KENSINGTON, M.D: Congressman Wally Herger was honored by the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation at a function held to commemorate Vaisakhi on April 10.
Hundreds of Sikhs from Washington Virginia and Maryland attended the function to mark the most important day in the Sikh Calendar. A shawl of honor was presented to the Congressmen by the Sangat of the Gurdwara to thank him for taking up the cause of the Sikhs. The following is the text of his speech: “J welcome the opportunity to be here with you this today. My involvement in the issue of Human in India has grown substantially in the past several years. I have spoken on the floor of the house on numerous occasions, met with representatives from the U.S. State Department, Independent Human Rights Group, my Indian Ambassador, and, of course many others both here and in my home State of California.
The Indian Government has always boasted that it is the “World’s Largest Democracy”. While democracy certainly might work from some segments of the population, I am concerned that a basic tenet of democracy has been comprised in India during the past few years.
You see, for a country to truly be democratic it must extend the hope of freedom and fair treatment to ALL of its citizens, not just a majority of them. Unfortunately ‘we are continued to be confronted with reports of Human Rights Concerns, and the International Community is just beginning to take note of the problem,
“According to Amnesty International, since 1984 India has imprisoned and indefinitely detained hundreds of prisoners, many reportedly without charge or trial. While Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi did release some of the Jodhpur detainees as a “goodwill gesture” 84, of them were promptly rearrested and charged with crimes against the state. Some of these individuals have been in prison for more than four years and still have not been given a trial! In a genuine democracy, this would not be tolerated.
“India has also continued to deny Human Rights Groups, such as Amnesty International and Asia Watch, access to the Punjab to observe the situation firsthand. In a meeting recently with India’s Ambassador to the US. I was told that the Indian government has no. plans to let Amnesty into the Punjab to provide an independent analysis of the situation there.
“Numerous reports continue to flood out of the Punjab of Human Rights Violations against the Sikh community. Many reports claim that police have even, at times, tolerated rioting against Sikh groups, failing to intervene until people are. Seriously injured and killed and property destroyed. A recent article in India Today quoted a former police chief as confirming the use of undercover agents, many with a long track record of criminal violations themselves, to “track down terrorist gangs and shoot them whenever possible.” After denying initial reports of such a group, and later claiming that the groups had been disbanded, he finally admitted to their existence. None of these individuals were ever given a trial! Imagine if this type of activity occurred in the U.S.
“In fact, the Amnesty report went so far as to state that “political activists, those suspected of assisting them, and in one widely publicized instance, members of a minority community, have been deliberately and unjustifiably killed by the police, paramilitary forces and armed forces, and no attempt has been made to bring those responsible to justice.”
“The seeming disregard for Human Rights within the Indian government adds to our concern over India’s growing military alliance with the Soviet Union. Several publications have pointed out that over the past few years India has received over $4 billion worth of Soviet military equipment, and recently acquired a nuclear powered submarine and a squadron of advanced Mig 29 fighter jets. They were the first country outside the Warsaw Pact to obtain Mig 26 “Halo” heavy lift helicopters, and currently co-produce Soviet T-72 tanks, Mig 21 and Mig 27 fighter airplanes.
“India has more than 1.3 million people in uniform the 4th largest army in the world. They recently tested a ballistic missile with a 1,500 mile range, easily enough to reach Israel or other
- Allies. Moreover, the Indian Government has opposed the United States in the U.N. more than 90% of the time! Even Cuba and the Soviet Union are more supportive of the U.S.
“Recent reports have also surfaced that India has increased its assistance to the communist government in Afghanistan. Mr. Gandhi recently announced a large “humanitarian” aid package to Kabul, but others have suggested that his assistance may also be directed towards the Afghan military.
“One would think that given the atrocious record of the communist government in Kabul, no rational country would want to associate with them. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Gandhi invited the architect of the genocide, dictator Najibullah, to New Delhi for an official state visit, lending unneeded credibility of the communist regime.
“In light of this, I believe that it is critical that we reassess whether the Indian government deserves the benefits we confer upon it by granting India most favored nation trading status. As many of you know, I recently introduced H.R. 1967 in the House of Representatives. My bill would deny most favored nation trading status to India unless the Indian government takes steps to correct an ongoing pattern of human rights abuses in the’ Punjab.
“I feel that M.F.N. status is a PRIVILEGE, not a right, if we can confer it as a reward for a nation improving its Human Rights Performance, should we not also consider revoking it in cases where that performance has progressively deteriorated? My legislation, H.R. 1067, simply states that unless the government takes immediate steps to eliminate the practice
of detention without trial in the Punjab, and allows human right groups the opportunity to make an independent judgment of the situation, the U.S. Government will withdraw M.F.N status.
“The bill has garnered a great deal of support in the last month. Twenty four of my colleagues have joined me as co-sponsors, including the 3rd ranking democrat in the house, Tony Coelho, and the Chairman of the house armed services committee Les Aspin. Vic Fazio, the house majority. Whip at large was an early cosponsor. Several members have only recently joined our efforts, including Democrat Albert Bustamente from Texas, and Jim Lightfoot, an Iowa republican. Perhaps most importantly, the ranking minority member of the subcommittee on trade, which will deal with the bill, Phil Crane, has also co-sponsored the legislation. This is not a partisan issue. Fully thirteen of the twenty seven members who have co-sponsored my bill are democrats!
“You can personally help to ensure that this legislation receives a favorable review. Call, write or personally visit your Congressman and Senator. Encourage your friends to do the same. Public input DOES make a difference, and your personal involvement could bring new faces to this battle.
“During the past several years, Concern has mounted in Congress about the Human Rights situation in India. Last session the house unanimously supported an amendment to the foreign aid bill that expressed the sense of Congress that India should take steps 10 ensure that the religious and civil rights of its minorities were not infringed upon. I found it almost unbelievable that the Indian embassy is even now engaged in a campaign to convince the Indian people that NO SUCH AMENDMENT EXISTED! The embassy even went so far as to issue a prerelease saying that one of my prereleases has lied about this issue! The amendment passed on the house floor without a dissenting vote and called on India to allow free access to the Golden Temple and respect the human and civil rights of her Sikh minority.
“I don’t think that there is any doubt that my bill is a fair proposal, and one which will contribute to improve the situation of the Sikh people in the Punjab. Freedom is a basic human right. One which should not be denied to any person on this earth.
“T plan to do all possible to ensure that my bill passes and I certainly appreciate your assistance in seeing that justice prevails in India,” Congressman Herger said.
The Congressman was thanked by one of his most prominent constituents Didar Singh Bains who said, “We are thankful to Congressman Herger for what he has done and for what he is willing to do for our nation. Indian government is bent upon eliminating room for the Sikhs and we have no faith in it. We must continue our struggle. This work is not only Didar’s work or Aulakh’s work but it is everybody’s work and we should offer ourselves totally to help our brothers back home.”
Dr. Harpal Singh Dhillon thanked the Congressman for taking up the cause of the Sikhs. He thanked him for his concern of the Human Rights violations in India.
Giani Gurdeep Singh the head Granthi of the Sikh Cultural Society of Richmond Hill gave a siropa to Congressman Wally Herger.
Rajwant Singh the Secretary of the Guru Gobind Singh Foundation highlighted the work of the foundation. He appreciated it the work done by the World Sikh Organization and Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh in keeping political leaders informed about atrocities in the Punjab.
Earlier Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh had introduced the Congressman. He said that the Congressman had been threatened with political defeat by the agents of Indian government which wants to go on killing the Sikhs without losing its trading privileges.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 21, 1989
