China not welcome, say Baloch activists in London
Activists seeking a free Balochistan, who began a week-long protest outside the Chinese embassy in central London on Monday, have described the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a “corridor of death”.
Activists seeking a free Balochistan, who began a week-long protest outside the Chinese embassy in central London early on Monday, have described the $46-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a “corridor of death”.
The protest will culminate in a demonstration outside the embassy on October 1 and the handing over of a memorandum stating that China is not welcome in Balochistan, which, the activists said, was “occupied by Pakistan”.
“It (CPEC) will cause destruction in Balochistan. The protest is against Chinese and Pakistani expansionist designs in Balochistan,” Mehrab, an aide of the Khan of Kalat, told Hindustan Times on Monday. The Khan of Kalat, the head of the family that once ruled the erstwhile princely state of Kalat, is at the forefront of a campaign against rights violations in the southwestern Pakistani province.
There will be a small, 24-hour presence of activists outside the embassy until 2pm of October 1 - China’s national day - when a large number of people are expected at the demonstration until 5pm, he said.
The activists held placards that said “China: Hands Off Balochistan“ and ”CPEC is the Corridor of Death and Destruction for Baloch”.
The Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) said in a statement: "China has now become the 21st century East India Company in Balochistan. Their expansionist designs are well known in the region.
“Its neighbouring country Vietnam is the prime example of Chinese diabolical nature which endured 17 Chinese military invasions. Today we can see that it doesn't respect the international laws over the South China Sea."
The statement added: "China has intensified its efforts to consolidate its permanent grip over Balochistan's Gwadar coast and other areas where in 2001 it sought to anchor its military outpost in the name of Gwadar deep-sea port project."