Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the serious human rights problems in India especially in Punjab and Kashmit. I would like to focus today on the case of Sikh leader Simranjit Singh Mann a former Member of Parliament. He has been held in an Indian prison for over two months now for the simple act of making a speech.
Mr. Mann was arrested after making a speech December 26 in Punjnb, Khalistan, in front of a crowd of 50.000 Sikhs. At that time, ho called for a peaceful, democratic non-violent movement to liberate Khalistan. Major Sikh political groups called for an independent Khalistan in October 1987. In his speech, Mr. Mann asked those attending to raise their hands if they agreed with him that a peaceful movement for a free and independent Khalistan is necessary. Every hand was raised.
Mr. Mann is being held without trial or formal charges under India’s brutal Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act. This oppressive law has been universally condemned by human rights groups around the world. It allows the Government to detain virtually anyone in prison for nearly two years without filing charges or going to court. Sikhs and Moslems detained under this law are routinely tortured and often murdered. How can a country which proclaims itself the world’s largest democracy behave in such a manner?
On January 12, I, along with 25 of my colleagues wrote to the Prime Ministerial India, P.V. Narasimha Rao, to demand Mr Mann’s release. The letter was signed by prominent members of both parties Republicans and Democrats. While we disagree on many things, we all agree that everyone around the world is entitled to certain basic human rights-freedom from torture and other violent abuses, dignity. and self-determination
India’s response to our letter was extremely disappointing. Instead of doing the right thing and releasing Mr. Mann, the government or India dug up old charges against him from 1985-charges long ago discredited and added them to the charges against Mr Mann
India’s harassment of Sikh leaders, and its revival of old trumped-up charges against Mr. Mann demonstrate India’s fear of the potency of the movement for an independent Khalistan. The fact that only four percent of Sikhs in Punjab participated in State elections organized by the Government in New Delhi in 1992 is a further indication of the Indian Government’s weakness in that region. What India must understand is that, if a people are determined to be free, it cannot hold them at the point of a gun forever. India has over a half-a-million armed forces in Punjab to force its will on the Sikh people. It cannot sustain this heavy military presence forever. The army rules in Punjab with a ruthlessness and brutality that we in this country have a hard time understanding. However, every murder. act of torture, or rape committed by India’s Army of paralegal forces will only increase the animosity between these two peoples.
Mr. Mann is the most visible spokesman for the freedom of Khalistan in Punjab The Government’s intimidation of Me Mann and other peaceful advocates must not be met with silence by the world’s leaders. As long as India continues to practice this kind of repression, the other governments of the world must speak out and protest. A country which practices systematic repression should not receive aid from free countries like ours. The United States must not support tyranny
The release of SS Mann would be a good first step by the Indian Government to demonstrate its commitment to democratic principles. I call for Mr. Mann’s immediate release, and I call upon the First Lady, who will be traveling to India at the end of the month, to raise the issue of human rights with the Prime Minister.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 7, 1995
