stop the Event”, and “We reject Feudal Lords”, assuming the meeting was a forum for Baloch sardars and
feudal lords. Ironically, inside the conference hall, there was an unanimous position that the days of the Sardars were over and a new generation of
Baloch leadership is emerging on the horizon to lead the Baloch resistance movement.
Marino Budsachin, Secretary General of United Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), the international NGO based in New York, delivered the
keynote address and held that the Baloch grievances against the Pakistan state were genuine and their demand for independence was justified.
However, he made an assessment of the regional and global scenario and advised the Baloch leadership to take note of the hurdles on the way.
Pointing out the brutal records of the Pakistan army and the lack of international concern for the Blaoch cause, Mr Busdachin said that the Baloch
should aim at autonomy first and then think of independence for themselves. In his message to the conference, Selig Harrison, noted American
political analysts and expert on Balochistan, deplored the acts of repression by the Pakistani state and harped on the critical necessity of raising a
common political front and consensus on programme of action for the Baloch movement to be successful.
In his initial presentation, Munir Mengal summarised the five different phases of the Baloch struggle for independence and held that the salient features
of the movement were: Baloch constitute a “nation” in fullest sense of the term and had a common ethnic bond and common historical experience;
from the 17th century until 1948 Balochistan maintained its independent status, when it was annexed forcibly into Pakistan; despite the use of brutal
force to suppress the Baloch movement, the Balochis have shown greater devotion and commitment to their just cause; Pakistan wanted the territory
and not the people of Balochistan; and that There is an increasing realisation that we need to come together, forget our differences and work towards
the singular goal of ‘Independence’. He quoted the statement of Baloch rebel leader Allah Nazar to indicate that Balochis would prefer death to living
under indignity and suppression.
The message of Khan of Kalat Suleman Dawood, which was read out by Tariq Baluch, his representative to the conference, held that independence
was the only way available for the Balochis at this critical juncture of history. He emphasised the need for unity and said that armies can defeat armies
but can never defeat a nation. Mr Baluch argued forcefully that the Baloch nation was deceived by Pakistan throughout history. He was critical about the
role played by the Sardars and held that the situation had changed a lot during the last few years and especially after the killing of Nawab Bugti in 2006.
He hoped that the new generation of leadership would be able to show the way forward.
Ismail Amiri, Baloch activist from Seistan-Balochistan in Iran, argued that the condition of over 4 million Balochis in Iran was also equally bad and
urged international community to take note of the miseries and sufferings of the Baloch people at large.
The second working session was devoted to the impact of Baloch conflict on human rights situation. It began with an emotional appeal by Ali
Arjumandi, brother of one Ehsan Arjumandi, who disappeared under custody, to take note of the excesses being perpetrated in Balochistan by the
Pakistan security forces. Baseer Naweed from the Asian Human Rights Council (AHRC) made a detailed presentation of the cases of human rights
violation in Balochistan and said that study of several cases of missing persons and torture by the AHRC revealed state complicity in most of the cases.
He was critical of the justice delivery system in Pakistan and said that it required public awareness and constant vigilance and appeal to put pressure
on the security forces and the government. The participants in the conference agreed that it was difficult to get justice in Pakistan in the prevailing
circumstances in Baochistan. Munir Mengal, who had himself experienced forced detention and torture held that Baloch nation had lost all its faith in
Pakistan and had no other alternative but to take radical measures to protect their identity and genuine rights and interests.
>>> http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2010/02/balochistan-summary-of-first-day-of.html
BALOCHISTAN: Bangkok Declaration
24 February 2010
We the participants of the International Conference titled “Balochistan Yesterday Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges”, organized by “Baloch
Voice Foundation in Bangkok” on 22-24 February 2010 unanimously;
1. Commit ourselves to the struggle for our just and inalienable rights both as individuals and members of the Baloch community and resolve to put aside
all our differences and work together in harmony and in close cooperation towards this end;
2. Pledge to take all measures possible through peaceful means to protect our language, culture and separate identity as Baloch and build a society
based on values that affirm human dignity and freedom, emphasise diversity and inter-religious and sectarian harmony, and promote equality and justice;
3. Pay homage to the Baloch sarmarchars (freedom fighters) who have laid down their lives for securing the rights and interests of our community and
have inspired us with their self-less devotion to the cause and the courage they have demonstrated to take on the Pakistani Army which is the fifth largest
army in the world;
4. Denounce in strongest terms the continuing perpetration of heinous crimes against peace-loving Baloch people by the Pakistani and Iranian armies,
which has resulted in one of the worst human rights violations that has largely been ignored and gone unreported in the history of humankind;
5. Call upon the international community and urge it to take note of the crimes being committed against an entire community in the name of ‘national and
territorial integration’, and put pressure on the Pakistani state to honour its international commitments in cases involving torture, forced disappearances
and ensuring the operation of an impartial justice system;
6. Demand to declare Baloch people kept in custody as ‘prisoners of war’ and to treat them as per the UN Conventions; and establishment of a
International War Crimes Tribunal to try the perpetrators of the crimes against the Baloch people; also express our disaffection about the performance of
the judiciary of Pakistan in the context of the missing persons and do not expect any justice under this system;
7. Express our deep concerns about the gross indifference and arrogance with which Pakistan has been conducting itself in its mission to reduce Baloch
to a minority in their own land, subjugate an entire nation by brute force, seal their future by liquidating its young dynamic and promising leadership, exploit
the natural resources of the Baloch lands to fill the coffers of the Pakistan state and its army and perpetuate its colonialism;
8. Hold that Balochistan’s forced accession to Pakistan was in violation of the decision of the elected assembly and was thus an act of historical injustice,
where the leaders were coerced into accepting the decision imposed on them by the leadership of the Pakistan state;
9. Take appropriate steps to raise the issue of legality of accession of the Baloch state to Pakistan at the international level;
10. Apprehend that Gwadar will serve as a strategic and financial backbone for the Islamic radicals backed by the state and contribute to regional tension
11. Concerned that the establishments of cantonments and continuous deployment of about 150,000 Pakistani forces will further exacerbate the human
rights conditions in Balochistan and perpetuate the genocide being undertaken by the Pakistan state;
12. Record our deep anxiety about the strategy of the Pakistani state to divide the Baloch peoples and weaken their resistance movement by playing on the
artificial faultlines (sardars & non-sardars, lower class and upper class, agents of one country or another etc.) created by vested interests;
13. Appeal to the conscience of the Baloch brethren to avoid taking measures that affects the strength of the movement and warn that history will not
forgive such actions for ignoring the interests of an entire nation for petty personal considerations;
14. Feel confident that there is enough determination and resolve amongst the Baloch nation to carry the struggle forward in the right direction despite the
difficulties on the way, the conspiracies of our enemies, and the despondency setting in at certain levels that it is better to give up and negotiate than fight;
15. Remind our brethren that the ideology of Pakistan will never be in consonance with the secular credentials of Baloch identity, and given the inherent
contradictions in the Pakistani state, the persisting domination of the Punjabis in the statecraft and the insipient sense of conceit, dishonesty and
deception in its leadership, we have to fight for our sovereignty and independence;
16. Draw attention of the international community to the brazen use of Islamic radicalism against the Baloch in the name of patriotism and nationalism to
wipe out the liberal and secular ethos of the Baloch nation and condemn the nexus between the Pakistani military and such militant groups to subdue and
suppress the genuine voice of the Baloch people;
17. Consider it the most opportune time for us to come together, take stock of our strengths and weaknesses, put the interests of our nation above our
personal or sectional interests and commit ourselves to the collective struggle against a much superior and stronger force that is determined to reduce us
to second-class citizens, obliterate our cultural salience and silence our voice of protest for ever;
18. Realise the need for the establishment of a body that will work sincerely in a concerted manner towards effective propagation of our language, culture,
our political agenda and our national interests through audio-visual and electronic media and provide a forum for regular exchange of views, ideas,
options and strategies which will guide us in our most critical struggle for existence;
19. Thank Baloch Voice Foundation for providing the forum for free and fair exchange of a wide spectrum of Baloch views in a neutral destination like
Bangkok and commend its efforts to conceive and launch “Baloch Analysis Committee”, which promises to bring together all shades of Baloch opinion
and evolve joint strategies for strengthening the movement for our national liberation and independence;
20. Understand that it is a task of tall order, the resources at our hand are limited and there is an endless conspiracy to undermine our efforts; and hence
there is an absolute need to bury our mutual differences and devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the task we have set for ourselves;
21. Decide to turn the initiative taken by the Baloch Voice Foundation into an annual calendar event to facilitate regular exchange of ideas, perspectives
and strategies on the state of our unremitting struggle for our inalienable rights; and
22. Continue our struggle for independence together keeping aside our mutual differences.
Balochistan Aajoi Juhd Zindagbat
24 February 2010
We the participants of the International Conference titled “Balochistan Yesterday Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges”, organized by “Baloch
Voice Foundation in Bangkok” on 22-24 February 2010 unanimously;
1. Commit ourselves to the struggle for our just and inalienable rights both as individuals and members of the Baloch community and resolve to put aside
all our differences and work together in harmony and in close cooperation towards this end;
2. Pledge to take all measures possible through peaceful means to protect our language, culture and separate identity as Baloch and build a society
based on values that affirm human dignity and freedom, emphasise diversity and inter-religious and sectarian harmony, and promote equality and justice;
3. Pay homage to the Baloch sarmarchars (freedom fighters) who have laid down their lives for securing the rights and interests of our community and
have inspired us with their self-less devotion to the cause and the courage they have demonstrated to take on the Pakistani Army which is the fifth largest
army in the world;
4. Denounce in strongest terms the continuing perpetration of heinous crimes against peace-loving Baloch people by the Pakistani and Iranian armies,
which has resulted in one of the worst human rights violations that has largely been ignored and gone unreported in the history of humankind;
5. Call upon the international community and urge it to take note of the crimes being committed against an entire community in the name of ‘national and
territorial integration’, and put pressure on the Pakistani state to honour its international commitments in cases involving torture, forced disappearances
and ensuring the operation of an impartial justice system;
6. Demand to declare Baloch people kept in custody as ‘prisoners of war’ and to treat them as per the UN Conventions; and establishment of a
International War Crimes Tribunal to try the perpetrators of the crimes against the Baloch people; also express our disaffection about the performance of
the judiciary of Pakistan in the context of the missing persons and do not expect any justice under this system;
7. Express our deep concerns about the gross indifference and arrogance with which Pakistan has been conducting itself in its mission to reduce Baloch
to a minority in their own land, subjugate an entire nation by brute force, seal their future by liquidating its young dynamic and promising leadership, exploit
the natural resources of the Baloch lands to fill the coffers of the Pakistan state and its army and perpetuate its colonialism;
8. Hold that Balochistan’s forced accession to Pakistan was in violation of the decision of the elected assembly and was thus an act of historical injustice,
where the leaders were coerced into accepting the decision imposed on them by the leadership of the Pakistan state;
9. Take appropriate steps to raise the issue of legality of accession of the Baloch state to Pakistan at the international level;
10. Apprehend that Gwadar will serve as a strategic and financial backbone for the Islamic radicals backed by the state and contribute to regional tension
11. Concerned that the establishments of cantonments and continuous deployment of about 150,000 Pakistani forces will further exacerbate the human
rights conditions in Balochistan and perpetuate the genocide being undertaken by the Pakistan state;
12. Record our deep anxiety about the strategy of the Pakistani state to divide the Baloch peoples and weaken their resistance movement by playing on the
artificial faultlines (sardars & non-sardars, lower class and upper class, agents of one country or another etc.) created by vested interests;
13. Appeal to the conscience of the Baloch brethren to avoid taking measures that affects the strength of the movement and warn that history will not
forgive such actions for ignoring the interests of an entire nation for petty personal considerations;
14. Feel confident that there is enough determination and resolve amongst the Baloch nation to carry the struggle forward in the right direction despite the
difficulties on the way, the conspiracies of our enemies, and the despondency setting in at certain levels that it is better to give up and negotiate than fight;
15. Remind our brethren that the ideology of Pakistan will never be in consonance with the secular credentials of Baloch identity, and given the inherent
contradictions in the Pakistani state, the persisting domination of the Punjabis in the statecraft and the insipient sense of conceit, dishonesty and
deception in its leadership, we have to fight for our sovereignty and independence;
16. Draw attention of the international community to the brazen use of Islamic radicalism against the Baloch in the name of patriotism and nationalism to
wipe out the liberal and secular ethos of the Baloch nation and condemn the nexus between the Pakistani military and such militant groups to subdue and
suppress the genuine voice of the Baloch people;
17. Consider it the most opportune time for us to come together, take stock of our strengths and weaknesses, put the interests of our nation above our
personal or sectional interests and commit ourselves to the collective struggle against a much superior and stronger force that is determined to reduce us
to second-class citizens, obliterate our cultural salience and silence our voice of protest for ever;
18. Realise the need for the establishment of a body that will work sincerely in a concerted manner towards effective propagation of our language, culture,
our political agenda and our national interests through audio-visual and electronic media and provide a forum for regular exchange of views, ideas,
options and strategies which will guide us in our most critical struggle for existence;
19. Thank Baloch Voice Foundation for providing the forum for free and fair exchange of a wide spectrum of Baloch views in a neutral destination like
Bangkok and commend its efforts to conceive and launch “Baloch Analysis Committee”, which promises to bring together all shades of Baloch opinion
and evolve joint strategies for strengthening the movement for our national liberation and independence;
20. Understand that it is a task of tall order, the resources at our hand are limited and there is an endless conspiracy to undermine our efforts; and hence
there is an absolute need to bury our mutual differences and devote ourselves wholeheartedly to the task we have set for ourselves;
21. Decide to turn the initiative taken by the Baloch Voice Foundation into an annual calendar event to facilitate regular exchange of ideas, perspectives
and strategies on the state of our unremitting struggle for our inalienable rights; and
22. Continue our struggle for independence together keeping aside our mutual differences.
Balochistan Aajoi Juhd Zindagbat
- Baluchistan today, Baluchistan tomorrow, meeting the challenges. By M. Sarjov
- http://balochhouse.blogspot.com/2010/02/bangkok-conference-summary-of-first-day.html
- http://intellibriefs.blogspot.com/2010/02/balochistan-bangkok-conference.html
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/lg/pakistan/2010/02/100225_baloch_thai_conf.shtml
| BALOCHISTAN Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Meeting the Challenges First Baloch International Conference in Bangkok, Thailand Feb 22 - 24, 2010 |