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We Are All Baloch Nationalists
By Shabir Ahmed
Baloch
10-03-2006
It seems that every non Baloch political
analyst is now putting pen to paper and commenting on the struggle between
the Baloch Nationalists and the Pakistani army. Those outside of the
Pakistan governments sphere of influence are well informed and realise why
the present conflict is taking place . While the Islamabad inspired so
called journalists are still living in self denial , and following this
pathetic Pakistani government official line , which is quite simply anti
Baloch . The garbage that is coming out from the Islamabad inspired media is
so overwhelming that we don't need to read it , we can smell it !
The Baloch public are portrayed as backward and lazy , and in need of a
economic uplift , this is coming from the very same people who have been
depriving them of their rights and due share from their own natural
resources for the past 57 years.The Baloch leaders in particular have been
portrayed as greedy selfish tyrants , who have been oppressing their people
for centuries . These accusations are from the official line adopted by the
Pakistani government . Pakistani officials have from time to time made
statements through the media that certain tribal chiefs have been in receipt
of royalties , in particular from Sui Gas . The case so far is unproved ,
and if it was ever proved , then it must be safe to assume that the Pakistan
government hands are not clean , since their own officials are openly
admitting to a act of bribery .
Baloch society and Punjabi dominated Pakistan are poles apart from each
other . The Baloch who are a ancient people , who apart from the occasional
inter tribal warfare , are by and large naturally open to democracy and a
secular society . While the Punjabi dominated Pakistan is anything but open
to democracy , as it's history clearly shows . The world has seen two of
it's leaders assassinated Liaquat Ali Khan in 1951 who was shot dead , and
General Zia ul-Haq in 1988 who along with other military personnel was
killed in a aircraft explosion, believed to be caused by a bomb.Zulfikar Ali
Bhutto was hanged in 1979 after being ousted in a military coup by General
Zia ul-Haq in 1977 . It was the Punjabi dominated Pakistan's racially
motivated policy toward East Pakistanis , namely Bengali's , which lead them
to break away from West Pakistan in 1971 and form their own country
Bangladesh . Since the creation of Pakistan we have seen no stability or any
real progress towards democracy , nor have we seen any real measures taken
on upholding human rights . Punjabi dominated Pakistan has seen military
coup followed by military coup . Pakistan is gradually becoming a Islamic
State that most Muslim's would have difficulty in recognising . Islamabad
has created and nurtured just about every extremist Islamic group you can
think of .The present would be leader and champion of democracy General
Parvez Musharraf himself took over through a military coup in October 1999
ousting the then prime minister Nawaz Shareef .
While the Baloch have been relatively successful in obtaining good civilian
as well as military posts in other countries , in Pakistan they have met
against a wall of discrimination of horrendous levels . It is a matter of
great concern for the Baloch Nation that Parvez Musharraf who is not a
Punjabi but a refugee from India , a man who has gone through Pakistan's
education and military system , and become a General . Is now the same
General Parvez Mushareff who has ordered the genocide of the Baloch Nation .
Without the Baloch there would be no Pakistan , and yet bullets are the
reward for the sacrifices of the Baloch Nation . It is clear that Pakistan
is only of benefit to '' Punjabi Parasites '' and '' Failed in India and now
living happily in Pakistan Mohajirs '' .
It is a fact of history and a point often ignored that the Pakistani army
has killed more of it's own civilians than any enemy combatants .
The Islamabad inspired media likes to label the Baloch Nationalists as
miscreants , and tells the world that there is only a few thousand of them .
If that is the case then can they explain to the various Human Rights
Organisations why there has been over 6000 arrests in Balochistan alone ?
The death toll in the present conflict has been very high and kept quite ,
and most of the victims have been innocent women and children . The towns of
Kholu and Dera Bugti have been left in utter ruin after very intensive
bombing by the Pakistani Army . If the present military action is in
response to a alleged attack on Musharref or any other military personnel
while visiting these areas . Then surely why have we not seen Islamabad .
Lahore , or Rawalpindi bombed with the same intensity , because we have seen
assassination attempts on Musharref in some of these cities on several
occasions ? The answer to this is that the Baloch are not Pakistani ,
therefore bombing them doesn't matter.
The fact of the matter is that this is a battle over natural resources .
Islamabad wants to remove all opposition to their plans . As usual rather
than give the Baloch Nation it's fair share , it has resorted to threats ,
which have been followed by military action , which has resulted once again
into the deaths of innocent Baloch men women and children .
Apart from a handful of misguided and foolish Baloch leaders who still think
about negotiations with Islamabad . The vast majority of the Baloch Nation
are nationalists , and they realise that there is no future for the
Balochistan or the Baloch while it remains annexed to Pakistan .
Baloch nationalists should read some of the following observations and come
to their own conclusions .
1. SUI GAS . The Sui Gas plant provides around 60% of Pakistan's energy
needs . The often quoted 12% share of the revenues that Balochistan is said
to receive is non existent . It is the revenue from Sui Gas which is paying
for the bullets , tank's , rockets , helicopter gunships , which are killing
the Baloch Nation . If the Sui Gas plant was to become inoperable , it would
create a ENERGY CRISIS as well as a ECONOMIC CRISIS .
2. GAWADAR PORT. The Gwadar Port project is the biggest threat to the Baloch
Nation . The promises of economic prosperity for Balochistan are complete
nonsense . We already see most of the job's are going to outsiders . The
purpose of the Gawadar project is to turn the Baloch into a minority in
their own land's . To the uninitiated Pakistan knows that it is on a hidden
hit list of countries to be dealt with . The USA along with it's allies will
not tolerate any Islamic country having nuclear weapons especially Pakistan
, nor do they wish to see the Chinese Navy operating in the Persian Gulf
area .Pakistan by initiating the Gawadar project is sending a sublime
message to the USA and it's allies , '' if you mess with Pakistan , you will
be messing with China's interests '' . By turning the Baloch into a minority
in their own land , it will severely weaken their political stance , and
make it much harder to break away .
SHOULD THE GAWADAR PROJECT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE , OR SHOULD IT BE
DISMANTLED ?
3. KARACHI . The port city of Karachi generates about 70 % of Pakistan's
income . This money is once again being used to buy weapons and ammunition
for the Pakistan army . The same army which is committing genocide against
the Baloch Nation . Any action taken to prevent the flow of good's and
services to and from Karachi , would create a ECONOMIC CRISIS .
SHOULD ACTION BE TAKEN IN KARACHI TO PREVENT THE FLOW OF GOOD'S IN AND OUT
OF PAKISTAN ?
4. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE . There is a big difference between fighting
for your rights and fighting for Independence . While you are fighting for
your rights you will be deemed as miscreants and terrorists . Your actions
will be looked upon as undemocratic , and most importantly the international
community will be reluctant to get involved . The international community
will take the view that it is a internal matter for Pakistan .
If you are fighting for Independence then it's a whole differ ant story .
What was regarded as a domestic matter has now become a international matter
. There are enough interested parties , and opportunists out there , that
will become involved , and will take the side of the Baloch Nation .
Make no mistake PAKISTAN WILL BREAK UP , WITH OR WITHOUT THE BALOCH NATION .
If a declaration was to be made that the Baloch Nation are indeed fighting
for Independence . It should be noted that it would be unfair and unwise for
just a few tribal leaders to make such a statement . Such a statement should
be made by all Baloch tribal leaders , Baloch politicians , Baloch political
activists , and the Baloch public . Once everyone knows what they are
fighting for , you will have a fighting force numbering hundreds of
thousands .
SHOULD THE BALOCH NATION CONTINUE TO SAY THAT IT'S FIGHTING FOR IT'S RIGHTS
, OR SHOULD IT SAY THAT IT IS FIGHTING FOR INDEPENDENCE ?
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