“The essence of any sound democracy is that the political system is able to withstand the voices of all people, patriots and dissenters. If the proponents of free speech are muzzled, then that system’s claim to democracy is dubious.”
Ambassador Shyamala B. Cowsik Charge d’ Affaires a.i. Embassy of India 2107 Massachusetts Aye. N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008 Dear Ambassador Cowsik:
Recent human rights violations in India are inconsistent with those adhered to by the world’s family of democratic nations, While respecting your country’s democratic traditions, I am disturbed by your government’s harsh treatment of innocent Sikhs.
‘The essence of any sound democracy is that the political system is able to withstand the voices of all people, patriots and dissenters. If the proponents of free speech are muzzled, then that system’s claim to democracy is dubious. In India, certain leaders of the Sikh community have been labeled as “criminals” on the charge that they spoke contrary to the positions of your government. This trend distress me, as well as it docs a large bipartisan group in this Congress. I join with my colleagues who wrote to your Prime Minister in August of 1995, calling for your government to rectify this injustice directed at Sikhs. Specifically, I call for the prompt release of the Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra who was forcefully abducted from his home in Amritsar, In addition, any and all other Sikhs who are being detained as political prisoners must be swiftly granted freedom.
It is my sincere hope that the Indian government will avoid future violations of basic human rights. I encourage you to arrest any inclination toward silencing free speech; open dialogue is the hallmark of any committed democracy, I believe the overall relationship between our countries is dependent on your commitment to this ideal of freedom.
George P. Radanovich Member of Congress U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 27, 1996
