Occupied Balochistan News

Pakistan nuclear test in Balochistan and its fatal repercussions

        Enrico Fermi is considered a major figure in the discovery of nuclear energy. This physicist was born in Rome, Italy, was 

the first scientist to split the atom and his research later led to nuclear power generation. Together with Leo Szilard, Fermi discovered the first nuclear reactor that caused nuclear chain reactions.

It was in 1934 when Fermi achieved success in his beta ray emission theory in radioactivity. He then pursued further study to determine the creation of artificially radioactive isotopes through the bombardment of neutron. His research on the bombardment of uranium with slow neutrons is now what we call atomic fission. This led Fermi to continue his research together with Leo Szilard. Together, they worked on building an atomic pile which could produce a controlled release of nuclear energy initially at Columbia and later on at the University of Chicago. They completed this project in 1942.

Following the same mentioned technology state of Pakistan in 1972 commenced establishing nuclear technology and after few decades this state on 28th May, 1998, tested its nuclear bombs in mountain Koh Kambar Raskoh hills of Chaghi in North West Balochistan. For many people this day has been celebrating as Yum-e-Takbeer, (the greatness day) a pride for them but for Baloch Nation this day is mourn. That day was not a great day for Baloch Nation, but they are calling their self as an Islamic atomic power. After testing nuclear explosion the engineers and scientist paid a postrait nuclear and thanked Allah that they got nuclear power.

At that time in Balochistan the BNP (Balochistan National Party-Mengal) was ruling. The mentioned party head Akhtar Mengal was the chief minister of Balochistan and at the arrival of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif the CM of province Mr Mengal himself drove the vehicle from airport to governor house Quetta. Recently, Mr Nawaz Sharif during the visit of Quetta spoke-out that Akhtar Mengal was chanting slogan “Pakistan Zindabad”, “Long live Pakistan” with full-throat after successive nuclear blasts at the site in Raskoh Chaghi. But discussed party says that they were unaware about nuclear explosion schedule and made coalition with same that deceptive Punjab’s leaders. The said party also has taken part in parliamentary process and keeping silence about these testes and devastations in Balochistan.

They showed the world that no one can point out to Pakistan’s sovereignty. Being on seventh ranked in series of atomic power procuring countries the masses of Baloch are below the poverty line and they are living in the stone-age. The people value to sheep, they use their hairs and fabricate tents for shelter. Chaghi is deprived of basic rights, in which the provision of education and water shortage are the most noticeable.

The 30 kilo meter ranging grayish mountainous area of Chaghi after nuclear tests got changed in color yellow and white due to radiation of 30 tons of nuclear materials bombardment with five blasts in Chaghi, meanwhile two in the Kharan Mountains.

The poet Mansoor Baloch in his poetry said, “In the back drop of Balochistan’s occupation everything is weeping, invading the deep impassable sees, which is filled with blood tears”.

The radiation effects of nuclear tests in Balochistan:

The Baloch people of surrounding areas still suffer worst and drought engulfed Balochistan soon after the nuclear explosion also; Radioactivity, leukemia, cancer and numerous genital diseases have been reported from the different surrounding regions.

The people of Chaghi migrated to other parts of Balochistan. A large number of children including women got handicapped. The radiation of nuclear tests still exists in the area and impacting horribly to ecology. The new born babies including women are also suffering from adverse effect of mentioned tests.

Since the dirty nuclear blasts Baloch have been observing 28th May as black day, and condemning the rulers for selecting the Baloch land as their nuclear test venue. Each year this day Baloch protester demand to international community and United Nation to determine the radiation of these explosions in Balochistan.             

Let’s know medical science how elaborates Radiation effects on the Human Body

(1) Hair: The losing of hair quickly and in clumps occurs with radiation exposure at 200 rems or higher.

(2) Brain: Since brain cells do not reproduce, they won’t be damaged directly unless the exposure is 5,000 rems or greater. Like the heart, radiation kills nerve cells and small blood vessels, and can cause seizures and immediate death.

(3) Thyroid: The certain body parts are more specifically affected by exposure to different types of radiation sources. The thyroid gland is susceptible to radioactive iodine. In sufficient amounts, radioactive iodine can destroy all or part of the thyroid. By taking potassium iodide, one can reduce the effects of exposure.

(4) Blood System: When a person is exposed to around 100 rems, the blood’s lymphocyte cell count will be reduced, leaving the victim more susceptible to infection. This is often referred to as mild radiation sickness. Early symptoms of radiation sickness mimic those of flu and may go unnoticed unless a blood count is done. According to data from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, show that symptoms may persist for up to 10 years and may also have an increased long-term risk for leukemia and lymphoma.

(5) Heart: Intense exposure to radioactive material at 1,000 to 5,000 rems would do immediate damage to small blood vessels and probably cause heart failure and death directly.

(6) Gastrointestinal Tract: Radiation damage to the intestinal tract lining will cause nausea, bloody vomiting and diarrhea. This is occurs when the victim’s exposure is 200 rems or more. The radiation will begin to destroy the cells in the body that divide rapidly. These including blood, GI tract, reproductive and hair cells, and harm their DNA and RNA of surviving cells.

(7) Reproductive Tract: Because reproductive tract cells divide rapidly, these areas of the body can be damaged at rem levels as low as 200. Long-term, some radiation sickness victims will become sterile.

Radiation Effects on the Environment

There are many forms of radiation. Some forms of radiation are found in the natural environment and others are due to modern technology. Whether natural or man-made, radiation can be both harmful and beneficial to the environment. The sun, for example can have positive and negative effects on plant and animal life. At low levels, radiation can be beneficial to the environment. On the other hand ionized radiation such as x-rays, gamma rays, alpha and beta particles can be particularly harmful in excessive amounts.

Plant Growth:

Natural radiation is often beneficial to plant growth. It is necessary for many plants to receive some form of non-ionizing radiation. Radiation that produces light in order for photosynthesis to occur is a positive effect that radiation has on plant life. However, according to the Environmental Literacy Council, ionized radiation that occurs from nuclear material may result in weakening of seeds and frequent mutations. For instance, a nuclear plant, called Chernobyl in Russia leaked in 1986 that caused excessive amounts of radiation pollution in that region. A huge cloud of radiation was formed which resulted in a massive amount of destroyed plant life; particularly pine trees in that area. High doses of radiation can be devastating to the environment.

The above mentioned devastation have been destroying the ecology of Balochistan and people are suffering from diseases afterward the nuclear test here. This area people are very poor and they are underdeveloped in all fields of life due to ignorance of state machinery. Instead of providing development in modern time they are gifted nuclear radiations which caused various plants eternal disappearance, infertile of orchards about fruits, contamination, drought and abnormality in new born babies.

The political parties of Balochistan haven’t learnt any lesson from past and they assisted state to use Balochistan as its laboratory because they have share or these have been founded by establishment. These said parties never observe black day the 28th May but in their informal meetings condemn the tests. These parties on one hand manipulating to contend masses and on the other hand colluding with state to spoil Baloch and their lives but they get incentives and privileges for doing so.