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An appeal for John Solecki's release
I hope the kidnappers of John Solecki are
reading these lines or someone would help these words
reach them. Throughout my journalistic career, I have
been an ardent support of the Baloch struggle for self-determination.
I am glad many Baloch leaders do listen to me. They
apparently agreee that the Baloch journalists and intellectuals
also have a role to show them the right direction.
Initially, we thought the John's kidnappers were not
the Baloch but the Taliban. Now that it has been learnt
that he is in the custody of the Baloch Liberation
United Front (BLUF), I, as a Baloch journalist, would
like to humbly appeal to his kidnappers to release
John safe and sound. I know I cannot influence anyone.
But as an analyst I can predict the consequences of
this episode.
Consider.
The Baloch are purely democratic people and fighting
for a just cause. We are surely not as barbaric as
the Talibans. We do not want the world to identify
us as the enemies of the humanity. We are a people
who have immensely suffered in the hands of a country
'actual rulers', who had never read a chapter from
the books of modernity and civilization.
I have interviewed Nawab Khair Baksh Marri and Nawabzada
Bramdagh Bugti and their vision of Balochistan is that
of a modern, progressive and secular state. The
Baloch are a people who have sacrificed their lives
to guard their guests. Shaeed Nawab Akbar Kahn Bugti
cared so much about his Hindu minority subjects that
he kept them close to his fort so that no one could
harm the Hindus. The Baloch went to sacrifice their
lives when Dr. Shahzia Khalid was raped by the Pakistani
army. Our history is full of such examples. We can
die but cannot let our guests be slightly affected.
Throughout the history, Balochs have remained an oppressed
nation, not an oppressor. We have received dead bodies
of our elders during every regime in Pakistan. Thousands
of our beloved ones have gone missing. No one more
than us can feel the anguish one undergoes when you
lose a dear one or your family member goes 'missing'.
John Solecki is our guest. He is a friend of
the humanity. I know some of the committed angry Baloch
young men wanted to i nternationalize the Baloch cause.
They have achieved their goal. Guys, John's family
is very worried about him. Now, this is not the Balochi
way of protest. Please release him. Let the world know
that we are different from the Taliban and other uncivilized
people of the world.
If something happens to John, the Baloch movement
will go 100 years backwards. If not the American government
but hundreds of American think-tanks, media organizations
and independent groups are sympathic with the Baloch
cause. They know our people are fighting a just cause.
Keeping John under abduction for a longer time is going
to undermine the Baloch movement. The Baloch will lose
some important friends.
Through this post, I would also like to request Nawab
Khair Baksh Marri, Nawabzada Bramdagh Bugti, Sardar
Attullah Mengal, Khan of Kalat Mir Suleman Daoowd,
the leadership of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA),
the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), the Baloch Republican
Army (BRA), the Balochistan National Party (BNP), the
Baloch Republican Party (BRP), the National Party (NP),
the Jamori Watan Party (JWP), all factions of the Baloch
Students Organization (BSO), the Anjuman Ittehad-e-Marri,
Baloch Women Panel, Baloch Bar Association, Daily Tawar,
Daily Asaap, Daily Azadi, Daily Ustuman, Gwanik Radio,
all the Baloch scholars and everyone concerned to make
a collective appeal to the kidnappers for the release
of John Solecki.
I am very hopeful that I will not be disappointed
but my appeal would be joined by you all. Let's reiterate:
The Baloch are a very civilized people victimized by
a very uncivilized enemy. If you support my appeal,
please drop a message on the blog. ( www.gmcmissing.wordpress.com )
MALIK SIRAJ AKBAR
A BALOCH JOURNALIST
QUETTA, PAKISTAN
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