‘We welcome the Indian invitation to House speaker Jim Foley. It is a mischievous move with dishonorable intentions. Signed by only 53 of the more than 500 members of the Indian parliament, they are all members of Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress I party and two quislings. What is surprising is that only such an insignificant number of Congress MPs signed the invitation.
What Indian authorities are trying to do is to deflect the criticism of human rights abuses in Punjab which have come under increasing scrutiny of the U.S Congress rather than to address issues. The government of India and the State Department have tried to brush aside the issue. State does not even recognize the fact that Sikhs are persecuted in India!
‘We hope that the Speaker will lead a fact finding mission to Punjab and meet people like Justice Bains of Punjab Human Rights Organization, representatives of Nari Manch (Women’s Forum), Committee for Initiative on Punjab, and Sikh Lawyers Association. He should also meet Sikh leaders who represent the aspirations of the people of Punjab. They can tell him about the atrocities committed on Sikh men, women and children yes even women and children. The Indian authorities will not let him meet any of these people since they have been persecuting them for telling the truth. Surely, Mr. Foley will not go to please the Indian government but to ascertain facts.
If Mr. Foley is to know the truth, he must demand to see the survivors of the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage which left thousands of Sikhs dead. He must meet Ram Jethmalani, Rajni Kothari, Justice Tarkunde and Justice Sekri who investigated the carnage and documented the statements of the surviving widows and children who unanimously identified Congress I leaders who are now Rajiv Gandhi’s Cabinet ministers as perpetrators of the mass murder. He should ask how many people have been convicted for this crime. The answer would shock every decent man.
No doubt the Indian authorities are likely to put up a good show, perhaps even arrange for an outrageously revolting crime against innocent people to manipulate the perceptions of the Congressional party. They do have government sponsored hit squads to kill innocent people and blame the freedom fighters. The New York Times and London’s Observer published an interview with such a squad leader. Other newspapers have. carried reports of their nefarious activities.
India seeks to cite “extraordinary circumstances” as a justification of crimes against humanity. So did Hitler and others of his ilk. There is never any justification for persecuting a part of a society not in Germany, not in Africa, not in India.
The honorable Speaker would be well advised to meet the 204 members of the Congress who realized the true nature of repression in India. Congressman Wally Herger, Dan Burton and Norman D. Shumway could brief him about the nature of human rights violations in Punjab. Sikh Organizations could provide him with the necessary information.
The Honorable speaker would be charged with presenting the people he represents a true picture of what is happening in India. He would have to pierce through the smoke screen of misinformation, the statements of quislings and the web of official engagements which the Indian regime would put up to greet him. Now that there is a chance for him to put a foot in the door, let him show the world how a proud people are being persecuted by India. Let him see the truth and then tell the world about it.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 29, 1989
