A Letter to the Baluch Diaspora
Respected companions of Baluch Movement,
Hope you all are doing well. I am also doing great, Alhamdulillah. I want to state that I am a political activist, my name is Zahra Baluch. I have been involved in the Baloch Movement for last two years, and I have been doing proper activism since one year. I know that it is really a small period of time to observe and to comment for anything, but I have few questions to ask. Its not a judgment but questions only, from all companions, all leadership who are living out of Balochistan’s territory, specially in the western world.
Today, 30th August, is the International Day for Enforced Disappearances and Baloch political activists are running an online campaign. All of the political activist along with human rights activists are the part of this campaign, and I am literally sure to say that our voice is only resonating in our own circles or at the best to the people who have soft side for the movement, but not reaching to the bigger platform, like the United Nations (UN). In my opinion, the reason is that we are only social media activists who are not working at international platforms. We are not making the noise that could attract the international world. I apologize if my questions are harsh, but I want to ask that what sort of struggle the Diaspora is doing in free regions of world in order to attract the international focus to Balochistan.
Since 1999, in Kosovo more than 6,000 people have been registered as missing. The UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) together with OHCHR has supported the creating of a missing persons’ resource centre. 1,600 out of 6,000 something cases have been solved, these were the best efforts of people of Kosovo.
Few days back, I was reading an article on Students for Free Tibet (SFT), a students organization for the liberation of Tibet, which was jointly working with companions of their movement. I was really impressed with the efforts of the Students for Free Tibet, the collective way of work and their efforts are really appreciable.
After researching about the Tibetans, I came to know that on 17th February 2015, Shokjang; Tibetan poet, lyricist, short story writer, and essayist, was sentenced to three years imprisonment and two years deprivation of political rights for inciting separatism, but Shokjang insisted his innocence throughout.
According to the Court, Shokjang committed ‘crimes, but the efforts of Students for Free Tibet, from New York to Dharmsala, convinced India through its diplomatic channels to raise voice and wake the world up for Shokjang.
On 19th March 2018, the activists got the news that Shokjang was released.
I know the ground and the activities of Tibetans are different and the atrocities going in Tibet are fully different but all I want to highlight their efforts, if we cannot get our people released from Pakistani torture cells but we can at least highlight their cases in international world.
The State has changed its tactic and after forcibly disappearing men, now the state is disappearing women. Baloch women in torture cells, this line gives goosebumps.
We better know what happens to the women if they are imprisoned by the tyrant. But no International rally, no march by Baloch diaspora; I saw nothing. I only want to ask why this apathy?
The inhuman practice of enforced disappearance has become a global problem and is not restricted to a specific region of the world.
The practice of enforced disappearances, nowadays, is used in complex situations in the internal conflicts in order to crush them; especially as a means of political repression against opponents.
Why the United Nations (UN) is silent on the issue of Baloch missing persons or what effective program we have done on the International Day for the Enforced Disappearance, except for the social media campaigns?
Is our international leadership just limited to some protests in Germany and London along with their own members only? Why can not they have non-Baloch friends who could join them in solidarity?
Enforced disappearance is a serious violation of human rights, systematically perpetrated against civilians, it is considered a crime against humanity, and you are not doing any international level awareness against it; then what are you doing?
Lastly, if, I have said something rude or harsh, then I am really sorry my elders. The questions were disturbing me for months, today I was brave enough to ask.
Thank You,
Your companion of Baloch Movement,
Zahra Baluch
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Balochistan Post or any of its editors.