WASHINGTON, D.C: Ata historic hearing, Sept 25, on human rights abuses in Punjab and Kashmir, Members of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus made it clear to the State Department that oppression by the Indian government in these regions is a reality and must be adequately addressed. The hearing room was inundated with concerned citizens, some of whom were forced to listen from the hallway, particularly inspiring was the presence of the Sikh youth appearing in large numbers from all over the cast coast.

 Challenging the report given by Michael Arietti Director of the Office of Bilateral Affairs, Bureau of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs in the U.S. Department of State, Congressman Dan Burton informed the State Department that it cannot ignore the plethora of human rights reports by domestic organizations which have thoroughly documented the brutality of the Indian government. Introducing Justice Ajit Singh Bains of the Punjab Human Rights Organization, Congressman Burton suggested that the State Department talk with him to find the true story on the situation in the Sikh homeland.

 Congressman Burton, along with Congressmen Wally Herger, Ben Blaz, Norman D, Shumway, Floyd H. Flake and Eni F.H. Faleomavaega went on to criticize the State Department for its inability to back a Burton bill in the Congress which would simply without certain developmental aid until India allows internationally recognized human rights organization within its borders to investigate abuses, The Burton bill, House Resolution 4641, now has the bipartisan support of 63 cosponsors.

 Refuting the assertion that the situation in Punjab and Kashmir was improving, Congressman Eni F.H. Faleomavaega supported the right of the Sikh Nation to chart its own destiny and called for a United Nations sponsored referendum on freedom in Punjab. Justice Bains added that if such a plebiscite were to take place, an overwhelming percentage of the population in the Sikh homeland would vote for independence.

Testifying on behalf of strife torn Kashmir, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, executive Director of the Kashmiri American Council stated that “on a daily basis, large numbers of people are subjected to torture, murder, and execution without due process, cruel and inhuman punishment, as well as arbitrary arrest and detention.” Dr, Fai went on to add that “all available evidence on India’s military activities in the Kashmir region indicates one thing that the Indian government is systematically targeting innocent civilians for death.”

Aslam Hameed, National Coordinator for the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in India spoke on behalf of Muslims, Harijans, Christians and other minorities in India stating that “recent reports trickling out of India prove beyond doubt that those who do not share the world view of Hindu chauvinist organizations and their supporters in the Indian government are the primary victims of human rights violations.” Mr. John Nides of Amnesty International testified before the Human Rights Caucus stating that “hundreds of people are alleged to have been tortured in Punjab following their arrest. Methods of torture are reported to include beatings, hanging people upside down, rolling heavy wooden rollers on legs and electric shock.” Mr. Nides went on to say that; “The right to life and the right not to be subjected to torture. Must be upheld at all times and in all circumstances without exception, regardless of how widespread and violent are the action of armed opposition groups.”

Fielding a question from one of the Congressmen concerning the percentage of killings committed by so called Sikh terrorists versus those committed by the Indian government, Justice Bains stated that well over 80% were committed by India police, death squads and security forces. Justice Bains added that human nights are the responsibility of the government. If certain individuals commit crimes, they should be brought to trial and punished according to the law rather than be subjected to torture. When the Indian government fails to arrest and convict criminals and instead abducts them and tortures them, it is threatening the human rights of everybody. In his statement, Justice Bains said: “Each violation of human rights, wherever it occurs, is a threat to the welfare and the dignity of the entire human family.”

Chairman Lantos aired opinions in harmony with Justice Bains and Mr. Nides in his opening

Remarks stating that the Human Rights Caucus was “concerned with human rights the world over.” Chairman Porter said that the human rights situation in Punjab and Kashmir has not improved and the rights of all people should be respected by all governments. And Congresswoman Helen Bentley firmly condemned the violation of human rights in Punjab and Kashmir.

Aulakh spoke on the Sikh right to freedom. “Freedom is our birthright,” he stated. “It is everybody’s right, It is universally recognized and there should be nobody in this room, in the capital city of this great, free and democratic society, who could deny that it is the right of all people, including the Sikhs, to have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” But Sikhs have no rights under Indian occupation. Parading enlarged photographs of Sikh torture victims around the room, “this is the true Indian democracy.”

Congressman Wally Herger, who had earlier firmly suggested that the State Department reassess its report on the human rights situation in Punjab and Kashmir, asked Dr. Aulakh about the diversion of 75% of the water from the Sikh homeland by the Indian government and the disastrous 1988 flood in the Punjab which ruined much of the Sikh farmland. In response, Dr.Aulakh demonstrated that though the Indian government knew the waters of Bhakrah dam in Northern Punjab were rising prior to the flood, it refused to open the gates periodically to offset disaster. Rather, it waited to open the gates at the last minute to inflict maximum damage to the Sikh homeland. Congressman Herger conclude that on top of physical human rights violations in Punjab there exists a certain degree of “economic terrorism” by the Indian government in an attempt to ruin the Sikh people.

Indian Ship searched

NEW DELHI: Tipu Sultan, the ship sent to ferry Indians stranded in Iraq, was boarded by a party of the royal Dutch Navy Saturday.

The boarding party came by helicopter and checked the Indian ship’s documents,

Article extracted from this publication >> October 5, 1990