Discussion on Balochistan

Alexpetrenko

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http://unpo.org/article/19491
Discussion on Enforced Disappearances and Human Rights Implication of CPEC Outlines Roadmap to End Atrocities in Balochistan in Geneva 19/09/2016

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• Publié par: ferelrew
• Publié le: 26 septembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 1
• Langue: English

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Discussion on Enforced Disappearances and Human Rights Implication of CPEC Outlines Roadmap to End Atrocities in Balochistan 19/09/2016 Geneva

On 19 September 2016, the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), in cooperation with the Nonviolent Radical Party (NRPTT), convened a side-event to the 33rd Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Entitled “Never to Be Seen Again: Enforced Disappearances and Pakistan’s Bloody Campaign to Impose CPEC in Balochistan”, the successful international conference took place only days after the release of the annual report of the UN Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances’ (WGEID)and brought together high-level international speakers to debate about ongoinghuman rights abuses in Balochistan and its structural causes.

In his opening remarks, Baloch human rights campaignerMr Noordin Mengalreminded the audience that, while Balochistan’s economic wealth and resources are exploited byPakistani the state, the Baloch people’s right to self-determination remains denied since 1948 and their most basic human rights violated on a daily basis. In this context, it is “imperative for the international community to facilitate genuine support for the Baloch’s progressive struggle for rights, justice and equality”, he concluded.

Ms Sabah Bandoui,representative of theBalochistan Human Rights Group, expanded the discussion bysharingan overview of the sufferingof Balochis on the other side of Pakistan’s border, In Iran. Drawingsad com a parison with the equally disturbing methods used by Pakistan, Ms Bandoui remarked that, despitegross human rights violationsperpetrated against Balochi civilians, “national and international media, as well as the international communitysilent and fail to remain improve or even just acknowledge the horrible human rights situation in West Balochistan”.

Mr Mirza Wahajat Hassan, exiled Chairman of the Gilgit-Baltistan Thinkers Forum and Ex-Chairman of the All Parties National Alliance then spoke about the largelyconstruction of the controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC). Discussingim the portance of Gilgit-Baltistan, the startingpoint of theproject to connect China’s largestprovince, Xinjiang, with Gwadar,Mr Hassan explained that“CPEC cuts through the territoryof Gilgit-Baltistan and is directlyaffectingmore than 400.000 indigenous people” –without their consent.

Ms Michelle Kissenkoetter, Director of the Asia Bureau of FIDH, focused her intervention on enforced disappearances, sharing an overview of the increasing trend in this crime over thepast fiveyears in Pakistan, and especiallyBalochistan. Pointingto the fact that in 2016 an average of 73 disappearancesper month has occurred, Ms Kissenkoetter said that this is “proof that it is a very serious crime, based on which it is impossible to claim that[enforced disappearances]are random acts by militias”.

Closing the event,Mr Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, offered an eight point actionplan to improve the situation in Balochistan. Amonghispoints, “a halt to western arms sales to Pakistan; a UN appointed Special Rapporteur on Balochistan; theprosecution of military and intelligence chiefs in Pakistan on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity under international humanitarian law; and making western aid to Pakistan conditional on the ending of human rights violations” are crucial steps to ensure justice in the region.

Bringing together high-level speakers that offered diverseperspectives, the side-event was another step forward in a long-term campaign to raise awareness at the Human Rights Council of the ‘disappearance campaign’promoted by agents of the Pakistani state, who systematically abduct, ill-treat, torture and kill Baloch dissidents and human rights defenders without any legal repercussions. Furthermore, the event enlarged the discussion about the implications of the CPEC for the Balochpeople. At times when independent media and civil societyare repeatedlybeingdenied access to the region, the debate not onlyinformed about the situation in Balochistan, but also offered apragmatic roadmapend im to punityhuman ri and ghts violations. As the event concluded, the ongoing slow-motiongenocide in Balochistan will not be stopped unless a concerted effort by the international community is put in practice.

Source:http://unpo.org/article/19491