The Baloch American Congress (BAC) on Wednesday announced a global online campaign to end enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
“As part of the campaign, people from around the world can go and click on an appeal that will go directly to U.S. President Joe Biden and heads of two dozen countries around the world. These leaders are being requested to invoke the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) law in Balochistan,” said BAC president Dr Tara Chand.
Dr Tara Chand, a former minister in the government of Balochistan, said the aim of the campaign is to bring to an end Pakistan army’s gross human rights violations in Balochistan by exposing them in the eyes of the world.
“The Pakistan army, ISI, Military Intelligence and Frontier Corps have been committing crimes against humanity with impunity in Balochistan for many years now. Tens of thousands civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands of people have been affected all across Balochistan,” he lamented.
He said one of the crimes against humanity in Balochistan is enforced disappearances. “Thousands of families of victims of enforced disappearances— mothers, sisters, wives and children— have been protesting on Pakistan streets for almost 12 years now for freedom of their loved ones, with no result.”
He said while the government of Pakistan has recently started releasing some of the previously held missing persons, this is mere window dressing as the security forces continue to forcibly disappear others.
He said people all around the world must come to the rescue of the victims of enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
“As members of one human family, we must defend the Baloch right to live in freedom, without fear, in their homeland of Balochistan,” he appealed.
“Totally voiceless, the Baloch are today Children of a Lesser God in Pakistan. Please help restore the human dignity of the Baloch people,” he said.
He said he is optimistic leaders of the world would act to the appeals of the global citizenry. “These movers and shakers of the world have an obligation to fulfill their Responsibility to Protect (R2P).”
Dr Tara Chand pointed out enforced disappearances affect thousands of families not only in Balochistan, but also in Sindh and Khyber Pashtunkhwa.
To take part in the campaign, visit www.bacongress.us and click on Global Plea for Freedom of Disappeared Persons in Balochistan.
The BAC global petition is addressed to leaders of these countries:
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- Austria
- Bangladesh
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States
- United Nations