- UTRECHT — The
Baloch National Movement (BNM) organised a protest and a photo exhibition in
the Dutch city of Utrecht, urging the Netherlands and the international
community to publicly condemn what it termed as grave atrocities committed by
Pakistan against the Baloch people.
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- The protest, led by the BNM's Netherlands chapter on
Saturday, aimed to amplify the voices of the Baloch people and draw attention
to Pakistan's ongoing human rights violations, including the controversial
"kill and dump" policy, enforced disappearances, and the systemic
"abuse of ethnic and political minorities" in Balochistan.
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- "Amplifying Baloch voices, BNM appeals to the
Netherlands to publicly condemn atrocities against Baloch people by Pakistan.
Regularly, events are held in Balochistan to raise awareness of Pakistan's
'kill & dump policy,' which has instilled fear & uncertainty
among the Baloch people. Thousands of families forcibly disappeared are left in
the dark about the whereabouts or fate of their loved ones, while widespread
poverty continues to affect the local population," read an official
statement from the BNM.
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- According to the organisers, the event also aimed to raise
international awareness about the illegal detention and continuous physical and
psychological torture of key leaders from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)
-- including Mahrang Baloch, Shah Jee Baloch, Beebo Baloch, Bibagar Baloch, and
Gulzadi Baloch.
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- The protest saw participation from BNM members, supporters,
and human rights activists, who gathered in large numbers holding banners and
placards bearing slogans such as 'Stop Baloch Genocide,' 'Enforced
Disappearances Are Unacceptable,' and 'Free BYC Leaders'.
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- A photo exhibition was also held at the venue, capturing the
dire situation in Balochistan through images of cultural identity, the
sacrifices of 'martyrs', and portraits of enforced disappeared individuals.
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- The display sought to convey the pain and suffering endured
by the Baloch people over decades of repression.
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- The BNM activists spoke about the Pakistan Army's alleged
violence in the region and called for urgent global action to address the
crisis.
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- The protest highlighted the Netherlands chapter's resolve to
raise the Baloch issue at international forums and press the global community
into taking meaningful action.
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- "This protest and exhibition reflected BNM Netherlands'
unwavering resolve to raise the voice of the Baloch nation on every global
platform and to shake the conscience of the international community into taking
effective action against the ongoing state atrocities in Balochistan," the
statement concluded.