Baloch activists in London have staged a protest demonstration at Trafalgar Square on Saturday (16-03-2013) against the on-going human rights violations in Balochistan. The protest was part of two-month awareness campaign by International Voice for Baloch Missing Persons and International Committee against Disappearances. A large number of Baloch activists including Baloch patriot leader Hyrbyair Marri and members of International Committee against Disappearances and Nations without States took part in protest to express their solidarity with the families of enforced-disappeared Baloch activists. The participants of the protest were carrying placards and banners imprinted with pictures of Baloch activists killed in-custody by Pakistani security forces. Graham Williamson from Nations without States and Doris Jones from Borneo Diaspora who is also a member of NwS participated in the protest to support the Baloch people’s struggle for their rights and freedom. Talking to IVBMP activists they said Baloch struggle for their national liberation was a just cause and Baloch like other nations deserve to be free. They further said all the occupied and oppressed nations around the world are struggling to be free from the yoke of colonial powers. IVBMP’s UK co-ordinator Dr Mustafa Baloch informed the NwS leaders that Baloch people owned their sovereign state until the British imperial forces attacked and later divided their countries in three parts. He said, “Eastern Balochistan, currently occupied by Pakistan, declared its independence on 11 August 1947. The British and the Pakistan government had recognised the sovereign status of Balochistan in a tripartite agreement with Baloch rulers.” Later on, he said, Pakistan asked the Baloch people to merge with Pakistan on the basis of shared religion but the Balochistan parliament unanimously turn-down the offer of Pakistan and opted to remain an independent state. Annoyed by the Balochistan parliament’s rejection Pakistan then attacked and forcefully occupied Balochistan on 27 March 1948. “The enforced-disappearances and extra-judicial killings of Baloch people have started in 1948 and continue to this day. The only fault of disappeared Baloch and those who have been killed and dumped is that they speak against occupation of Balochistan and ask for freedom,” Said Dr Mustafa Baloch. He further said that no oppressive state can enslave a nation at gunpoint. The Baloch activists should continue their struggle for regaining their freedom with conviction and be consistent, he added. He said Pakistan and Iran can no longer survive but the Baloch should prepare themselves to be able to take control of the affair of their country, Balochistan. He said educated Baloch youth must start preparing for future of Balochistan from now. The activists of International Committee against Disappearances and IVBMP have also distributed leaflets to the common people who passed by. Many of bypassers stood by to express their support with families of disappeared Baloch activists and Baloch struggle. In the final phase of their two-month awareness campaign the IBMP and ICAD will take out a public rally on 30, March, 2013, from Pakistan High Commission to 10 Downing Street, opposite the official resident of British Prime Minister. The IVMP will also organise a meeting at Polish Art and Culture Centre in London on 27 March against the occupation and forceful merger of Balochistan by Pakistan and Iran.
