A lesson to be learnt

BALOCHISTAN’S political dissatisfaction is mounting. No doubt the last eight years of defective re-engineering of the social, political and economic fabric of Baloch society has proved destructive.

But unfortunately the establishment in Islamabad is ignorant of this fact and continues to pursue the unchanged policy of denial and negligence towards Balochistan’s endless crisis.

The features of the confrontation between Islamabad and the Baloch are identical to the political conflicts witnessed elsewhere in the world. When oppressive and overcentralised state systems constantly strive to maintain their grip on powerless people by the use of brute force, the results are always the same.

Since 1947 Baloch demands have been clear. However, the recent military operation that led to the killing of senior Baloch leaders and caused much suffering and injustice has forced many to raise extreme demands.

The demands of Balochistan’s political parties in the 2004 dialogue were basically political. For instance, (a) governance of Balochistan should include the Baloch people’s right to self-rule, ownership of resources, political participation and control over the economy; and (b) security arrangements should include control over civil and armed forces and the police. But as confessed by Mushahid Hussain in his speech in June 2008, on my resignation from the Senate, “Hawks in the Pakistan Army scuttled Balochistan’s peace move.”

The Government of Pakistan and the provincial government of the NWFP have signed several peace deals with religious groups, but the political crisis in Balochistan has been totally ignored and no serious efforts have been made to end the conflict.

The powerless provincial government is willing to settle the issue but the security apparatus in the province is less enthusiastic to follow the peace path. The recent fighting in Dera Bugti is a clear indication that bloodletting will continue in the region until hostilities between Baloch fighters and security forces cease.

Pakistan is not the only multi-ethnic country which is experiencing political disorder and internal conflicts. Due to their political systems being overcentralised and inflexible, heterogeneous states have gone through extreme political turmoil. The majority have succeeded in dealing with crisis by restructuring their political systems and accommodating marginalised ethnic nationalities and regions in a fair and honourable manner.

Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world and by and large ruled by the military, has gone through political mayhem on a number of occasions. After the popular uprising of the East Timorese, futile military offensives and the 2004 devastating tsunami the Indonesian civil-military leaders were compelled to act politically and graciously to deal with the internal political crisis.

They agreed to resolve the long-standing military conflict with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) through a political dialogue. Aceh is located in the north-west of Indonesia’s Sumatra island, surrounded by the Malacca Strait in the north and the Indian Ocean towards the south and west, which was badly hit by the tsunami.

In 1976, distressed political activists of the Free Aceh Movement took up arms against the Indonesian authorities. The violent reaction and resentment was the outcome of Jakarta’s neocolonial approach under which the people of Aceh were kept deprived of their natural resources and self-rule. Uneven distribution of resources, threats to their demography and planned militarisation further fuelled the anger and frustration.

In the 1990s, Jakarta launched massive military offensives to crush the insurgency in Aceh but failed. The 30-year conflict between Jakarta and Aceh rebels claimed 10,000 lives and caused displacement and human rights violations on a massive scale. Finally, the bloodletting came to an end after the parties demonstrated the political will and international mediation paved the way for peace.

In August 2005, the Indonesian government and GAM were brought on the peace track. Both parties confirmed their commitment to a peaceful, comprehensive and sustainable solution to the conflict in Aceh with dignity for all According to the deal GAM agreed to give up arms to foreign monitors, while Indonesia pledged to demilitarise the region while handing over security issues to the regional government. The Indonesian government agreed to cede power to the Aceh authorities in all public sectors, except in the fields of foreign affairs, external defence, national security, and monetary and fiscal matters.

Jakarta also agreed to withdraw its economic control and Aceh was allowed to raise funds from external donors, and was given the right to set interest rates, raise taxes to finance internal expenditures and conduct trade and business. A successful peace deal paved the way for billions of dollars and economic packages by the World Bank for the rehabilitation and reconstruction plan in Aceh.

The establishment in Islamabad needs to give the same attention to Balochistan’s politico-economic issues and to show similar will and courage. Administrative and economic control of the Gwadar port project turned into a major bone of contention between Islamabad and Baloch nationalists, while Jakarta agreed under the August 2005 agreement that the development and administrative and economic control of all seaports and airports within the territory of Aceh will be a provincial subject and Aceh will enjoy direct and unhindered access to foreign countries by sea and air.

For sustainable peace and to win the minds and hearts of the people of Aceh, the Indonesian government agreed to establish a human rights court and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission with the task of formulating and determining reconciliation measures.

Both parties agreed to the establishment of the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) with the support of EU and Asean countries to monitor the implementation of the commitments agreed to and signed by both the parties.

Confrontation between the centre and the provinces in Pakistan is on the rise. Islamabad has lost its credibility and has failed to retain its control over the provinces and their people because of its resort to the use of brute force.

The people of Balochistan have been persecuted repeatedly for their demand that they be given control over their natural wealth. Indonesia agreed that Aceh will have jurisdiction over its living natural resources in the territorial sea surrounding Aceh, and the region was entitled to retain 70 per cent of the revenues from all current and future hydrocarbon deposits and other natural resources in the territory, as well as in the territorial sea surrounding Aceh.

Political stability, peace and economic development will remain a pipe dream if the rulers continue to ignore Balochistan’s political crisis. Countries have achieved their goals through learning from successful experiences. The Indonesian lesson and peace strategy may provide guidelines for a sustainable solution to the Baloch-Islamabad conflict.

Resolving Balochistan’s conflict through political means and accepting the Baloch as genuine owners of their wealth and destiny is the only way out of this quagmire. Peace in the province will pave the way for long-lasting peace and economic development in the region.

Courtesy: Mr. Sanaullah Baloch/Daily Dawn Lahore 5th August 2008