In the city of Hanover, in Germany, a protest took place very recently that had nothing to do with Europe. Nothing to do with financial difficulties that one of the world’s most culturally-rich and eclectic continents is facing. Moreover, it had nothing to do with any infighting that may be taking place at this point in time in the country known as the strongman of Western Europe.
The concern of the protestors in the city of Hanvoer, the beating heart of Lower Saxony was related to the things happening in the disputed region of Balochistan, a sensitive geopolitical subject if you might want to call it, which involves both Pakistan and India as the opponents.
A few hours back, even as there was no apparent rancour over the protests or debilitating effects as a result of the protests by those who took to the streets of a picturesque city known for its theatres, cabarets and musicals, there was genuine concern for the “free Balochistan” movement.
We do know, as a matter of fact, that over the course of the last decade or so, there have been several accounts of individuals going missing in Balochistan as a result of several clashes. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg; while one is not sure about the scale of the mass shootings or executions in the conflicted region, what’s sure is that there have been several instances of ‘fake encounters’ at Balochistan which sees Pakistan, as also India, on some occasions, in the wrong.
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When might this dreadful issue get resolved, one does not know. What one does, however, is that nothing could be worse than, let’s say, a suppression of public voice over the plight of so many.
So what was the protest exactly about and what word did the activists desire getting out there?
The following excerpts have been taken from Republic World on the trending matter:
The Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) has held a protest rally on Saturday, September 11 in Hanover, Germany. The people protested against killing the victims of enforced disappearances in “fake encounters” in occupied Balochistan, according to ANI. The Free Balochistan Movement has alleged that the “fake encounters” have been carried out by “Counter-Terrorism Department” (CTD) of Pakistani forces in Balochistan.
As per the Free Balochistan Movement press release, the protest began at 2:00 pm(local time) in front of the Hannover Central Station in Germany. During the protest, the people participating in the rally held banners and placards with slogans against torture, human rights abuses and illegal occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan and Iran. In addition, the protesters had also brought pictures of disappeared people who were killed in “staged encounters by the CTD”. The Free Balochistan Movement has shared the pictures of the protest held in Hanover, Germany on its Twitter handle.