Dear Editor
URGENT NEED FOR EMPHASIS ON PUBLIC RELATIONS
Recently I received a letter from the Director of Human Rights U.S Dept. of State Washington D.C stating that the US. Government has “seen no evidence that the Government of India has violated the human rights of the Sikhs”. Such a remark tells me only two things that either we have not really supplied the specific evidence relating to human rights violation of Sikhs to the right people or the State Dept. is purposely ignoring this evidence.
In either case it reflects on the: serious weakness of the public relations made by representative Sikh bodies. This conclusion of mine is further strengthened by the fact that inspite of my best efforts for more than two months I have been unable to get hold of a video tape which is fit to be televised over the Public Broadcasting Stations for education of American public. Thus I see six months of my correspondence going waste. The American public therefore not only remains completely oblivious of the human rights violations Of the Sikhs but is daily being turned against the Sikhs by the frequent press reports of killings by “persons branded to be Sikh terrorists”.
I therefore strongly urge W.SO and all other Sikh associations and the individuals to devote particular attention to improving our public relations and public image and this is the best service we could do to our suffering brothers in India.
In this regard I suggest the following concrete steps be taken right away
- a) The WS.O. Should immediately contact a public television agency to prepare at least one hour Video tape on the human rights violations and other gross injustices done to the Sikhs Instead of Personal interviews this video should be based on actual photographs slides or news reels. If needed some portions should be recreated by actual dramatization.
(b) After finalizing the script and obtaining estimates for the cost of production W.S.O. should circulate script and estimates to the local Sikh organizations and well to do Sikh individuals to send in their contributions for the project
(c) Then enough copies should be prepared for screening at PBS television stations and distribution to the press and important Senators and Congressmen.
(d) If there some Sikh gentlemen who can substantially contribute to this project they can either coordinate among themselves or can do so through me (at the address given below). As per my contacts with some professional TY personnel an ordinary video tape based on interviews and minimum self-production can be prepared for $2000. But I think we should be prepared to spend at least $15000 for a really good tape fit for public broadcasting.
2(a) In addition to the video tape I suggest that right now we should start preparations for the October anniversary of Delhi massacre. I suggest that on this day we should concentrate on human rights violations.
(b) We should take out processions on floats showing dramatizations of the atrocities committed on Sikhs One of the floats could show Hindu mobs killing and burning Sikhs and children. Another could discreetly show dishonoring of women.
(c) We should fly approximately 3000 black balloons (with skull and bone printed on each of them) to signify approximately 3000 Sikhs killed per govt. of India’s official version in the Delhi massacre.
- (a) Distribute free food and drinks to the hungry on this day to signify the basic tenets of the Sikh faith.
(b) This item should be given adequate press publicity beforehand so that the food prepared does not go waste.
I hope that all the Sikh organizations and individuals who have sincere desire to serve their brother will promptly act on these suggestions.
Sincerely
Daljit Singh Jawa
3543 Wood Valley Topeka Ks. (913) 267-0222.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 19, 1986
