Confident Brahmdagh takes strong stand on freedom struggle:

Confident Brahmdagh takes strong stand on freedom struggle:

Baloch leader Brahmdagh Bugti on Monday took a strong stand on Balochistan’s independence struggle, and asked Pakistani establishment to conduct a referendum under the UN’s supervision to find out what the Baloch nation wanted.

While talking to a Pakistani television channel, he said he was not ready for any talks when the Pakistani military was abducting Baloch women and children.

He said dozens of woman were abducted by the Pakistan military recently from the Bolan area.

It is for the first time that a Baloch leader has successfully raised the issue of abducted Baloch women on the mainstream Pakistani media.

The confident Baloch Republican Party chief appeared to have a reasonable answer for every testing question the anchor asked.

When asked about the fate of Dr Allah Nazar, he said it’s against the Baloch traditions for him to reveal anything about that. “But I wish him long life and success.”

Bugti said if the Pakistani establishment was in the misunderstanding that they can force “us for talks under the barrel of the gun, then let the fight continue”.

About talks with the government, he said he is ready to talk with anyone, “but the military operation in Balochistan should stop first”.

When asked whether he considered Pakistan his country and accepted its constitution, he said “no”.

The anchorperson asked him about the rumours that he had visited India. “Your Pakistanis even called your Mother of the Nation an Indian agent,” he replied. “You can come to Switzerland and I’ll manage to show you my passport to prove whether I’ve been to India or not.”

However, he added that under the current circumstances when Pakistani is committing atrocities in Balochistan, the Baloch people will accept any help from anyone.

He also rubbished the rumours that he was returning to Pakistan.

The journalist claimed that most Baloch wanted to live in Pakistan and only Bugtis were engaged in sabotage activities. “I don’t only represent Bugtis or a single tribe. I talk about the whole Baloch nation. Makran is a non-tribal area. Who is running the freedom movement there?” Brahmdagh quipped.

He said the Baloch struggle has popular support from all over Balochistan.

Human Rights and Security in Balochistan Highlighted During UNPO Delegation’s Visit to Washington DC

Mr Nasser Boladai, Spokesperson of the Balochistan People’s Party (BPP) and President of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) visited Washington D.C. last week [16 November 2015] together with Johanna Green, UNPO Program Manager. The trip, ending on the 20th of the same month, functioned as a means of raising awareness of the plight of the people of Balochistan, highlighting the extensive human rights violations taking place in both Iran and Pakistan against the Baloch people. It also provided an opportunity to inform and draw attention to UNPO and the work of the organisation.

The Delegation had the opportunity to establish fresh dialogues with Congressmen, Senators and Administration Officials new to the Baloch cause, as well as to renew ties and continue a joint narrative with long-time advocates and supporters of Balochistan.

This round of meetings came freshly after the P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran, which has polarized many House Representatives and Senators. The impact of this deal will not go without consequences for the Baloch and other minorities within Iran, as it gives the regime a ‘green light’ to intensify human rights violations against these peoples with increased funds available after the lifting of sanctions. Moreover, coinciding with the Delegation’s trip to Washington DC was the visit of Raheel Sharif, Pakistan’s army chief, to the US capital. Given the Pakistani army’s hold over key security and foreign policy issues in the country - the former including a brutal crackdown on the Baloch people, the Delegation found it important to raise awareness of the appalling conditions faced by Baloch activists. A key message conveyed during the meetings was that the US government should consider engaging not only with governments, but also with peoples who might provide better allies than the oppressive regimes of Iran and Pakistan.

The visit to the US capital came shortly after the District of Columbia was inaugurated as UNPO’s newest member on 7 November 2015. The fortuitous circumstances allowed Mr Boladai and Ms Green to engage in activities for their newest member, seeking to become the 51st State of the USA. Mr Boladai made a TV appearance on the local station D.C. Statehood Today were he was interviewed by Ms Deneysha Richard. Building on this DC Senator Paul Strauss joined the pair during a lecture about UNPO and DC’s continuous denial of statehood at UCD’s (University of the District of Columbia) Law School. Finally on Thursday 19 November 2015, Senator Strauss, alongside Senator Michael D. Brown and Representative Franklin Garcia hosted a ‘Welcome Reception’ for UNPO with the support of Students for DC Statehood.

http://unpo.org/article/18737