CHANDIGARH: The 59th Amendment to the Constitution which empowers the Center to impose emergency in Punjab was condemned at a convention organized by the P.H.R.O. here, About 200 representatives of political parties and human rights organizations participated and the convention described the Amendment as the worst assault on the human fights and a move to perpetuate dynastic rule in the country. It decided to present a memorandum to the Punjab Governor against the measure on April 22. Sukhdey Singh, President of the P.H.R.O., told the convention that suspension of the right to life and liberty will not solve the problem as 16 black Jaws passed earlier had failed to create peace in the state. Punjab should be brought at par with other States before tackling the problem. Others who spoke included P.N.Likhi, a noted lawyer, R.N.Kumar, a human rights activists in Delhi. Among the political parties which attended the convention were Jan Morcha of V.P.Singh, and the B.K.U., Indian Socialist Party, International Democratic Party, Punjab Inquilabi Morcha Congress (S), Istri Akali Dal, Indian Democratic Party, Mukti Morcha, Indian People’s Front, Punjab Sikh Lawyers’ Council, Janata Party, C.P.1. (Paigham Group), Punjab Students Union and Takht Sri Patna Sahib. Junior leaders of the U.A.D. also participated but no senior leader was present, General Narinder Singh who was recently released from jail was also present.

The P.H.R.O. President in his inaugural address demanded that all draconian laws including the 59th Amendment be repealed and tale of law be restored in Punjab by dismantling the police state. He also asked for the release of all

Punjab detainces in the State and elsewhere in India including those in Jodhpur jail, arrest and punishment of those responsible for the November 84 killings and indicted by the Independent Inquiry Commission and also trial and punishment to those responsible for staging fake encounters in Punjab. He also demanded census to determine the number of dead and missing ever since the beginning of the struggle in Punjab and sought the deceased, reinstatement of army deserters and police personnel removed from service.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 2, 1993