Geneva -- Dozens of Western diplomats walked out of a United Nations conference on racism Monday when Iran's hard-line president called Israel the "most cruel and repressive racist regime." The United States, which is boycotting the conference, called Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remarks hateful -- injecting new tension into a relationship that had been warming after President Obama sought to engage Iran in talks on its nuclear program and other issues. The meeting was chaotic almost from the start, when two rainbow-wigged protesters tossed red clown noses at Ahmadinejad as he began his speech with a Muslim prayer. A Jewish student group from France said it had been trying to convey "the masquerade that this conference represents."
Ahmadinejad, the first government official to take the floor at the weeklong event in Geneva, delivered a half-hour speech that was by turns conciliatory and inflammatory.
At one point he appealed for global unity in the fight against racism.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-racism21-2009apr21,0,1919067.storyThen he said the U.S. and Europe helped establish Israel at the expense of Palestinians after World War II.
"They resorted to military aggression to make an entire nation homeless under the pretext of Jewish suffering," he said.
Jewish groups had lobbied for a boycott of the conference, warning it could descend into anti-Semitism or other anti- Israel rhetoric, which marred the last such conference eight years ago in South Africa.
At the first mention of Israel, about 40 diplomats from Britain, France and other European Union countries exited the room.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the event proved the U.S. was right to boycott the conference.
Source: http://www.latimes.com
20 April 2009
BALOCH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ( CANADA ) press release - and Demonstration
Toronto, April 17, 2009 – Baloch Human Rights Council (Canada) held a protest rally in Toronto to express their shock and concern over the abduction, torture, and extra judicial killings of the three Baloch leaders, Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Munir, and Sher Mohammad Baloch by the Pakistani military intelligence agencies. The rally was attended by Baloch community of Toronto, World Sindhi Institute, Canadian Kashmiri Association, and Pakhtunkhwa Peace Forum.
The rally was addressed by Humaira Rahman of WSI, Javed Khan of Pakhtunkhwa Peace Forum, Mumtaz Khan of Canadian Kashmiri Association, and Zaffar Baloch of Baloch Human Rights Council ( Canada ). The speakers condemned the torture and cold-blooded murders of the three Baloch leaders by the Pakistani military intelligence agencies and demanded the killers to be brought to justice.
The speakers expressed their concern over the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan and appealed to the international community to take serious notice of the deepening political crisis in Balochistan.
They demanded an immediate halt to the ongoing military operation in Balochistan and the withdrawal of the 80,000 troops from the province. The rally asked for immediate release of the disappeared persons, political detainees, including the 141 Baloch women kidnapped by the Pakistani intelligence agencies.
The speakers demanded that the Baloch peoples’ right and sovereignty over their lands and natural resources should be unconditionally accepted by the Pakistani government in accordance to UN charter of rights of nations, including the political and economic freedoms and the right to self determination.
The rally was addressed by Humaira Rahman of WSI, Javed Khan of Pakhtunkhwa Peace Forum, Mumtaz Khan of Canadian Kashmiri Association, and Zaffar Baloch of Baloch Human Rights Council ( Canada ). The speakers condemned the torture and cold-blooded murders of the three Baloch leaders by the Pakistani military intelligence agencies and demanded the killers to be brought to justice.
The speakers expressed their concern over the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan and appealed to the international community to take serious notice of the deepening political crisis in Balochistan.
They demanded an immediate halt to the ongoing military operation in Balochistan and the withdrawal of the 80,000 troops from the province. The rally asked for immediate release of the disappeared persons, political detainees, including the 141 Baloch women kidnapped by the Pakistani intelligence agencies.
The speakers demanded that the Baloch peoples’ right and sovereignty over their lands and natural resources should be unconditionally accepted by the Pakistani government in accordance to UN charter of rights of nations, including the political and economic freedoms and the right to self determination.
Baloch are NOT ethnic
realised some Baloch and non-Baloch use a wrong terminology ' ethnic' or 'ethnicity' about the Baloch in Iran or Pakistan. The Baloch people are indigenous native inhabitants of Balochistan, under the political geography of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan. As such, they can be described as a nation, not an ethnic group in any of these three countries.
Therefore, I see no problem in referring them as 'the Baloch nation' in Iran, Pakistan or Afghanistan. Likewise, one may use the terminology of 'nationality' about the Baloch in each of these political entities. For example, one may use the term 'Baloch Nation' when talking about Baloch people in general.
However, one may argue that the Baloch are not a 'nation' as they have not their own politically independent modern state. Although, I appreciate their argument, I believe that in today's 'post-modern' age - if I am allowed to use this concept- the use of 'nation' or 'nations' cannot be limited within formal political entities.
Obviously and quite rightly, many commentators use the term 'nationality'. For example, one may say that there are different 'nationalities' in Iran such as Kurds, Persian, Baloch, Turkmen, etc.
The main mistake/ concern is the use of 'ethnic groups' or 'minority ethnics' when we refer to the Baloch or any other nationality within their own land. As I understand it, 'ethnic groups' or 'minority ethnics' can only be used about people who are not native to a land/ country in recent historical sense. For examples, the 'Indian Mohajers' who migrated to 'West Pakistan' after Indian partition are an ethnic group.
The Armenian people in Iran are an ethnic group, as they were initially brought to Persia during Safavid dynasty. The German people in Russia- who were sent to different parts of Soviet Union during Stalin's rule- can be described as German ethnic group in Russia (Although Both German and Armenian are 'proper' nations in Germany and Armenia).
As far as the Baloch are concerned, they are not an 'ethnic group' in Balochistan. The Baloch are native people in the land of Balochistan, whether it is in Iran, "Pakistan" or Afghanistan. The concept of Baloch migrants is another issue. The Baloch in India (new post 1947 Hindustan), Arab countries, Africa, Europe, Americas, ... are indeed 'ethnic groups' within those countries. There is no American or European or Arab or Indian Balochistan, whereas we have Balochistan within Iran, Pakistan or Afghanistan.
There are nations/ nationalities of Scots, Welsh, English and Irish in Britain. There is a Basque nationality in Spain. There are Kashmiri, Punjabi, Bengali, ... nationalities in India. There are nationalities such as Pakhtuns, Tajik, Turkmen, Baloch, ... in Afghanistan. No one refers to the Welsh or Scots as 'ethnic groups' in Britain. They are 'nations' within Britain. However, 'Indians' or 'Jamaican' and other people (apart from English, Welsh, Scots, Irish) are referred to as 'ethnic groups' or 'minority ethnics' or 'ethnic minorities'.
In short, the Baloch are NOT ethnic groups in Pakistan, Iran or Afghanistan. There is a Baloch nationality in Iran, Afghanistan or Pakistan. As far as 'national question' is concerned, I'll leave it to politicians who are more qualified to answer it. My main concerns are the issues of 'concepts', names, literary and cultural terminologies.
Therefore, I see no problem in referring them as 'the Baloch nation' in Iran, Pakistan or Afghanistan. Likewise, one may use the terminology of 'nationality' about the Baloch in each of these political entities. For example, one may use the term 'Baloch Nation' when talking about Baloch people in general.
However, one may argue that the Baloch are not a 'nation' as they have not their own politically independent modern state. Although, I appreciate their argument, I believe that in today's 'post-modern' age - if I am allowed to use this concept- the use of 'nation' or 'nations' cannot be limited within formal political entities.
Obviously and quite rightly, many commentators use the term 'nationality'. For example, one may say that there are different 'nationalities' in Iran such as Kurds, Persian, Baloch, Turkmen, etc.
The main mistake/ concern is the use of 'ethnic groups' or 'minority ethnics' when we refer to the Baloch or any other nationality within their own land. As I understand it, 'ethnic groups' or 'minority ethnics' can only be used about people who are not native to a land/ country in recent historical sense. For examples, the 'Indian Mohajers' who migrated to 'West Pakistan' after Indian partition are an ethnic group.
The Armenian people in Iran are an ethnic group, as they were initially brought to Persia during Safavid dynasty. The German people in Russia- who were sent to different parts of Soviet Union during Stalin's rule- can be described as German ethnic group in Russia (Although Both German and Armenian are 'proper' nations in Germany and Armenia).
As far as the Baloch are concerned, they are not an 'ethnic group' in Balochistan. The Baloch are native people in the land of Balochistan, whether it is in Iran, "Pakistan" or Afghanistan. The concept of Baloch migrants is another issue. The Baloch in India (new post 1947 Hindustan), Arab countries, Africa, Europe, Americas, ... are indeed 'ethnic groups' within those countries. There is no American or European or Arab or Indian Balochistan, whereas we have Balochistan within Iran, Pakistan or Afghanistan.
There are nations/ nationalities of Scots, Welsh, English and Irish in Britain. There is a Basque nationality in Spain. There are Kashmiri, Punjabi, Bengali, ... nationalities in India. There are nationalities such as Pakhtuns, Tajik, Turkmen, Baloch, ... in Afghanistan. No one refers to the Welsh or Scots as 'ethnic groups' in Britain. They are 'nations' within Britain. However, 'Indians' or 'Jamaican' and other people (apart from English, Welsh, Scots, Irish) are referred to as 'ethnic groups' or 'minority ethnics' or 'ethnic minorities'.
In short, the Baloch are NOT ethnic groups in Pakistan, Iran or Afghanistan. There is a Baloch nationality in Iran, Afghanistan or Pakistan. As far as 'national question' is concerned, I'll leave it to politicians who are more qualified to answer it. My main concerns are the issues of 'concepts', names, literary and cultural terminologies.
19 April 2009
Come and join us in a demonstration on Sunday
Baloch Human Rights Council (BHRC), World Sindhi Congress (WSC), and Sindhi Baloch Forum (SBF) are jointly holding a demonstration to protest against the cold blooded murders of Baloch political activists Mir Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Sher Mohammad Baloch and Lala Muneer Baloch by the Pakistani Military Intelligence. They were picked up by the army personnel on 3 rd April, 2009 from the office of their solicitor in Turbat Balochistan. The Baloch leaders were blind folded and taken to an unknown destination. They were shot and their dead bodies were thrown from a military helicopter next day 20 miles away from Turbat.
Don�t let War Criminals Get Away With the Murder
The demonstration is aimed to draw the attention of the international community towards the barbaric brutalities committed by Pakistani military in Balochistan and to highlight the crimes committed against humanity by the Pakistani state intelligence agencies in Balochistan.
All democratic, peace and freedom loving people are requested to attend the demonstration and demand justice for the Baloch.
Venue: In front Of BBC World Service, Bush House, Strand,
London WC2- 4PH
Day: Sunday 19 April 2009
Time: 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Issued by: Samad Baloch
Secretary General
Baloch Human Rights Council London 15 April 2009
Don�t let War Criminals Get Away With the Murder
The demonstration is aimed to draw the attention of the international community towards the barbaric brutalities committed by Pakistani military in Balochistan and to highlight the crimes committed against humanity by the Pakistani state intelligence agencies in Balochistan.
All democratic, peace and freedom loving people are requested to attend the demonstration and demand justice for the Baloch.
Venue: In front Of BBC World Service, Bush House, Strand,
London WC2- 4PH
Day: Sunday 19 April 2009
Time: 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
Issued by: Samad Baloch
Secretary General
Baloch Human Rights Council London 15 April 2009
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