Monday, June 9, 2014

Pakistan Continues Relentless Bombardment of Dera Bugti Civilians


video c/o BRP Media Cell

On Sunday June 8th Pakistan Armed Forces indiscriminately bombarded civilian targets in the Geyandari, Sori, Jataro Rekh and surrounding areas of Dera Bugti with heavy artillery, fighter jets and at least as many as 16 gunship helicopters.  10 civilian residents were killed during the attack; among them were 2 Mazari tribesmen, one Bugti tribesman, 3 women and two children.  This most recent attack was reportedly conducted under the direct supervision of Baloch Traitor and War Criminal; Occupational State Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti.  Throughout Sui, Occupational State Forces conducted door to door home invasions, abducting 9 residents; Edo s/o Darman Bugti, Bangal s/o Darbani Bugti, Marshalah s/o Manu Bugti, Ali Husain s/o Bhamba Bugti, Saif Rahman s/o Khair Bux, Jaffar s/o Javed Bugti and Allaho s/o Javed Bugti.

Sunday’s attack is a continuation of a week-long offensive which has devastated at least 9 towns in the Dera Bugti region.  Earlier this week at least 15 people were killed and more than 20 injured when Occupational State Forces bombarded villages in the Darangen and Rustam Darbaar areas of Sui, Dera Bugti.  State Forces ruthlessly assaulted the impoverished villages with gunship helicopters, heavy artillery and chemical weapons.  On Wednesday the Patfeedar, RD238 and Tangwani areas of Sui, Dera Bugti, were also heavily bombarded by State Forces.  More than a dozen local inhabitants were abducted, and at least 10 people were seriously injured during the attack.  Yesterday, survivors in RD238 recovered 2 unidentified bullet riddled bodies.  Since June 3rd more than 30 civilian residents of the Dera Bugti region have been killed by State Forces.

Despite their relentless campaign of savage violence, the Pakistan state continues to engage in blatant human rights abuses with complete impunity.  Occupational State Soldiers rampage through impoverished villages leaving behind rubble and ruin under the guise of fighting terrorists.  Meanwhile State Sponsored Death Squads, Mercenaries and Gangs of Fanatics continue to operate freely.  Only Yesterday 30 people were killed when Terrorists attacked busses of Shia pilgrims parked at a hotel in Taftan, near the Pak-Iran border.  While Pakistan’s Sinister armies are busy ravaging defenceless Baloch villagers, Taliban militants disguised as security personnel stormed the International Airport in Karachi, killing 18 people.

The Baloch have historically and openly maintained a commitment to a secular and nationalist agenda.  In stark contrast to this, Pakistan implements malevolent policies of severe oppression of minorities, enforced radicalization and persecution of moderate ideologies.  Through these policies Pakistan has effectively classified an entire ethnicity as terrorists to justify their sinister campaign of ethnic cleansing.  In a recent statement Baloch Republican Party spokesman Mr. Sher Mohammad Bugti said “Pakistani forces continue Baloch Genocide in different strategies and intensify military operations against Baloch civilians in all over Balochistan under the pretext of action against who they call terrorists.”


In Karachi today BHRO Activists held a protest rally condemning the #DeraBugtiOperation by State Security Forces



On June 6th the tortured remains of BNM activist and local school teacher Shaheed Master Maqbool Baloch was recovered in the Kech district of Turbat.  In a statement, a Baloch National Movement spokesperson, said that “Master Maqbool Baloch was linked with the (BNM) organization and he was abducted by state forces between Pirdrak and Chamak area of Balochistan on Thursday”.




Two more bullet riddled bodies were recovered in Kalat on Friday.  One of the bodies has been identified as Khaliqdad Sarmastani r/o Karachi, while the other remains unidentified.  In Buleda, Kech, two people were gunned down on Friday by unidentified gunmen.  The victims of the Buleda shooting have been identified as Local school teacher Akram Ameen and local resident Ghulam Jan.  On Wednesday June 4th Pakistan’s security forces invaded the home of vegetable broker Niaz s/o Sowali in Tasp, Panjgur.


On June 7th BNM activists held a demonstration in London, UK, at the Prime Minister’s house to protest Pakistan’s relentless human rights abuses in Balochistan.  Participants publicized Pakistan’s brutal kill & dump policies.  The BNM protest was joined by BRP-London activists and BRP-London organizer Mansoor Baloch.


After BSO-Azad CC Member Lateef Johar’s heroic 46 day long Hunger Strike at the Karachi Press Club to protest the enforced disappearance of BSO-Azad Chairman Zahid Baloch, BSO-Azad has finally ended the demonstration at the behest of all the activists, journalists, supporters, family, friends and the Asian Human Rights Commission.  The AHRC has promised to raise the issue of the enforced disappearance of Zahid Baloch and other student & political activists at the United Nations, as well as continue to raise the issues of enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings of detainees at international level.  The AHRC has also urged the Pakistan government to find a permanent solution to the issues of disappearances, abductions and extrajudicial killings according to international norms.  During the final days of his hunger strike, Lateef Johar’s health had descended to near critical condition.  After losing more than 30kg, his glucose levels descended well below safe levels, and Johar’s vital signs were fading.  

Image c/o Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur
On June 7th Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur, Shaheed Mir Jalil Reiki's father Mama Qadeer, Shaheed Raza Jehangir's mother, Shaheed Mehboob Wadhela's Father, with support from Nawab Khai Baksh Marri, held a Balochi 'Marqa' and 'Mairr' to ask Lateef Johar to end the Strike. Since ending the hunger stike, Lateef Johar has been admitted to the local hospital and is recovering.  




Throughout this ordeal, and moving forward; the courageous 22 year old student remains committed to saving the life of BSO-Azad Chairman Zahid Baloch and continuing the campaign to raise international awareness of Pakistan’s brutal practice of enforced disappearances and extra judicial executions of students, teachers and activists in Balochistan.

On March 18th BSO-Azad Central Chairman Zahid Baloch was abducted by Pakistan’s Security Forces while attending a meeting in Quetta, and subsequently imprisoned without crime or charge.  Despite detailed multiple eyewitness accounts; the Pakistani administration vehemently denies any involvement in the disappearance of Zahid Baloch.  BSO-Azad has expressed serious concern for the safety of their abducted leader.
Thousands of students and activists have been abducted by Pakistan’s Security Forces in recent years. In the past year alone, the bullet riddled & tortured remains of as many as 373 abductees were recovered in Balochistan.  5 years ago BSO-Azad Vice Chairman Zakir Majeed was also extra-judicially abducted by State Forces and has been missing ever since.  Zakir’s sister Banuk Farzana Majeed Baloch participated in the nearly 3000km #VBMPLongMarch from Quetta to Karachi & then to the UN Office in Islamabad alongside VBMP Vice-Chairman Mama Qadeer.  The Long March was a historic demonstration in protest of Pakistans violent campaign of enforced disappearances and extra judicial executions in Balochistan.  In a recent interview with Banuk Farzana Majeed, she said “Zakir Majeed was the former Chairman of the Baloch Student Organization-Azad. He had the courage to raise his voice against state brutalities, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations committed by Pakistan in Balochistan”


Even in neighboring Iran, Baloch students, and activists face severe persecution at the hands of the Iranian regime.  In April and May alone, 19 Baloch activists have been executed by hanging until death in Iran.  Iranian authorities routinely arrest and execute Baloch civilians on fabricated charges or often without any charge at all.

Image c/o Samir Baloch


Chieftan of the Marri tribe, Heroic Baloch Nationalist and former Member of National Assembly Nawab Khair Bukhsh Marri has fallen critically ill last week and is being treated in the ICU of Karachi's hospital

Our hopes and prayers are with Nawab Khair Bucksh Marri and we all wish him a swift recovery.

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