AMRITSAR: Over a period of time, certain foreign Governments notably the USA and the UK have evinced keen interest in the happenings in Punjab. This is so presumably because of a large settlement of the Sikhs in the two countries and reports that freedom fighters in Punjab were getting support from abroad.
Even the French, Swiss and Australians have been closely following the developments in the Punjab scene. In fact, the French Ambassador, A. Lewin and his wife visited Amritsar on April 7. They were preceded by a Swiss diplomats in Delhi. A Third Secretary from the Australian High Commission Miss Karen A. Jarman, also visited Amritsar for an “on the spot assessment.”
The main purpose of these diplomats is to find out how real is the threat to India’s unity and integrity from secessionist activities in Punjab. Through meetings with officials and non-officials these diplomats also seek information on a variety of issues, including communal tension, support for “Khalistan” among the Sikh masses and involvement of Pakistan in aiding and abetting terrorism. The visitors go to the Golden Temple to see for themselves the place which had been in the news.
The first to visit Amritsar was the U.S. Democrat Congressman Stephen J. Solarz towards the end of January. He was followed by the Chief Constable Midlands police (UK) Geoffery Dear, in the first week of February. The British Embassy First Secretary Mr. C.W. Robbins was due here on May 1.
The US Congressmen’s delegation took note of the police excesses and hoped that the situation would improve if Delhi took steps to provide a “healing touch” to the Sikh psyche.
As part of the Prime Minister’s belated package which came just as the Congressman Wally Herger’s bill was to be introduced in the Congress restrictions on the visit of foreign nationals to the State have been removed. On sees several tourists around the city. At least 15 to 20 tourists visit the Golden Temple daily. A group of Rotarians from the USA visited the temple.
Miss Jazrman had a longish meetings with the Deputy Commissioner Sarabjit Singh, the Inspector General of Police (Border), C. Pal Singh, and the SGPC Secretary, Manjit Singh, besides others yesterday.
She told this correspondent that she wished there was someone to act as a mediator between the Centre and the Sikhs who could bring back normalcy through a democratic process. She was interested to know if elections could be held for the State Assembly and Parliament simultaneously.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 5, 1989
