London, United Kingdom Jun 14, 2019 (Issuewire.com) - As people from all around the world flock to London to witness the quadrennial ICC cricket world cup, Baloch activists from the World Baloch Organisation and the Baloch Republican Party organized reverse-graffiti (also called ‘clean graffiti’) in various spots around the city centre in the early hours of Thursday. The clean graffiti read, “Help End Enforced Disappearances in Pakistan,” highlighting the dire human rights situation in Pakistan.
“Men women and children are disappeared on a daily basis in Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, mothers, sisters, and daughters weep the streets of Quetta every day demanding justice, their voices are suppressed by a media blackout enforced by the military, these activities are the only way we get to raise awareness amongst the international community” said Bhawal Mengal, World Baloch Organisation campaigner.
This comes as part of a human rights awareness campaign recently jointly initiated by the WBO and BRP. The campaign focuses on the dire human rights situation of the Baloch, Sindhi, Pashtun, Mohajir and other minorities in the country, urging for the end of killings, torture and particularly enforced disappearances by the Pakistani establishment in the region.
The activists tagged pavements in front of popular tourist spots such Oxford Street, Piccadilly circus, Marble arch, Trafalgar Square, London Bridge and outside the BBC headquarters. Activists used high-pressure washers and stencils to render their messages, it reiterated the groups motive “To peacefully deliver a call for help” as the organizers pointed out.
“We are dedicated to making the voices of the oppressed heard around the world, urging the international community to stand up against the violence suffered by the people of Balochistan, Sindh, and KPK, an issue largely marginalized in the media but well reported by prominent organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.” added Mengal “Baloch activists will continue to speak out for human rights and freedom of expression regardless of the constant attempts by the Pakistani government to suppress the voices of those who suffer in Pakistan..”
Pakistan’s establishment has been long criticized over its practice of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings by International bodies and local human rights organizations that dare to speak out on the issue. Before being elected as Prime Minister, Imran Khan had admitted in multiple TV interviews the involvement of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies in enforced disappearances and extra judicial killings and vowed to resign if he was unable to put an end to the practice, holding those involved responsible.
The organizers of the campaign have long been engaged in efforts to highlight the worsening human rights situation in Balochistan at international platforms, organizing events around Europe and in the United States and focusing on advocacy activities in the European Parliament, the US parliamentary houses, and the United Nations.
The WBO and the BRP are non-violent and democratic organizations led by Baloch individuals, dedicated to raising awareness of the dire situation of human rights in Balochistan.
Media Contact
World Baloch Press@worldbaloch.org https://www.worldbaloch.org
