Open Letters to our government officials are given as representative of what you can do to make your voice heard in the halls of government. Please feel free to use them as samples to send to the named officials as well as your own local representatives.
The Editors
Dear President Clinton & Respected Senators:
1 would like to strongly oppose former Rep.SJ.Solarz, the New York Democrat’s nomination to be the next ambassador to India for the following reasons:
He was India’s strongest defender in Congress for 10 years of its blatant human rights violation of the Sikhs in the northern Indian state of Punjab and more recently in other states like Kashmir and Assam. Since India’s attack on the Sikh’s holiest shrine “The Golden Temple” in 1984, it has been estimated that over 100,000 Sikhs have been killed in fake police & military encounters in its liberation struggle. Even basic rights of assembly, speech, travel & prayers for the Sikhs are nonexistent today. India’s government routinely imprisons and tortures peaceful Sikh freedom fighters and workers of Punjab Human Right Organization (PHRO) including former president Justice Bains. Mr Solarz defended all this in the name of containing terrorism; India would consider Mr. Solarz’s approval for the post as an approval of its own systematic killing of minorities in dissident states.
Mr, Solarz was also one of the top ranking members in the named Senate bank scandal. He overdrew close to 700 checks. American people in his own district rejected him in the last election because of his performance despite the fact he collected millions of dollars for his campaign chest mainly from Hindu Indians in the U.S. To override their decision would be a great insult to the American people.
He clearly does not deserve this stamp of approval by the President of the U.S. and the Senate Foreign Relations committee; He has not earned his right to be the Envoy to Delhi. Therefore, I strongly urge all of you to reject his appointment when more qualified and better candidates are available.
I remain Harbir S Bhalla Mahwa NJ.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 20, 1993
