We reproduce a letter written by S. Gurcharan Singh to the New York. Times protesting against the antiSikh slant to a recent news report.

“After a brief spell of “informed” reporting on the Punjab, a recent special report (NYT 8/10/89) regarding a bomb explosion in Northern India has again drifted to the pattern of antiSikh slander.

“The report does not identity the source of news which is obviously an “official story” using the Sikhs as scapegoat for the forthcoming national elections. This unsubstantiated report, instantly blames the incident on the Sikhs and adds the antiSikh slant of “terrorism.”

“It is a sad commentary on the western media that while it instantly prints the official : stories from India, but seldom reports the cries of the victims of India’s state terrorism in the Punjab. As a matter of fact, an evasive silence prevails in the western media and academia pertaining to the police brutalities and torture of innocent Sikhs men, women and children and the murder of thousands of young Sikhs in “staged encounters” as reported by Amnesty International and other human rights organizations. Many U.S Congressmen and British members of the Parliament have expressed their serious concern on this issue.

“Unfortunately, political violence takes heavy tolls on all sides, particularly innocent people. Similar situations are reported as “ethnic conflicts” in Sri Lanka or elsewhere in India, “nationalism” in the Baltic States, “patriotism” in Soviet Georgia and Armenia, and “insurgences and rebellions” in Afghanistan, Tibet, South Africa, etc. However, when it comes to the Punjab and the Sikhs, a different demeaning vocabulary is used to malign the entire Sikh nation. Those, who have themselves suffered the pains of “anti-Semitism” should be a bit more sensitive in using this broad brush of defamation against the Sikhs.

“Ms. Barbara Crossett’s reports are a rare exception for not using the derogatory language against the Sikhs. We wish, other columnists would learn something. from Barbara. Your columnists seldom take note of the Sikh youths denials of any role in the killing of innocent people. They have repeatedly asserted that they have been retaliating against the Barbarian acts of the police and para military forces in the Punjab, where a situation of insurgency exists. Similar denials by the Afghan insurgents have been fully reported in your columns (8/6/89). Many Indian newspaper have reported that official agents of terror, called the “Red Brigades” (criminals provided official uniforms and arms) have been involved in hundreds of killings in the Punjab. These killings have been blamed on the Sikhs in order to distort the Sikhs struggle for freedom from political oppression. The western media, in turn, instantly printed the official lies without any regard for justice and truth.

“During the present phase of the Sikh’s struggle (1980’s) official stories and biased reporting have dominated the western media. However, not a single feature article has appeared in your columns which would reflect the Sikhs point of view. Our several attempts to seek rectification of this unfortunate situation have been rebuffed and we found your ivory towers more formidable than’ the Berlin Wall. Consequently millions of your readers have a distorted view of the Sikh and their struggle for freedom.

“As it were, a peaceful Sikh movement, striving for the kind of environment in which the Sikhs could also experience “the glow of freedom” in their native homeland of Punjab, was subjected to a violent political oppression. It was reminiscent of Pakistan’s use of brute force against the people of Bangladesh in 1971. When India’s use of brute force against the Sikhs generated counter violence, the ruling regime started crying terrorism— which it itself has unleased against the innocent people of Punjab.

“Your editorial on “Faking the News” (7/28/89) had lamented that ABC has come close to convicting” Mr. Felix Bloch, an ex-American diplomat in Vienna. In this regard, Mr. Peter Jennings of ABC was gracious enough to offer his apologies. We wish, other media pundits emulate Mr. Jennings’ candor. courage and grace.”

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 8, 1989