Reporter Louise Crosby’s account of Balkar Singh’s torture is but the tip of an iceberg (“Torture in custody routine in India Amnesty report says” March 25). Another Canadian B.S. Kooner died while in Indian police custody. Canada did nothing to help him Amnesty tells us that hundreds if not thousands have died in Indian jails. Three Canadian MPs visited the torture chambers in January 1992.
Yet when MP Derek Lee asked in the Commons on March 17 about Canada’s position of human rights issues in India he was told that “human rights violations do not appear to be part of a deliberate policy.” Why is the Canadian government defending the indefensible? A government’s duty is to protect its citizens. This is a basic fundamental right.
The prime minister goes on rips around the world and ells one and all that Canada will tie aid and trade to human rights records. Yet we can clearly see from the Citizen that Canadian aid to India totals $93 million and trade is at $5096million. How many people must die before Canada recognizes India for what it is-a human rights abuser. Torture and rape in custody are routine in India. People die even though no formal charges are brought against them. Not only is this undemocratic it is unacceptable and uncivilized.
Allie Basarke
Executive Assistant
World Sikh Org. Nepean
Article extracted from this publication >> April 17, 1992
