It is now six years since two young Sikh students, Sukhminder Singh Sandhw alias Sukhi and Ranjit Singh Gillalias Kuki, were incarcerated in New York jail in. conMection with their alleged involvement in General Vaidya and Makon murders in India. Yet the end of the tortuous extradition proceedings against them are nowhere in sight It is a basic principle of International law and international extradition treaties that a State requesting extradition of a fugitive must present its evidence to the courts of the host State with due expedition. In the United Kingdom such initial period is three months. If at the end of that period, evidence disclosing a prima facie case against the fugitive is not forthcoming and no plausible explanation for the deJay is given, the extradition application is dismissed summarily. It 1s, therefore, difficult to understand upon what principles of United States’ law and Sukhi and Kuki still being detained forsix years. It was recently reported that the American court had dismissed the extradition application for lack of evidence; nevertheless the court ordered that Sukhi and Kuki be further detained.

It is trite that justice delayed is justice denied. The more time passes the more flagrant becomes the injustice. Six years’ delay is totally unacceptable and constitutes a blatant violation of Sukhi and Kuki’s human nights. Above it gives the Indian police and security agencies the two opportunity cook up further evidence against ‘them, So far the evidence is utterly tenuous and unconvincing. in fighting Sikh militancy, the Indian police have committed every transgression of the limits of the Jaw. The Indian government has turned a blind eye Lo such wansgressions to suppress legitimate Sikh aspirations, The United States as the bastion of democracy and’ rule of law must not be seen to be siding with India in its machinations to liquidate Sukhi and Kuki. Indian diplomatic missions are in the habit of defending India’s appalling record on human rights by engaging in what can only be described as inverted logic. They present right as wrong and wrong, as right and insist upon calling black white and white black. The fearful bloodletting by Punjab police is presented as a law and order exercise. According to Punjab DIG K.P.S.Gillover 2,000 Sikh ‘militants’ were killed by the police in 1992. Not a single one was taken before, charged or convicted by the Indian courts. The police act as judge, jury and executioner and liquidate any Sikh they find ‘unpalatable.’ Amongst those killed are Sikh lawyers, jurists, human rights activists, a former Akal Takht Jathedar (the Sikh Archbishop) and men, women and children from all walks of Sikh life. Recently, the young Sikh lawyer and human rights activist, Kulwant Singh Saini, was killed along with his young wife and 18 month old son.

Police brutality in Punjab has prompted Ajit Bhattacharea to write in the “Indian Express”: “Reports that the Punjab Police Chief K.P,S.Gill may be appointed to the Union Home Ministry when he retires from Punjab police suggest that the Punjab Police Culture may become the model for the entire country.” Such fears are not unfounded because India habitually promotes and honors those licensed killers of its security forces who kill Indian civilians in its name and on its behalf. We appeal to the United States” authorities to put an end to this carnage. We Say: End Indian tyranny now and release Sukhi and Kuki to show the USA’s contempt for Indian brutality towards Sikhs.

Harjit Singh

European President

International Human Rights

Organization,

London

Article extracted from this publication >>  May 14, 1993