The 23rd Central Council Session of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO) Azad commenced on April 17, 2023, in remembrance of “Lumma-E-Watan” (Mother of the Nation) Banuk Karima Baloch and “Shuhda-E-Aajoi” (Martyrs of Freedom) and in the name of Baloch captives. The Baloch Students Organization Azad (BSO-Azad) is a peaceful pro-independence student group aiming to educate and empower the Baloch youth.
The formal inauguration began with a two-minute silence in memory of the Baloch martyrs, followed by the national anthem. On the first day of the session, the agenda included Central Chairman Abram Baloch’s address, constitution-making, the secretary’s report, and a critical session during which councilors engaged in comprehensive discussions and debates.
Chairman’s Address: Hope, Resilience, and Learning from Successful Nations
Chairman Abram Baloch welcomed members, expressing pleasure at their hope and resilience in attending the session despite ongoing challenges. He acknowledged the dedication of those who have not only resisted efforts to weaken and eliminate BSO over the past two decades but also set an example for opposing forces that have persistently criticized BSO Azad’s strong national position, ideology, and approach, predicting its failure and eventual decline.
In his address, Abram Baloch emphasized that the BSO’s organized cadres are unparalleled today, and the transformations it is bringing about in Baloch society and the movement are expected to be historic and will lead to national liberation. He underscored the need to update the literature being studied, pointing out that the current literature has been ineffective for the past twenty years. Baloch youth have been reading about movements and individuals whose nations are either still subjugated or have failed to build their nations after gaining independence.
Abram Baloch encouraged Baloch youth to study the accomplishments of successful states like Israel, which, despite a small population, has become one of the world’s most powerful countries and has remained organized and active despite constant attacks from Arab countries. He also cited China’s example, which transformed from an opium-ravaged and colonized nation to astonishing heights under the guidance of Mao. He urged the Baloch people to think, reflect, and act in their nation’s best interests beyond the oppressor and oppressed narrative.
Abram Baloch asserted that the Baloch could achieve everything by becoming a great power, and failing to do so would lead to even worse conditions than the current situation, considering the weakness and failure of the national movement over the past 300 years.
He reminded the audience of the once most powerful nation in the region under the leadership of Noori Naseer Khan, now facing various challenges and setbacks, and emphasized that only by becoming a formidable force can the Baloch people claim their rights, from human rights to resources.
BSO Azad: A School for the Baloch National Movement
BSO Azad serves as a school for the Baloch national movement, where Baloch youth learn ideologies, gain education, and dedicate their energies to the cause. As Chairman Abram Baloch stated, all BSO Azad programs should focus on organizing the Baloch national struggle. The BSO’s existence is related to the Baloch national movement, and according to Chairman Abram Baloch, the more organized and active the movement is, the more active the BSO’s role in Baloch society will be.
Abram Baloch emphasized the need for Baloch youth to understand the difference between duty and responsibility, urging them not to merely fulfill formalities but to take on significant responsibilities to advance the struggle for national freedom. He noted that when a nation is at war and under occupation, the youth cannot simply perform their duties formally, but must shoulder substantial responsibilities to advance the struggle for national freedom to its logical conclusion.
Confronting Challenges from Enemies and Developing Capable Youth
The chairman highlighted that the Baloch national movement is currently confronting significant challenges from enemies, with global powers like China actively working against the movement and fully supporting Pakistan in this conflict. In such circumstances, Baloch youth should not just fulfill their formal duties, but should take on essential responsibilities to progress and devote their energies to making the movement more active and organized.
The chairman stressed that only capable and competent youth could organize the movement and create alternative power to counter the enemy. Baloch youth, especially those associated with BSO Azad, should work on their skills and abilities alongside their national consciousness and thoughts. Abram Baloch urged youth to focus on their respective fields of expertise and work in an organized manner within the Baloch national movement, adapting their abilities to the demands of the current era.