West Balochistan: A Relentless Struggle Short of Support

On 17 September 2015, the Baloch Voice Association convened a conference in Geneva on the predicament of Baloch community and their oppression under both the Iranian and Pakistani Governments. Expressing deep concern for the present situation of the community, Mr Nasser Boladai, UNPO President, emphasised in his speech the right of every human being to express their own culture, identity and language.

Below is an article by Bolan Times  

At the evening of 17th September 2015, a lecture was organised by Baloch Voice Association in Warwick Hotel Geneva. The lecture was aimed to know the Baloch origins and the Baloch people history.

The President of Baloch Voice Association chaired the event and in his initial remarks he gave a detailed account of the problems the Baloch people and showed the concerns of the Baloch towards their identity and culture.

”The affiliation and determination of the Baloch People towards their culture, language, history and identity gives us this courage to stand in front of the international community and say who are we ?.”  Munir Mengal said in his opening remarks.

The UNPO President Mr. Nasser Boladai speaking at the forum also presented his view and concerns why the Baloch do not have right to present and make research on their origin, history and culture. ”Every human being has a right to express and exhibit his culture, identity, and language, but unfortunately the Baloch people like many other people i.e. Uyghurs, Turks, Ahwazies, Yazidies etc. do not have rights to express and present their identity. Unfortunately the Baloch people face worst conditions by the Pakistanian and Iranian governments.” 

Mr. Mehrab Sarjove, also spoke on the occasion and gave a brief account of the issues why Baloch people are barred by the states Pakistan and Iran for making any efforts towards their identity.

The Iranian Shiite state sees cultures and languages as a threat for itself and treats the identities of the people by threats. The Baloch people origins and history is very much diversified and have its deep roots in the civilization of the humanity.

For example only for protecting Gawadar the Baloch had sacrificed their lives and properties from hundreds of years. But today Pakistan is gifting it to China for strategic designs because Baloch do not have sovereignty on their land. Mehrab Sarjove concluded.

Mr. Anwar Baloch, a Baloch political activist and an Advocate by profession now a days living in Swiss as an asylum seeker, presented the issues why the Baloch people struggle had not got the expected international support.

”The Baloch parties internal differences and the tribal lords leadership had been and is a hurdle for Baloch people struggle to gain the support at home and at abroad. It is time Baloch need leadership from its own masses not from the tribal lords.” Advocate Anwar Described the Baloch people movement issues.

”I feel proud to call myself son of a Baloch then of calling myself the son of a tribal lord.” Anwar Baloch expressed.

Mr. Amin Shahbaksh Baloch, a Baloch youth political activist also spoke and presented the problems and threats which the Baloch youth faces in exhibiting his identity, culture, and language. ”our lives are in extreme threat as we do not have a right to express ourselves and the state gives us life threats if we exhibit ourselves.” Mr. Amin Shahbaksh claimed.

Then Professor Sabir Badal Khan presented with charts, maps, and historical records a very detailed account of the Baloch origins, Baloch history, and Balochi Language. The lecture of Professor Sabir Badal khan was very much valuable and will be published a valuable asset for the Balochi history and will be published soon.

At the end Mr. Munir Mengal thanked all participants and the event was followed by dinner.

http://unpo.org/article/18578

UN must fullfill it’s Obligations to secure the lives of Baloch Missing Persons. speakers urged

Geneva (Bolan Times): On 18th September Friday, a parallel event to the United Nations Human Rights 30th Council Session was organized in Room No. XXIV, at Palaise Des Nations Geneva.
The title of the Conference was “Soules in Trauma – Victimes of Aggression – Baloch Missing Persons”.
The Conference started at 11:30 Hrs and was having two Session.

M. DIANKO Lamine, The president of ACI. presided the conference and thanked the speakers for their contributions, participants for their presence and support.

First Session: The Baloch Origines, History, Language, Culture and Litrature.

The guest speakers of the first session were Professor Carina Jahani and Professor Sabir Badal Khan.

Professor Carina Jahani, whom is serving as a linguist professor in Upsaala University, Sweden. She has published Books and papers about the Balochi languge and about the Baloch people. Her current publication is ”The Baloch and Others”.

”Due to the constraints to learn, to read, to make research, and to write Balochi, today the Balochi language finds itself at Cross Roads. One of the Basic step is it’s official recognition by the Pakistani state is highly needed. Despite of several attempts for allowing Balochi Language publications, cultural activities and research and promotion activities still Balochi language is not taught as officiall subject in Primary schools in Pakistan.” Carina Jahani briefed about the problems of Balochi language.

”Mother tongue education is considered as a fundamental right for every human being for it’s mental growth and diversity therefore Pakistan shall make provisions for the provinces to allow Baloch people to get education in their mother tongue. The situation of Balochi language is worse on the Iranian side due to the limitations imposed by the Iranian Government.” Professor Jahani urged.

Professor Sabir Badal Khan who has served as pro vice Chancellor at Balochistan University Queeta and is currently serving as linguist frofessor and researcher in Nipples University Italy. Prof. Sabir has written Books and research papers particularly about the Balochi Language and Baloch people history.

The earlier day on 17th Sept. 2015, Profesor Badal Khan gave a very detailed lecture about the origins of the Baloch People and Baloch history, at a get togather conference in Warwick Hotel, Geneva.

In the side event in Palais des Nations Professor Badal Khan presented research data and statistic analysis about the Baloch people Demography and the concerns of the Baloch people towards the state policy of converting them into minority.

“Pakistan and Iran none of them as a strategic policy take census on the basic on ethnicity and of origines, therefore the Baloch people living in other provinces and regions are not counted as Baloch people. Where as fake identity cards were issued to the immigrants in Balochistan to turn the Baloch in miority.”Prof. Sabir Badal Khan described the Baloch people demographic issues.

Second Session: Soules in Trauma – Victimes of Aggression – Balochistan

Nasser Bolaidi, the President of UNPO said ” Their organizations is very much concerned about the enforced disappearances irrespective of who they are. But unfortunately, the issue of enforced disappearance is very alarming in Balochistan. Despite of several requests and appeals the Pakistani government has not taken any concrete steps to know the whereabouts and for the safe release of Baloch missing persons. And accordingly the status of human rights of the Baloch people in Iranian side is also worse. The Iranian regime through state policies has encircled Baloch people as they feel they are living in a prison and every body is waiting for his turn to be executed for any reason.”

Munir Mengal, The president of Baloch Voice Association and the co-organiser of the conference, presented a brief account of the Human Rights issues of the Baloch People. ”The Pakistani forces military operations in Balochistan, subjgation, supression and systematic enforced disappearence of the Baloch people give a very alarming sign that the state has opted a policy of slow genocide of the Baloch people.”

”The Pakistani state has not taken any step to secure the lives of Baloch Missing persons, infact the number of Missing persons has gradually increased to more then 20,000 reported by different media reports and human rights organizations working inside Balochistan. United Nations Organization and it’s bodies shall take practicle steps to secure the lives of thousands of Baloch missing persons.” Munir Mengal appealed.

”The will of the Baloch people resisting against enforced occupation and trying to protect their identity and to regain their sovernigty on their land gives a clear message that drawing artificial boundries is worse form of colonization and is unacceptble to any body at any part of the world.” Munir Mengal concluded.

Mehrab Sarjove, A Baloch analyst, writer, and a blogger presented a research paper about the Geostratic strategies and ambitions of both the Pakistani and of the Iranian Governments towards the Baloch Land and resources. ”The current Pak China Economic corridor agreement signed is an agreement of expansionism and a design to gain more strategic and naval depth inside the region. That is a clear violation of the fundament rights of the local people and poses a risk to the regional and international peace and security.”

”Unfortunately, both the states are religious cantonments despite of being welfare states. The mentioned states despite of giving peace and security to their people serve them with the threat. The Iranian Shiett regime neither has any moral values nor allows the Baloch people to adopt and exhibit their Balochi cultural, and cultural values.” Mr. Sarjove stated.

Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, a well known Kashmiri people political leader and general secretary of the United Kashmiri People Alliance. Who is known as a vocal voice for raising the human rights issues not only of the Kashmiri people, but also for the South Asian people, for his bold and loud standings.

http://www.bolantimes.com/un-must-fullfill-its-obligations-to-secure-the-lives-of-baloch-missing-persons-speakers-urged/