Balach Marri remembered on death anniversary

LONDON: Tributes were paid to the ultimate sacrifice of slain Baloch leader Mir Balach Marri at a solemn memorial ceremony here three years after the guerrilla commander was killed in an alleged missile attack carried out by Pakistani security forces.
Balach was elected as independent Balochistan provincial legislator in 2002 from Kohlu district during Pervez Musharraf’s regime but he never took part in the assembly sessions and preferred leading an armed struggle for Baloch national rights. Balach and Nawabzada Akbar Bugti’s killings are widely believed to be the crucial factors behind the insurgent movement in Balochistan today.
Hyrbyair Marri, the younger brother of Balach who lives in exile in London, led the emotional tribute to his brother at the meeting organised jointly by Baloch Human Rights Council and World Sindhi Congress at the University of London.
Marri said the occasion was pertinent not only to remember Balach Marri but also thousands of those Baloch who have sacrificed their lives so far. He said there were thousands men and women, young and old who still remained in dungeons.
“Balochistan is going through one of the critical phases of its history,” Marri said in reference to the indiscriminate killing of young activists, which the government denies having anything to do with. Marri charged that there was no respect for human rights in Balochistan today and the continuing killings of the youth will only create further resentment.
He appealed to the diaspora Baloch communities to take a clear stand and unite for a clear purpose and stop deceiving us by chanting empty slogans. He said Baloch are sacrificing their lives not for provincial autonomy or for a greater share in royalties but for the withdrawal of the security forces.
Mehran Baloch, Balach’s brother and Balochistan human rights representative in the UN and EU, said in a statement that his elder brother’s killing had further determined the resolve of Balochs to struggle for their lost rights. “We have come to the conclusion that the killing of our leaders will not weaken us and we are gaining strength by that for our legitimate fight.”
General Secretary of Baloch Human Rights Council (UK) Samad Baloch referred to Balochistan Chief Minister Nawabzada Raisani’s admission that he didn’t have any mandate to deal with stakeholders in Balochistan and said the current government’s sloganeering was only aimed at deceiving the masses further.
He revealed that the British government had recently written to him and assured that it was looking into the cases of disappeared Balochis.
World Sindhi Congress President Dr Hedayattullah Bhutto said that as part of a concerted effort the distinct culture and identity of various nationalities was being targeted and undermined for the supremacy of a biased and vague uniform totalitarianism. He urged the various “oppressed nationalities” of Pakistan to unite for their rights.Baloch intellectual Dr Naseer Dashti, Dr Lakhu Luhana, Abdullah Baloch, Dr Halim Bhatti, Jamshed Amiri, Mehrab Sarjoi, Hasan Hamdam and Madam Estella also spoke on the occasion.