UN must analyse legal aspect of CPEC, says Baloch activist

Pakistan and China have no legal rights to carry out any economic activity in Balochistan, a territory under Pakistani occupation, said Baloch political activist Munir Mengal during the 37th UN Session on Human Rights here on Tuesday.

Speaking after a side event titled "Economical development and social justice - special reference to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project" at the United Nations, Munir Mengal of Baloch Voice Association told ANI, "The main aim of event was to present legal consequences of the project as the Baloch people from the first day have not recognized Pakistan as a state and have claimed that Pakistan had occupied their land by force.

"If a country has occupied a land by force then what sort of rights that state has to make on such sort of mega-projects on that land. So, these are the legal implications on CPEC. This is what this body, particularly the UN must analyse the legal aspects of CPEC that what international laws the Pakistan government is violating", Munir asserted.

The multi-billion dollar CPEC project passes through Pakistan's Balochistan province, which the indigenous Baloch call it as "illegal and an attempt to exploit their natural resources."

China is aggressively building the deep sea port of Gwadar in Balochistan, with an aim to transport its goods from Xinjiang Province to the Middle East and European markets.

Munir added, "On one side we see the elimination of these people, burning of the houses and asking the people to move whatever the Pakistan Army demands. They are not even sparing the cattle of the local people. They are bombarding the houses and taking away women and girls and putting them in torture cells. There are reports of the military abusing them sexually".

He also alleged that the CPEC project was violating international and regional laws and is against the will of the Baloch people, adding that China was bringing a demographic change in the region and displacing the indigenous people.

"After eliminating these people, they take their land for their strategic designs. These are the risks and concerns of the people that they are continuously crying. Pakistan and China must understand this thing that they cannot do anything against the will of the Baloch people. They are completely violating international laws, regional laws and it is against humanity," said Munir, who now lives in exile in France.

The Baloch activist also claimed that the CPEC project was benefitting China hugely.

Munir opined, "If the local people are getting nothing, there is no local development. Yes, for Chinese, it's an economical development because they are just looting their resources; they are bringing Chinese people who are earning huge salaries and sending back to their country. Even, they are not buying a drop of water over there.