BSO-Azad protest against ‘military operation’ in Balochistan

BSO Azad against Baloch genocide Protest in Turbat, Balochistan, February 2013

 

Kech: A rally held by the Baloch Student Organisation-Azad and the Baloch National Movement (BNM) is said to be the largest in Turbat's history. The city echoed with “Free Balochistan” slogans.

Thousands of Baloch women, children and elderly took part in a rally on Saturday against Pakistani military operations in Balochistan, kill and dump practices and the ‘criminal silence of the international media’ over gross human rights violations in Balochistan, as well as the silence of the UN and other international human rights organisations regarding the Baloch genocide.

he rally,Baloch Student Organisation -Azad and the Baloch National Movement (BNM), is said to be the largest in Turbat’s history. The city echoed with “Free Balochistan” slogans.
housands of Baloch women, children and elderly took part in a rally, on Saturday, against the military operations, kill and dump and ‘criminal silence of International media’ on gross human rights violations in Balochistan and the silence of UN and other international human rights organisations on Baloch Genocide.

Kareema Baloch, the vice chairperson of the BSO-Azad, led the parade from Degree College Turbat to Fida Shaheed square, where a sit-in was staged. The rally then headed towards Boys College where it took a shape of huge demonstration. The rally participants chanted the slogans in support of free Balochistan and Baloch freedom loving forces. The participants were waving flags of Balochistan and their respective parties. 

The participants of rally strongly criticized the international media for their criminal silence on ‘Baloch Genocide’ by Pakistan. A Baloch woman held a placard which read: “BBC and VOA STOP IGNORING BALOCH GENOCIDE,” They also condemned UN for its coldness about Balochistan situation.

Several hundred Baloch from Mand, Balecha, Dasht, Turbat, Shapok, Hoshaap, Keesak and other areas of Balochistan participated in the rally which was headed by vie chairperson of BSO-Azad, Kareema Baloch.
Speaking to the participants of the rally, Kareema Baloch said: “The Baloch nation is resisting for a free state from past many decades. Thousands of Baloch have already laid their lives whereas thousands are still suffering in torture cells. Despite all these atrocities the international media has criminally remained silent. UN, which has taken notice of human rights violations against Congo, Palestine, and Kosovo, is also ignoring the Baloch genocide by Pakistan and Iran.”

She further said that Pakistan and the so-called Pro-Pakistan Baloch nationalists are planning to start a massive military offensive in Balochistan to pave the ground for upcoming Pakistani elections. The operations in Mashkay, Gebun, Mastung and Mangochar, she said, were also carried out please these pro-Pakistan Baloch parties.

“The Baloch nation should boycott the ‘traitors’ and Pakistani electoral process, because these elections are to strengthen and legitimise the occupation of Balochistan,” said Kareema Baloch.

She added that the state of Pakistan failed to defeat the Baloch struggle by arming the drug dealers and other convicted criminal, and now it was using the likes of Malik, Hasil Bizenjo and Sardar Akhtar Mengal against the Baloch national struggle. “These attempts of the state will also fail and the drawn of freedom is inevitable in Balochistan,” Ms Baloch said.

She alleged BNP-Mengal, National Party and BNP-Awami were hands in gloves with Pakistan and were equally responsible for Baloch genocide. She requested the Baloch nation to hold these traitors accountable for their deeds. 

Miss Mahdem Baloch, Qandeel Baloch and Ruzhn Baloch also addressed the procession and urging the international media to break their silence on Baloch genocide. 

Hundreds of activists of Baloch Students Organisation (Azad), including women and children, on Saturday took out a rally and staged a demonstration in Turbat city to protest the alleged military operation in Balochistan and recovery of bullet-riddled bodies of missing persons.

Participants of the rally, holding placards and banners inscribed with different demands, marched through streets of the city. The rally culminated into a demonstration at Fida Shaheed Chowk.

The protesters shouted slogans against “Frontier Corps’ (FC) targeted operations” and recovery of bullet-riddled bodies.

Speaking on the occasion, BSO-Azad Vice Chairperson Banuk Karima Baloch and others condemned the “targeted operations of FC” and alleged that innocent Baloch were being targeted and their bullet-riddled bodies were being thrown away.

They said the Baloch leaders who were part of Aslam Raisani’s government were equally responsible for the murder of innocent Baloch. 

They said that “more than 500 innocent Baloch people have been brutally killed and their bodies were thrown away”. “We are demand our rights through the UN charter,” they said, adding that the UN should take notice of “excesses” of security forces towards the Baloch. 

They also criticised Baloch nationalist parties, including National Party and Balochistan National Party (Mengal), for their preparations for the upcoming elections. 

The protesters also criticised the media for not highlighting the alleged brutalities of security forces in Balochistan and termed this practice against the rules and ethics of journalism. They vowed to continue their struggle until their demands are met.