Balochistan has faced a multi-faceted and multi-layered genocide for long now, but this had gone unnoticed due to the lack of communication services in the remote and scattered villages and towns of Balochistan. While an unannounced media blackout is being observed on the human rights violations in Balochistan. Fake encounters are the evolved shape of notorious kill and dump policy of the State Security forces used to silence the voices of dissent in the war struck province. During the last 03 years, more than hundred innocent Baloch individuals have been killed in fake encounters by CTD. Last year, after a fake encounter in Ziarat, families of the victims and enforcedly disappeared individuals staged a sit-in for 45 days in Red Zone, Quetta. But, apart from a continuous peaceful struggle, the genocidal policies of the state continue with complete impunity in Balochistan. On November 23, Balach Mola Baksh was killed along with Shakoor, Saif and Abdul Wadood in a fake encounter at Banuk Chadhai, Pasni. The family of Balach refused to bury their child in silence and staged a Sit-In at Shaheed Fida Chowk, Turbat with Balach’s dead body to make his killers accountable.
•The Sit-In at Shaheed Fida Chowk, Turbat
The cries of Najma echoed in Balochistan, garnering support for the Sit-In at Shaheed Fida Chowk, attracting people from all over Turbat and the surroundings to join the cause against the killers, who roam without a care after committing crimes against humanity. Puppets were sent to negotiate during midnight offering baseless promises ON-CAMERA and with threats OFF-CAMERA. But the continuous atrocities and subjugation have hardened Baloch. When these tactics failed, Balach’s sister Najma was abducted in the name of negotiations to terrorize the family members of Balach Mola Baksh and those present at the Sit-In. From the very first day, State authorities and State representatives have justified the genocidal policies of Security forces in Balochistan apart from heeding to the genuine demands of the protestors. This behavior is not spontaneous but a reflection of the mentality of a colonizer. The brutalities inflicted have had a dehumanizing effect on Baloch and this #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide is an effort to decolonize not only Baloch masses with a revival of the essence of dignity and resistance but also to humanize the behavior of State actors in Balochistan.
•A Ray of Hope in the Dark of Night
The gravest and most consistent form of Genocide practiced in Balochistan is the enforced disappearances of Baloch masses. The number of effected is far larger in real time than those documented cases. Most of the effected victims belong to the rural areas and due to lack of education, access and the fear and terror of Security forces; families bear their grief in silence and wait for the miracle of return for their loved ones. But like the mythical Balach of Baloch History, the martyrdom of Balach Mola Baksh helped the conditions change. And victim families of State Oppression started to join the Sit-In at Shaheed Fida Chowk from the surroundings of Turbat. Among them was, Nako Mayar; a Shepard by profession, who had left his sheep in the quest to search for his enforcedly disappeared Son; Fateh. As more and more families arrived, Baloch Yakjehti Committee started a registration camp at Shaheed Fida Chowk, Turbat to document the cases of victims of State Oppression. The Sit-In for Shaheed Balach gradually turned into a movement demanding an END TO BALOCH GENOCIDE.
•#MARCHAGAINSTBALOCHGENOCIDE
The protesting families at Shaheed Fida Chowk, Turbat exercised all possible peaceful means of RESISTANCE to demand accountability for the crimes committed against humanity in Balochistan. Whole Makuran observed complete shutter down strike continuously for a week, while a Wheel-jam strike was observed in Turbat. Major protests and demonstrations were held in major cities of Balochistan to demand justice for Balach Mola Baksh, but this could not stir those sitting in the power corridors, enjoying luxury stepping over the dead bodies of Baloch. Baloch Yakjehti Committee, along with the families of victims of State Oppression, decided to March towards the Capital city of Islamabad. This #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide is an attempt to expose the human rights abuses and multi-faceted genocide of Baloch nation. The Caravan of the March left Turbat on 06 December 2023. #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide witnessed an historical uprising along the way. Shapuk, Heronk, Tejaban and Hoshab are towns which have faced tremendous military aggression during the last decade and the people were forced to live as IDPs for a period of time. But as the March progressed, whole villages came out on the CPEC road -a curse for the natives- to welcome the Caravan and show their support for the struggle against tyranny.
•The Journey from Panjgoor to Khuzdar
On 07 December 2023 a huge demonstration was held in Panjgoor from Shaheed Javed Chowk against Baloch Genocide. State has tried for a long time to depoliticize the masses in Panjgoor by the means of religious extremism and confine women to homes. But hundreds of women not only participated but led the demonstration in Panjgoor breaking the shackles of extremism. Next day, the #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide left for Naal, where hundreds joined on the way in Gresha with posters of enforcedly disappeared student leaders Zahid Jan and Zakir Baloch in their hands. After brief stays in Besima and Gresha, the Caravan reached Naal at night; the road was packed with people chanting slogans to demand an end to the human rights abuses in Balochistan. On 9 December, Naal witnessed the biggest demonstration in its history, thousands of people gathered in Naal Bazaar not only to stand against the genocidal policies of the State but as a tribute to the efforts of Zakir Majeed and Zahid Baloch for the Baloch masses. The March continued its journey after the demonstration in Naal towards Khuzdar. By now, the State had become desperate and tried to stop the #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide through the means of a staged Sit-In with containers at Ferozabad, Khuzdar. But these containers could not stop the storm of people chanting for an END TO BALOCH GENOCIDE.
•Khuzdar to Quetta
#MarchAgainstBalochGenocide staged a sit-in at Shaheed Professor Abdul Razzaq Chowk on 9th of December. Khuzdar is one of the most effected regions in Balochistan, where not only the security forces of the State have subjugated the masses for decades, but a network of State-backed death squads has been nourished to destabilize the region. This March not only mobilized but decolonized the masses to help the people resist against the tyranny of the oppressor. Next day, a huge number of people came to see off the Caravan of the #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide for their upcoming journey. To stop the Caravan of the March, the State tried various ways directly by stopping them with containers and baton charge and indirectly through the means of a dramatic accident of rusted trucks in the middle of the roads and a strike by the members of death squads at the entrance of Kalat. But, with the help of the people of Kalat and Surab, despite the extreme weather cold, the March was able to overcome these barriers and reach Mangochar, where it stayed for the night. After holding demonstrations in Mangochar and Mastung, the #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide finally reached Quetta on the night of 11 December 2023 where the Police had blocked the way at the entrance of Quetta City through barriers and containers. The only purpose of these tactics was to provoke the participants of the March to violence. But, the participants remained peaceful and upon reaching Quetta city staged a Sit-In at Saryab Mill, Quetta.
•The Sit-In in Quetta
Upon reaching Quetta, the caretaker Balochistan Government apart from listening to the genuine demands of the #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide started a malicious misinformation campaign to propagate against the March by targeting its leaders and participants with false allegations. To intimidate the people in solidarity with the March, a series of false FIRs were casted on the participants of the movement and its supporters. During the Sit-In at Sayab Mill Quetta, two demonstrations were organized, and a Seminar was arranged to shed light on the human rights violations in Balochistan. The people of Quetta participated in huge numbers and joined the cause of the March to help end the Genocide in Balochistan. On 15 December, #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide along with a number of new families, left for Islamabad with a slight hope of JUSTICE.
•Quetta to DG Khan
Kohlu has witnessed years long oppression and subjugation by the hands of State forces. And an atmosphere of fear and terror has been created to stop the masses from speaking up or standing for their rights. But all this could not stop the people of Kohlu from joining this collective struggle for our survival as a nation. Kohlu witnessed the biggest demonstration in its history on 16 December, when thousands of people gathered in the main Bazaar of Kohlu chanting the name of BALACH, an icon of Baloch Resistance; hundreds of years ago and now. When the people in DG Khan started preparations to welcome the #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide. Punjab Police came into action and blocked the way at Beewat. On the morning of 17 December, it illegally arrested and detained more than 20 people, who had gathered to join the participants of the March. Punjab Police was in preparation of a massive crackdown on the participants of the March but people of Barkhan and Rakhni made these plans unsuccessful by joining the March in thousands and helping it cross the provincial border. The #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide staged a Sit-In at Gadhai Chungi to demand for the release of the illegally detained activists. The March stayed in DG Khan for three days before it left for Islamabad through Taunsa and DI Khan. Taunsa may be separated from Balochistan through so-called boundaries, but we are united at heart by RESISTANCE. And it proved with the historic welcome of #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide in Taunsa, where thousands of people came in solidarity with the victims of state oppression and to join their struggle in the fight for survival. After staying the night in Taunsa, the March continued its journey towards Islamabad after a brief stay in Dera Ismail Khan. The Pashtuns showed their complete solidarity with the movement against Baloch Genocide led by Baloch Women.
•Reaching Islamabad
The Capital of Pakistan, Islamabad sealed its doors for the Baloch Protestors, who had marched thousands of kilometers to tell the stories of oppression committed by State forces in Balochistan. The #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide was stopped at Chungi 26 at the entrance of the Capital territory by hundreds of Police Personnel to provoke them to violence, who were headed towards National Press Club, Islamabad where families of enforcedly disappeared Baloch were already on a Sit-In for the safe recovery of their loved ones from 27 November 2023. But, as the participants of the March remained peaceful, Islamabad Police armed with tear gas, water cannon and batons charged on the protestors at nearly midnight both at National Press Club and Chungi 26. Nearly 300 men and 70 females were tortured and illegally arrested by Islamabad Police during the night of 20 December for the crime of peaceful assembly, which is a basic right to every individual under all international laws. A queer phenomenon happened on the next day, when court ordered the release of the Women protestors. The police, breaking several laws, tried to deport them back to Balochistan with the use of force and violence. But salute to the courage of the Baloch Women, some brave journalists and HRCP, the plan to deport the peaceful protestors failed when ICT Police faced resistance and was compelled to let go the brave Baloch Women at nearly 3:00 am.
•The Sit-In at NPC Islamabad
In continuance of the movement against Baloch Genocide, Baloch Yakjehti Committee staged a Sit-In at NPC, Islamabad on 23 December 2023 demanding #STOPBALOCHGENOCIDE. As the Sit-In commenced, State launched a series of tactics to intimidate and harass the protesting families. This Sit-In has been confined to the boundaries of the Green Area outside NPC by surrounding the Sit-In camp with barbed wire and a number of police personnel encircling the Sit-In. Harassing not only the participants but those who come to show solidarity with the protesting families. On December 27th, through the medium of a press conference. Baloch Yakjehti Committee announced its Charter of demands and gave a 07-day ultimatum to the State. But the State officials through the medium of press conferences and so-called journalists started a misinformation campaign targeting the participants and leaders of #MarchAgaisntBalochGenocide. On the completion of the 07-day ultimatum, on January 3rd, 2024, a nation-wide shutter down strike was observed on the call of Baloch Yakjehti Committee in support of the protesting families at NPC, Islamabad and against Baloch Genocide.
•3rd Phase of #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide
The third phase of the #MarchAgainstBalochGenocide was announced through the medium of a Press Conference from NPC, Islamabad calling the people of Balochistan to come out on roads and hold demonstrations in support of the protesting families at NPC, Islamabad. From 07 to 16 January, protesting demonstrations were held in nearly each and every corner of Balochistan demanding an end to the genocidal policies of the State in Balochistan and making the criminals accountable. The State tried through various tactics to intimidate the protestors by lodging Fake FIRs, arresting the participants and threating the organizers. But they were to no avail as Balochistan observed an historic uprising where storms of people from Malir to Mand came out on roads and made it clear to the State that; Silence is no longer an option confronting a genocide.
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