Balochistan People’s Party

Civil Society:
Joshua Kucera: 3/17/08 ; http://www.eurasianet.org/

Representatives of Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities told US elected officials that their people face various forms of discrimination, in what participants said was the first Congressional hearing focusing on internal minority issues in Iran.

The hearing, “Assessing the Human Rights Situation of Iran’s Ethnic and Religious Groups,” was held by the Congressional Iran Working Group on March 13. During their testimony, representatives of Iran’s Azeri, Baluchi, Kurdish, Arab, and Baha’i populations generally agreed that the problems faced by their respective groups were similar, including lack of self-determination and lack of minority language use in schools.

“This policy toward the Baluch is in no way distinct or different from that pursued toward other non-Persian national groups including Arabs, Kurds, Turks and Turkmens. The differences, if any, are merely in degree not in kind,” said M. Hosseinbor, a lawyer in Washington who testified on Baluchi issues.

Azeris, who comprise the largest non-Persian population in Iran, are forbidden from giving their children traditional Azeri names or celebrating Azeri national heroes, said Fakhteh Zamani, the director of the Canada-based Association for Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners. She said that while there is state media broadcasting in the Azerbaijani language, it uses what she termed “Fazeri,” a form of Azerbaijani that uses Farsi words. “This tactic has accelerated the cultural and linguistic assimilation of Azerbaijanis and, according to the masterminds behind this, will eventually make Azerbaijani less relevant and lose a status of a language, being relegated into a ‘dialect’ of Persian,” she testified.

Two members of Congress participated in the hearing, and both said they support the rights of Iran’s minorities.

“Every government can be judged by its treatment of ethnic and religious minorities. And in a classroom, Iran would receive a failing grade,” said Sheila Jackson-Lee, a Democrat from Texas. “You have many friends in the US Congress who are listening here. … We are not going to stop until not only the light of the world is on these issues but the ethnic and religious minorities can stand and be free in a democratic Iran.”

The hearing indicated that any attempt to focus on Iran’s minorities could create difficulties, as several Iranian-Americans in attendance angrily accused the witnesses of trying to foment separatism. The meeting ended in a shouting match between the invited witnesses and several attendees; US Capitol Police were summoned to restore order.

One man, who identified himself as an Iranian-American retired FBI employee and former colonel in Iranian armed forces, said: “The Iranian people’s problem is not Baluch or Kurd or Turk or Azeri or Arab. The Iranian people need freedom, need democracy.”

He then accused the witnesses of exaggerating or, in the case of Hosseinbor, representing foreign oil interests that are reportedly seeking access to oil and natural gas under Iranian Baluchistan. Hosseinbor denied the allegation.

“Iranians are one nation and we have been for thousands of years,” another Iranian-American man said. “All of a sudden, a nation that has been together for thousands of years is breaking up in these minorities. It’s not only the minorities that are under pressure from this regime. … The problem is the Islamic Republic of Iran, let’s deal with that.”

The hearing offered possible clues about a potential shift in Bush administration strategy toward the Islamic Republic. Some of the official participants alluded to the possibility that the United States could try to use Iran’s minorities to help promote regime change in Tehran. Another sign of a possible effort to activate minority groups in Iran is the fact that Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is seeking funding for Azeri-language broadcasts that would be specifically targeted toward Iran’s Azeri minority. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

“The movement for national rights in Iran lacks international experience, or any support from outside, but still constitutes the strongest challenge to the Iranian regime. The US policy toward Iran is Tehran-centric, while the biggest challenge for the Iranian regime is in the provinces where ethnic minorities are concentrated,” said Zamani, the Azeri community activist. “Iranian minorities are agents of change in a country that needs it badly. They are struggling for a positive transformation in Iran; and they need all the help they can get.”

The hearing’s moderator, Kathryn Cameron Porter, founder and president of the Leadership Council for Human Rights, also alluded to such ideas, when she attempted to talk down the angry Iranian-Americans. “If you want to have revolution in Iran, if you want to change the quality of life for the people, you will find ways to work together with everyone in this room,” she said.

The participants in the hearing have little influence or backing either inside Iran or among Iranian expatriates, said Mohsen Milani, a political science professor and Iran expert at the University of South Florida. “I haven’t heard of any of these people, and I talked to friends and they hadn’t heard of them either,” he said.

While it’s true that Iran’s minorities can’t study in their own languages, such circumstances also exist in many other countries, including the United States, Milani pointed out. And after reviewing the written testimony of the witnesses, he said many of their claims appear exaggerated.

For example, Zamani’s assertion that Iran’s state-run media frequently belittle Azeris is not true, he said. “There are a lot of jokes about Azeris, but national television and newspapers making fun of them? No.” The much-cited incident of a 2006 newspaper cartoon featuring an Azeri-speaking cockroach resulted in the arrests of the cartoonist and the newspaper’s editor, Milani pointed out. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Editor’s Note: Joshua Kucera is a Washington, DC,-based freelance writer who specializes in security issues in Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East.
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Baloch Foreign Policy

By Khan Jan ; 27-03-2008

It's crystal clear that every-body and every nation, like western democracies, keeps first his/her own interests. From this point of view, Balochs all over the world should pull the rope in the same direction i.e........Balochs must have friendly relations with western democracies. In politics, none have permanent friends or foes. In our opinion, the Islamic Fundamentalism and Communist ideologies promote the interests of only dominated and cruel nations, Kings and civil/ Military Dictators of the world.

Baloch Commander, Mir Balaach Marri said that, "our world has become a global village, in which one has to adjust their relations and to promote peace and to achieve their ends." Balochs and Pashtuns - as we think - must leave their isolation policy in foreign affairs or refrain from those policies which boosts and benefits their opponents i.e. Panjabi or Parsu. It's the ancient policy of Indians/Panjabis to dance, hand in hand, with British but defame Balochs and Afghans. This policy has marginalized and harmed Balochs and Afghans.

In Eastern Balochistan, Pakistani Government's agenda, it seems, is to colour Balochs as anti-west, savage, rebellions, untamed and etc. with their intention to bring Balochs & Pashtuns to the list of "fight against terrorism." By acting double role, Pakistani Military establishment is marching forward to loot the incomes of Natural Resources of Balochistan and carry-out their deep strategy in Afghanistan, with their future strategy to ruin Pashtuns, keep Afghanistan in stone age and to loot the natural resources of Afghanistan, in future.

Like wise contracting alliances with the Pashtuns, Sindhis, Kurds and other ethnic minorities of Iran, Pakistan & Afghanistan, it is no harm to befriend the nations of the whole world as to get support for Baloch cause. The cause of full freedom to Balochs.

"Time is ripe for Western democracies to prelude dialogue with Balochs." said Mr. Surrat Khan Marri. The dialogue can only be held after Balochs assurance of their allegiance, friendship and convince the western world about the bilateral interests in the sphere of geo/political and economic field, including keeping peace in the region and in the whole world. This can be achieved only with tender approach to the clever minded white men of the west and not by Baloch slogans against Americans and the western world which is, clearly, the agenda of Pakistani establishment to get a substantial proof of their false propaganda against Balochs & Pashtuns. Remember, Balochs & Pashtuns need an helping hand to come out from the ditch.

It's time to brief the domestic and "multi-national companies of the world" to make business treaties and agreements, direct with the sons of the soils of Balochistan. Such briefings include the safe piping of hydrocarbon through Balochistan, safety of various mineral projects, including the safety of coastal area of Balochistan and Gwader-port.

Foreign countries should be briefed about the real situation of Balochistan, where it is the loss of capital & violation of human rights to forcibly loot the "Natural Resources" of Balochistan by installing security forces at each and every kilometer to safeguard the pipe-lines from the poor, un-employed and hungry people of Balochistan.

The next vital step is approaching to open "Baloch Liberation Offices" in each and every country of the world to get moral, diplomatic & financial help to promote the interests of Balochistan.

It is utmost important to support Baloch brothers in Iran including Mr. Yaqub Mehernehad, Master Ibrahim and others who are placed on death queue in Iran....... as pointed-out by Mr. Koulmir Jan. Such actions shall not only forge unity between two distant parts of Balochistan but also expose the illegal and dirty conspiracy between Irani and Pakistani Governments to harm Balochs. The demonstration in East Balochistan for the cause of Western Balochistan shall build consensus in Pakistan and in the whole region against the "retarded mentality" of fascist Mullah regime of Iran.

We do believe that, the independent States of Balochistan and Pakhtunkhwa shall herald peace, prosperity and development in Afghanistan and shall promote friendship among the nations in the region and guarantee peace in the whole world.

( Friends of Balochs ) Afghan-zone.
( Radio Gwanke Balochistan ) www.gwank.org.
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The Cultural Genocide of Balochistan

By Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis ; http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/56912
March 29, 2008

Divided into three parts, currently occupied by Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan, Balochistan has been exposed over decades to massive violations of Human Rights that culminate in the cultural – educational sphere, as Language and Culture are the strongest points of the Baloch national identity and identification. It would take an encyclopedia to contain the atrocities done – in all three aforementioned countries – to Balochs, so we will present within the limits of the present article only selective points as an outline.

Oppression and discrimination took greater extent in Pakistan for specific reasons. We refer to a Baloch website that summarized the situation in the most laconic way:

"To the dominant Punjabis in Pakistan, who make up 58 percent of the population, it is unthinkable that the Baloch Nation should have special claims to Balochistan, which represents 48 percent of the land area of the country.

Both Islamabad and Teheran view the sparsely settled expanses of Balochistan as a safety valve for surplus population, a source of badly needed materials, and an area of vital strategic importance over which the central government should rightfully hold undisputed sway" (http://www.balochvoice.com/).

The origin of the Baloch language is thought to have evolved between 200 BCE - 700 CE from a lost language spoken on the territory of Gedrosia that was part of the Arsacid Parthian and Sassanid Iranian Empires, although for some period Gedrosia formed an independent kingdom (known to the Greek and Latin sources as Indo-Parthian kingdom). The closest relative of the Baloch language today is Modern Persian (Farsi).

Prohibition of the Baloch language

Prior to 1947, Balochistan's official languages were Persian and English. In 1948, with the incorporation of Balochistan´s largest part into the newly created Pakistan, the Baloch language was replaced by Urdu as the national language. None of the countries in which the Baloch language is spoken gave it official status or used it in their educational systems.

Even though the Baloch language is the primary language of Balochistan, it is not taught in schools due to lack of teachers, lack of parental support (most parents want their children to learn Urdu, Persian or English instead), and competing pressures from other language groups. Only the University of Peshawar in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, offers courses of Baloch language and literature. Although there are newspapers, magazines, and literature in the Baloch language, literacy rates in the language are extremely low. Radio has played an important role in promoting comprehension among the three dialects of the language. Today, the Baloch language remains primarily the language of the home and of the local community.

Dr. Naseer Dashti – the banned author of ´In a Baloch Perspective´ and ´The Voice of Reason´ (http://www.thebaluch.com/032608_article.php)

In an article recently published by the Pakistani Quetta-based journalist Malik Siraj Akbar, the case of the persecuted author, Dr. Naseer Dashti, is described within the socio-political context of Pakistan.

Balochistan's banned author, Dr. Naseer Dashti, could not imagine that two of his books were considered as 'a threat to the very integrity of the federation of Pakistan'. Citing the same reasons, the government of Balochistan ordered the confiscation of all copies of the two recently published books of Dr. Dashti, besides imposing a complete ban on their display at the bookstores. Holding a PhD on Baloch health-seeking behavior from the University of Greenwich, London, Dr. Dashti, 50, is a renowned Baloch nationalistic scholar and a medical doctor by profession.

In regard with the ban, Dr. Naseer Dashti said to Malik Siraj Akbar: "If a book is to disintegrate a country then there is nothing that can integrate a country". This seems to be the most accurate and epigrammatic definition of Pakistan.

Dr. Naseer Dashti composed his two books, ´In a Baloch Perspective´ and ´The Voice of Reason´, selecting newspaper and research articles written by several prominent Baloch scholars and journalists. However, the majority of the articles in these two books are penned by Dr. Dashti himself, and largely evolve around theoretical discussions on Baloch nationalism.

Malik Siraj Akbar specified that Asaap Publications of Quetta, which printed Dr. Dashti's 'controversial' books, has equally come under the eye of storm in the past due to its anti-government publications.
According to Mr. Akbar´s report, "the government of Balochistan maintains that both the books are replete with anti-state contents. They promote national disharmony and malign the Pakistan ideology. Therefore, it is essential to prevent the readers from reading these books so that, ironically, the very ideology of Pakistan is preserved".

Dr. Dashti, talking to Mr. Malik Siraj Akbar, insisted that his books contain nothing misleading or factiously wrong. The factors that compelled him to compile the two books are implicitly mentioned in one of the books, ´In a Baloch Perspective´ as follows.

Historical falsifications as Dictatorial State Dogma in Pakistan

"The official 'academics' and 'writers' had persistently been engaged in the deliberate distortion of history of Baloch people and obnoxious act of degradation of Baloch traditional values without any qualm of consciences. As access of Baloch writers and intellectuals had been denied to the media, the biased, one-sided picture of social, cultural and political scenario were unilaterally and erroneously portrayed as actually representing the Baloch point of view".

As a matter of fact, the theme of the arguments pursued in both of the books is that the Baloch are a separate nation by every definition of the word. The rulers of the countries where the Baloch are inhibited, namely Pakistan , Iran and Afghanistan, have deliberately destroyed their distinct Balochi identity by applying the repressive state machinery.

In his comprehensive article, Mr. Malik Siraj Akbar selected and published another excerpt, from the same book, written by Jan Mohammad Dashti, one of the contributors:

"The Baloch is discontented because it had not been allowed the right to use its native language. The Baloch is disenchanted because it does not possess its resources. It is disillusioned because they are exploited economically and in the process is kept away from power structure of the state. The Baloch resent the artificial partition of their land into three different countries. The Baloch are disappointed because religion is manifestly used as a means for integration of the Baloch identity into broader majority nationalities of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan". (´The Baloch National Question´)

Mr. Malik Siraj Akbar points out that all the authors whose articles have become chapters of these two books are extremely critical of not only the government of Pakistan but also of Iran and Afghanistan who they accuse of suppressing the Baloch in the name of religion. He then quotes the author who says: "In a Baloch context, language, which is undoubtedly the main carrier of ideas, sentiments, traditions, customs and religious dogma from one generation to another, has been the prime target. In their assimilative efforts, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan have not allowed Balochi to be the language of instruction in schools even at primary level. Balochi publications and institutions for academic research are never encouraged. Print and electronic media in these countries have been manipulated by people from dominant nationalities and all state institutions run by the non-Baloch are assigned the task for media management formulating policy approaches".

Policies of Assimilation and Integration Denounced

Mr. Malik Siraj Akbar specifies that Dr. Naseer finds it as a major 'paradox' how the government of Pakistan, which is using sophisticated USA-made weapons to crush the innocent Baloch people, is unwilling to let a Baloch scholar speak up freely. As a matter of fact, the practice of banning nationalistic books is not a new phenomenon. The government of Balochistan banned in the past scores of books written about the Baloch nationalistic movement. Consequently, such restrictions have intensified the demand for such books among the readers.

According to Balochistan´s banned author, Dr. Naseer Dashti, the next five to ten years are extremely essential in the Baloch movement. His words sound as a real warning to the Pakistani dictator and the newly appointed premier:

"The more you ban a book, the greater its demand becomes. The government of Pakistan needs to realize that we live in the 21st century and it is not possible to burry the truth".

Express your support to Dr. Naseer Dashti, writing to Mr. Malik Siraj Akbar here: stunningmalik@gmail.com / Blog: www.gmcmissing.wordpress.com

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