13 dead and hundreds arrested as strike and violent protests continued
The Pakistani province of Baluchistan has been shut down by the strike and violent protests since the killing of Akbar Bugti (chief of Bugti tribes and president of Jamhoori Watan Party) in the military operation on 26th August 2006. The Nationalist parties’ alliance announced the strike and protests on 27th August against the killing of Akbar Bugti. Many banks, different federal government offices have been ransacked and set on fire across the province. All the main markets and shops are closed. Schools, colleges and universities in the province have also been closed. There is almost no traffic on the main highways. The partial strike was also observed in Sindh province. The provincial government imposed the curfew in Quetta and other cities. The police and paramilitary forces are using tear gas and bullets to disperse the protesters.
Contradictory Claims
Musharaf regime so far has made contradictory statements and claims in this regard. The government and military spokesman first claimed that Akbar Bugti has been killed in a combat military operation in the Bhimboore mountain range near Kohlu District. General Musharaf immediately congratulates the security forces on the successful military operation. Government spokesman gave the impression that killing of Akbar Bugti was a final blow to the insurgency in Baluchistan. After 3 days of killing now both military and government spokesman are saying that Akbar Bugti was not killed as target but it was an incident. Now it is clear that government is not ready to take the responsibility of this killing because of increased opposition ton this killing. Now the military officials are saying that they want to arrest him and when military officers entered in the cave where he was hiding with his supporters, the cave collapsed and Akbar Bugti and military officers were killed.
No body knows the facts as government has banned the entry of media and civilians in this area. But one thing is sure that he has been killed in a military operation. His dead body has not been found because it is still under the rubble. Some media reports suggesting that his cave was attacked by a gunship helicopter which fired missiles at the cave. Now the government has also accepted that military operation is going on in some areas of Baluchistan. In the past government never accepted that military operation is going on in Baluchistan. Few media reports also suggested that Special Commando Forces are also being used in the operation.
It is clear that government has changed its stance because of staunch opposition from all the political parties, human rights organizations and intellectuals. Even the senior leaders of ruling party PML has also criticize the killing.
Nationalism Will Be on the Rise
The killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti will give rise to the Nationalism not only in Baluchistan but also in Sindh and NWFP provinces. It is likely that Nationalism in Baluchistan can take more violent turn and separatist ideas will dominate the movement. But in Sindh and NWFP the established nationalist political parties will make gains. This killing will increase the sense of deprivation in the masses of small provinces. Last 58 years of Pakistani history shows that every military campaign in the country gave rise to the Nationalism. The misadventures military campaigns in 1950s, 1960s and 1970s gave rise to the insurgency and Nationalism. The vicious military repression in Sindh in the 1980s gave birth to the armed struggle and Nationalism. The present regime has refused to learn from the past mistakes. The military operation in East Pakistan in 1971 gave birth to a new country called Bangladesh. The situation can get out of control in Baluchistan if the regime continued to use military force against the Nationalist parties and youth. In the absence of a strong working class voice and alternate, the big sections of radicalized youth can join the ranks of not only Nationalist political parties but also insurgency and armed groups. Nationalist consciousness will rise sharply. Even the trade unions and working class in the Province can also be affected by the strong waves of Nationalism.
From a traitor to a Hero and Martyred
Akbar Bugti was never a darling of Nationalist forces in Baluchistan, because he always been very close to the Establishment. Before 2005 he was treated as a traitor of the Baluch cause. He was a typical Baluch tribal chief having no mercy for the opponents and dissidents. He was responsible for the killing of many innocent people. He became governor of Baluchistan in 1973 when military operation was conducted in the province. The Nationalist consider this move as betray and called him traitor of Baluch cause.
He twice became Chief Minister of Baluchistan. This clearly shows that he was never against the Establishment. But events in his tribal area forced him to change his ideas and strategy. Since March 2005 he took very hard stance against military Establishment. Many people died in the violence between security forces and his armed militia.
In his death and the manner in which it carried out, he will likely to become a martyred hero for Baluch Nationalism. He has become a sign of resistance and courage at the age of 79. Many, who opposed him in the past, are now paying tribute to his struggle.
Socialist Movement disagrees with the ideas and tactics of Akbar Bugti. He was a supporter of rotten tribal and capitalist system. We always criticize his views about women and tribal system. We also expose his atrocities in our material committed against ordinary tribal people. But we also condemn his killing and reject the claims of the government. We consider this killing as a political blunder on the part of the present regime, as it will aggravate the situation. The working masses of Baluchistan will be affected by this increased violence and instability.