Support The Iranian People, Oppose Tehran's Clerical Fascism, By Pet

Peter Tatchell says solidarity with the Iranian freedom struggle isnon-negotiable, no matter how much the US threatens a military strike Principled, consistent left-wingers do not base their politics on theunprincipled, inconsistent geo-political manoeuvres of western powers. We standwith the oppressed against their oppressors, regardless of what the west (oranyone else) demands or threatens.US sabre-rattling against Iran is worrying. A military attack must be resisted.However, opposition to Washington's war-mongering and neo-imperial designs is noreason for socialists, greens and other progressives to go soft on Tehran.Iran is an Islamo-fascist state - a clerical form of fascism based on aconfluence of Islamic fundamentalism and police state methods. It differs, ofcourse, from traditional European-style fascism, being rooted in religious dogmaand autocracy. This makes it no less barbaric. Iran under the ayatollahs has ahistory of repression that is even bloodier than Franco's clerical fascistregime in Spain. Sadly, it merits far less outrage by the left.Tehran's tyrannical religious state embodies many (though not all) thecharacteristics of classical fascism: a substantially corporatist political andeconomic system maintained by a highly centralised repressive state apparatus.This repression includes bans on non-Islamist political parties and free tradeunions, and a regime of unfair trials, detention without charge, torture,executions, media censorship, gender apartheid, violent suppression of peacefulprotests and strikes, and the persecution of left-wingers, students, feminists,journalists, gay people and religious and ethnic minorities. Even lawyers andhuman rights defenders - are imprisoned and tortured.The government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is also pursuing a racist,neo-colonial policy against Iran's minority nationalities, such as the Arabs(who are abused even more harshly than the Israelis abuse the Palestinians),Kurds and Baluchs.It used to be axiomatic that left and progressive movements fought fascism,wherever it is found and whatever its form. We do not appease or collude. Well,not until recently. Nowadays, there is a whole section of the left that hasabandoned the freedom struggle in Iran. It goes to extraordinary lengths todownplay the excesses of the tyrants in Tehran.The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament invited the Iranian ambassador as a guestspeaker to its 2005 annual conference. It preferred to host the representativeof an Islamo-fascist regime, rather than the leaders of Iran's left-wingopposition and anti-nuclear peace movement. Indeed, CND members who objected tothe feting of the ambassador of a dictatorship were forcibly ejected from theconference.A similar fate befell Iranian refugees who joined the Stop the War Coalitionmarches. When they backed the call `Don't Attack Iran' they were welcomed, butas soon as they also condemned Tehran's depotism they were denounced by some ofthe left and shoved out the of the demonstration by thuggish StWC stewards.No democracyWe are told by these muscular leftists that Iran is a democracy and thatPresident Ahmadinejad is elected. Nonsense. But even if this were true, so what?Tony Blair was elected but that did not make the Iraq war right. Israel is ademocracy but this is no justification for its indiscriminate bombing of Gazaand its occupation of Palestine.The truth is that Iran is no democracy. Liberal, secular, green, socialist andnational minority political parties are outlawed. All candidates for electionare vetted by a clerical council and those who dissent from the mullah'sorthodoxy are barred from standing for public office. Moreover, the conservativemedia favours establishment candidates and denies, or restricts, coverage ofreformists and progressive ideas.Human rights abuses in Iran are often dismissed by sections of theanti-imperialist left as `exaggerated' or `neo con fiction', despiteincontrovertible evidence from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch andfrom Iran's underground left-wing, student and trade union movements. Thisshocking denialism is wholly divorced from reality and is a sordid betrayal ofthe Iranian people's struggle for liberty and justice.Some left-wingers argue that since the US is the main upholder of the unjustglobal economic system we must therefore support those who oppose the US.Because Tehran is against the US, we should support, or at least not undermine,the Iranian regime.The left groups and activists who hold this view are the mirror image of the neocons. Their stance on Iran is determined by an international political agendaand power play, not by the interests and rights of the Iranian people. They haveallowed opposition to US imperialism to trump social justice and human rights inIran.For nearly 40 years I have campaigned in solidarity with the Iranian people,supporting their struggle against dictatorship - first against thewestern-backed Shah and then, since 1979, against the ayatollahs.The Shah was bad enough, but the Islamists who overthrew him are far worse. Theyhave out-butchered the Shah many times over; executing or assassinating anestimated 100,000 Iranians in the last 30 years. Many of those murdered -usually after gruesome torture - were left-wingers, trade unionists and otherprogressive Iranians.The traditional socialist maxim used to be: fight the tyrants, support theirvictims; solidarity with oppressed people everywhere. This was the response ofthe entire left to the Shah's brutal misrule. It stood shoulder-to-shoulder withthe Iranian freedom struggle.But in 1979, defying all its historic values and ideals, large chunks of theIranian and international left backed the Islamist revolution of AyatollahKhomeini. Their reasoning was that by supporting an anti-US movement this wouldhelp weaken US global hegemony. Many of us warned at the time that thisopportunistic alliance with fundamentalist Islam would spell disaster for theIranian left and progressive movements.Sure enough, beginning a couple of years after the Islamists seized power, tensof thousands of leftists, workers, secularists, students and women's rightscampaigners were arrested, tortured and executed.Despite this bloody history of tyranny, some left-wingers and anti-imperialistsstill shy away from campaigning against the Tehran regime.The police-state oppression in Iran is some of the worst in the world. Accordingto Human Rights Watch, in March 2008 an Iranian parliament member, Hossein AliShahryari, confirmed that 700 people were awaiting execution in Sistan andBaluchistan province, which is only one of Iran's 30 provinces. Many of those ondeath row are Baluch political prisoners. This staggering number of deathsentences is evidence of the intense, violent repression that is taking placeunder the leadership of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.The regime's terror is wide-ranging. Student leader Meisam Lofti was executed in2007 on false charges of being a gang member.Members of minority faiths, like the Baha'is and, sometimes, Sunni Muslims,suffer severe harassment.Truly barbaricThe regime's crackdown includes the enforcement of harsh morality laws. In 2004,in the city of Neka, a 16-year-old girl, Atefah Rajabi Sahaaleh, who had beenraped and sexually abused by men for many years, was convicted of `crimesagainst chastity'. She was hanged by the method of slow, painful strangulation,hoisted by a crane in a public square. This strangulation technique, sanctionedby the Iranian President, is deliberately designed to prolong the suffering ofthe victim. As you can see here, the hanged person is left dangling and writhingfor several minutes before they eventually asphyxiate and die. Truly barbaric.On 5 December 2007, Makvan Mouloodzadeh, a 21-year-old Iranian man, was hangedin Kermanshah Central Prison, after an unfair trial. A member of Iran'spersecuted Kurdish minority, he was executed on charges of raping other boyswhen he was 13. In other words, he committed these alleged acts when he was achild. According to Iranian law, a boy under 15 is a minor and cannot beexecuted.At Makvan's mockery of a trial, which was condemned by Human Rights Watch, thealleged rape victims retracted their previous statements, saying they had madetheir allegations under duress. Makvan pleaded not guilty, telling the courtthat his confession was made during torture.He was hanged anyway, without a shred of credible evidence that he had even hadsex with the boys, let alone raped them. The lies, defamation and homophobia ofthe debauched Iranian legal system was exposed when hundreds of villagersattended Makvan's funeral. People don't mourn rapists.Labour activists are also victimised. Mansour Osanloo, leader of Tehran's busworkers syndicate, remains in jail - together with other trade unionists. He wassentenced to five years jail in July 2007 for his peaceful, lawful defence ofworker's rights.Oppressing his own people is not enough for Ahmadinejad. His regime also exportsterror abroad. It supports the Hezbollah fundamentalists in Lebanon, who, likeIsrael, indiscriminately attack civilian areas. In addition, many of the deathsquads in Iraq are trained, armed and funded by Tehran. These include ex-BadrBrigade members who, during the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, lived andtrained across the border in south-east Iran. Nowadays, they assassinatepolitical, sexual and religious dissidents; usually gunning them down in theirhome, workplace or street. No trial. No evidence. Summary execution, aided byAhmadinejad's government.Regime change from withinThe case for regime change in Iran is overwhelming, but it must come from within- by and for the Iranian people themselves - not as a result of US neo-imperialdiktat.Many Iranians hope for a non-violent Czech-style `people power' democraticrevolution, involving mass strikes and street protests by socialists, liberals,secularists, democrats, women, students, trade unionists, religious dissentersand minority nationalities. Others believe that the nascent insurrections byArabs, Baluchs, Azeris and Kurds will burgeon into full-scale revolutionary warthat will encircle and topple the Tehran regime.Progress towards securing a democratic, progressive Iranian government is one ofbest ways to thwart a possible military strike by Washington. Such a governmentwould pose no threat to anyone. This would make it much harder for the neo consto persuade the American public and military to go to war. They would no longerhave the excuse that Iran is a terroristic, fundamentalist, anti-semiticdictatorship that is striving to develop nuclear weapons and which poses aserious threat to international peace and security.If Iran ceased to be a fanatical religious tyranny, the case for war would beseriously weakened. The pro-war Republicans and Democrats in the US would losethe battle for hearts and minds. Most public opinion would desert them. Anti-warUS politicians and activists would be empowered and enhanced.In contrast, a US military attack on Iran would strengthen the position of thehardliners in Tehran; allowing President Ahmadinejad to play the nationalistcard and portray himself as a heroic war leader. It would also give him anexcuse to further crack down on dissent, using the pretext of safeguardingnational security and defending the country against US imperialism. This wouldset back the Iranian struggle for democracy and human rights.Moreover, a US attack on Muslim Iran would increase the sense of grievance feltby Muslims worldwide; radicalising Muslim youth, fanning the flames offundamentalism, increasing support for Islamist parties and resulting inthousands of new recruits to the ranks of Jihadis and suicide bombers.Tragically, the leadership of the UK and US anti-war movements have beensleep-walking into making the same mistakes over Iran as they made over Iraq.They are silent about the regime's despotism and oppression. Mirroring the neocon indifference to human rights abuses in Iran, they refuse to show solidaritywith the Iranian peoples' struggle for secularism, democracy, social justice,human rights and self-determination for national minorities. There is nothingremotely left-wing about this is sad and cruel betrayal. Put bluntly: it iscollusion with tyranny.

HRCP calls for commission to deal with enforced disappearances

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called upon the government onFriday to immediately set up an independent commission to deal with the cases ofenforced disappearance in Balochistan, and to aid the release of United NationsHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) official John Solecki.The commission said it had been three weeks since Solecki's abduction, addingthat each passing day increased apprehensions about his safety. It said thegroup responsible for his abduction had issued a list of 867 people, includingover 100 women, who had been arrested without substantial evidence. It saidanother list of 138 women had also been released, which contained the addressesof 76 women with their dates of arrest. The group has demanded the release ofall such people before letting go of Solecki, and regardless of the authenticityof the lists, the situation created due to the arrest of a large number of womenwas far more serious than it had previously been assumed, it added.The commission demanded the government pay due importance to the feelings of thepeople of Balochistan, adding that this should be a top priority even afterSolecki's release.It said the federal government must immediately set up an independent commissionto investigate the cases of missing people in Balochistan, and must enforce therelease of all those currently held under unauthorised detention. It said theindependent commission must be empowered to summon any state employees. "Evenbefore the commission is set up, it is essential that all state agenciesdisgorge anyone held in their custody if they cannot manifest the cause forholding him or her," the commission said in a statement.

Balochistan: a broken promise?

flargefont-sizeprintemailComment on this article sharePPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar's article in these pages, in response to one byformer senator Sanaullah Baloch, cleverly skirted the issue of internallydisplaced persons (IDPs) and missing persons in the country's largest provinceof Balochistan.It is, in fact, these two unresolved issues that have plagued the PPP-ledprocess of reconciliation in the conflict-ridden province.The PPP came to power for the first time in the history of Balochistan after theFeb 2008 polls. The ruling party's pledge to end the insurgency, restore trustamongst the Baloch and ensure a permanent settlement of the Baloch dispute washeavily hinged on drastic constitutional and institutional changes. The party,despite all its promises, never opted for generous constitutional amendmentsthat could restore the confidence of the Baloch people in Islamabad's commitmentto their cause.A handful of measures taken to demonstrate that the so-called process ofreconciliation was being initiated were, in fact, individual-specific. BesidesSardar Akhtar Mengal and Shahzain Bugti, a grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti,no commoner among the hundreds of `missing persons' has been released to date.The government has not even acknowledged the case of the missing persons andthis compelled a relatively new organisation, the Baloch Liberation UnitedFront, to abduct John Solecki, head of the UN refugee agency in Quetta on Feb 2.The question is, was the PPP government waiting for such an ugly development —the kidnapping of a foreign aid worker — to raise the issue of Balochistan'smissing people? If it is not resolved immediately, can we actually affordanother disgraceful incident in the future? Are such incidents what it wouldtake to highlight the plight of the `disappeared'? Worse still, Rehman Malik,the advisor on interior affairs, brazenly ridiculed the Baloch list of missingpersons by billing it `unrealistic' and `exaggerated'.Similarly, Baloch nationalist demands include de-militarisation of the province;they have called upon the government to withdraw troops from Dera Bugti andKohlu districts that stand ravaged by the military operation carried out duringthe Musharraf regime. A year after the general elections, neither has the armybeen pulled out from the conflict zones as a confidence-building measure (CBM)nor has the media been allowed access to witness and record the extent ofexcruciating damage caused to human life, property and livelihoodsJamil and Talal Akbar Bugti, sons of the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, are notpermitted to enter their native soil of Dera Bugti to offer fateha at the graveof their slain father — an undoubtedly inhuman and undemocratic act. How canBugti's sons and tribesmen believe that democracy has truly returned toBalochistan when they live under such cruel restrictions? The members of theopponent Bugti clans have been pitted against Akbar Bugti's heirs who have noaccess to their land and other property. The personal library of the slainnawab, once believed to be one of the best collections in the region, isreported to have been looted by none other than big guns in the security forces.Similarly, the PPP government, which clearly lacks the spunk to bypass thesecurity and intelligence agencies, has failed to intervene in the existinghumanitarian crisis in Dera Bugti and Kohlu. The five-year long armed conflictin the area has created over 100,000 internal displaced persons; hailing mainlyfrom the Marri and Bugti tribes, IDPs have been forced to take refuge inneighbouring Naseerabad and Jaffarabad districts of Balochistan and are indesperate need of medical assistance, rehabilitation and economic incentives.On the other hand, for over two years, security forces — the actual rulers ofthe area — have kept governmental and non-governmental organisations from notonly conducting surveys in the area, but also from dispatching any form of aidto IDPs. How can the Baloch have faith in the PPP-led process of reconciliationwhen policies initiated by Pervez Musharraf persist? The process ofreconciliation can only begin when IDPs receive medical care, food and a promiseof a gradual return to their homes.Furthermore, instead of ending the cycle of enforced disappearances, the statesecret services have, under the PPP administration, allegedly begun whiskingaway political opponents all over again. Currently, no one knows the whereaboutsof Dr Bashir Azeem, the central secretary general of the Baloch Republican Party(BRP), Jalil Rekhi, the party's information secretary and another central leaderof the opposition, Chakar Qambarani. Even a university student, Qambar MalikBaloch, was recently said to have been abducted by government functionaries.Islamabad can no longer afford to oversimplify or underestimate the Balochissue. It is time the centre treated the province in a dignified manner —empowered it politically, administratively and, most importantly, economically.It is crystal clear that the unrest and sense of deprivation in the provincecannot be eliminated until Islamabad concedes to its demand of completeconstitutional ownership of indigenous natural resources.Therefore, the PPP government should seriously induct drastic constitutionalreforms before the Balochistan conundrum spirals out of control. A powerless anddeprived province poses a greater risk to the integrity of the federation ofPakistan. Democratic governments are expected to confront daunting challenges.If the PPP can defend its recent truce with Islamic extremists in Swat, then, aswas rightly argued by Sanaullah Baloch, why can it not come up with a similarbold initiative that guarantees economic and political sovereignty forBalochistan?The writer is a journalist based in Quetta.

NEWS: FROM BSO-NA.ORG

REPORTED BY MUHAMMAD BALOCH



Baloch Society of North America strongly condemn the kidnappingof John Solecki and asks the kidnappers to release him unharmed,immediately.Baloch Society of North America (BSO-NA) strongly condemn the kidnapping of JohnSolecki, the head ofthe United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), and asks the kidnappersto release Mr.John Solecki unharmed, immediately, but also asked the UN to not close its eyesover the crimescommitted by Islamic States, Pakistan and Iran, against the Baloch people forthe last 60 years.The case of Zarina Baloch and thousands others who are lingering in Pakistaniand Iranian Jails are a slapon the face of those who claims to be the advocates and defenders of Humanrights. United Nation has aresponsibility and obligation to stop these crimes against unarmed innocentBaloch people and it mustresolve the long overdue Balochistan's ISSUE according to international laws andGeneva Convention. TheGenocide of Baloch Nation, bombardment, arrests and tortures, public hanging andthe loot and plunder ofBaloch resources must stop. Baloch Nation must be given the right to live inpeace and freedom.AN APPEAL TO THE KIDNAPPERWe believe that it is an act of ISI to tarnish the Baloch freedom fighters as aterrorists, as we have not heard about this BLUF before, but again, if it is thework of few emotional frustrated Baloch youths, we request them to please let goMr. John Solecki unharmed, immediately. We will relate their demandsto United Nation democratically and through peaceful means. Please observe andtake account of our great Balochi traditions and do not harm the guest,as Mr. John Solecki or the UN is not our enemy.Dr. Wahid Baloch, President ofBaloch Society Of North America (BSO-NA),1629 K Street NW, Suit 300Washington D.C 20036 USATel: (202) 349-1682Fax: (202) 331-3759E-Mail: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baloch-people/post?postID=3uwMtBT_OgldyHRKWllQVtVytDnCIOtEaQgpAuRf3zjCt3gD4KU605M6AwMN3MyjfcBBtr6SlXSDyaCaWebsite: http://www.bso-na.org/Related Links:Solecki's mother appeals to public for helpBaloch rebels reject UN plea for direct talks to release official Feb19, 2009UN seeks direct contact with Solecki's kidnappers Feb16, 2009UN hostage deadline extended in PakistanBaloch outfit extends deadline for fulfillment of its demands Feb16, 2009Pak admits FBI investigating Solecki's abduction case Feb16, 2009PAKISTAN: Release Of Kidnapped UN Staffer Urged. Feb 16, 2009Ban repeats call for release of kidnapped UN staff member in Pakistan Feb15,2009Fate of UN hostage in Pakistan hangs in balance - Summary Feb 14, 2009Foreign agencies to help search abducted U.N official Feb 14, 2009UN Secretary-General Call s Zardari for the immediate release of John SoleckiFeb 14, 2009UN man in Pakistan kidnap video: BBC Report Feb 14, 2009Kidnapped UN official appeals for help Feb 14, 2009Pakistan: Video appears to show kidnapped U.N. official February 14, 2009Kidnapped UN official appeals for help Feb 14, 2009Pak: UN diplomat's kidnappers issue video Feb 14, 2009Pakistan: UN Calls For Kidnapped Staff Member Feb 09, 2009Balochistan group says it kidnapped Solecki: Feb 7, 2009A New Baloch group claims abducting UNHCR headBaluch rebels claim kidnap of American in PakistanAmerican U.N. official kidnapped in Pakistan>> More on SoleckiJohn Solecki's mother appeals to public for helpPakistan: Kidnappers set deadline for UN officialMarch 02, 2009The abductors of an American United Nations official, kidnapped in Pakistan'sBalochistan province in February, have threatened to kill him if theirdemands, including the release of thousands of political prisoners, were not metwithin the next four days.The Balochistan Liberation United Front, which abducted UN High Commissioner forRefugees official John Solecki after killing his driver on February 2,listed its demands in a letter sent to a news agency in the southwestern city ofQuetta on Sunday night.The BLUF demanded the release of 141 Baloch women prisoners and thousands ofpolitical prisoners who were, it claimed, being held in different jailsacross Pakistan.It warned that it would kill Solecki if these demands were not met within fourdays.Officials in Quetta told reporters that the government of Balochistan provincehad established contacts with tribal and political leaders to negotiateSolecki's release.The BLUF had earlier said it was providing medical facilities to the ailingSolecki, who heads the UNHCR office in Balochistan province. It has alsospurned the UN's offer for Solecki's abductors to make direct contact fornegotiations on his release.However, officials have dismissed the BLUF's claims about Baloch women andpolitical activists being detained by security agencies.http://www.rediff.com/news/2009/mar/02kidnappers-set-deadline-for-un-official.htmKidnappers set new deadline for US hostage in PakistanQUETTA, Pakistan (AFP) – A group claiming to hold an American UN official inPakistan has threatened to kill him if the government does not free morethan 1,100 prisoners in four days, in a letter seen by AFP Monday.John Solecki, head of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in the southwestern provinceof Baluchistan, was snatched at gunpoint from the city of Quettawhile travelling to work on February 2.His driver was killed during the abduction.It was the most high-profile Western kidnapping in Pakistan since 2002, when USjournalist Daniel Pearl was snatched and beheaded by Al-Qaedamilitants."This is our final deadline," the shadowy Baluchistan Liberation United Front(BLUF) said in a letter sent to the local Online news agency."We will kill Solecki after the expiry of the deadline and the governmentinstitutions will be held responsible," it said.The agency's local bureau chief Irfan Saeed told AFP they had received atelephone call Sunday that a letter had been placed inside the wall of agovernment school in Quetta for release to the media.The letter came with the names of 1,109 missing people, all ethnic Baluchs whomBLUF claim to be in government custody.The hand-written one-page letter in Urdu accompanies multiple sheets typed inEnglish with the names of "missing people". It claimed the missingBaluch are in "torture cells".The kidnappers had on February 16 extended until further notice an earlier72-hour deadline for the government to meet demands for Solecki's release.The letter urged the United Nations, human rights groups and Solecki's family toput pressure on the Pakistan government.The group had previously demanded information about 6,000 "missing" men andreleased a list of 141 Baluch women allegedly in government custody.The commander of Pakistan's paramilitary Frontier Corps, Major General SaleemNawaz, last week accused Brahamdagh Bugti, a Baluch nationalistleader who is living in Afghanistan, of masterminding the abduction.Nawaz said he believed Solecki was "being kept somewhere in Baluchistan" anddescribed his abduction as an "attempt to defame Pakistan."Hundreds of people have died in the oil- and gas-rich province since late 2004,when rebels rose up to demand political autonomy and a greater shareof profits from natural resources.Baluchistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has also been hit by attacksblamed on Taliban militants.UNHCR official is alive: BLUFMonday, February 23, 2009QUETTA: The Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF) has denied the reports ofmaking phone call to press club regarding killing of abducted UnitedNations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) provincial head John Solecki.The spokesman of BLUF said rumors are false alarm and said that he is stillalive and absolutely fine.Earlier, unknown persons had phoned in Quetta Press Club and claimed that Johnhas been killed and his body will be found after two hours.However, government and independent sources could not confirm the reports ofJohn's killing.John Solecki had kidnapped in Quetta on February 2. An unknown organizationBaloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) had claimed the responsibility ofkidnapping.Unknown persons claimed killing of abducted UNHCRThe unknown persons claimed killing of United Nations High Commission forRefugees (UNHCR) provincial head John Solecki.According to reports, unknown persons phoned in Quetta Press Club on Monday andclaimed that John has been killed and his body will be found aftertwo hours.However, government and independent sources could not confirm the reports ofJohn's killing.John Solecki was kidnapped in Quetta on February 2.An unknown organizationBaloch Liberation United Front had claimed the responsibility ofkidnapping.http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=69413BLUF rejects UN request for direct talks over abducted officialBy Malik Siraj AkbarQUETTA: The Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) has spurned a plea by theUnited Nations for direct negotiations for the release of John Solecki, thehead of the UNHCR in Balochistan who was abducted two weeks ago.Mir Shahak Baloch, who claimed to be the spokesman for the previously unheard-ofBLUF, called reporters using a satellite phone from an undisclosedlocation and said the UN official's health had worsened in the last few days.He said the group had provided details of the missing persons to the governmentalong with a video of John Solecki released last week."Instead of cooperating with us, the government is trying to move the missingpersons to more secretive places. We want the UN to formulate a team andcome to Balochistan to see the actual situation about the missing persons," theBLUF spokesman said.UN officials in Pakistan have been secretly in touch with leading Balochnationalist and tribal leaders seeking their help for the release of theabductedofficial. A two-member team of the UN had unofficially called on veteran Balochnationalist leader Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, 90, at his Karachi residenceon Tuesday. Similarly, appeals have been made by Jamil Akbar Bugti, a son oflate Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Sardar Akthar Mengal, a former chiefminister of Balochistan and Hairbayar Marri, a son of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009219story_19-2-2009_pg7_4UN asks for safe release of its official from Pak abductorsIslamabad, Feb 17 (PTI) The United Nations today appealed to the abductors of anAmerican national working for the UN refugee agency in Pakistan tomake "direct contact" for negotiations for his "immediate and safe release".John Solecki, who heads the UNHCR office in southwestern Balochistan province,was kidnapped on February 2 by gunmen who killed his driver. Thehitherto unheard of Balochistan Liberation United Front has claimedresponsibility for the abduction.In a statement, the UN appealed to Solecki's captors for his "immediate and saferelease". It said, "The United Nations encourages the communityleaders' continued engagement and again asks those keeping John to initiatedirect contact so that dialogue can be started for his immediate saferecovery." The BLUF yesterday extended a 72-hour deadline for the government tomeet demands for Solecki's release. The organisation has demandedthe release of 141 Baloch women it claimed were detained by Pakistaniauthorities and the tracing of 6,000 "missing" men.Interior ministry chief Rehman Malik has dismissed the demands, saying no Balochwomen were being held by law enforcement agencies.Solecki's kidnappers released a video on Friday in which he was seen appealingto the UN for his release and saying he was unwell. PTIUNHCR team meets Marri for Solecki's recoveryBy Razzak AbroKARACHI: The United National High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has formallysought the help of Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Khair BakshMarri for the safe recovery of abducted UNHCR head in Balochistan, John Solecki.A UNHCR delegation, led by its country chief, called on the Baloch leader at hisresidence in Karachi on Tuesday evening.None of the sides was willing to talk to the media, but Baloch Rights Councilleader Abdul Wahab Baloch told journalists that Marri had made it clear thathe neither had contact with the abductors, nor were they accessible."However, Nawab Marri has agreed to make an appeal to the kidnapper, through themedia, to consider the matter on humanitarian grounds, as Soleckiis reported to be seriously ill," Wahab said. He said the Baloch nationalistmovement would be adversely affected if Solecki was killed or died in custodyof the abductors.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009218story_18-2-2009_pg7_6Solecki's kidnappers extend deadlineQUETTA: 17.02.2009An unknown militant group holding hostage an American working for the UnitedNations in Pakistan said on Monday it had extended a deadline they hadset to kill him if their demands were not met.The group, calling itself the Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF) hadsaid on Friday it would kill John Solecki in 72 hours, but on Monday aspokesman said more time would be given for the government to accede to itsdemands.'We are giving more days for the government to accept our demands,' ShahiqBaloch, the BLUF spokesman, said in a telephone call to the Press Club inQuetta.Solecki, the head of the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)in Quetta, was kidnapped on Feb 2 after gunmen ambushed his carand shot dead the driver.The hitherto unheard BLUF has demanded UN intervention to to secure the releaseof 141 women in Pakistani torture cells, provide information aboutmore than 6,000 missing persons, and resolve the issue of Baloch independenceunder the Geneva Convention.A low level insurgency has rumbled on for years in Balochistan.Mountainous and arid, Balochistan is rich in mineral resources and possessesPakistan's largest oil and gas fields.http://www.dawn.com/Raisani confirms FBI probing Solecki's case* Four held for UNHCR official's abductionLAHORE: Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani on Sunday admitted that USFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials were present in theprovince to investigate the abduction of a UNHCR official, a private TV channelreported on Sunday.According to the channel, Raisani told reporters in Quetta that efforts wereunderway for the safe recovery of John Solecki, head of the UN refugee agencyin Quetta, adding that he was expecting a breakthrough in the case within a fewdays. He said some arrests had also been made in connection with thekidnapping.The channel reported that four people had been arrested in connection withSolecki's abduction.According to the channel, the suspects were arrested from the Gardi Junglerefugee camp in Chaghi district of Balochistan. All shops in the area havebeen closed and people have been instructed to stay indoors, the channel said.BLUF ultimatum ends todayQUETTA: A deadline by the Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) demanding therelease of 141 Baloch women allegedly in official custody — inexchange for the release of abducted United Nations High Commission for Refugees(UNHCR) official John Solecki — is likely to end today (Monday)without much headway. According to sources, disappointed UN officials hadsecretly begun contacting Baloch tribal elders and political parties to usetheir influence to request the BLUF to release Solecki. malik siraj akbarhttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/UN seeks access to kidnappersQUETTA: The United Nations has sought direct contact with the kidnappers ofUNHCR representative John Solecki to discuss his release as soon aspossible, the world body said in a statement on Saturday.According to a UN spokesman, Mr Solecki, who was kidnapped in Quetta on Feb 2,is a humanitarian worker deeply committed to helping people inneed.The United Nations appealed to the community leaders and all the partiesconcerned to support its efforts to obtain contact with those holding Mr Soleckihostage.The spokesman said that on Friday night the local media released the video of ablindfolded man who appeared to be Mr Solecki.The UN remains extremely concerned about Mr Solecki's state of health, thespokesman said.He said the United Nations was aware of the demands made by the kidnappersthrough the media, adding that it "seeks urgent contact to discuss waysof securing his safe release as soon as possible."http://www.dawn.com/2009/02/15/top8.htmBLUF demands unrealistic: MalikQUETTA: 15.02.2009Interior Adviser Rehman Malik on Saturday described as "unrealistic andexaggerated" the list of missing persons provided by the Baloch LiberationUnited Front (BLUF) in exchange for the release of an American UN official, JohnSolecki. malik siraj akbar.Kidnapped UN official appeals for helpSat Feb 14 2009A United Nations official kidnapped in north- western Pakistan around a week agohas appealed to the world body to meet the demands set by Balochseparatists in return for his release in a video released by the kidnappers."I am not feeling well, I am in trouble," John Solecki, the local head of theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and US national, said.Solecki, who is seen blindfolded in the short video released to Pakistan'sprivate news agency Online, adds that UN should meet the demands of hiscaptors.The Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF), a secular and nationalist guerrillaorganisation seeking independence from Pakistan, warned if the UN doesnot manage to secure the release of 141 Baloch women held in the torture cellsof Pakistan's intelligence agencies, they would execute Solecki.Solecki, was snatched last week after unknown gunmen shot dead his driver inQuetta, the capital of Balochistan province. The BLUF claimedresponsibility of the abduction.The Baloch group has been campaigning for years for a greater share of theprovince's oil and gas wealth and more autonomy for the region.Recently, some extremist groups, like BLUF, have gone a step further to demand acomplete separation of the region from Pakistan.They started an armed campaign in 2005 when the government of President PervezMusharraf launched a military operation to quell the rebellion. Theinsurgency has claimed hundreds of lives and several power and communicationinstallations destroyed or damaged.http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/752078/kidnapped-un-official-appeals-for-helpUN makes direct appeal to Pak abductorsSaturday, February 21, 2009With concern mounting over the fate of its kidnapped top diplomat in Pakistan'sBalochistan province, the United Nations made a direct appeal onFebruary 20, to the abductors to release John Solecki "immediately withoutharm"."The United Nations remains extremely concerned about John Solecki's health,which we are told is deteriorating," the UN said in a statement."John has a serious medical condition, which may now be endangering his life adevelopment that would do nothing to help the cause of those keepinghim or those among us, who want John's safe return as soon as possible," thestament said.Solecki heading the UNHCR office in south-western Balochistan province, waskidnapped on February 2 by gunmen, who killed his driver. The hithertounheard of Balochistan Liberation United Front has claimed responsibility forthe abduction.The UN asked Solecki's abductors on February 17, to make direct contact fornegotiations on his release. "The United Nations reiterates its appeal tothose holding John Solecki to release him immediately without harm. The UN onceagain appeals to those having John to contact us, if not directly, thenthrough a trustedintermediary - so that the situation can be resolved in apeaceful dialogue," read the statement issued on February 20.The statement acknowledged that the UN is taking seriosuly, a message from theabductors through the media on February 18. "We are again gratefulfor the support of the leaders of Balochistan for the safe release of John, andacknowledge the concerns of the Balochistan community," the statementfurther declared.The UN also highlighted its own role in safeguarding Human Rights in Pakistan.The statement even cited, it was "working on appropriate ways toaddress the concerns, including sharing information with the relevantauthorities, such as the newly established Federal Ministry of Human Rights".The statement also mentioned, that the UN had signed an agreement this year withthe Human Rights Ministry to support the promotion of HumanRights throughout Pakistan. Solecki is a humanitarian worker, "serving Afghanrefugees as well as the Pakistanis, affected by earthquakes and floods inBalochistan".http://www.apakistannews.com/un-makes-direct-appeal-to-pak-abductors-106467HRCP wants probe into Balochistan disappearancesSaturday, 21 Feb, 2009LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) called upon thegovernment on Friday to immediately set up a high-powered andindependent commission to deal with disappearance in Balochistan, release anypeople in unacknowledged custody of state agencies, and help securethe release of the UNHCR official, John Solecki.In a statement issued here, the commission said: `The case of the abduction ofthe UNHCR official, Solecki, and the demand by his kidnappers for therelease of a large number of Balochistan people, including many women, continuesto assume ever more serious dimensions.'It has almost been three weeks since Mr Solecki was kidnapped and every passingday increases apprehensions about his safety. At the same time thegroup that claims to be holding him has issued a list of 867 involuntarilydisappeared people, including over 100 women. A separate list of 138 womenalso has been released and it contains addresses of 76 women and the dates oftheir `arrest'.The HRCP statement reads that whatever one may think of the authenticity ofthese lists, it is obvious that the situation created by the claim ofdisappearance of so many women is far more serious than it had so far beenassumed. It is the first time the people, at least outside Balochistan, havelearnt about the disappearance of Baloch women. Even if the list is partlycorrect, it should make all politicians and civil society defenders of theoppressed hang their heads in shame.In this situation, the government cannot sit with folded hands, says thecommission, adding that every effort must be made to assuage the Balochpeople's feeling of outrage. While attempts to secure Mr Solecki's releasethrough negotiations should continue, the federal government mustimmediately set up a commission, with Balochistan adequately represented on it,to investigate the cases of all missing people and secure the releaseof all those who are found in unauthorised detention.The commission should have the power to summon any state employee and grantappropriate relief. Even before the commission is formed, it isnecessary to order all state agencies to immediately disgorge anyone held intheir custody or show cause for holding him or her.This is necessary to serve as proof of government's earnestness in trying toheal the festering sore the issue has become, said the HRCP.http://dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/dawn+content+library/dawn/news/pakistan/balochistan/Envoy tells UN Pakistan will do more for the BalochFeb 21,.2009GENEVA: Pakistan's ambassador to the United Nations (UN) says his country istrying to address the discrimination against the Baloch. Zamir Akramsays the Pakistan government "has given high priority to engaging local Balochleaders and the people of Balochistan in a meaningful dialogue andremoving their legitimate grievances". A UN panel on racial discriminationquestioned Akram on Thursday about Pakistan's treatment of the Baloch. Thesouth-western province of Balochistan has long been the scene of a low-levelinsurgency, with militant groups seeking greater regional autonomy and alarger share of revenue from its natural resources. aphttp://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009221story_21-2-2009_pg7_17PRESS RELEASEBaloch Human Rights Council strongly condemns the abduction of Mr John Solecki,the Head of UNHCR in Quetta and those responsible for thisdastardly act.It is absolutely bewildering as to how this incident took place under the verynoses of the ISI and other secret agencies in one of the most sensitive citiesin Pakistan . For five whole days no one claimed any responsibility. However,when the pressure mounted on the secret agencies, suddenly amysterious organization purporting to be the champion of the Baloch cause,hitherto unbeknown to anyone in Balochistan, claimed responsibility for MrSolecki's abduction. The credibility of this claim appears to be doubtful atleast on two counts. First, in its sixty years' long history the Baloch movementhas never used kidnapping as a tactic. Secondly, the pattern and methodology ofthis venture clearly point to religious fundamentalists and their localallies who enjoy a special relationship with the secret agencies. Does itsurprise anyone that Pakistani authorities have so far failed to incriminatetheseelements? In the wake of Mr Solecki's kidnapping a government official'spronouncement that he might have been shifted to Afghanistan puts a hugequestion mark on this whole affair.We believe that the Islamabad government knows all the facts about thecircumstantial details that led to Mr Solecki's abduction. Aware of the way thePakistani secret agencies operate, we do not believe that any Baloch group wasinvolved in this incident for the simple reason that it is not the UnitedNations but the Pakistani state which has persistently denied our people theirbasic human rights and has been responsible for untold atrocities inBalochistan. Nevertheless, even if a single misguided Baloch person is involvedin this unforgivable circumstance we denounce this act most vigorouslyand demand that Mr Solecki is released immediately and unconditionally.Dr. Habibullah MalikPresident, Baloch Human Rights CouncilAppeal for the release of Mr. John Solecki13 February 2009The Baloch people in Balochistan and throughout the world have been shockinglyobserving the abduction of a UNHCR official in Quetta (Balochistan)for the last many days. As the representative of an organization representingthe voice and sentiments of the Baloch people, I am saddened that thedecades long heavy handedness of Pakistan towards the Baloch nation has nowbrought some Baloch to the point where they believe that only suchextreme measures will serve their cause and alarm the international community ofthe plight of the Baloch nation.One cannot deny the fact that the Baloch people have been the victim of a mostcruel state establishment of the contemporary world. Thousands ofinnocent and defenseless women, children and elderly have been mercilessly andbarbarically massacred by the army of Pakistan. The recognizedleadership of the Baloch masses have been humiliated, imprisoned or murdered inorder to crush the legitimate and democratic struggle of the Balochpeople against the state brutalities. Hundreds of Baloch villages have beenbombarded and hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Thousands ofmen and women are have been missing for years and their whereabouts remainunknown.I personally understand the pain and resentment of those who have lost so muchat the hands of Pakistan. I myself am one who has lost many whowere dear to me, including two of my dear uncles, Nawabzada Balach Marri and MirAsadullah Mengal and a great leader, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, atthe hands of the tyrannical and cowardly Punjabi-Pakistan establishment.One cannot deny the fact that such kind of atrocities by the Pakistani statewith the assistance of western powers are bound to be resented by the peopleand extreme reactionary measures on behalf of the affected families are destinedto take place as it has been witnessed in other parts of the worldfacing similar situations.Nevertheless, the Baloch must not resort to abduction and other violent actsagainst innocent and peaceful civilians. The harming of human rightsdefenders and international humanitarian aid workers will surely not serve theBaloch cause in any positive way.The persons responsible for this act should bear in mind that although they mayhave perpetrated this act in order expose the misery endured by theBaloch people and gain the attention of the international community which wouldin turn pressure Pakistan to address the Baloch grievances, however itwill adversely affect the Baloch national cause as it will be exploited byPakistan to portray the downtrodden Baloch as uncivilized and inhumaneextremists, resulting in the possible isolation of the secular Baloch nationwhich is striving to gain its sovereignty and sustain the survival of itsculturaland national identity. It may create a chiasm between the well-wishers of theBaloch people among the international community and the Balochorganizations which are struggling against the subjugation and exploitation ofthe State establishment.The persons holding Mr. John Solecki should be well aware of the fact that it isnot the United Nations but the Pakistani state which has persistentlydenied the Baloch people their basic human rights and has been responsible foruntold atrocities in Balochistan. Mr. Solecki is connected with anorganization involved in many humanitarian endeavours in Balochistan and shouldnot be seen as an enemy, but as a friend who has been there attimes when people have been victims of natural disasters or brutal atrocities atthe hands of states. He has brought aid and comfort to people in distressin several parts of the world, therefore he deserves much better.I hope the kidnappers of Mr. Solecki who claim to be Baloch, will abstain fromcommitting an act that would only benefit the Pakistan government and itsagencies which do not seem genuinely concerned about securing the safe releaseof Mr. Solecki but is rather strongly denying the injustices faced by theBaloch and has not only launched a crackdown on Baloch political workers, but isalso deliberately provoking the kidnappers by adopting a threateningand daring tone which is the typical mindset of the Punjabi-Pakistani occupiers,that could unfortunately lead the kidnappers into taking steps that couldtarnish the image of the Baloch nation internationally.The United Nations and the international community must acknowledge thedeceptive strategies of the Pakistani government and must play their duerole in addressing the plight of the Baloch nation. The Baloch should alsorecognize and counter the conspiracies being hatched against them by theoppressors and should respect the efforts of relief workers and human rightsactivists sincerely working for peace, social justice and equality,regardless of their race, creed, colour, gender or national origin.I humbly appeal to those who are holding Mr. John Solecki captive to release himunharmed on humanitarian grounds, upholding the centuries oldBaloch tradition and values where guests are protected at the expense of one'sown life.I hope that if those who hold John Solecki are truly sons of the soil, they willconsider the appeal of a Baloch brother.Noordin MengalBaloch representative to the United Nations in New York and the United NationsHuman Rights Council on behalf of Interfaith International.John Solecki and Qambar Baloch—A reminder to the people of the USA and UNNow that only a few hours are to go from the deadline given by the BalochLiberation United Front (BLUF) about the release of John Solecki, I have touttera few words to the Americans. Never before in my life time have I been so badlydisappointed with the people of the United States of America. It has beentwo weeks since John Solecki, an American head of the United Nations HighCommission for Refugees, was kidnapped from Quetta. The majority ofJohn's countrymen have brazenly kept quite on the whole matter. Not a singlejournalist from the US reached Quetta in the past two weeks to write apiece on John Solecki. No top US official arrived here, nor did a leading humanrights champion.In countries like Pakistan with almost no democracy in place, the civil societyhas no role at all to pressurize their respective governments. But I am justdisappointed with the American government, media and the human rightsorganizations. This case could not make enough space in the Americanpress. We thought that American President would speak up. He didn't. We thoughtZardari would be taken to task. He wasn't. We thought the Americanpeace activists would rush to Quetta and expedite their efforts to release John.They didn't.For the first time, I have no qualms in saying that we, the people ofBalochistan and the Baloch intellectuals, have spoken more actively in supportofJohn Solecki than the Americans. We have condemned the kidnapping and appealedfor Solecki's immediate and unconditional release. Why has theCNN not actively covered the whole matter? Why has the US government still notput ample pressure on Islamabad to ensure the release of thekidnapped official.What is the White House waiting for? What are the big guns in CNN, Fox News, CBSNews, New York Times, and Washington Post waiting for? Whyhave they not deputed their correspondents to visit Quetta and bring more newsabout John Solecki to the whole world? Are they all waiting for John'sdeath news? Are they preparing to be the first ones to `break the news'? Is theWhite House preparing the draft of a presidential speech to condemn thekilling of John Solecki, which may occurred any time in the next 24 hours?I do not understand why the Americans are so confidently buying the piece offalse information given to them by Islamabad. The Pakistan rulers, let memake it clear, are not being truthful. Rehman Malik, the country's nationalsecurity advisor, is lying when he says not a single Baloch is in thegovernment's custody. While he was in Quetta yesterday to investigate the demands of theBLUF, the Baloch students from the Balochistan University of InformationTechnology and Management Sciences (BUITMS) were protesting the `disappearance'of a Baloch student Qambar Baloch.More than ten people have gone missing in Quetta in the past two weeks. Theseinclude people from all walks of life. The government secrete serviceshave picked up the central secretary general and the information secretary ofthe Baloch Republican Party (BRP) Dr. Bashir Azeem Blaoch and Mir JalilRekhi respectively. While we are being constantly assured the democracy hasreturned to Pakistan, another key BRP leader, Chakar Qambarani hasalso been whisked away. Worst still, the victims of `disappearances' are notonly the activists of the opposition political parties. They also includeinnocent university students.The interior advisor said that not a single Baloch was in the custody of thegovernment which surely is a white lie. Similarly, if the government can resortto such false statements then I see no reasons why the Americans should notquestion its commitment in ensuring the release of John Solecki. TheAmerican people and the media should pressurize Islamabad to act more swiftlyand secure John safe and sound.The Baloch leaders have disassociated themselves from this case. Nawabzada JamilAkbar Bugti, the son of late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a key Balochnationalist leader, has strongly condemned the kidnapping today. He has appealedto the kidnappers to release the American national. A similar appealhas been issued by the central spokesman of the Balochistan National Party(BNP-Mengal). Last week, Nawabzada Bramdagh Bugti, the chief organizerof the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) also said his organization had noconnections with the abduction. He further commented that his party did notendorse such kind of activities.However, given the fact that the kidnapping of John Solecki and the`disappearance'of Qambar Baloch coincide with each other, the internationalcommunity should take notice of the prevailing situation in Balochistan. Thelargest and the least populated of Pakistan's four provinces, Balochistanhas been the center of Islamabad's repressive policies for six decades. Fourtimes in the past were deadly military operations inflicted on the people ofthe province. Thousands of people have lost their lives in the battle with thecountry's security forces.Islamabad has been brutally exploiting the Baloch resources. While gas wasdiscovered in the province, which accounts for Pakistan's 43% total area, inearly 1950s, around 95% of the province is deprived of its own gas facility eventill today. In the latest phase of the military operation unleashed by themilitary regime of Pervez Musharraf, thousands of young Baloch have gonemissing. These `missing persons' also include around 141 women. It is thissituation that has led to the formation of organizations like the BLUF. If oneis not to support their activities but one can not overlook their demands at thesame time. They are the outcome of unjust policies of the state. They can not besnubbed simply by saying that they resorted to a wrong act. There is theneed for a long-term settlement of the Baloch dispute.Balochistan's issue is purely political but the government is bent upon usingforce to crush the Baloch demands. The world community must addressthe plight of the Baloch people. Islamabad should be asked to halt the sheerviolation of the human rights in the province. The sole purpose ofdeliberately putting John's and Qambar's photos together in this post is to askthe world community a few questions. What will happen to poor Qambar,a much younger man than Solecki, even if John, let's pray, is freed and walksback home happily? Will the world ever speak up for young guys likeQambar? Hailing from a middle class family, Qambar has no links with the UNSecretary General. Then who is going to appeal for his release? Theworld needs to spend a modicum of time and cogitate about the future of Qambaras well.The UN should also speak for Qambar and thousands of his likes who are missing.The missing young Baloch boy is supposed to take his annualexams next week. Time is also running for him. He is in his 8th semester. Incase he bunks the exams, his whole career would be ruined. He would endup as a wasted youth. Would he be only responsible if we hear tomorrow that hisdisillusioned young man has joined an armed group?Will Rehman Malik ever come to Quetta and address a press conference to tell uswhere our Qambar is? Will the Pakistani newspapers ever write aboutour missing Qambar? Go through the emotional comments this blog has beenreceiving from the concerned friends of Qambar. We all are worriedabout him. We miss him. We want his immediate release.It is the need of the time the people of the United States of America and thegovernment of the US joined hands with the moderate, progressive anddemocratic Baloch leaders. A collective appeal should be made. The Baloch peoplelargely do not support the kidnapping of the foreigners regardless ofthe demands of the kidnappers. The Pakistani government is lying when it says noBaloch is in its custody. Where is Qmabar Baloch? For us, Qambarand John are the same. We have feel passionately for both of them. The Americansshould come for the release of their man and also use their goodoffices to ensure the release of the Baloch student. It is the high time.Baloch outfit extends deadline for fulfillment of its demandsIslamabad, Feb.16 : The Balochistan Liberation United Front (BLUF), whichclaimed the responsibility of kidnapping the head of the United Nations HighCommission for Refugees (UNHCR), John Solecki, has extended the deadline it hadset for the authorities to meet its demands."We are giving more days for the government to accept our demands," The Dawnquoted a spokesman of the BLUF, Shahiq Baloch, as saying.Earlier, the extremist group had given a deadline of 72 hours for authorities,and had threatened that they would kill the official if their demands are notmet within the stipulated time.The militants demanded an UN intervention to secure the release of 141 women inPakistani torture cells, provide information about more than 6,000missing persons, and resolve the issue of Baloch independence under the GenevaConvention.Solecki was abducted from Quetta on February 2, following an ambush in which hisdriver was killed.--- ANI http://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-94550.htmlBan repeats call for release of kidnapped UN staff member in PakistanFebruary 15, 2009UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who spoke with President Asif Ali Zardari ofPakistan on Saturday, reiterated his appeal for the release of a UnitedNations staff member abducted some 10 days ago in the west of the South Asiannation.A statement, issued here by the UN secretary-general's spokesperson, said thatthe two leaders "agreed on the need to secure the safe and immediaterelease of John Solecki," the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR)representative in the city of Quetta, capital of the Pakistani province ofBalochistan.Solecki, who has been with the UN since 1991, was kidnapped on Feb. 2 and hisdriver, Syed Hashim, was killed in the attack.In the Saturday statement, the secretary-general emphasized the importance ofSolecki's humanitarian work in helping the people of Balochistan."He stresses that no cause can be served by prolonging the abduction of MrSolecki," the statement said.Earlier this week, the United Nations said it is seeking information on a groupcalled the Balochistan Liberation United Front, which on Feb. 7 claimed inlocal media reports that it is holding Solecki.Solecki has a medical condition requiring regular medication, adding thatdelaying his release will lead to a deterioration of health, UN officials saidhere.Source:XinhuaFate of UN hostage in Pakistan hangs in balance - SummaryIslamabad - Pakistani government on Saturday dismissed the demands of thecaptors of a United Nation's official as unrealistic but expressedwillingness to negotiate with them. A separatist group in Pakistan'ssouth-western Balochistan province set a 72-hours deadline on Friday to killJohnSolecki, the local head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, if141 women held in the torture cells of country's intelligence agencieswere not freed.The Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF), a secular and nationalist guerrillaorganization seeking independence from Pakistan, also demanded therelease of 6,000 more political prisoners."These are unrealistic demands," said Pakistan's top security official RehmanMalik. "We categorically deny that we have any ladies in our custody."Malik asked the families of any women believed to be in the custody of lawenforcers to come forward and contact the authorities so that their releasecould be ensured.He also denied that there were any male political prisoners in Balochistanprovince."Whoever has done this (abducted Solecki) wants to defame the country," Maliktold reporters in Balochistan's capital Quetta, where Solecki wassnatched on January 2 after unknown gunmen shot dead his driver.Solecki appeared blindfolded in a video released by BLUF late Friday. "Mymessage to the United Nations. I am not feeling well. I am sick. I am introuble.Please help to resolve the problem soon, so I can gain my release," he appealed.A UN spokeswoman said Saturday that Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has lodged anappeal with the Pakistani government to take all steps possible toensure Solecki's release. In his plea, Ban noted that Solecki's work isbeneficial to large parts of Balochistan's population.Hundreds of people have died in nationalist insurgency in Balochistan since 2005when rebels resorted to an armed campaign for greater share of theprovince's oil and gas wealth.A BLUF spokesman asked Ban on February 7 to take notice of enslavement ofBalochistan politically, culturally and socially by Pakistan, as the groupclaimed responsibility of UN officials' kidnapping.Malik said the authorities had some clues about Solecki's captors and hoped thatthe UN official would seen be recovered safely. He declined to give anyfurther details.http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/255770,fate-of-un-hostage-in-pakistan-hangs-in-balance--summary.htmlForeign agencies to help search abducted U.N officialForeign agencies have come to the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta tosearch an American national of the U.N. refugee agency, who waskidnapped on Feb. 2, the provincial chief executive said Sunday."I have information that they (foreign agencies) have come here and staying in alocal hotel," Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad AslamRaisani told reporters."I do not know whom they have met and what they are doing," Raisani said."Balochistan government is making all-out efforts for safe recovery of JohnSolecki and he will soon be recovered."U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon rang up Pakistani President Asif Ali ZardariSaturday and called for efforts to recover Solecki. The U.N. has alsosought direct access to the captors, according to local press reports.John Solecki, head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)office in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, waskidnapped when he was heading to his office.His driver was shot dead by the gunmen when they intercepted his vehicle andopened fire.A new organization Baloch Liberation United Front has claimed responsible forthe kidnapping. A video showing Solecki was released by the groupFriday with a list of their demands and threat to kill him if the demands werenot met in 72 hours.Solecki, blind-folded in the mobile phone video, urged the United Nations to dosomething for his release as he is not feeling well and is sick.Solecki's captors also sent a list of three demands for his release. The demandsinclude release of 141 Baloch women in 72 hours, recovery of 6,000missing Baloch nationals and solution to the Balochistan problems under theGeneva Convention.A purported spokesman for the group Shahid Baloch made similar demands a dayafter Solecki was kidnapped.Pakistan's advisor on interior Rehman Malik Saturday described the demands asunrealistic, saying that the government did not hold any women.Source:XinhuaPak admits FBI investigating Solecki's abduction caseLahore, Feb.16 : The investigation into the kidnapping of a United Nations (UN)official is being carried out by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation,Chief Minister of Balochistan Aslam Raisani has admitted.Raisani confirmed that the special FBI team is present in the province, andprobing all aspects behind kidnapping of the United Nations HighCommission for Refugees (UNHCR) head John Solecki.According to The Daily Times, efforts are on to ensure the safe recovery of theofficial.Raisani said the case would be solved within a few days as the investigativeteam has arrested four persons in connection with Solecki's kidnapping.Solecki was abducted from Quetta on February 2, following an ambush in which hisdriver was killed.A relatively unheard of militant outfit, the Baluchistan Liberation United Front(BLUF), had taken responsibility for the kidnapping.--- ANIhttp://www.newkerala.com/topstory-fullnews-94016.htmlPakistan: Conflicting reports about kidnapped U.N. officialSTORY HIGHLIGHTSJohn Solecki, heads UNHCR office in Quetta, Pakistan, taken on way toworkVideo shown in which man who appears to be Solecki asks U.N. for helpU.N.: Uncertainty about deadlines or who exactly has abducted SoleckiKidnappers reportedly call Quetta press club, extending the deadlineFrom Zein BasraviISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Conflicting reports have emerged about deadlinesinvolving the kidnapping of a U.N. official who was abducted earlierthis month in Pakistan, the United Nations said Monday.A soldier stands guard where John Solecki was kidnapped in Quetta, Pakistan, inearly February.Information is sketchy despite news reports that a deadline was extended by thegroup that claims to have kidnapped John Solecki, the United Nationssaid.Solecki heads the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees office in Quetta, a cityin southwestern Pakistan that is the provincial capital of Balochistan.Journalists at the press club in Quetta reportedly received a call from thekidnappers announcing the extension of a deadline.But U.N. spokeswoman Miki Shinohar said they were uncertain when the firstdeadline was set, when the new one would expire or even who exactly hasabducted Solecki."We don't know for sure exactly who these people are, because we haven't beenable to make direct contact with them," she said. Watch video of manbelieved to be John Solecki »"We're trying to really to work with different people, different communities,tribal leaders. We're trying different ways really to get more information aboutJohn's whereabouts."Pakistani authorities are investigating, but have produced no significantinformation, Shinohar said.A video that aired Friday on Pakistan's Geo TV network appeared to show Solecki,who is an American.In the video, the man says, "This is a message to the United Nations.am not feeling well. I'm in trouble. Please help solve the problem soon so I cangain my release."Geo TV said the tape was sent to its News Online Web site and posted therebefore it aired on the network.Solecki was kidnapped February 2 on his way to work, the United Nations said.His driver, Syed Hashim of Quetta, was fatally injured, police saidPakistan: Release Of Kidnapped UN Staffer UrgedMonday, 16 February 2009, 3:48 pmPress Release: United NationsBan Repeats Call For Release Of Kidnapped UN Staff Member In PakistanSecretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who spoke with President Asif Ali Zardari ofPakistan today, reiterated his appeal for the release of a United Nations staffmember abducted nearly two weeks ago in the west of the South Asian nation.According to a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson, the two leaders"agreed on the need to secure the safe and immediate release of JohnSolecki," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in thecity of Quetta.Mr. Solecki, who has been with the UN since 1991, was kidnapped on 2 Februaryand his driver, Syed Hashim, was killed in the attack.In today's statement, the Secretary-General emphasized the importance of Mr.Solecki's humanitarian work in helping the people of Balochistan."He stresses that no cause can be served by prolonging the abduction of MrSolecki."Earlier this week, the UN said it is seeking information on a group called theBalochistan Liberation United Front, which on 7 February claimed in localmedia reports that it is holding Mr. Solecki.The world body said that he has a medical condition requiring regularmedication, adding that delaying his release will lead to a deterioration ofhealth

Google sleuths secret CIA drone flights from Baluchistan base

THE US was secretly flying unmanned drones from the Shamsi airbase in Pakistan's southwestern province of Baluchistan as early as 2006, according to an image of the base from Google Earth.
The image, which is no longer on the site but which was obtained by The News, Pakistan's English language daily newspaper, shows what appear to be three Predator drones outside a hangar at the end of the runway.
The image, whose co-ordinates confirm that it is the Shamsi airfield, also known as Bandari, about 320km southwest of the Pakistani city of Quetta. Reports this week revealed the CIA, despite denials from Washington and Islamabad, was secretly using Shamsi to launch the Predator drones that observe and attack al-Qa'ida and Taliban militants around Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.
US special forces used the airbase during the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, but the Pakistani Government said in 2006 that the Americans had left and both sides have since denied repeatedly that Washington was using Pakistani bases.
Pakistan has also demanded that the US cease drone attacks on its tribal area, which have increased over the past year, allegedly killing several "high-value" targets as well as many civilians.
Shamsi, built by Arab sheiks for falconry trips, may have been used to launch Predators for at least three years.
Its advantage is that it provides a discreet launchpad within minutes of Quetta - a known Taliban staging post - as well as Taliban infiltration routes into Afghanistan and potential militant targets farther afield.
Google Earth's current image of Shamsi - about 160km south of the Afghan border and 160km east of the Iranian one - undoubtedly shows the same airstrip as the image from 2006.
There are no visible drones, but it does show that several new buildings and other structures have been erected since 2006, including what appears to be a hangar large enough to fit three drones.
Perimeter defences, apparently made from the same blast-proof barriers used at US and NATO bases in Afghanistan, have also been set up around the hangar.
A compound on the other side of the runway appears to have sufficient housing for several dozen people, as well as neatly tended lawns.
Three military aviation experts shown the image said that the aircraft appeared to be MQ1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles - the model used by the CIA to observe and strike militants on the Afghan border.
A military spokesman at the US embassy in Islamabad declined to comment on the images. Major-General Athar Abbas, Pakistan's chief military spokesman admitted on Tuesday that US forces were using Shamsi, but only for logistics.
He also said the Americans were using another air base in the city of Jacobabad for logistics and military operations.
Pakistan gave the US permission to use Shamsi, Jacobabad and two other bases - Pasni and Dalbadin - for the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001.
The image of the US drones at Shamsi highlights the extraordinary power, and potential security risks, of Google Earth.
Several governments have asked it to remove or blur images of sensitive locations such as military bases, nuclear reactors and government buildings. Some have also accused the company of helping terrorists, as in 2007, when its images of British military bases were found in the homes of Iraqi insurgents.
Last year India said the militants who attacked Mumbai in November had used Google Earth to familiarise themselves with their targets.
Google Street View, which offers ground-level, 360-degree views, also ran into controversy last year when the Pentagon asked it to remove some online images of military bases in America.

UK agents 'colluded with torture in Pakistan'

REPORTED BY Juma Baloch


Intelligence sources 'confirm abuse'• Extent of Mohamed injuries revealed* Mark Townsend* The Observer, Sunday 22 February 2009* Article historyA shocking new report alleges widespread complicity between British securityagents and their Pakistani counterparts who have routinely engaged in thetorture of suspects.In the study, which will be published next month by the civil liberties groupHuman Rights Watch, at least 10 Britons are identified who have been allegedlytortured in Pakistan and subsequently questioned by UK intelligence officials.It warns that more British cases may surface and that the issue of Pakistaniterrorism suspects interrogated by British agents is likely to "run muchdeeper".The report will further embarrass the foreign secretary, David Miliband, who hasrepeatedly said the UK does not condone torture. He has been under fire forrefusing to disclose US documents relating to the treatment of Guantánamodetainee and former British resident Binyam Mohamed. The documents are believedto contain evidence about the torture of Mohamed and British complicity in hismaltreatment. Mohamed will return to Britain this week. Doctors who examined himin Guantánamo found evidence of prolonged physical and mental mistreatment.Ali Dayan Hasan, who led the Pakistan-based inquiry, said sources within thecountry's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI), the Intelligence Bureau andthe military security services had provided "confirmation and information"relating to British collusion in the interrogation of terrorism suspects.Hasan said the Human Rights Watch (HRW) evidence collated from Pakistanintelligence officials indicated a "systemic" modus operandi among Britishsecurity services, involving a significant number of UK agents from MI5 ratherthan maverick elements. Different agents were deployed to interview differentsuspects, many of whom alleged that prior to interrogation by British officialsthey were tortured by Pakistani agents.Among the 10 identified cases of British citizens and residents mentioned in thereport is Rangzieb Ahmed, 33, from Rochdale, who claims he was tortured byPakistani intelligence agents before being questioned by two MI5 officers. Ahmedwas convicted of being a member of al-Qaida at Manchester crown court, yet thejury was not told that three of the fingernails of his left hand had beenremoved. The response from MI5 to the allegations that it had colluded inAhmed's torture were heard in camera, however, after the press and the publicwere excluded from the proceedings. Ahmed's description of the cell in which heclaims he was tortured closely matches that where Salahuddin Amin, 33, fromLuton, says he was tortured by ISI officers between interviews with MI5officers.Zeeshan Siddiqui, 25, from London, who was detained in Pakistan in 2005, alsoclaims he was interviewed by British intelligence agents during a period inwhich he was tortured.Other cases include that of a London medical student who was detained in Karachiand tortured after the July 2005 attacks in London. Another case involvingBritons allegedly tortured in Pakistan and questioned by UK agents involves aBritish Hizb ut-Tahrir supporter.Rashid Rauf, from Birmingham, was detained in Pakistan and questioned oversuspected terrorist activity in 2006. He was reportedly killed after a US droneattack in Pakistan's tribal regions, though his body has never been found.Hasan said: "What the research suggests is that these are not incidentsinvolving one particular rogue officer or two, but rather an array ofindividuals involved over a period of several years."The issue is not just British complicity in the torture of British citizens, itis the issue of British complicity in the torture period. We know of at least 10cases, but the complicity probably runs much deeper because it involves a seriesof terrorism suspects who are Pakistani. This is the heart of the matter."They are not the same individuals [MI5 officers] all the time. I know that thepeople who have gone to see Siddiqui in Peshawar are not the same people whohave seen Ahmed in Rawalpindi."Last night the government faced calls to clarify precisely its relationship withPakistan's intelligence agencies, which are known to routinely use torture.A Foreign Office spokesman said that an investigation by the British securityservices had revealed "there is nothing to suggest they have engaged in torturein Pakistan". He added: "Our policy is not to participate in, solicit, encourageor condone the use of torture, or inhumane or degrading treatment, for anypurpose."But former shadow home secretary David Davis said the claims from Pakistanserved to "reinforce" allegations that UK authorities, at the very least,ignored Pakistani torture techniques."The British agencies can no longer pretend that 'Hear no evil, see no evil' isapplicable in the modern world," he added.Last week HRW submitted evidence to parliament's Joint Committee on HumanRights. The committee is to question Miliband and Jacqui Smith, the homesecretary, over a legal loophole which appears to offer British intelligenceofficers immunity in the UK for any crimes committed overseas.It has also emerged that New York-based HRW detailed its concerns in a letter tothe UK government last October but has yet to receive a response.The letter arrived at the same time that the Attorney General was tasked withdeciding if Scotland Yard should begin a criminal investigation into Britishsecurity agents' treatment of Binyam Mohamed. Crown prosecutors are currentlyweighing up the evidence.Hasan said that evidence indicated a considerable number of UK officers wereinvolved in interviewing terrorism suspects after they were allegedly tortured.He told the Observer: "We don't know who the individuals [British intelligenceofficers] were, but when you have different personnel coming in and behaving ina similar fashion it implies some level of systemic approach to the situation,rather than one eager beaver deciding it is absolutely fine for someone to bebeaten or hung upside down."He accused British intelligence officers of turning a blind eye as UK citizensendured torture at the hands of Pakistan's intelligence agencies."They [the British] have met the suspect ... and have conspicuously failed tonotice that someone is in a state of high physical distress, showing signs ofinjury. If you are a secret service agent and fail to notice that theirfingernails are missing, you ought to be fired."Britain's former chief legal adviser, Lord Goldsmith, said that the ForeignOffice would want to examine any British involvement in torture allegations verycarefully and, if necessary, bring individuals "to book" to ensure suchbehaviour was "eradicated".http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/ ... ure-pakistan-human-rights

Bahrain Slams Iran's Claims, Suspends Gas Deal Talks

MANAMA, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa Thursday confirmed that his country has suspended negotiations with Iran on a natural gas import deal, due to Iranian officials' recent claims of Bahrain as a province of Iran. Such remarks were an "infringement of sovereignty," al-Khalifa told reporters in Bahrain's capital after meeting with his counterparts of Turkey and Russia.
"We will never accept distortion of historical facts about the history of the Kingdom of Bahrain," he said, adding the Gulf Arab kingdom was hurt by such remarks. He confirmed that Bahrain has halted its current talks with Iran on the gas imports deal.
Arab media reported last week that Iranian Supreme Leader's advisor Ali Akbar Nateq-Nouri has said that "Bahrain was the 14th province of Iran until 1970."
A number of other Iranian officials have also reportedly claimed that Bahrain was an integral part of the Islamic republic and questioned its Arabic identity. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry appeared to clarify its official stance.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said this week that "Iran-Bahrain relations have always been upon mutual respect to their sovereignty, which would never be affected by insignificant issues."
He said a number of media did not reflect correctly the statement by Nateq-Nouri and that certain officials also "interpreted the statement in an unusual manner." Iranian officials' sovereignty claim has drawn criticism from Kuwait and Arab organizations.
In its weekly meeting, the Kuwaiti cabinet on Monday expressed its dismay over the "negative" remarks, which "hinder efforts exerted by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its sincere desire to build a relationship of friendship and cooperation with Iran," according to the official KUNA news agency.
Bahrain was a British protectorate after 1861, and became independent in 1971. In its ancient history, the Gulf country has brought rule and influence from many foreign nations which included Persians, due to its strategic location