حزب مردم بلوچستان Balochistan People’s Party بلوچستانءِ اُستمانءِ گــَل
Sentencing to death of a journalist from Iranian Baluchistan
26/02/2008 ; http://www.fidh.org/spip.php?article5267
Paris-Geneva, February 26, 2008 - The International Federation for Human
Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) express
their deepest concern over the sentencing to death of Mr. Yaghoub Mehrnehad,
a Zahedan [1]-based journalist for the Mardomsalari (Democracy) newspaper,
and president of the Sedaye edalat (The voice of Justice) association.
On February 19, 2008, the Iranian judicial spokesperson announced in a press
conference that Mr. Yaghoub Mehrnehad had been sentenced to death for
belonging to the « Jondollah » terrorist group. Mr. Yaghoub Mehrnehad had
received no information about the date or the circumstances of his trial,
and was tried in absence of a lawyer and without his family being informed
of the hearing.
Mr. Mehrnehad had been arrested on May 6, 2007, along with other members of
his association. The others were later released, while Mr. Mehrnehad was
incarcerated and subsequently sentenced to death. According to the Iranian
judicial spokesperson, the case is now pending before the Court of Appeal,
but no further precision was given.
FIDH and OMCT strongly condemn this sentencing, which is the result of a
blatantly unfair trial. Our organisations urge the Iranian authorities to
guarantee in all circumstances the physical and psychological integrity of
Mr. Yaghoub Mehrnehad, and to grant him an open and fair trial when
appealing his sentence – with unhindered access to legal representation – in
line with international human rights standards and instruments ratified by
the Islamic Republic of Iran.
FIDH and OMCT also wish to recall that they are strongly opposed to the
death penalty as an extreme form of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment
and a violation of the right to life, as proclaimed in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights
instruments.
Our organisations further denounce the fact that the Iranian authorities
increasingly tend to repress opponents and human rights defenders working in
minority areas by resorting to accusations of terrorism [2].
Our organisations point out that Iran had committed to “uphold the highest
standards in the promotion and protection of human rights” by presenting its
candidacy to the Human Rights Council 2006 election and insisted in this
regard on the fact that the country had “continuously put great efforts into
safeguarding the status and inherent dignity of the human person as well as
the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms”. In
order to ensure the continuation of these efforts, our organisations
strongly urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to conform with international
human rights standards.
Contact:
FIDH : Gaël Grilhot/Karine Appy : + 33 1 43 55 25 18
OMCT: Alexandra Kossin: +41 22 809 49 39
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[1] Zahedan is the capital of the Iranian Baluchistan province.
[2] See urgent appeals of the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights
Defenders (a joint programme OMCT-FIDH) IRN 007 / 0807 / OBS 092 and 092.1
on Messrs Adnan Hassanpour and Abdulwahid Boutimar.
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Two journalists kidnapped in Balochistan, a third missing since November
Reporters Without Borders: 07-03-2008
Reporters Without Borders is very worried about two journalists employed by
the Urdu-language Baloch daily Azadi, Hameed Baloch and Khalil Khosa, who
went missing in the province of Balochistan within three days of each other,
on 29 February and 3 March, and who were probably kidnapped.
“The current deterioration in press freedom in Balochistan has become quite
intolerable”, Reporters Without Borders said. “These abductions, coming on
the heels of the 9 February murder of Chishti Mujahid, are part of the
disastrous consequences of the fighting between government forces and Baloch
separatist groups. We urge the authorities to do everything possible to
protect journalists and to come to the help of those who are still missing.”
According to the Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ), Baloch was
kidnapped on 3 March in Taftan, near the Iranian border. “His disappearance
may be due to the security services, tribal rivalry or political parties”,
BUJ president Mujeeb Ahmed told Reporters Without Borders.
Another BUJ member said : “In my view, influential tribes must be
implicated, as was the case with Riaz Mengal [of the newspaper Intikhab],
who we thought had been kidnapped by the security services but in fact had
been kidnapped by tribal chiefs.”
Khosa has not been seen since attending a news conference in the southern
Baloch town of Nasirabad on 29 February. His family thinks he may have been
kidnapped because of articles criticising Baloch nationalist parties that
took part in the recent parliamentary elections while other Baloch
nationalist groups boycotted them.
Based in the Baloch provincial capital of Quetta, Azadi is still without
news of its young reporter Javed Lehri, who has been missing since 30
November. Editor Muhammad Asif Baloch thinks he was kidnapped by the
security services, who kidnapped the head of the Baloch Voice TV station,
Munir Mengal, in June 2006. Mengal was eventually handed over to the police,
who are still holding him despite court orders for his release.
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Largest mammal’s
fossil displayed
Monday, March 10, 2008
Associated press of Pakistan
QUETTA: The fossils of world's largest mammal "Balochi Theriam" has been
brought to the museum of Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) for exhibition.
GSP geologists had discovered the first ever four-feet long jaws and some
other relics of the 18-feet tall, 37-feet long and 22 tons heavy Rhino
during its search in 1985-87 in Dera Bugti. Later, a Paris Museum team in
1989-2002 discovered other body parts of "Balochi Theriam" after conducting
excavation in various areas of the district. These body-parts were later
joined to form complete skeleton of the world's largest land animal.
The fossils are about 150 million years old, according to experts. They are
preserved in ten boxes in Dera Bugti of which 73 fossils are being brought
to GSP Museum this week.
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Palestinian group Hamas admits that its fighters are trained in Iran
By Marie Colvin, Gaza City ; From The Sunday Times March 9, 2008
THE Palestinian group Hamas, blamed for last week’s massacre of eight students at a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem, has revealed that hundreds of its fighters have been trained in Iran.
A senior commander interviewed by The Sunday Times said 300 of the group’s “best brains” had been secretly sent to Tehran.
Half are still being trained by Revolutionary Guards. They are learning how to make explosives from everyday items and produce deadlier rockets.
The rest have already returned from a Revolutionary Guard base in Tehran. Some have been trained as snipers. Others have learnt to use tunnels in attacks on Israeli forces.
“Iran is our mother,” the
commander said. “She gives us information, military supplies and financial
support.”
Seven separate groups of Hamas militants have spent up to six months in
Tehran since the training began in 2005.
The scale of Iran’s operation exceeds Israeli intelligence suspicions that
Hamas had dispatched “tens” of fighters to Tehran. Yuval Diskin, the head of
Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security service, said last week: “I see this
as the strategic danger, more than any weapons smuggled into Gaza.”
Israeli officials believe that Iran is waging a “proxy war” against their
country on two fronts ? through Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The
Hamas commander said Iranian-trained instructors had also taught more than
700 fighters at a base in Syria.
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Interview with Nawabzada
Gazain Marri By Wendy Johnson, conducted via email, Mar 7, 2008 Source :
The Baluch |
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Q: Since 9/11, the
West has appeased Musharraf by branding the Baloch, who strive for
autonomy in their own land and seek justice from a military
dictatorship, as 'terrorists'. This includes your own brother held on
trumped-up terrorism charges in London. Has this branding of the BLA
affected Balochistan's ability to defend itself? A: The West's biggest blunder post 9/11 was to support the military dictator General Parvez Musharraf in the hope that he would serve as an ally in the war against terror, not taking into account the fact that General Musharraf was the only benefactor of 9/11 terrorist attacks. The British government's attitude towards the Baloch is regrettable, and to a certain extent shameful, because of the entire process of banning Baloch organizations, persecuting and arresting Baloch nationals on the behest of Musharraf. As to your question whether the attitude of the British government has impaired the ability of the Baloch to defend themselves, the answer is very simply, No! The problem of Balochistan and the implications of Pakistan 's occupation are far greater and way beyond the confines of a single organization or an individual. Q: Following the killings of Nawab Bugti and Balach Marri, where do you see the leadership of the Baloch Nation coming from? A: The killing of our two supreme leaders is irreplaceable for the Baloch nation, yet this by no means will stop the Baloch struggle for independence. Now the dynamics of the Baloch struggle have changed, due to the sacrifices of these two supreme leaders, and the new generation has gained great inspiration from these two leaders. Without a doubt our future leaders will also command equal greatness. Q: Sardar Ataullah Mengal said in an interview with the Friday Times in 2006, “We want the federal government to deal with only three subjects: foreign affairs, defence and currency. All other matters must be in the hands of the provinces. We have been insisting that the provinces should be granted provincial autonomy as enshrined by the 1973 Constitution." (unamended, in its original form). Would you support autonomy vs. independence if the 1973 constitution, in its original form, was enacted? A: I believe that 60 years of occupation, oppression and subjugation of the Baloch Nation by the federal government of Pakistan leaves us with no other options, but to opt for independence. Q: Would the BLA (Baloch Liberation Army), BRA (Baloch Republican Army) and other groups put down their arms in exchange for autonomy? Or will they accept only independence at this point? A: I am not the spokesperson for the named organizations, but in my opinion (and it's public knowledge that they have stated this) they will accept nothing short of an independent Balochistan. Q: In the same interview noted above, Sardar Mengal was asked if he would support Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti's call for a single Baloch National Party. For various reasons, this party was not established. Would you support an effort to organize such a party if it were to help the Baloch win autonomy or independence? Or do you believe your goals can be achieved without such an organization? A: The need for a single Baloch national party is paramount, because Pakistan's rulers have consistently implemented their "divide and rule" policy on the Baloch, and succeeded internationally to defame the Baloch on the pretext that we are a divided nation. Q: Have the Baloch made any errors since 1947? A: Yes they have made many; it's through trials and errors that nations come to know their true destiny. Q: In November 2006, following the death of Nawab Bugti, the few Baloch leaders we spoke to in Balochistan (Nawab Raisani, Sardar Ataullah Mengal, and Khan of Kalat Suleiman Ahmedzai) voiced their support for taking the Baloch case for autonomy or independence to the International Court of Justice at The Hague. Do you support such a move? A: I fully support any move by any Baloch, which would sincerely result in justice for the Baloch. This includes taking the case of Balochistan to The Hague , as well as the Baloch representatives taking the case of Baloch human rights violations to the United Nations Human Rights Council. Q: It is my understanding that the Marri tribe, along with other nationalist parties (including Prince Karim) opposed signing the accession agreement with Pakistan. Can you explain what the position of the Marri tribe was at the time in 1947? A: It is pertinent to mention that the Marri tribe at all times pre 1947, fought against and repelled foreign invaders and the stance of the Mari tribe did not change in 1947 or post 1947. Q: There are now greater numbers of Baloch spread around the world than there are in their own homeland. Do you see any parallels with the Jewish Nation's plight? Under what conditions, if any, do you see the Baloch Nation, spread to all corners of the globe, returning home? A: The only parallel that one can run between the Jews and the Baloch is the fact that we have both suffered genocide and holocaust by Aggressors, the Jews by the hands of Nazis and the Baloch by the hands of a fascist Pakistan army who are the Nazis of today. The Baloch will return home, once the Baloch nation rids themselves from the Punjabi aggressors. Q: If independence proves unrealistic to achieve, would you work from within Pakistan for the benefit of all the people in Balochistan, including the other provinces? A: Baloch independence might seem unrealistic to some today, but ultimately it's our destiny. Q: The Dawn and DailyTimes newspapers report variously that you were a) repatriated from Dubai in April 2006, b) were tried in an anti-terrorist court in Pakistan, c) arrested in Dubai on money-laundering charges early in 2006 and d) are wanted in Pakistan on various charges, including the murder of a judge of the Balochistan High Court, Justice Nawaz Marri over the ownership of mines in Balochistan. Can you comment on any of these charges? A: The Pakistani establishment has consistently tried to implicate and malign my family because we believe in justice for Balochistan and stand against the illegal occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan . Therefore the charges against me and my family are nothing more then Pakistan's attempt to silence us. Q: The DailyTimes reported on Sept 2, 2006 that you and your brother Hairbiar Marri were trying to set up a 'Balochistan High Commission' and a TV channel in Dubai to internationalize the Baloch struggle. Can you elaborate on this? A: The report of the Daily Times Sep 2, 2006 is very enchanting, although we had no such plans. Q: Can you provide information on Hyrbiar's status? Is he held in Belmarsh? Does his family have access to him? There is virtually no information in the media about him at present. A: Hyrbiar is being held at Belmarsh high security prison. At the last hearing he was not even presented at the court, but the hearing took place via video link. His family has no access to him. This proves that the British authorities are obliging Musharraf's regime over and above the normal protocol. The Scotland Yard team that arrested Hyrbiar Marri and Faiz Baluch in London on Musharraf's false allegations and trumped-up charges is the same team that was sent to Karachi at Musharraf's request to investigate the Benazir Bhutto assassination. This seems to be not a coincidence that Musharraf is using these particular individuals from Scotland Yard to carry out his dirty work, because even in Benazir's case they came out with exactly the same conclusion as Musharraf had done. The enthusiasm with which this team is harassing, intimidating and trying to implicate Hyrbiar Marri and his family for wrongdoings raises the suspicion in my mind, knowing the mentality of the ISI, that corruption might be at play. I have conveyed my concerns about the Scotland Yard team to the Pakistan People's Party. The Scotland Yard team, through their prosecutor, has employed every trick in the book to stall Hyrbiar's bail request. They have even gone to such lengths as to raise the bail amount to over $700,000 in cash. This seems highly unfair and an unprecedented condition. Q: Do you believe Hairbiar was arrested as part of an extradition agreement between the UK and Pakistan in exchange for Rashid Rauf? Or was his arrest related simply to Pakistan and its attempts to silence the Marris and/or the BLA? A: The British government, through their foreign secretary Margaret Becket, asked the Pakistani government for the extradition of Rashid Rauf in March 2006. The Pakistani authorities laid down conditions to reciprocate whereby the Pakistani government would only hand over Rashid Raouf in exchange for eight Baloch residing in the UK , one of whom is the Baloch representative at the United Nations human rights council (Mehran Baluch), another was Hyrbiar. Q: Can you elaborate further on the murder of your brother Balach Marri? Is it possible that he was killed by NATO forces in Helmand province? Or do people still believe he was killed in Noshki or Kohlu? (There is much public information about the U.S. airforce's ability to very effectively track people with Predator drones, is it possible the Pakistanis provided such information to NATO or to US forces? A: I don't believe in the sentiment of speculations. Balach Marri heroically fought the enemy to defend his motherland and in the process he was martyred. Q: Can you speak about the BLA today? I still see reports at balochvoice.com about their activities. There is much speculation about their funding, as well as funding for the BRA and other groups. Can you speak to this topic at all? A: I don't believe that speaking about the reality should be a taboo, but unfortunately my knowledge about their activities and funding is as limited as yours. |
