The Voice for Baloch Missing Persons Protest Camp Set on Fire

QUETTA, November 6, 2024: Unknown individuals set fire to the hunger strike camp led by Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) in Quetta late last night.

The camp, which had been set up in front of the Quetta Press Club, was part of an ongoing peaceful protest by families of enforced disappeared persons in Balochistan. The blaze completely destroyed the camp’s tent, marking the fourth such attack on the protest site in recent years.

The hunger strike camp has been a significant symbol of resistance for over 15 years, demanding the return of thousands of Baloch who have been forcibly disappeared by Pakistani authorities. The VBMP and the families of the disappeared persons have been holding their peaceful protests in the same location in Quetta, calling attention to human rights violations in Balochistan.

Mama Qadeer Baloch, the Vice Chairman of VBMP and a prominent leader of the protest, condemned the attack and blamed state forces for being behind the destruction. “Last night, our peaceful hunger strike camp was set on fire by unknown individuals, with the police leading the operation,” he said. “As a result, our entire camp has been reduced to ashes.”

This is not the first instance of violence directed at the VBMP’s protest camp. According to Mama Qadeer Baloch, this is the fourth time their protest site has been targeted.

In previous attacks, the protesters’ photos of the missing persons were torn up, and their banners were destroyed. “We do not understand why the state is so terrified of our peaceful protests. We are merely calling for justice for our loved ones,” Mama Qadeer said.

He also pointed to other incidents of hostility from state institutions, such as the destruction of the graves of Baloch martyrs in the past. “This is just another sign of the state’s hatred and suppression of our struggle. They have destroyed our martyrs’ graves, and now they have burned down our hunger strike camp,” he added.

The VBMP leadership has vowed to rebuild their camp and continue their campaign against enforced disappearances. The protest remains a powerful symbol of resistance and a call for justice in the face of ongoing human rights abuses in Balochistan and the region.

Despite the repeated attacks, Mama Qadeer made it clear that the VBMP’s protests would not stop. “We will continue our peaceful struggle for justice, no matter how many times our camp is burned down,” he vowed.