March 28, 1995

RETIRED IDGH COURT JUSTICE BAINS TO BRIEF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS COMMITEE ON CONTINUING HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSES IN INDIA

Internationally respected for his human rights work, Retired High Court Justice Ajit Singh Bains is visiting Canada for a very short time and will be speaking with Canadian parliamentarians on Thursday, March 30, 1995.

It was April 3, 1992 when Retired Supreme Court Justice Ajit Singh Bains was arrested, pulled from his car, in Punjab, India, and incarcerated under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act. This draconian Act empowers the police to detain any person for up to two years without trial. Justice Bains, after a lengthy legal battle, and huge international outcry, was eventually released on bail on August 18, 1992 and has suffered the continuing harassment from state and federal police forces.

Though thousands and thousands of people have been robbed of their liberties by the Indian government, Justice Bains is indeed one of the more spectacular and distinguished victims as he is a retired High Court Justice in India. Justice Bains was arrested for making a speech that castigated the police policies that encourage officers to extra-judicial execute members of dissenting minorities, that allow for the fabrication of evidence, that protect the perpetrators of barbaric tortuous treatment of citizens and their families.

Arrested for expressing his views, Justice Bains knows first-hand how the rule of law does not reign in India. In spite of continual harassment and censorship Justice Bains has consistently communicated the message of preserving and protecting human rights in India, regardless of the dire consequences that could befall him. As the chairman of the Punjab Human Rights Organization, Justice Bains had collected years evidence documenting continuing human rights abuses perpetrated by the Indian government and state forces. These records were confiscated by Indian government officials. Continuing difficulties obtaining travelling permits to leave India and constant harassment to himself and his family by officials is the living reality for Justice Bains.

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Media representatives have remained strangely silent on issues of human rights abuses in India. Though India is party to International covenants on human rights, journalists are not permitted to freely investigate circumstances in lndia, rarely are fact-finding missions permitted by human rights organizations. Amnesty International reports clearly document the continuing reckless disregard for basic human rights in India, though the Indian government continues to attack.!he credibility of these comprehensive and factual reports.

Justice Bains will be meeting with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, March 30, 1995, at 3:30 p.m. in Room 209 of the West Block on Parliament Hill. Since the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has traditionally ignored human rights conditions in the countries for which trade agreements, extradition treaties, and mutual assistance treaties have been established, this meeting will be a positive step towards linking human rights standards with foreign agreements. Policy makers must recognize the factual 1cpu1ts uf continuing atrocities perpetrated against various peoples by Governments who falsely claim to be the world’s largest “democracy”, and take action to encourage significant changes with their international partners.

For more information, please contact the World Sikh Organization, Anne Lowthian, Public Relations Manager, (613) 723-2026.

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For further information, please contact Anne E. Lowthian, (613) 723-2026, (613) 523-1080•

 

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OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD)

Thursday, March 30, 1995


The House met at 10 a.m.
HUMAN RIGHTS

Ms. Colleen Beaumier (Brampton, lib.): Mr.Speaker, I ask all members to join me in welcoming three distinguished human rights activists to Parliament Hill. Ajit Singh Bains, Jasdev

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Singh Rai and Jaswant Singh Khalra will be discussing human rights in India this afternoon in room 209 of the West Block.

The issue of human rights violations in India is a very important one for Canadian parliamentarians. Given the growing interest in building on our excellent relations with India through expanding trade opportunities, it is crucial the issue of human rights is not forgotten.

Various international organizations from Amnesty International and Asia Watch to the United States state department have expressed concerns with human rights conditions in India. It is imperative that Canada use its strong ties with India to effect improvements in the human rights situation there.

I say to these gentlemen: ‘ ‘Sat sri akaI”.

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