Dec
4, 2009
Two
years of the Baloch case in the United Kingdom – bail
money still pending?
by Faiz Baluch
reposted from balochwarna.com
Exactly two years ago from today in London, three places were raided by the British Anti Terrorism Command (also known as SO15) from the new Scotland Yard simultaneously in the areas of Ealing, Wembley and Hunger lane. Two of the houses belonged to Hybyair Marri a Baloch leader and son of prominent Baloch leader Nawab Khair Baksh Marri. At the time of the raid Mr Marri was residing at his Ealing house and Faiz Baluch was living at the Wembley house. Baloch leader Hybyair Marri and activist Faiz Baloch were apparently arrested on behalf of the government of Pakistan ‘Musharraf’s regime’.
Their arrest took place soon after Shaheed Balaach Marri’s
assassination on 20 November 2007; it was probably a
good opportunity for the Pakistan government as they
had got rid of one Marri and wanted to get rid of the
other Marri. From 23 November up to the arrest of Hyrbyair
Marri and Faiz Baluch, the British security forces installed
secret camera in front of their houses and followed them
everywhere. All the well-wishers and friends who had
come to pay their respect to Balaach Marri had been filmed
by the secret cameras and later the prosecution tried
to say that these people were gathering to make some
sinister plans.
The Baloch activists were taken
to the high security Paddington Green police station
for interrogation. Later it came to public notice that
they had been charged under terrorism act 2000. There
were four charges against each of the Baloch activists,
which were as follows; 1) Possession of an article for
a purpose connected with the commission, preparation
and instigation of an act of terrorism – contrary
to section 57 of terrorism act 2000. 2) Collecting information
of a kind likely to be useful to a person for committing
or preparing acts of terrorism – contrary to section
58 of terrorism act 2000. 3) Preparation of terrorist
acts – contrary section 5 of terrorism act 2005.
4) Incitement to commit an act or acts of terrorism – contrary
to section 59 of terrorism act 2000. Additionally Mr.
Marri had been charged with possessing a CS Gas canister
which comes under fire arm act.
After one week of interrogation and isolation Baloch
activists had formally been charged and sent to Britain’s
notorious, high security prison Belmarsh for awaiting
trial to prove their innocence. Belmarsh is the toughest
prison and a place for high risk criminals. Mr Marri
and Baluch were treated as Category ‘A’ prisoners ‘a
threat to general public that means’. An A Category
prisoner is not allowed to have any visits without a
formal invitation approved by the Home Office, prisoners
of this category are also striped searched ‘which
is a degrading process, specially for a Baloch’ after
any visits to their legal teams, coming back from gym,
work or for any reason if they go out from their cells
on their way back they are strip searched. Cat ‘A’ prisoners
are also locked in isolated cells ‘often known
as single cells’.
After spending almost 5 month in prison Mr Hyrbyair
Marri was released on bail on very strict conditions,
he was not allowed to attend any political meeting regarding
Balochistan, he was not allowed to speak to the media,
he was not allowed to phone Balochistan, Iran, Pakistan
and Afghanistan, he had to wear a tag at all times, he
was not allowed to leave home between 8pm to 8am and
he had to report to a police station every day. Same
conditions were attached with Faiz Baluch’s bail
when he was released a couple of months after Mr Marri
release. In addition Faiz had to answer to a “Voice
Recognition Machine” call every midnight. Apart
from these conditions Mr Marri had paid nearly £300,000
cash as security, that money had been deposited to the
court’s account until any decision is made regarding
his case, and if Mr Marri fled the country the money
would be seized by the government or Court. After any
decision regarding the case the money would and should
be returned to those who stood as Mr Marri’s security.
However, in Mr Marri’s case that did not happen,
in fact the UK government has not paid Mr Marri’s
bail money back after his acquittal in February 2008.
Although the money was paid by several friends and well-wishers
of Mr Marri but after his release Mr Marri paid back
to all of his friends with difficulty. All the people
who had got their money back from Mr Marri wrote to the
CPS and to the court that the money should now be paid
to Mr. Marri. The police and court are now denying paying
Marri’s bail money using different lame excuses.
To Hyrbyair Marri it seems “legal blunder”.
He thinks the UK government is still acting on behalf
of Pakistani intelligence agencies and to trying to make
financial difficulties for him. In the 70s Pakistan confiscated
lands, took the vehicles of Hyrbyair’s family in
order to weaken them financially and to force them to
succumb to Pakistan government pressure. Hyrbyair Marri
believes the UK government seems to be doing exactly
the same today.
Despite all the difficulties Hyrbyair Marri is determined
that such pressure tactics cannot stop him for campaigning
for his country’s Independence. He continues to
advocate freedom, after his release he has been actively
taking part in protests, public gathering and spoke to
media regarding Baloch cause. His view is that Balochistan
was forcefully occupied and the occupation must come
to an end. He believes in dialogue and finding a peaceful
solution to Balochistan’s problem but he is adamant
that the occupiers of Baloch land must withdraw unconditionally
and immediately. He insists that Independence of Balochistan
must be a part of any dialogue with Pakistan to resolve
Balochistan issue and negotiations must be guaranteed
and observed by international guarantors.
***
Please click here for further
background information on
this case. |
