OTTAWA: A convention of the World Sikh Organization held he re on Nov 12 passed the following resolutions.
All Canadian Sikhs do hereby confirm our commitment to the World Sikh Organization objectives outlined in its Constitution.
All Canadian Sikhs in Convention assembled do hereby demand of the Canadian Government to allow Canadian Sikhs with Turbans to join the Royal Canadian Mounted police.
The Canadian Intelligence and Review Committee (CIRC) in its annual report recently released has confirmed that there are at least two dozen countries who spy in Canada. Among them are some friendly countries like India whose activities are also directed towards destabilization of ethnic minorities.
The Book “Soft Target” has also pointed out some startling evidence regarding the government of India’s involvements in many violent incidents in Canada, as well as alleging that the Indian government was directly or indirectly involved in the Air India Disaster.
Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) Director Reid Morden while appearing before the House of Commons Justice Committee on June 14, 1989 ad mitted that the “Indian governments may have had spies operating in Canada recently.”
The RCMP Commissioner Nor man Inkster, while answering questions with respect to the Air India, Flight 182 disaster, before the Ho use of Commons Justice Commit tee on June 13, 1989 also made a very important statement that “with respect to all other countries, they come to the conclusions that there was a bomb without evidence … we have no evidence in hand today.
All Canadian Sikhs in Convention assembled do ask the Canadian government to save 125 mil lion dollars, perhaps 500 million dollars according to other sources, and grant general amnesty to all those refugees who pose no threat to the National Security of Canada.
The report issued by the last Liberal government titled “Equality Now” provided some guide lines to follow in the case of visible minorities.
The Canadian Task Force, on Mental Health Issues affecting in migrants and refugees has pointed ‘out many discrepancies in our sys~ tem, in turn leading to mental stress for the immigrants and refugees.
All Canadian Sikhs in Convention assembled do hereby ask the Canadian governments and Provincial governments to implement the recommendations made in both “Equality Now” and “The Canadian Task Force on Mental HeaIth.”
The visible minorities constitute over 16% of Canada’s population and it has been recognized that their employment with the Federal, Provincial and Crown Corporation is less than 2%.
All Canadian Sikhs in Convention assembled do hereby demand equal opportunities and an aggressive approach by the Federal and Provincial governments to enroll visible minorities, including Sikhs, in the Public Services and Crown Corporations and also to institute policies to monitor hiring practices of private organizations.
The set of circumstances of the Sikh in India, especially in the State of Punjab, are beyond comprehension of the Western world.
The Sikh independence struggle in Punjab continues to be overshadowed by violence instigated by the Indian government’s agents provocateur.
The internal differences of opinions among Sikhs has led to disunity among them. All Canadian Sikhs in Convention assembled do hereby demand: Commit to the Supreme Sikh Tem poral Authority of Akal Takht and install one Jathedar instead of three.
All Canadian Sikhs in Convention assembled do hereby demand of the Canadian Government to order a judicial inquiry to investigate evidence linking the government to both the destabilizing of the Sikh Community as well as their (India’s) involvement in the Air India disaster of 1985.
The Rt. Hon Joe Clark, Secretary of State for External Affairs for Canada has directly interfered (as evidence by a letter written by him to Minister of Immigration) in the Decision of Immigration Appeal Board (An independent Quasi judicial body) with respect to Sikh refugees.
All Canadian Sikhs in Convent ion assembled do hereby demand of the Prime Minister of Canada and the Canadian Parliament to investigate through a parliamentary inquiry, the relationship between the Canadian External Affairs Minister and the Indian government, and grant refugee status to all Sikhs who were affected by his (External Affairs) intervention.
The Commonwealth countries have established their own Human, Rights monitoring committee with headquarters in Ottawa.
The dismal human rights record of the Indian government, one of the leading members of the commonwealth family, has been pointed out by Amnesty International in their annual report, 1988 and 1989.
All Canadian Sikhs in Convention assembled do hereby ask of the Commonwealth Human Rights Commission to investigate the allegations against India. The Honorable Barbara McDougal, Minister of Immigration has and new immigration targets for Canada.
The present backlog of refugees in Canada according to government sources exceeds 75,000 people, including 4,000 Sikhs.
According to Hon. McDougal’s own estimates, it is going to cost Canadians somewhere in the range of 125 million dollars to process the backlog applications.
Many of these refugee applicants have been in Canada for up to five years or in some cases longer, and are gainfully employed and have adjusted to the Canadian system.
Forma unified political front to avail of every democratic opportunity to solve Punjab crisis:
Take Sikh youth and other minorities into confidence.
Work out a systematic plan in consultation with all affected groups, including other minorities, to help achieve the goal of self determination (Khalistan) for Sikhs.
About 100,000 men, women and children have sacrificed their lives and many more continue to suffer state terrorism in India, during the current independence struggle.
All Canadian Sikhs in Convention assembled do hereby pay homage to all those who sacrificed their lives during the current struggle for independence in India, and pray for all to stand firm in their beliefs and convictions.
The Canadian government passed a legislation to establish International Human Rights Center.
The recommendations for appointments of people to run the Center are apparently with the Prime Minister for a number of months,
All Canadian Sikhs in Convention assembled do hereby ask of the Prime Minister to act upon the recommendations and stop politicizing the issue without further delay.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 8, 1989
