Mama Qadeer‘s son Jalil Reiki, information secretary of Baloch Republican Party, was abducted on February 14, 2009 in Quetta allegedly by secret state agencies and his bullet riddled body was dumped in the Aap Sar area of Turbat on November 24, 2011.
The long march led by Mama Qadeer Baloch was started on 27 October 2013. Now the marchers have marched over 2000 kilometers. Mama Qadeer, Farzana Majeed and twenty Baloch women of victim families continued their march committedly, saying that they would continue their mission until they see the safe recovery of the disappeared Baloch. Regrettably, according to them not only they received death threats for calling off long march but also routinely the family members of missing persons received mutilated and decomposed dead bodies of disappeared Balochs. Qadeer Baloch and other marchers were also attacked while traveling towards their destination.
The VBMP has been protesting for last four years, yet there have been no extraordinary developments vis-à-vis the recovery of missing persons. Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) claims disappearance of some 18000 Baloch from different walks of life and 1000 of them have been extra judicially killed . The VBMP leaders assert that current rulers intensified the ‘Abduct, kill and dump’ policies in Balochistan and intelligence agencies have picked up a large number of Baloch political workers to suppress their voice ,however, officials disagree with the claims.
It does not seem that Baloch get justice and missing persons will be released but Mamam Qadeer is of view that long march has highlighted human rights abuse in Balochistan and bloody scenario on international level. “We succeed to convey the message that Baloch people have their own language, history and geography and struggling for ownership of their land and rights.” Said Qadeer Baloch.
Mama is committed to continue their struggle until the disappearance and murder of youth and political activists continues. “Our struggle will go on until the safe release of last abducted Baloch in any torture cell and end of military operation in Balochistan.” Said Mama Qadeer Baloch in his recent interview to the Balochistan Point.
If the media in Pakistan were balanced and human rights organizations were neutral, Qadeer after 1300 days peaceful strike would have qualified for human rights award. Unfortunately, it is not possible because firstly he is Baloch and secondly motivated against a policy allegedly imposed by real state runners. Therefore, for the media in Pakistan he does not deserve this position as human rights activist.
Mama’s role is really praiseworthy; the Quetta to Karachi and Karachi to Islamabad long march on foot has become a new history in Asia. The long march and more than four years peaceful protest may be productive or not but his character is becoming source of courage for the youngsters to continue struggle for their rights and be committed to their movement.
[center] Published in the Balochistan Point on February 28, 2014[/center]
