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Re: The military operation of Pakistan Army in
Eastern Balochistan, Pakistan
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing on behalf of the Balochistan People’s Party (BPP) to
present our deepest concern, regarding the military operation of the
Pakistan Army in eastern Balochistan, Pakistan, and would hereby like
to bring the following matter to your urgent attention.
The Pakistan Army has launched a
massive and full-scale military operation in Marri, Bugti and Makkuran
areas of East Balochistan. The Pakistan Army is using helicopter gun
ships and air strikes to bomb civilian areas (Look at the Reference).
It is ironic to observe that the same Army has been complaining to the
UN and the international community about the shortage of helicopters
for recent earthquake relief in northern Pakistan. According to media
reports this military operation has claimed hundreds of innocent
lives, thousands of Baloch women, children have been injured, and the
Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps (FC) have demolished their
houses.
The current army operation was triggered by unidentified elements
firing rockets at a public meeting addressed by President Pervez
Musharraf at Kohlu during his visit to Balochistan in the middle of
December 2005. Musharraf is exploiting this incident to take revenge
on the Baloch people in the same way Saddam Hussein did in the village
of Dujail in Iraq in 1982. The international community did not stop
Saddam Hussein there and then for the killing of 148 Shi’as. He is now
on trial for the crimes he committed against humanity decades ago. In
order to save its credibility and image of supporting democracy and
human rights all over the world, it is the international community’s
responsibility to act to stop General Musharaff’s atrocities against
the Baloch people now.
Pakistan’s military establishment and
its civilian partners are not popular in Pakistan; they have been
attacked in various places. There has been an attack on Prime Minister
Shaukat Aziz in Attock and there have been two attacks on the
President in his own cantonment, but none of these places were bombed
in response, as collective punishment for the people in these areas.
Balochistan is rich in natural resources including gold, oil and gas.
Despite possessing vast economic resources, Balochistan is the most
backward province of Pakistan. Natural gas was discovered in 1952 in
the Sui area of Balochistan but was not available even in the
provincial capital Quetta until 1982 when the Pakistan Army cantonment
needed it, although Sui gas had reached far-flung towns in Punjab and
other non-Baloch areas. Balochistan gas meets more then 40 per cent of
Pakistan’s needs yet only six per cent of Balochistan’s 7 million
people have access to it.
The exploitation of Balochistan’s resources with little benefit to the
local people is an ongoing course by the Pakistani military
establishment to pursue their chauvinistic policies; hence,
Balochistan is one of the most backward areas in the region. The
Baloch in Pakistan are deprived of their national, cultural and
economic rights, and are treated as second class citizens.
We ask the Norwegian Government,
Parliament and other governments and international organisations to
take notice of Pakistan’s military activities and operation in
Balochistan; they are indications that Pakistan’s military is planning
even larger military expeditions against the Baloch people. In a visit
to Balochistan on January 4 2004 General Musharaff threatened Baloch
people with yet harsher treatments if they do not submit to his
dictatorial rule. He took to the national airwaves and delivered an
apocalyptic threat to Baloch: “Don’t push us. It is not the 1970s.
This time you won’t even know what hit you.” In many circles this
statement was interpreted as meaning the Pakistan military junta was
ready to use weapons of mass destruction or even its atomic power
against the Baloch. In the ongoing military operation the Pakistan
military used its helicopters, airplanes and napalm bombs against
civilians (look at the Reference).
Balochistan People’s Party kindly request the Norwegian Government
to withdraw its invitation to General Musharaff to
visit Norway, instead we ask you to put pressure on Pakistan’s
military junta to:
· Stop its military operation in
Balochistan, and withdraw its military from Balochistan and start
negotiation with the Baloch people’s popular political
representatives, to settle the situation through peaceful
negotiations.
· Release all political prisoners who have been arrested by police or
the intelligence services.
· Compensate civilians who have suffered during military operations
and who have lost family members, their possessions and livelihoods.
The unjust and harsh policies of the Pakistan Army and the
establishment toward the Baloch people as outlined above are the root
cause of Baloch grievances. The Baloch are only asking for their
legitimate and natural rights on their ancestral land. For these
legitimate demands, they are facing gross human rights violations by
Pakistan’s police force and intelligence agencies. Arrests,
kidnappings, illegal detention of Baloch political leaders, party
workers and students are routine in Pakistan.
It would be greatly appreciated if you would give due consideration to
the appeal and request contained in this communication.
Yours sincerely,
Nasser Boladai
nasser.boladai@balochpeople.org
Spokesperson for Balochistan People’s Party (www.ostomaan.org)
CC: Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Jonas Gahr Støre Minister of
Justice Mr Knut Storberget
Cc: Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)
Reference:
http://www.ostomaan.org/
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/dr_wahid_baloch/slideshow?.dir=/1d4c&.src=ph
http://www.balochvoice.com/Army_Operation/Children_Killed_28.12.05.html
http://www.balochvoice.com/Army_Operation/Damage_and_unexploded_rocket_shells_001_2-1-06.html
http://www.bso-na.org
http://www.radiobalochi.org
http://www.topaak.com/topaak2003/topaakmain.htm
http://balochistaninfo.com/balochpressnews2006.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/interactivity/specials/1526_baluchistan_ms/page4.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/interactivity/specials/1526_baluchistan_ms/page2.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/interactivity/specials/1526_baluchistan_ms/page3.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/interactivity/specials/1526_baluchistan_ms/index.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/story/2006/01/060103_barkhan_bombing_zs.shtml
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