Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Exiled Baloch leader Hyerbeyar Marri to issue ‘freedom charter’ soon

LONDON: London-based Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri is actively campaigning at the European level for the launch of a key ‘Freedom Charter’ of Balochistan, dousing any belief that the hardliner will negotiate at any level for a political settlement of the Balochistan issue.

In the last three months, Marri tribe, who is accused by the Pakistani government of sponsoring the insurgency in Balochistan and was arrested and exonerated after a terrorism trial in London, has held meetings with Balochs in Norway, Sweden and France.

Last week, Marri was in Norway on the invitation of BSO-Azad where he spoke to a packed house to pay tributes to his brother Balach Marri on his 4th death anniversary. “The response I have received has encouraged me a great deal and I am determined to not sit idly like many Baloch leaders and do media work.

To meet my own people in Europe has been refreshing and they have supported my campaign for freedom of Balochistan,” Hyrbyair told The News/Geo in an interview. “We will first, very soon, launch the ‘freedom manifesto’ and once the consultation is complete then the provisional constitution of Balochistan will be written.

The manifesto will provide a unity platform to varied Baloch opinions by asking them to agree on the one point of freedom, setting aside all differences,” Marri told this newsman adding that the manifesto will be released early next year, setting before international community the case for Balochistan.

The basic draft of the charter, Hyrbyair revealed, has been shared with all Balochistan parties, inviting their input but at the same time urging them to reject the current parliamentary framework, which, he believes, has failed Balochs.

Speaking about his travel abroad, he said he has listened to the concerns of Baloch in many European cities and everyone agrees that Baloch Diaspora must unit to lead and show to others they are united.