TORONTO: International Human Rights Organization ([HRO) Chairman DS. Gill this week concluded his Canada tour for which he was specially invited by the Sikh community facing the extradition that are proceedings of Bhai Maheshinder Singh, and ratification of the recently signed treaty on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between India and Canada.

Besides meeting various Sikh organizations and human rights groups across the country, (Gill met about a dozen Canadian MPs including the Deputy Speaker Honible David Kilgour who has written a leer to the Minister of Foreign fairs, Honible Andre Oculist regarding the proposed treaty of 1994.

His letter says, “Signing treaties of “mutual assistance in criminal matters” with governments that have unacceptable human rights records is deeply disturbing to all fair minded persons, This treaty combined with the Canada/India Extradition Act and TADA, make it difficult to believe that Canadians of Indian origin (Canadian Sikhs) are afforded equal protection under the law within Canada. If so, should our government not exercise your rights under Article 23. 2 to terminate the Trusty by giving the required six months’ notice?”

THRO chairperson D.S. Gill was a guest speaker at the Human Rights Conference and Dinner held on April 14in Vancouver. He also held a meeting there with the Human Rights Committee against Extradition Treaty. He was a key speaker at both the Khalsa Day Parades held at Vancouver and Toronto on April 15 and April 30 respectively, where he shared information on the current political and human rights situation in Punjab with the huge congregations.

Avail the Sikhs or a, Gill called and lobby to stop its rectification To provide an opportunity to Gill for sharing his views with MPs at the Capitol Hill, Honible Herb Dhaliwal hosted a luncheon meeting on May 2, where the IHRO chairman urged the Canadian parliament arians to strongly oppose the rectification of the said treaty. Later, Gill, and IHRO North America Coordinator Gurdev Singh Gill and THRO secretary Bhupinder Singh Somal met with Foreign Affairs Department officials.

After three week’s visit to Canada, DSS. Gill left for USA to attend human rights meetings there. Information was provided by North America Coordinator, who thanked Herb Dhaliwal, Colleen Beamier and WSO office for arranging the meetings at Ottawa.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 12, 1995