PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
February 17, 2012 Contact: Tara Setmayer 202-225-2415 |
Rep. Rohrabacher Introduces Bill Recognizing Baluchistan’s Right to Self-Determination
“The Baluchi, like other nations of people, have an innate right to self-determination,” says Rohrabacher. “The political and ethnic discrimination they suffer is tragic and made more so because America is financing and selling arms to their oppressors in Islamabad.”
Historically Baluchistan was an independently governed entity known as the Baluch Khanate of Kalat which came to an end after invasions from both British and Persian armies. An attempt to regain independence in 1947 was crushed by an invasion by Pakistan. Today the Baluchistan province of Pakistan is rich in natural resources but has been subjugated and exploited by Punjabi and Pashtun elites in Islamabad, leaving Baluchistan the country’s poorest province. Reps. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and Steve King (R-IA) have also signed on as original co-sponsors of the bill.
Rep. Rohrabacher is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.
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ATTACHMENT
112TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION H. CON. RES. ____
Expressing the sense of Congress that the people of Baluchistan, currently
divided between Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, have the right
to self-determination and to their own sovereign country.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. ROHRABACHER submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on _____________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that the people of Baluchistan,
Expressing the sense of Congress that the people of Baluchistan,
currently divided between Pakistan, Iran, and
Afghanistan, have the right to self-determination
and to their own sovereign country.
Whereas the people of Baluchistan have maintained a proud
and distinctive national, cultural, and religious identity
dating back to ancient times;
Whereas in 1666, the Baluch Khanate of Kalat was founded
which functioned as an independent, sovereign country;
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Whereas in the 19th century, the Baluch people were conquered
and divided by the imperialist expansion of Persia
(Iran) and the British Empire;
Whereas on August 15, 1947, the Khan of Kalat declared
independence, only to have Baluch aspirations crushed by
an invasion by Pakistan in April 1948 followed by 2
years of a bloody campaign to stamp out popular resistance;
Whereas revolts in 1958, 1973, and 2005 indicate continued
popular discontent against rule by Islamabad, and the
plunder of its vast natural wealth while Baluchistan remains
the poorest province in Pakistan;
Whereas a popular insurgency is also under way in Sistan-
Baluchistan and being met by brutal repression by the
dictatorship in Iran which has added religious bigotry to
tyranny; and
Whereas it is the policy of the United States to oppose aggression
and the violation of human rights inherent in
the subjugation of national groups as currently being
shown in Iran and Pakistan against the aspirations of
the Baluch people:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the people of Baluchistan, currently divided between Pakistan,
Iran, and Afghanistan, have the right to self-determination and to their own sovereign country and they should be afforded the opportunity
to choose their own status among the community of nations, living in peace and harmony, without external coercion.
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http://rohrabacher.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=281121
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