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| India-Pakistan |
| Baloch Nationalist Groups Suspend Their Armed Activities Indefinitely |
| 2008-09-03 |
| ISLAMABAD - In a dramatic move, three leading insurgent Baloch nationalist groups have suspended their armed ‘activities’ indefinitely, ostensibly in response to several conciliatory moves initiated by the government. The decision was announced by Beebargh Baloch and Sirbaz Baloch, spokesmen for the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Republican Army (BRA), while talking to journalists on satellite phones on Monday night. The PPP-led central and provincial governments have freed detained leaders and vowed to compensate for the injustice done to the people of the province in past six decades. The announcement was greeted in Islamabad as a good omen for PPP cochairperson and front-runner in the presidential race Asif Zardari ahead of September 6 election. He has spearheaded a vigorous initiative to launch a healing process in the province that is believed to be teetering towards separation. The government has accused foreign powers of instigating the insurgency. “All the three militant organisations have jointly decided to suspend their resistance movement for an indefinite period,” they said while denying that the decision was the result of any deal. “We want to tell the Baloch people and the world that we can stop the movement any time and can restart it when ever we decide to do so.” The groups said they are halting sabotage and subversive operations unilaterally but would wait for government’s next move. The groups include the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) and the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA). They announced the truce in consultation with each other. Aaj TV channel quoted BLA spokesman Sarbaz Baloch as saying that the group had suspended its ‘activities’ for the sake of Baloch people. He denied the suspension was a result of any deal with the government. He, however, warned of retaliation if security forces did not stop the use of force against the group. He demanded the government to stop establishing cantonments and launching new rojects in the province. A low key near-insurgency has been continuing for past some years led mainly by Baloch nationalist youth. They have largely targeted gas and electricity transmission lines and security forces. They have been demanding Baloch ownership on the natural resources of the province and stopping construction of new cantonments.On occasions they have also demanded independence for Balochistan. They said the organisations were united for the common objective. The spokesmen said that during the suspension of the movement the three organisations would review the overall situation in the province and if the military operation and construction of cantonments were not stopped they would respond with full force. They warned that anyone found involved in spying against the Baloch movement would be eliminated. Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik said last week the government was in touch with Guzzan Baloch, militant son of Baloch nationalist leader Khair Bakhsh Marri who is believed to have been leading the separatist armed struggle from abroad. He has been assured of safe return without arrest, he said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 See WAFF.com > BALOCHISTAN DEMANDS/WANTS A SHARE IN THE IPI PIPELINE TARNSIT FEES. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-09-03 21:42 |