Security Belt or Sikh Execution Belt
Government of India has decided to declare five kilometer area all along the Indo-Pakistan border as security belt. A draft bill to this effect is being introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The proposed legislation envisages exclusive army control over the belt. Justifying the measure, the Government argues that the legislation will check illegal infiltration of foreigners as well as stop Sikh freedom fighters from using Pakistan as a sanctuary.
The Home Minister, Mr. Buta Singh, also indicated in the Lok Sabha that the administration of three border districts i.e. Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur, is likely to be handed over to the army. Civilian authorities would, then, function under Army Commands and routine day to day law and order responsibility would also rest with the army.
Both the steps are fraught with serious threat to the Sikh youths living in these districts. The process of their elimination is already in full swing and army take over will further accelerate it. Innocent Sikh Youngman are rounded up from their homes and summarily executed by B.S.F, and paramilitary troops through what they call in official argon as “encounters”.
The killing of twenty unarmed persons on the night of July 30 near Mianwali by B.S.F. ambush parties is a grim pointer to what Sikh youths are in for. Punjab police spokesman testified to the fact that the victims were unarmed. Even foreigners crossing the international borders during war time are supposed to be arrested and tried according for the laws laid down in International covenants. To kill them in cold blood is to demonstrate Nazi psychology that relished spilling blood rather than observing the mutually agreed covenants.
Undoubtedly, the proposed security belt is being created to massacre Sikh young men and should more appropriately be called the Sikh Youth Execution Belt. The Execution Belt appears to be a substitute for the sinister plan that late Indira Gandhi had worked out to exterminate the entire population of these troubled border districts. According to reliable sources, the plan was to invade Pakistan, destroy the overwhelmingly Sikh population of the border areas and put the blame on Pakistani Air Force for killing civilian population and in the bargain also create an unbridgeable gulf between Sikhs and Muslims.
Barnala has also protested against the proposed legislation but his protest appears to be motivated by considerations other than concern for Sikh youth. His anxiety is to preempt Badal Akali Dal from eliciting political leverage out of it; Barnala knows full well the implications of the new legislation. If, disregarding his opposition, the Centre goes ahead with the legislation; his continuing in office will confirm his complicity in the wicked conspiracy. If Barnala is really honest about his opposition, he should quit office rather than exposing Sikh youths to army bullets.
Besides, with Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur going under army rule, there is no justification for continuing the farce of an “elected” government in the State. Let the army take over and let the world know the truth that Sikhs in India are being subjected to army subjugation. Barnala should realize that departure of his puppet government from the scene will unveil the hypocrisy of the Indian rulers and the reality of Sikhs suffering worse fate than the blacks of South Africa will, then begin to dawn upon the free world. And there will develop better appreciation of the Sikh struggle. Sikhs, however, must define their objective. Zigzag course will not take them anywhere.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 8, 1986
