Dear Colleague

While many in America are cheering the exciting and positive events in Eastern Europe, brutality and oppression continue in other parts of the world seemingly unnoticed.

Amnesty International still banned from working inside India, reports that thousands of critics of the government of India, including many prisoners of conscience, are being held without charge or trial under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA). According to Amnesty widespread reports of torture and allegations that some prisoners have died in custody as a result of torture are common.

It’s easy to understand why India continues its ban on Amnesty International. In March when the Hon Max Madden a British Member of Parliament, went to the Punjab and Kashmir along with a team of parliamentarians, he reported to the Parliament that unprecedented and barbaric atrocities were being committed against the Sikh and Kashmir communities by the Indian regime,

“I shall not forget the young Sikh who was shot as a terrorist after he stood with his arms above his head in a field for five minutes,” Madden reported. The police later admitted that they made a mistake. “I shall not forget the relatives of the young man. Who was shot while marching in a Sikh religious festival,” Madden Said. The police again admitted that they had made a mistake.

In addition to the repression of the Sikhs, “there is great anxiety about the future of Kashmir,” Madden reported. “It is now believed that between 200,000 and 300,000 security forces are deployed in Kashmir.” Madden also said that “there are worrying reports that government death squads are being formed and trained.”

 

While I hope that Prime Minister V.P Singh’s government can bring peace to India, there can be little progress until all groups inside India regain the basic freedoms that people all over the world are striving for.

Amnesty International should not be shut out by the world’s largest democracy. For this reason, I have introduced H.R. 4641. This legislation will terminate United States development assistance programs for India, unless their government implements a policy which permits representatives of Amnesty International and other human rights organizations to visit India in order to monitor human rights.

If you would like to cosponsor HR 4641 please contact Scott Feeney at 225-2276. May 2, 1990 ‘Dan Burton Member of Congress

Article extracted from this publication >> May 4, 1990