Baloch activists held simultaneous protests in many countries against Pakistan’s nuclear weapons

Pro-freedom Baloch activists organized simultaneous protest demonstrations in many countries on Thursday (28 May) at part of the Baloch International anti-nuclear weapons campaign against Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

On the call of Baloch pro-freedom leader Hyrbyair Marri and his like-minded friends protests were held in Germany, Canada, Sweden, South Korea and London and Glasgow city of United Kingdom.

The Baloch activists distributed leaflets and carried placards and banners along with flag of Balochistan to give awareness to general public about the crimes that Pakistan has been committing in Balochistan since it forcibly occupied the sovereign state of Balochistan in 1948.

At the time of Baloch protest outside British Parliament there was a debate taking place inside the parliament about the safety of Britain’s nuclear weapons.

Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri speaking at demonstration outside the British Parliament said that Pakistan has ganged up with “big thief and robber” China and is trying to build roads in Balochistan to shove the Baloch into extinction.

In his short video message in Balochi language Marri said that Islamabad plans to bring in Punjabis and other Pakistanis to settle in Balochistan and invite the Chinese in to further loot Baloch resources and erase their national identity.

“This is their main thinking and strategy and now it’s our national duty to let the world know about what is happening in Balochistan and at the same time struggle to defend our homeland, because now is the time,” he said, adding, “If this time we fail to defend our homeland then there will be no chances left. We don’t do this now we will lose our chance of survival.”

“In the last 17 years, the tests wrought huge destruction on the land and environment. There have been outbreak of diseases, the tests polluted our lands and the underground water sources have been contaminated. Locals now do not have access to water,” Hyrbyair Marri said.

He said Pakistan forcibly occupied Balochistan in March 1948 and has been killing the Baloch since then. “Alongside the killings, they started the loot and plunder of our natural resources: gold, copper, natural gas, everything. On top of the loot plunder and thievery, they tested nuclear weapons 17 years ago.”

He called upon Baloch people in to unite and think about the sacrifices of the comrades and martyrs and carry the struggle onwards “until freedom and victory.” He said all youths have to come together because if we do not unite now and remain divided and split into factions, then only enemy will gain from it.

He said there were some vested interest who call themselves Baloch but want to keep our people divided to help the enemy. He said Baloch patriots have nothing to do with such elements who are accusing us of causing harm. “Our struggle is for defending our identity and our ports and resources.”

He said those who are siding with Pakistan today are working for their own personal and political interests. He asked the Baloch not pay any heed to such opportunists but to “follow the way who gave sacrifices and their lives for the sake of Balochistan.”

He said the protests have been organized to let the world know what Pakistan is doing in Balochistan. “Now they are trying to bring in the bigger thief China, so that they will bring Punjabis and others into Balochistan,” Marri said.

Meanwhile in Canada the coordinator of International Voice for Baloch missing person, Aziz Baloch, said, “The nuclear tests on May 28, 1998 in Balochistan has affected hundreds of Baloch nomads, they lost their land, forms and livestock and they continue to suffer but Pakistan has neither compensated them nor allowed international independent experts to examine the effects and dangers of nuclear weapons to local residents.”

He said that people in Chaghai district and other surrounding areas were afflicted by mysterious diseases such as skin diseases, cancers, and birth defections. “The international Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was signed in 1968 but Baloch people believe that this treaty means nothing at all to fundamental states Pakistan and Iran,” he added.

On behalf of Baloch people the protestors appealed to ‘Pakistan’s decades old die hard ally’ the United States, to stop pouring billion dollars of military aid without any accountability to the Pakistan’s rogue army because Baloch nations believes that Pakistan army is using the sophisticated modern weapons provided by the United States against oppressed Baloch nation.

“Pakistani army is backing religious and extremist groups such as Quetta Shura and many other groups. They are involved in mass killings of Baloch, Hazara, and targeting the Christians and Hindus in Balochistan,” Said Aziz Baloch.

He said the Pakistani rulers and army has severely misled the international community and for the last 35 years they have interfered in Afghanistan’s internal problems, and till today they are causing bloodshed within Pashtoon and other tribal regions.

Aziz Baloch said that since 2002, Pakistan’s fifth military operation, about 20,000 Baloch have been arbitrarily abducted and more than 1500 among them have been extra judicially killed in custody by Pakistani forces.

Their bullet riddled bodies of Baloch victims of Pakistan’s kill and dump policy are discovered on roadsides and deserted areas across Balochistan. The victims include professors, lawyers, poets, doctors, journalist, human rights activist, laborers, hundreds students, and every day people. “The Pakistan army is committing these crimes against humanity with complete impunity,” he said.

Professor Naela Qadiri Baloch founder of World Baloch Women Forum highlighted the human rights violations in Pakistan, Iran and China.

She urged the American people to stop sending their tax payer’s money to support ‘terrorist’ Pakistan. “This is the time to think Canada, we are protest here so that world stops supporting Pakistan and Iran,” she said.

She said China wanted to occupy Gawadar and Balochistan and they [China and Pakistan] were not there for development but they were there not build naval bases.

She said Baloch people did not allow China to take over their land! “We won’t give our motherland to any country to have Navel bases and keep their nuclear weapons.”

 Ayesha Baloch, representative of Baloch Community of Britsh Columbia said, “We are here today front of the US Consulate Vancouver, Canada to request the US to stop supporting Pakistan.”

She from past more than 30 year Pakistan has been interfering in Afghanistan only to add to the sufferings of Afghan People. “Pakistan created Mujahedin groups and send them to Afghanistan to kill innocent Afghan civilians for no reason.”

Kurdish activists also joined the Baloch protest to express their support for people of Balochistan and Baloch struggle.