History was made at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon as for the first time in almost 65 years at least five U.S. congressmen called for the right to self-determination for the Baloch people of Balochistan.
The hearing on Balochistan was convened by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican from California, in his capacity as the chair of the Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
"It was certainly not a stunt," said Rohrabacher as he looked straight into the eyes of Asst. Prof. C. Christine Fair --named by Baloch activists and Afghans as "Prof. Unfair" for her soft corner for Pakistan --, who came clad in a jazzy skirt that is mostly worn on date evenings.
Prof. Fair had described the hearing as a stunt a few days ago.
Applause greeted the speech by Rohrabacher, who said, "Please don't applaud and please do not throw fruits at me."
The hero in the eyes of the Baloch was a retired army man from Pennsylvania.
"The Pakistani government is not our friend," said Lt. Col. (Retd.) Ralph Peters, who later explained he was neither interested in the mineral riches of Balochistan nor wanting to make money by lobbying for it.
Peters made an impassioned appeal, "Pakistan's borders make no sense and don't work.".
In addition to Rohrabacher, Rep. Ted Poe and Rep. Russ Carnahan, put Islamabad on the mat for the enforced disappearances, torture and execution style slayings in Balochistan and blasted Pakistan's policies in Balochistan and neighboring Afghanistan.
They were joined by two guest house members Brad Sherman, a Democrat, and Louie Gohmert, a Republican, who expressed anguish over the plight of the Baloch people.
Sherman also mentioned the travails of neighboring Sindh.
Officials of premier pro-Balochistan organizations were also present, including Laurie Deamer, of the American Friends of Balochistan, who came from Lancaster, Penn., Dr. Wahid Baloch of the Baloch Society of North America from Jacksonville, Fla., and Wendy Johnson of Crisis Balochistan from New York.
Dr. Tara Chand and Razzak Baloch, president and general secretary of the newly launched Balochistan National Party USA -- a party that is led by "Baloch Nelson Mandela" Sardar Akhtar Mengal -- , were also present. They were joined by former Balochistan assembly speaker Waheed Baloch to the historic event.
Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada members Zaffar Jawaid aka Zaffar Baloch, Aziz Baloch, Mohammad Ali Baloch and Imtiaz Baloch were also present. The B.H.R.C. Canada has become a controversial organization by keeping mum on extrajdicial killings of unarmed civilians and political activists.
At least three of the speakers, Asst. Prof C. Christine Fair of the Georgetown University, T. Kumar of Amnesty International and Ali Dayan Hasan of Human Rights Watch also criticized the militant organizations for committing gross human rights violations.
Please click on the link below to read the complete presentations:
©Mustikhan Syndicated News Service
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