OTTAWA: Internationally respected for his human rights work, Retired High Court Justice Ajit Singh Bains is visiting Canada for very short time and will be speaking with Canadian parliamentarians on 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 travel- ling permits to leave India and constant harassment to himself and his family by officials is the living reality for Justice Bains.
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 India, 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 the credibility of these comprehensive and factual re- ports.
Justice Bains will be meeting with the Canadian Foreign Affairs Committee on March 30, at 3:30 pm 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, ex- tradition 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 reports of 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 con- tact the World Sikh Organization. Anne Lowthian, Public Relations Manager, (613) 723-2026.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 31, 1995
