World’s renowned linguist, philosopher, intellectual, writer and outspoken human rights activist, Professor Noam Chomsky on disappearances in Sindh & Balochistan

World’s renowned linguist, philosopher, intellectual, writer and outspoken human rights activist, Noam Chomsky says in his Feb 6, 2012 letter that “I recently met with Sufi Munawar Laghari, who is human right activists. During our meeting, he brought to my attention the violence and enforced disappearances that occur frequently in Sindh & Balochistan. These disappearances are gross human rights violations against the people. A statement issued on October 13, 2011 by the Asian Human Rights Commission report that 206 disappeared persons have been extra-judicially killed in Balochistan during the preceding 15 months. Such violence is distrubing & must be brought to an end.

One particular case of an involuntary disappearance that was brought to my attention is that Muzaffar Bhutto. On Feb 25, 2011. Mr. Bhutto was abducted from New Saeedabad in the Sindh province of Pakistan. Mr. Bhutto is the vice-charirman of Jeay Sindh Mutahida Mahaz (JSMM), a Sindh nationalist party.

According to reports Mr. Bhutto’s wife, Saima Bhutto, filed an application for a First Information Report (FIR) with police & lodged an application against the Directorate from Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and police from the district on February 28, 2011. The case was heard on March 10, but representatives of the police & ISI seldom appear at such hearings, particularly during hearing on disappearances case. Ms. Bhutto has also filed an appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

This is difficult time for the people of Sindh. The situation in Pakistan is volatile, the number of disappearances astounding. I would like to offer my support & encouragement to the families that are victims of such involuntary disappearances. It is my hope that they will receive justice & that their loved ones will returned to them.”

“Bin Laden told his children to live in peace in the West” – They only ask others children to go to Heaven. Shame

Bin Laden told his children to live in peace in the West

He did not want them to follow jihad — report

By AFP

London: Slain Al Qaida chief Osama Bin Laden urged his younger children to go live peacefully in the West and get a university education, his brother-in-law said in an interview published on Sunday.

Zakaria Al Sadah, the brother of Bin Laden’s Yemeni fifth wife Amal, told Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper that the militant believed his children “should not follow him down the road to jihad”.

“He told his own children and grandchildren, ‘Go to Europe and America and get a good education,’” Al Sadah told the Sunday Times.

Al Sadah said Bin Laden told them: “You have to study, live in peace and don’t do what I am doing or what I have done.”

Bin Laden was killed in a commando raid in May 2011 by US Navy SEALs at a house in Abbottabad, northwest Pakistan.

Al Sadah said that in November he had seen his sister for the first time since she was shot in the knee during the raid and had since been allowed to have a number of meetings with her in the presence of guards.

He said the three wives and nine children who were in the compound — some are Bin Laden’s children and others are his grandchildren — have been held for months in a three-room flat in Islamabad. They are guarded by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spy agency, he said.

The Sunday Times published what it said was the first photograph to show some of the young children from the compound: two sons and a daughter, and two grandsons and a granddaughter. The children were still traumatised after seeing the raid in which Bin Laden died, Al Sadah said.

“These children have seen their father killed and they need a caring environment, not a prison — whatever you think of their father and what he has done,” he said.

Courtesy: Gulf News

http://gulfnews.com/news/world/uk/bin-laden-told-his-children-to-live-in-peace-in-the-west-1.979749

Via – Twitter

Pakistan – Tears, cries as families see ‘missing’ detainees

 

Excerpts;

…. Visibly frail Abdul Majid was carrying a urine bag attached to the lower part of his stomach. He learnt only on Monday that one of his detained brothers, Abdul Saboor, had died long ago in imprisonment. …

… He was limping and needed assistance because he could not walk on his own. …

…. One thing is common among all. They are suffering from a common ailment of skin with the entire body covered with small blisters. ….

….. We were treated worse than animals. All during our confinement stretching over years we were given gram curry and dry bread,” Mazhar-ur-Haq said.

Dr Niaz complained: “We were kept blindfolded and given only two minutes time for toilets twice a day.”

Almost all of them said they had no idea why they had been picked and never interrogated. …

…. We have no right to live, we are not human beings,” said Murtaza in a choked voice …

To read full report » DAWN.COM

Sindhi Classes in New York, USA

- Let’s Learn Sindhi

Sindhi Classes will begin on February 14th and continue every Tuesday evening until first week of May from 7:30PM to 9PM.

SUNY-Stony Brook (Manhtattan), 101 East 27th Street (Entrance Next To Devon Shops), Between Park And Lexington Avenue, New York, NY

1) The first class will be a special presentation done by Ankita Mandhyan, one of our fellow Sindhi class members, who recently went with her family for the first time to Sindh to retrace their roots. Her father Kishore Mandhyan from the UN who presented at the last class in December also expressed an interest, schedule permitting, in stopping by to share his experiences on the dynamics of his Sindh trip. All are welcome to attend.

2) Tuesday February 21st onwards – Sindhi Language Lessons will begin led by our instructor Raj Udeshi.

Please respond us if you plan to attend any of the sessions as we will have to put your name on the attendance list for security purposes.

3) Fellow Sindhi friend Sachal Vasandani performs at the Jazz Standard performs tonight to Feb. 16th at the Jazz Standard. Please go check him out. He has been featured on NPR and the NY Times and is a rising star on the global jazz circuit. Sachal Vasandani – website www.svjazz.com.

Civil Society Calls for a Joint Stand Against the Undemocratic Overthrow of the Elected Govt in the Maldives

SINDH – Karachi, Feb 11, 2011: The civil society in Pakistan expressed grave concern over the events in Maldives where an elected government was ousted in a coup following political unrest in the country. The government of the now toppled President Mohamed Nasheed came to power after the 2008 elections ended 30 years of autocratic rule (by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom).

The political turmoil in Maldives and the unlawful overthrow of an elected government in the country remains a matter of grave concern for the South Asian neighbours and the partners of Maldives since the event may have a far ranging impact on the direction and the future of democracy in the region. The coup d’état is a condemnable act and all South Asian states and civil societies must join forces against this undemocratic move by the security forces of Maldives. At least two countries in South Asia – Pakistan and Bangladesh that have faced martial laws and coups in the past know very well how people suffer when democracy is brought down. Not only did the military rule in these two countries compromised political and administrative institutions, it took these countries several decades back in terms of economic and social development.

Hyderabad – Sindh Progressive Committee protest Baluchistan violence – Demotix.com

Members of Sindh Progressive committee protest against State Terrorism in Baluchistan outside the Hyderabad press club. Hyderabad, Pakistan. 11th February 2012.

To watch the photos of protest » Demotix.com

http://www.demotix.com/news/1045703/sindh-progressive-committee-protest-baluchistan-violence-hyderabad

Hyrbyair Marri meets Brahamdagh Bugti

LONDON: Baloch nationalist leader Nawabzada Hyrbyair Marri has called on the leader of Balochistan Republican Party (BRP) Nawabzada Brahamdagh Bugti in Switzerland to express his condolences on the murder of his sister and niece in Karachi.

According to details, on February 11, Hyrbyair Marri along with Dr Mostafa Baloch visited Brahamdagh Bugti in Geneva to condole the death of his sister and niece who were shot dead in Karachi on January 31. It must be noted that several Baloch women and children have been killed during military operations.

Hyrbyair and Dr Mostafa once again met Brahamdagh Bugti on February 12 to present him the Balochistan Freedom Charter, which is under making. Both leaders exchanged views about the deteriorating security situation of Balochistan and other political issues. They also discussed the Freedom Charter, and Marri informed Brahamdagh about the work done so far on the charter and sought his comments and suggestions.

The Baloch leaders, while talking about the importance of the Freedom Charter, said that it would help unite Baloch people and further organise the Baloch freedom movement. Both the leaders emphasised and agreed that unity was crucial for Baloch people. They further said that the enemy is indiscriminately killing Baloch activists and doing anti-Baloch propaganda at all levels. Hence, it is important that Balochs must also unite and strengthen Baloch freedom struggle on scientific basis.

Hyrbyair and Brahamdagh said, “We need to galvanise the struggle and explain the purpose of Baloch freedom movement to international community and convince the international powers that independent Balochistan will guarantee stability in the region and peace in world. “We will have friendly relations and mutual understanding with all civilised nations,” they said.

The statement further said that Hyrbyair would soon meet other important Baloch leaders to discuss the issue of Baloch unity and freedom of Balochistan. He will also present the Freedom Charter to other Baloch leaders for their suggestions and comments. pr

Courtesy: Daily Times

http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20122\14\story_14-2-2012_pg7_17