WASHINGTON, D.C:

Last month Guru Gobind Singh Foundation observed the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur and 41th anniversary of Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations. Representatives of Black Christian, Jewish, Czechoslovakia and Amnesty International were the invited guests and who spoke on human rights and shared the experiences of human rights struggle of their own communities. Guru of the Sikhs was beheaded by Moghul Emperor in 1675 A.D. because he was worked against the persecution and forced conversions of the Sikhs.

Speaking on the struggle of Afro-American community, Rey. Rodney Young, Exec Director of Council of Churches, umbrella organization of over 500 congregations in D.C. area said, “Today the Afro-American Christian community continues to struggle for human Tights in this country and around the world and this is not our struggle alone. Denial of human rights, dignity and freedom anywhere, is threat to these values, everywhere.” He further stated that, “because we are all brothers and sisters we must work together to ensure that all people of the earth enjoy peace with justice.” He added that, “my presence demonstrates the sharing of the believes as stated in the tradition of Guru Tegh Bahadur, that all the human race is one, that this human society is handiwork of the same creator thus making us all brothers and sisters.”

Dr. Joseph Hasek, co-chairman of Foreign Affairs Comm. of Czechoslovak National Council of America, who himself rejected to the west in 1947, spoke on the latest human rights situation in that country. He shared with the congregation his past experiences with the Sikhs which he said are unforgetful.

Next speaker at the function was Mr. Stephen Gill, President of the Jewish community council of Greater Washington which is an umbrella organization of 225 Jewish organizations and synagogues in Washington area. He said that we seek participation, cooperation of other groups to not only work to protect Jews but also help other groups as we have an obligation to help them in their problems. He added, that “we must keep vigil, we must also be alert for not just Jews but for all the people, who are suffering under the heel of the tyrant, who are not permitted to live freely as human beings, to practice their own religion or to teach their culture to their children to people who are suffering under bondage and under threat. If we are not concerned for every one of them or last of them, we will not find the protection for ourselves which we deserve.”

Next speaker was from Amnesty International, Ms. Esterlita Jones, and coordinator on Asian Affairs division. She presented the cases of Sikhs who have suffered under the police torture and especially the testimony of Avtar Singh Sidhu who was tortured by the Punjab police. She said that, “we hope the police repression under the new regime in India will stop and it will allow AI to go in Punjab to investigate.”

Dr. Rajwant Singh director of G.G.S.F said that, “as we observe the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, we must commit ourselves to work for the ideals for which our Guru gave his life, which is of human rights and dignity and justice.

Amrit Kaur, secretary of G.G.S.F thanked all the guest speakers and said that “our organization will not only work for human. Rights of Sikhs, but for all the people who are deprived of these Tights, and that will be the best way of paying tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 26, 1990