By: Hawa Baloch
Banuk Karima Baloch was one of the first Baloch women in the contemporary movement who fought against the state’s severe human rights violations in Balochistan. Her political journey began in 2005 with Baloch Students Organization-Azad (BSO-Azad) as a member, whose efforts led her to become the organization’s Central Committee member in 2006. Later on, she became the Junior Vice Chairman of the organization in 2008, while in the Council Session of 2012, she became the Vice Chairperson of the organization, and then acted as the chairperson upon Chairman Zahid’s enforced disappearance along with CC member Asad Baloch in 2014. In the 2015’s Council Session, after completing a decade of continuous political struggle, she was formally elected as the organization’s first ever woman Chairperson, marking history in the Baloch political wave of the movement.
Banuk was an active participant in various campaigns across Balochistan to highlight the state’s barbarity on the indigenous masses. She also held political and educational circles during her school and college days to politically mobilize the fellow students. She also distributed pamphlets and organizational magazines among the students. She did not only restrain her struggle among the Baloch people, but also campaigned globally against the occupation of the Baloch land.
Observing her activism and the need of hour to mobilize the Baloch movement globally, her organization decided to send her abroad along with Latif Johar Baloch. She did not remain silent there and advocated for the Baloch cause and internationally raised awareness campaigns on the human rights infringements in Balochistan. Looking at Banuk’s untiring struggle abroad, the state, through mysterious means, abducted her on December 20, 2020, from Canada’s Toronto City and dumped her mutilated body a day later from a lake in the city, marking an end to an era of pure resistance and creativity in the Baloch movement.
As she wished when alive, her lifeless body was brought back to Balochistan where she was bid the final farewell on her soil in Tump, Kech.
Banuk Karima represents the struggle and strength of the entire Baloch nation. Instead of mourning with sorrow, we rejoice this day, honoring the resilience and hope she has instilled among the Baloch. She created a new hope for every Baloch girl and boy, man and woman to continue to dream and ensure the dreams are met surrounding Balochistan.
On the occasion of Banuk’s 5th Martyrdom Anniversary, let’s promise to ourselves to dig for her dreams in the letter and spirit and become united, as she dreamed of.
Farewell Banuk.
