BRP protests in Geneva against enforced Baloch disappearances, demands referendum

The Switzerland chapter of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) held a protest demonstration in front of the United Nation office in Geneva on Wednesday.

The protest was organised against military operations, attacks on Baloch refugees in Afghanistan and the discovery of mass graves in Balochistan.

Nawab Brahmdagh Bugti told ANI during the demonstration that hundreds of Balochs, including women and children have been killed and wounded in past few days during military operations in Dera Bugti, Mashkai, Turbat, Kohistan Marri and Panjgur.

He said: "Nearly 160 mass graves have been discovered. More will be discovered, but so far, these many have been found out. So, to tell them and highlight the issue as to what is happening there. You should go there yourself and see. If Pakistan says there is nothing and everything is okay, then why can't they go there? Most importantly, international media should go and see the real facts there.

The Pakistan Army used United States gunship helicopters and heavy weapons in recent army operations in Dera Bugti, Kohistan Marri and Kech region of Balochistan, where, at least 60 people were killed, most of them women and children. Hundreds of houses were destroyed with IEDs by the Pakistani Army during the operation in these areas.

The protesters said that three mass graves were found in Khuzdar District and 169 decomposed and unidentifiable bodies were found in those graves

They demanded that United Nations send a fact-finding mission to the province to probe the issue of mass graves and other crimes being committed by Pakistani state forces.

The protesters carried placards inscribed with slogans against enforced disappearances and against the kill and dump policies of the Pakistani state in Balochistan.

Among the other participants were Mehran Marri, Noordin Mengal and human rights activist Tarek Fatah, while a large number of Baloch activists, local college students also joined the protest and showed their support and solidarity with the oppressed Baloch nation.

Baloch leaders Nawab Brahmdagh Bugti, Mehran Marri and Noordin Mengal called on the international community to support the democratic struggle of the Baloch people to restore their freedom and give them an independent homeland.

"Ninety percent of Baloch want independence. We have said this before, and continue to say this even now. If anybody has any doubt, we are ready for a referendum under the supervision of international organizations, U.N., western countries or European Union. It will become clear what the Baloch want," said Bugti.

Mansoor Baloch, President, BRP, United Kingdom chapter, said: "We want to request all nations of the world to investigate the matter with urgency, so that information can be disseminated regarding all the abductions happening in Balochistan, and all those who are missing. We are protesting here with this very demand.