In the last few days it has been reported from India that trained sustained and encouraged by Pakistan two batches of Sikh freedom fighters comprising TEN and FOUR members respectively were crossing into the Indian Punjab when they were challenged and on offering resistance to the Security Forces shot dead in encounters at the border The Government of India has also let it be known internationally that intelligence reports gathered in Pakistan indicate that some FIFTY such trained freedom fighters are to crass into India during the first week of September 1986.

The reality of the situation is: that the Government of India has arrested some SIXTY innocent Sikh male youth in various parts of Punjab during the last ten days for the purpose of staging ENCOUNTERS at the border just about the time that the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Rajiv Gandhi hands over the leadership of the Non Aligned Movement to Mr. Robert Mugabe the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and sits down at the Conference to talk about human rights in South Africa with ONE HUNDRED other nations. The timing as well as the encounter plot itself have been very carefully slotted to cause maximum embarrassment to Pakistan and the United States on the one hand and to forestall any reference to the violations of human rights in South Asia at the meeting in Harare. The added bonus of this diabolical plot of course is that the reporting of the BORDER ENCOUNTERS will reinforce internationally the erroneous could of bloodthirsty “terrorists” in which the Sikhs have been and are being constantly cast by a generous use of resources available to the Government of India.

It must be remembered that Punjab is still beyond the reach of us mortals It cannot be forgotten that any news for general distribution emanating from Punjab is necessarily Government sponsored. Clandestine sources do exist as they did allover India during the emergency imposed by Mr. Rajiv Gandhi’s mother but lacking the sources of the official media manipulators they find their access curbed and credibility put upon an anvil. Those who dare speak against the tyranny are shunted to Courts under the patent charge of SEDITION. Yet in the past 24 months’ time and again judicial notice has been taken of the unique phenomenon of ENCOUNTER DEATHS in Punjab. The conclusion each time has been that the law enforcing agencies stage managed escapes and shot dead innocent persons. That very drama is being enacted all over again at the India Pakistan border and if international intervention is not forthcoming immediately at least 36 more innocent Sikh youths will be led to the border to bleed. The situation is fraught with dangers of all kinds including the danger of retaliation by those who discover their kith and kin missing. It causes great anxiety amongst the Sikhs living all over the world including the United Kingdom. They urge international media to investigate they urge human rights groups to demand opening up of Punjab and cessation of murderous designs for that area prepared by the Government of India and urge the governments of Aligned and non-Aligned Nations to enforce in India the writ of justice by all appropriate means including economic and diplomatic sanctions as proposed by Mr. Gandhi for South Africa. The Sikhs of Britain also urge the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Mr. Robert Mugabe as he takes over the mantle of the leader of the Nonaligned Movement to seek for South Asia similar measures as Mr. Rajiv Gandhi has sought for South Africa and insist that AGGRESSION BE VACATED wherever human beings are. The Sikhs of Britain also request Mr. Robert Mugabe to urge Mr. Gandhi to make a statement in the open session of the conference either denying or accepting the complicity of his administration in the false encounters at the India Pakistan borders and subject them to the unbiassed scrutiny of the international community.

Article extracted from this publication >> September 26, 1986