Peter Tatchell writes on MSN:
Since Christmas Eve, Pakistan has launched a savage new military crackdown in annexed and occupied Balochistan.
Jet aircraft and helicopter gunships have bombarded pro-nationalist villages, resulting in the reported destruction of nearly 200 houses and the deaths of 50 civilians, including women and children.
The main military sweep took place in the Awaran, Panjur and Makran districts of Balochistan. It included a 70-truck convoy of army soldiers and Frontier Corps. Hundreds of villagers were rounded up and interrogated. Many have since disappeared. Some were later found dead, with their mutilated bodies showing signs of torture.
Throughout the operational area, the military have laid siege to villages and imposed a 24/7 curfew, which prevents families leaving their homes to collect food and water and to tend their crops and livestock.
Full details cannot yet be verified because the Pakistani security forces are refusing to allow anyone to leave or enter the area. In particular, human rights investigators, aid workers and journalists are barred. Doctors who attempted to treat the injured were turned away by Pakistani soldiers.
Information about the massacre comes from the Asian Human Rights Commission and the Baloch Human Rights Council (UK).
Peter adds:
If we get lots of people responding with comments, it will show MSN that Balochistan is an issue that readers are interested in and they will, hopefully, give it more news coverage in future.
We need to break the western media blackout on what is happening in Balochistan and encourage media like MSN to give more news coverage of the abuses there.
