Slavery of U.S. better than that of Punjab: Marri

Hyrbiar Marri, heir apparent of legendary Baluch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri.

LONDON -- American slavery is better than Punjabi slavery and the Baluch are not willing to become part of the same union with the Punjab, Baluch national hero Hairbyair Marri told a key publisher from the Punjab capital of Lahore, who is considered close to the present civilian leadership in Pakistan.

"We are not Pakistanis, we are Baluch. We never consented to joining Pakistan," Marri said.

In an interview with celebrated publisher Najam Sethi, Marri who is political heir apparent of legendary Baluch nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhs Marri said nothing short of independence from Punjab's colonial yoke is acceptable to the Baluch people and demanded of the Punjab to give a firm time-table for Punjab army and establishment pullout from Baluchistan.

"American enslavement is better than Punjabi enslavement because the Punjabis will come and occupy our lands for good. The Americans will only steal our oil and gas, whilst the Punjabis will obliterate our national identity," Marri told Sethi.

Sethi pointed out that US likes to occupy lands rich in oil and said Osama bin Laden was fighting the U.S. after it stationed it in Saudi Arabia and Iraq for oil lust.

Marri disagreed with Sethi that bringing the U.S. into Baluchistan will merely change one form of slavery into another.

"At this time I am a slave of a slave. Pakistan is a slave of America [United States] and I am a slave of Pakistan and Punjab," he explained. "[In this sense] It' s better to be a direct slave of the U.S."

Sethi who is very close to Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari said Zardari had told him during a recent interview that a constitutional package called the 18th Amendment was underway that would give Baluchistan maximum provincial autonomy; Marri reponded Baluchistan is not a province of Pakistan, but is occupied territories because it was illegally annexed at the force of guns, tanks and jets.

"I like to quote Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti [aged 79, Bugti was a former governor and chief minister of Baluchistan who was killed extra judicially by Pakistan army on August 26, 2006] that if a woman is raped, that rape does not become acceptable 60 or 65 years down the road."

The Baluch say their bicameral parliament, the Diwan-i-Aam {house of Commons] and Diwan-i-Khaas [house of Lords] had unanimously rejected the idea of merger with Pakistan and had opted for independence at the time of the British departure from the Indian subcontinent in 1947.

At the time, the British had also offered Baluchistan to remain its protectorate for 25 years but Baluchistan opted for independence.

Texas-sized Baluchistan got its independence separately from India and Pakistan on August 11, 1947 but was annexed by Pakistan in March 1948 after the Baluch ruler Mir Ahmedyar Khan was abducted by the Pakistan army and forced to sign a so-called Instruments of Accession with Pakistan.

Like Marri, the Khan's grandson Suleman Daud, who is considered the De Jure Ruler of Baluchistan, is also in the United Kingdom, and has publicly said liberation is the only way out for the Baluch people. Under pressure from friends of Baluchistan like Selig S. Harrison, Asia director at the Center for International Policy, and Wendy Johnson, publisher of New York-based The Baluch, and international human rights atcivist Peter Tatchell in the U.K., the two are increasingly coming closer, shedding past mistrust and suspicions.

Marri said Baluchistan was annexed against the will of the Baluch people. "This is occupation, it [Baluchistan] is occupied territory. It can never become a province."

To a question about talks with Pakistani officials, he said he could not stop anyone from calling him on the phone but denied any talks with the Pakistani establishment about the future of Baluchistan.

"I did receive calls [The talks were ] not about Baluchistan, it was about John Solecki," Marri said.

Both Marri and his father Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, 89, had played a key role in winning freedom for Solecki who headed the UN High Commission for Refugees in Quetta, capital of Baluchistan. Solecki, 49, was abducted and his driver Syed Hashim was shot dead February 2 this year in a dare devil operation launched by the hitherto unknown Baluchistan United Liberation Front.

Solecki was freed April 4.

Marri said those who kidnapped Solecki could answer the question about their real motives, but warned if the state atrocities against the Baluch will not stop, they will be forced to adopt ways that would be far more dangerous than the last kidnapping.

"The world should know about the atrocities being perpetrated on the Baluch people," he said.

Sethi mentioned secession movements are ruthlessly crushed, pointing out to Indian atrocities in Kashmir, and that the state of Pakistan is quite strong to counter Baluch liberation movement.

"I have studied in Russia, Pakistan used to dance to the tunes of Russia. A country like Russia could not stop itself from disintegration," Marri shot back.

"Just look what happened in the past three years. Look at Kosovo, look at Abkhazia, look at North Serbia. They all got independence. It is a question about global interest. What we need is Baluch unity; Pakistan army is not a big deal."

Marri said the Baluch fully expect of the US and other super powers to support their struggle.

"What is the meaning of Pakistan we do not understand it," he quipped.

Sethi said just a few days ago, a college principal was killed in Quetta, and asked Marri why were Punjabi settlers who are innocent civilians being targeted in Baluchistan..

"Yesterday bodies of six people who were abducted three months ago, were found in Dera Bugti. Bugtis are put into burning charcoal [by [Pakistan army]. Just recently, three Marris were hung from trees [by the army]. People found them hanging, still breathing. Why don't you talk about that. A Marri was thrown with hands and legs tied to die with thirst in the sun," Marri pointed out to the Nazi-style brutalities in Baluchistan and asked Sethi, "Why do you forget that?"

Sethi said if the Baluch are going to attack gas installations and Pakistan army posts the soldiers will continue their operations and President Zardari would not be able to do anything about it, asking do what is the end.

"Independence is the end, Marri said, adding, "We want good neighborly relationships with Punjab. We do not want to remain in the same union with the Punjab."

Marri's octogenarian father has clearly stated that the Baluch will co-exist with pigs but not with Punjab.

Marri's elder brother, Bala'ach Marri, had thrown the gauntlet to the Pakistan army and was killed in November 2007. Interestingly, Sethi had himself taken part in the armed struggle in Baluchistan from 1973 to 1977 in the Marri territories to end Pakistan's illegal occupation.

"We were a country and we will remain a country," Marri said. "Liberation is the right of all nations. We have a single demand: independence."

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