Speakers at the event were Baloch activist and representative to the UNHRC Noordin Mengal, former senator Sanauallah Baloch, Baloch Human Rights Council Secretary General Samad Baloch, World Sindhi Congress Secretary General Lakhu Luhana and the representative of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation, Lisa Thomas. The event drew attention to the disturbing level of enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings currently ongoing in Balochistan. Balochistan’s political situation, particularly its strategic importance to Pakistan and the perception of Pakistan’s government that Baloch nationalism is a threat to its strategic interests, was cited by numerous speakers as a major factor allowing abuses to continue.
Speakers described the source of the tensions and provided details on the worsening human rights situation. The speakers also discussed the marginalisation of the Baloch within political and economic spheres and emphasised the targeting of journalists for putting a spotlight on human rights violations by the state, and noted the lack of information in the region that allow perpetrators of such abuses to continue with impunity, perpetuating a climate of fear. The participants highlighted some of the systemic issues allowing human rights abuses to continue and urged the international community to intervene in Balochistan to stop the abuses from spiralling out of control and so that the Baloch people can exercise their right to national self-determination.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C09%5C23%5Cstory_23-9-2011_pg7_28
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