16 December 2007

Dear Prime Minister,

URGENT ACTION

Arrest of Baloch Human Rights Activists in the UK and their Potential Extradition to Pakistan

Pakistan military offensive and human rights abuses against the people of Balochistan

We the Baloch and Sindhi communities in the UK are seriously concerned about the fate of Mr. Hyrbyair Marri and Mr. Faiz Mohammad Baluch, who have been arrested on 04 Dec in London by British authorities. They appeared in court on 11 December under the charges of "inciting another person to commit an act of terrorism outside the UK", for which they remain remanded in custody. It is our view that their arrest is probably at the behest of the Pakistan government and intelligence agencies.

Mr Marri is a former Balochistan MP and Government Minister. We are shocked that he has been arrested.
The following facts are the basis of our genuine concerns regarding the arrest of these two Baloch human rights activists, who we believe are innocent of the charges against them:

1. For many months information has been widely disseminated in the British media that the Pakistan government is demanding a prisoner swap deal, whereby alleged terrorists held in Pakistan and wanted by the UK police for alleged terror crimes in the UK are to be exchanged for the Baloch human rights activists exiled in the UK who are wanted by Pakistan (on false, trumped-up charges).

2. Over the last five years a full-fledged military operation is undergoing in Balochistan. The most modern artillery and air power is being used against innocent Baloch people. This has resulted in huge loss of civilian life including that of hundreds of women, children and elderly. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been displaced.

3. Since December 6, the military operation has taken a turn for the worst. Civilian areas in Kahan and Dera Bugti areas of Balochistan have been carpet bombed, more than 200 houses and other buildings such as schools and medical units have been burnt and more than 500 people, mostly women and children have been kidnapped and put in concentration camps where they are being tortured and ill-treated. In addition, over 100 civilians have been killed in the recent military bombardment on Kahan alone.

4. Retd. General Musharaf and his government spokespersons have time and again unequivocally made their intentions clear to physically eliminate the Baloch national leadership. Nawab Akbar Bugti, 79 year veteran Baloch national leader was target killed by Pakistani army in August 2006. On 21 November 2007 brother of Hyrbyair Marri, Mir Balaach Marri, was killed in a Pakistani military operation.

5. Hundreds of democratic, secular Baloch and Sindhi political activists have been either kidnapped or being illegally detained and severely and inhumanely tortured by Pakistan's military agencies. Under pressure from the forcibly removed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Pakistani authorities acknowledged holding some of the detainees but they have been denied all rights to due process.

6. A survey by U.N. Children's Fund counted 84,000 displaced people, including 26,000 women and 33,000 children, and recommended a $1 million emergency relief program in Balochistan. The government approved the plan only after months of stalling, and as reported by the New York Times, only after it was threatened by some Western diplomats with a war crimes investigation. Thousands of children are said to have perished because Pakistan has blocked relief efforts.

In the light of the above we believe that Pakistan is determined to:

1. Continue carrying out genocide of the Baloch nation (as Pakistan previously did in Bangladesh).

2. To secure the extradition of Baloch political and human rights activists exiled in the UK. The extradited individuals will be subject to torture and execution.

3. Eliminate the national leadership of Balochistan to silence the voice of democratic and secular people of Balochistan in order to pursue their designs with potential serious threat to regional and global security and peace.

4. Silence all the democratic and secular movements of Baloch people for their national rights in order to completely colonise and steal their resources to finance their hegemonic motives.

We genuinely believe that the above acts of Pakistan's military establishment qualify as state terrorism and are in contravention to international human rights laws under the Geneva Convention as well as all internationally recognised humanitarian laws. Therefore, Baloch and Sindhi and people, in the light of your commitment to human rights, request that Her Majesty's government:

1 Should not cave in to pressure from the Pakistani military and extradite Mr. Hyrbyair Marri and Mr. Faiz Mohammad Baluch would result in their torture, imprisonment and possible execution.

2 Press Pakistan to immediately cease its military operation against the Baloch, and release Baloch and Sindhi human rights activists.

3 Immediately stop military, economic and moral support to the brutal military regime in Pakistan until it reforms its behaviour.

4 Initiate and organise efforts for intenternational observers to visit the affected areas to establish the facts about the atrocities committed by Pakistan's military establishment in Balochistan.

We sincerely believe that your urgent intervention and decisive action can save lives not only of Mr. Hyrbyair Marri and Mr. Faiz Mohammad Baluch but also that of thousands of other innocent people in Balochistan and Sindh, it would weaken a military dictatorship that is secretly patronizing terrorism around the world and creating serious problems for regional and global security.
We look forward to hearing from you:

Balochistan Action Committee (UK)
E-mail: balochactions@yahoo.co.uk

Dr. Haleem Bhatti
World Sindhi Congress
22 Newfields, Welwyn Garden City,
Herts, AL8 6YT
E-mail: worldsindhicongress@gmail.com

Ms. Ambreen Hisbani
Sindhi Baluch Forum
38 Barbican Road,
Greenford, Middlesex UB6 9DH
E-mail: ambreenhisbani@yahoo.co.uk

Peter Tatchell
Human rights campaigner
45 Arrol House
Rockingham Street
London SE1 6QL