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25,
2009
PRESS RELEASE
WORLD SINDHI CONGRESS
Information Secretary Ali Memon
For Immediate Release 25
September 2009
WSC ORGANISES A BRIEFING AT THE HUMAN
RIGHTS COUNCIL IN GENEVA
World Sindhi Congress, a leading Sindhi organisation working
for the cause of human rights of Sindh and Sindhis, organised
a briefing during the 12th session of the United Nations
Human Rights Council in Geneva on 18th September 2009. The
title of the briefing was “Self Determination of Sindh
and Balochistan – A Strategy for Regional Peace”.
The briefing was facilitated by Interfaith International,
which has a special consultative status with the United Nations
ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council). The briefing was very
successful in attracting wider audience representing nations
from Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The representatives
of many renowned NGOs, European Union and UN Human Rights
Council were also present.
The panel who dealt with various aspects of the issue included
Charles Graves, Haleem Bhatti, Ghansham Das, Hidayat Bhutto,
Noordin Mengal, Suraiya Makhdoom, Abdul Hamid Khan and Lakhu
Luhana.
Dr Charles Graves, Secretary General Interfaith International,
presided over the briefing and introduced the context of
the briefing. He said that Sindhis are an ancient nation
who has been subjected to enormous suffering under various
regimes in Pakistan and face many problems. He said in Balochistan
gross violations of human rights have continued to occur
particularly due to ongoing military operation.
Dr Haleem Bhatti, Chairman WSC, reflected upon the right
of nations to self-determination, its development as basic
human right within the UN Charter and its applicability to
Sindh and Balochistan. He reiterated that Sindhis are denied
the right to govern themselves. This has resulted in poverty,
lawlessness and one of the lowest indicators of social development.
Contravening the right of a people to control their natural
wealth and resources, people have been deprived of their
water rights, their port, oil and natural gas, and mineral
wealth. He requested the international community that under
such circumstances, it is all the more imperative that the
world speaks out for right of the Sindhi people to self-determination
as enshrined in international covenants.
Dr Ghansham Das, Director Indus Valley Research Institute,
deliberated on the continuity of historical philosophy of
Sindhi people of peaceful coexistence. He referred to Mohan-jo-Daro
as an example and said that Pakistan government wants to
hide the glorious history of Sindhi people from the world
and is trying to promote religious fundamentalism. He demanded
from the international community to support the secular people
of Sindh and Balochistan in order to succeed in their fight
against Al Qaeda and Taliban.
Mr. Noordin Mengal said that the joint struggle of Baloch
and Sindhi people is the way forward for the betterment of
our people. He said the military operation in Balochistan
continues unabated and the political workers and leaders
are being kidnapped, inhumanly tortured and killed. He gave
very recent examples of three leaders of BNM who were kidnapped
in broad daylight and their decaying corpses were found few
days latter. He said Pakistan army has surpassed all the
levels of brutality and now nothing is left to talk to them.
He said for Balochistan, which was forcibly annexed, and
for Sindh, the only dignified way is liberation. He said
that the international community should support the secular
Baloch and Sindhi people to defeat religious fundamentalism
in the region.
Ms. Suraiya Makhdoom, Senior Vice Chairperson WSC, did a
PowerPoint presentation, which tracked the historical resolve
of Sindhi people for their right to self governance. She
gave examples from history that how Sindhi people from Raja
Dahar to Saeen G.M. Sayed and beyond have struggled and sacrificed
for their freedom. She said Sindhi people have never accepted
any foreign rule. She also reiterated that it is the hallmark
of secular Sindhi people to wholeheartedly support the struggle
of other oppressed nations. She reminded the help and response
of Sindhis in the struggle of Indian independence, Bengali
and Baloch people. She said the struggle of Sindhi people
is a peaceful struggle and in this struggle, Sindhi writer
and poets have also played a major role through their writings
and poetry.
Mr. Adul Hamid Khan, Chairman of Balawaristan National Front,
in his statement said that although Balawaristan does not
have common borders with Sindh and Balochistan, it has many
things in common. He saluted the sacrifices of Baloch people
and particularly Nawab Akbar Bugti, who at the age of 80
decided to go in mountains in defence of his people and motherland.
He also paid rich tributes to G.M. Sayed. He said Sindhi
people struggled against Kalabagh dam, now the government
wants to build six dams in Balawaristan. These will make
Sindh a complete desert, and Punjab through these dams want
to further colonise Balawaristan. He suggested a common struggle
of people of Balawaristan, Sindh and Balochistan would be
an effective answer to those who have made our nations to
suffer inhumanely.
Dr Hidayat Bhutto, Organiser UK Europe WSC, in his statement
said that Sindhi and Balochs are secular nations since centuries.
Self Determination is our right, not a privilege. He said
Pakistan is ruled by military generals and the brief periods
of so-called democratic governments are a sham. That is the
reason the current government did not trust the agencies
to investigate murder of Benazir Bhutto. The current civilian
government is powerless and has been unable to stop the ongoing
military operation in Balochistan. He reiterated that the
jihadi generals who rule Pakistan and Taliban have same mentality
and are together and secular people of Sindh and Balochistan
need to be supported in their struggle to gain self determination
to effectively face them.
Lakhu Luhana, General Secretary WSC, in his statement said
that the Pakistani establishment has adopted religious fundamentalism
as their ideology to curb the secular nationalism of Sindhi
and Baloch people and to use as a strategy for the extension
of their wasted interests. He warned that the consequences
of terror networks supported by Pakistan establishment based
on religious fundamentalism would be lethal for the world
and South Asian region in particular. The progress, peace
and prosperity of the entire region are at stake if Pakistan’s
strategy succeeds. He said the money, weapons and technology
given to Pakistan are used against Baloch and Sindhi people
and to strengthen Pakistani military and terror networks.
The only way to secure stability and peace in the region
is to support the struggle of secular Sindhi and Baloch nations
for their right to self-determination.
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