Exclusive Interview with London Post
by Sumayia Ali
We speak to Sammi Deen Baloch, a human rights activist from Balochistan to understand the Baloch struggle closely. She received the Frontline Defenders Asia Pacific Human Rights Award in 2024 and is one of the prominent faces of the Baloch cause in Pakistan.
London Post:What do you think about the Pakistani media coverage of the violence in Balochistan?
Sammi Deen Baloch: Pakistani mainstream media, whether electronic or print, has never highlighted the state-sponsored violence or human rights violations happening in Balochistan in front of the world.
It has only promoted one side of the picture which is the state narrative that Baloch people are terrorists. They have never showed the actual Baloch people, their sufferings or what Pakistani militancy is doing in the province.
Media persons have repeatedly told us that there are restrictions on them. Especially on the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, they have been told to not cover the sit-in protests done by their families. The recent incidents by Baloch separatist groups were widely covered by Pakistani media, however, if the same people were killed in Balochistan by the Pakistan military in case of the daily-basis killings done by security forces during military operations, it would have not been the same. We find dead bodies of Baloch people every day. Even right now, families of people who have gone missing or been killed in fake encounters are sitting in protest.
In Baran, a man has gone missing since six months and there is a protest going on. His sister is on a hunger strike till death. But you will never hear about these news on media. The only source we have is social media and in that too there are several rules and community standards. We often receive warning that our account will be blocked because we are posting against the state.
LP:Can CPEC project benefit Balochistan and its people?
SDB:People of Balochistan have still not benefitted from the natural resources like deep sea and sea-shore present here. People of Saindak protested two years ago and asked to be employed in the projects there. They did not ask to be CEOs or senior officers. Even the sweepers who work here are employed from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. They said they are from the area and deserve to work there. Since, 70 years Sui Gas and Gulistan-e-Jauhar have been providing gas to the people of Pakistan. All of Punjab factories are run from the gas which comes from Balochistan, but if you look at even Quetta which is the capital of Balochistan – people do not have gas there and burn wood. How can you think that CPEC will be a gamechanger then? CPEC has been implemented since ten years now, and at present Baloch people’s land have been forcefully. People of Gwadar whose livelihood is based on catching fish are not being allowed to do so because of CPEC projects. These people and their generations have worked in the sea and now they are stopped to do so.
Gwadar has two parts now- one has been taken by the government where trolling and projects are taking place, and in the other part, the locals say they have restrictions and cannot even move freely because of surveillance. They are being oppressed and need permission to go from one place to another.
LP:Think for yourself, what would people want- a free life or a one with the so-called gamechanger CPEC project?
SDB:Basically, no Baloch has benefitted from the resources in Balochistan, the jobs are also given to Punjabi workers. Only 5% Baloch people are employed in the Saindak project. Same is in Gwadar project.
LP: Do you any international support or allies for the Balochistan struggle?
SDB: Government has always denied genocide or enforced disappearances in Balochistan.
When the “Human Rights Defenders Award” given to me and Mahrang Baloch was listed as TIME’s influential person, it was a recognition of the Baloch struggle. This is our effort to highlight the issue of Balochistan internationally.
LP: Pakistan government has often alleged an external interference in Balochistan, especially India. What do you have to say on that?
SDB: Balochistan insurgency cannot be denied and there are separatists who exist. Some of them are sitting on the mountains with guns in their hands. They are Islamists and do not want to engage with Pakistan government in any way, they only see separation from the country as the final solution. Our movement is non-violent, our struggle is within the constitution of Pakistan. We believe in the country’s judiciary, its democracy and constitution. We are called as “RAW agents” who are funded by India and are disturbing Pakistan’s peace. What is happening in Balochistan is because of Pakistan’s own wrong problems.
The government has oppressed the rights and lives of Baloch people. The Baloch movement opposes the colonial act and suppression of the Pakistani government. Now, our protests and marches on the roads are called “funded”, which are baseless. Only we know how we are surviving continuing our movement amidst these threats.
