Introduction: This report, issued by the U.S, State Department lists areas of concern of the US Government. WSN felts it is important for our readers to know how Sikh concerns are being viewed. Even though great efforts to make known the excesses of the police force and paramilitary are going on and lobbying for observation of basic human rights has taken place, the US government considers the Sikhs among those group worthy of attention “terrorist.”
Global issues are a central focus of the Clinton administration, and International terrorism is one of the deadliest and most persistent. Terrorism made the headlines throughout 1993.
- The World Trade Center bombing in February.
- The foiled Iraqi plot to assassinate former President Bush in Kuwait in April.
- Numerous coordinated attacks by the Kurdistan Workers Party throughout Western Europe on two separate dates in June and November.
It is clear that terrorism is an issue that will remain with us for quite some time.
The focus of the US counterterrorism policy for more than a decade has been simple and direct:
Make no concessions.
- Apply the mule of law and improve the capabilities of friendly governments to counter the threat they face.
- Apply pressure on state sponsors.
They key to a successful, long-term counterterrorism policy is international cooperation on these three basic elements.
- We offer specialized antiterrorism training to friendly foreign countries that face terrorism at home. The courses teach skills in such areas as airport security, maritime security, VIP protection, management of a terrorist incident, and hostage negotiation. Since the program began 10 years ago, we have trained more than 15,000 civilian law enforcement personnel from 81 countries. ‘This administration is committed to maintaining an effective international counterterrorism policy. Maintaining our vigilance and increasing or adjusting our Capabilities to ensure the safety of Americans and American interests throughout the world is a high priority.
Legislative Requirements: As required by legislation, the report includes detailed assessments of foreign countries where significant terrorist acts occurred, and countries about which Congress was notified during the preceding five years. In addition, the report includes all relevant information about the previous year’s activities of individuals, terrorist groups, or umbrella groups under which such terrorist groups fall, known to be responsible for the kidnapping or death of any American citizen during the preceding five years, and groups known to be financed by state sponsors of terrorism.
Definitions: No one definition of terrorism has gained universal acceptance. For the purposes of this report, however, we have chosen the definition of terrorism contained in Title 22 of the United States Code, Section 2656f (d). ‘That statute contains the following definitions:
- The term “terrorism” means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant! targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usual intended to influence an audience.
- The term “‘international terrorism” means terrorism involving Citizens or the territory of more than one country,
- The term “terrorist group” means any group practicing, or that has significant sub-groups that practice, international terrorism.
The US Government has employed this definition of terrorism for statistical and analytical purposes since 1983.
In a number of countries, domestic terrorism, or an active insurgency, has a greater impact on the level of political violence than does international terrorism. Although not the primary purpose of this report, we have attempted to indicate those areas where this is the case. Note; Adverse mention in this report of individual members of any political, social, ethnic, religious, or national group is not meant to imply that all members of that group are terrorists. Indeed, terrorists represents a small minority of dedicated, often fanatical, individuals in most such groups. It is that small group-and their actions-that is the subject of this report.
Furthermore, terrorist acts are part of a larger phenomenon of politically inspired violence, and at times the line between the two can become difficult to draw. To relate terrorist events to the larger context, and to give a feel for the conflicts that spawn violence, this report will discuss terrorist acts as well as other violent incidents that are not necessarily into terrorism.
Barbara K Bodine, Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism India continues to suffer from ethnic, religious, and separatist violence. Terrorism and attacks on police and military targets have been conducted by Kashmiri militants and Sikh extremists, as well as several separatist organizations in northeast India. The level of violence was particularly high in Kashmir, where the militants’ fight against Many and paramilitary forces has been ongoing since late 1989, In Punjab, however, Sikh groups have been decimated by Indian counterinsurgency efforts since mid-1992, and the level of violence has receded significantly. Indian forces have been particularly effective against the Sikh militant leadership, and all major Sikh groups have lost leaders during the past 18 months. The Punjab is not completely quiet. In January, the government foiled a Sikh plot to bomb government buildings during Republic Day celebrations, and, in September, Sikhs killed eight persons in New Delhi in a failed attempt to assassinate the Sikh head of the ruling Congress Party’s youth wing. There are credible reports of support by the Government of Pakistan for Kashmir militants and some reports of support for Sikh separatists.
Description: Sikh terrorism is Sponsored by expatriate and Indian Sikh groups who want to carve out an independent Sikh state called Khalistan (Land of the Pure) from Indian territory. Sikh violence outside India. which surged following the Indian Army’s 1984 assault on the Golden Temple, Sikhism’s holiest shrine, has decreased significantly since mid1992, although Sikh militant cells are active internationally and extremists gather funds from overseas Sikh communities, Active groups include Babbar Khalsa, Azad Khalistan Babbar Khalsa Force, Khalistan Liberation Front, Khalistan Commando Force, and Khalistan National Army. Many of these groups operate under umbrella organizations, the most Significant of which is the Second Panthic Committee. Sikh attacks in are against Indian coals and facilities, other and Hindus, they include nations, bombings, kidnappings. Sikh extremists probe ably born! the Air India je the Irish Sea in June downed over! 1985, killing 329 passengers a crew. On the same day. a bombs planted by Sikhs on an Air India’ flight from Vancouver in Tokyo’s Narita Airport, killing: two Japanese baggage handlers. In 1991, Sikh terrorists attempted: to assassinate the Indian Ambassador in Romania once India’s senior police officer in Punjab from 1986 to 1989 and kidnapped and held the Romanian Charge in New Delhi for seven weeks. In January 1993, Indian police arrested Sikhs in New Delhi as they were conspiring to detonate a bomb to disrupt India’s Republic Day, and, i September 1993, Sikh militants attempted to assassinate the Sikh chief of the ruling Congress Party’s youth wing with a bomb. Sikh attacks in India, ranging from kidnappings and assassinations to remote-controlled bombings, have dropped markedly sincemid-1992, as Indian security forces have killed or captured a host of senior ‘Sikh militant leaders. Total civilian deaths in Punjab have declined more than 95% since more than 3,300 civilians died in 1991. The drop results largely from Indian Army, paramilitary, and police Successes against extremist groups.
Strength: Unknown.
Location/Area of Operation: Northern India, Western Europe, Southeast Asia and North America. External Aid: Sikh expatriates: have formed a variety of international organizations that lobby for the Sikh cause overseas. Most prominent are the World Sikh Organization and the International Sikh Youth Federation.
For purpose of this definition, the term “noncombatant” is Interpreted to include, in addition to civilians, military personnel! who at the time of the incident are unarmed and/or not on duty.
Department of State
Publication 10136
Office of the Secretary of State
Office of the Coordinator for
Counterterrorism
Released April 1994
Article extracted from this publication >> June 17, 1994
