The Indian government has been accused by Amnesty International of killing innocent people in the name of police encounters with the “terrorists.” The Indian government will not allow outside agencies to verify or dispute these allegations. The central Indian government has indefinitely suspended the civil rights of its citizens.

Now the “Non-Profit” organizations like the Federation of Indo-American Associations or Northern California (FIA) operating in the United States with the U.S. public tax dollars appears to have begun the same policy of exclusion and secret meetings. I am referring to the “symposium to highlight the plight of Kashmiri victims” adverted in India-West on page 23 of November 6, 1992 issue which boldly states “Right of Entry is Reserved by Symposium Coordinator.” This appears to be one of those one man show “coordinator”

It is a shame that American organizations such as FIA has fallen victim to the Indian governments propaganda and it is so eager to avoid public opinion on such important issues I remind the organizers that the First Amendment Right to free speech in United States is alive and cannot be hampered by disguising yourself as nonprofit organization Unlike in India the Indian government cannot suspend our civil rights in America.

I urge the organizers and especially their supporters to wake up and become open minded. Why is FIA afraid of the public opinion? Any disruptive elements at such meeting can be dealt with accordingly. Don’t fall victim to the Indian propaganda of “presumed guilt.” If FIA can not comply with the American law then perhaps it should come clean and admit: it is an agent of the Indian Propaganda Machine. If it does not change its policies of exclusion it does not deserve the status of a Non-Profit organization.

I also urge the invited elected Officials to boycott the “symposium” and avoid the trap of Indian Governments propaganda.

Dr. Amarjit Singh

Spokesperson

Panthak Committee

Article extracted from this publication >> November 20, 1992