Sindhis and Baloch from across the United States have condemed Pakistan for the military action in Balochistan province and the government's firm insistence on proceeding with the construction of mega-dams on the Indus river.

Gathered in strength in front of the Pakistan Embassy in Washington DC Monday evening, several representatives of Sindhi organisations condemned the military dictatorship in Pakistan and demanded the right to self-determination to ensure that Sindhis could lead a life of dignity, freedom, honour and equal rights.

Munawar of Laghari World Sindhi Institute appealed to international organisations to conduct independent investigations into the alleged human rights violations taking place in Sindh and Balochistan.

He said all the oppressed nationals of Pakistan want to live within its federation with dignity, peace, and justice and equal rights.

"However, the military and ruling elite are pushing them to a point where they feel that the only avenue left is that of self-determination," Wahid Baloch of Bosnia said. "From Makran to Kohlu, from Kharan to Awaran and from Dera Bugti to Quetta, all Baloch within Pakistan and abroad are united against the military dictatorship."

Why Balochistan is burning
Walter Landry, director of the of the Think Tank of Self Determination, said every nation has the right to exercise self-determination.

He pointed out it was this desire and this right that resulted in the break-up of the Soviet Union and allowed nations to develop according to their own needs and with their own resources.

Dr Malek Towghi said the Baloch had been struggling for their rights since 1947. Gwadar Port and Balochistan's natural resources are for the Baloch, he added.

Basir Chand, general secretary of the DC chapter of Pakistan People's Party said the people were united against the military and condemned the operation in Balochistan.

"The ordinary people of Punjab do not want to go against the wishes of Sindh and believe that the decision to construct dams must be made by a representative government," Humaira Rahman, director of the World Sindhi Institute said. "General Musharaf is using the tax dollars of Americans and Canadians to silence domestic dissent against military rule."

'Both sides are tired of hostility'
Rasul Baksh Palijo said, "Today's Pakistan is not the Pakistan of Mohammed Ali Jinnah; Sindh joined Pakistan on the basis of the 1940 Lahore resolution, which envisaged that the Center would control defence, foreign affairs and currency while all other issues would remain in the domain of the provinces."

"The situation in the country today is fast approaching that which prevailed in 1971, when Bangladesh became independent. The acute shortage of river water in the delta and coastal areas is fast turning the land into a desert," he said.

Wearing symbolic ajrak scarves, the rallyists delivered a memorandum to the Embassy of Pakistan, outlining their concerns and demands.

Monday's rally was organised by the World Sindhi Institute in collaboration with Sindhi Association of North America, World Sindhi Congress, Global Pushtun Institute, Baloch Society of North America, Baloch Human Rights International, and Torture Abolition Survivors Supports Coalition International.

UNI

Sindhis of Sindh, in southeastern Pakistan.