Berkeley: On November 17, 1993, the Sikh Students Association of UC Berkeley held a forum on human rights violations in India entitled “Rape, Torture and Other Benefits of Indian Democracy”. This successful Presentation was attended by over 90 people, nearly twenty of whom were non South Asian. The forum successfully conveyed the horrible conditions faced, by the innocent peoples of Punjab and Kashmir, under the occupation of the Indian military. The first speaker and master of ceremonies, was Jaideep Singh, a second year student in the Ethnic Studies Ph. D. Group at the University of California at Berkeley. He spoke about the historical context of the bitter ethnic strife now encompassing India, and why the mood of the nation has reached the point that a malevolent, hatred inspired group such as the BJP has been able to garner a growing, nationwide political base. He examined the factors that have historically prevented India from becoming one nation. Among these are the region’s tremendous cultural diversity (religious, linguistic, racial, caste, etc.) and the sheer vastness of the geographical area encompassed by the region. He concluded from the historical and contemporary evidence that India appears to be heading in the direction of the former Soviet Union. He also asserted that it would have splintered long ago had it not been for the British colonizers binding the region together. Essentially, he felt that the only hope for an equitable peace in the subcontinent lay in the annihilation of the construct of colonialism known as India. The second speaker was Dr. Vincentlacopino from Physicians for Human Rights. He spoke of what he had learned on his recent visit to Kashmir and Punjab, while documenting human rights violations for his organization. In addition, he told of how he had worked with Sikh survivors of torture in the United States through Survivors International, an organization that provides medical care for survivors of torture. The focus of his talk was how India persistently engaged in “violations of basic civil and political rights,” indirect violation of internationally binding covenants on human nights that it has ratified. Among these abridged rights are freedoms of speech, freedom from torture, freedom from cruel and unusual treatment, as well as numerous other social, political, economic and cultural rights.
As examples of such deprivation of freedom, Dr.lacopino briefly summarized the remarkably repressive legislation India has passed to deal with the separatist states. Because of these laws, he insisted, “there is no due process” in India. He further explained that “this is a way of crushing a political insurgency… and it’s a way of destroying individuals and communities,” including many “individuals who are innocent!” Dr.lacopino also spoke of how India has repeatedly denied numerous human rights organizations access into its borders. However, they have still amassed a good deal of information despite this obstacle. The organizations he works with—Asia Watch and Physicians for Human Rights— were able to collect the information they did because they did not formally request permission from the Indian Government before doing so. As a physician, Dr. Tacopino was able to document numerous instances of torture by viewing evidence that usually disappears before it can be verified. The techniques of torture used are specifically designed so that physical evidence will be either nonexistent or it will rapidly fade away. In addition, Dr. Iacopino also
Presented a very powerful slide presentation, which revealed some of the atrocities committed against the civilian populations of the two conflict-ridden states. The slides illustrated homfying instances of brutal repression against a defenseless populous. They presented graphic evidence of extrajudicial executions, rape, torture and other violations of human freedom, and dignity. These slides were complemented with Dr, lacopino’s moving, firsthand testimony of the horrors he had witnessed, as India’s military cracked down on its people, Also mentioned was the testimony of the widow of a Black Cat (an assassin for the State), who confessed that her husband had been directed by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of his district to assassinate certain people in return for payment Dr. lacopino also talked of how “it is well known that people who participate in torture. . .are promoted at a rate far beyond anyone else,” Such evidence, exposing the extent of corruption inherent in India’s “justice system,” is both revealing and condemning.
The next speaker was Krishanti Dharmaraj of Amnesty International, Her speech centered upon “government sponsored gender Specific violence against women” in India. She began by questioning the extraordinary powers” that have been given to the security forces in the “World’s Largest Democracy,” especially in those States where the Government faces increasing opposition. The broadly defined powers include shoot to kill, individuals are detained without charge or cause, children ill-treated, and women gang raped, mainly by the armed forces.”
She went on to explain that “because we are women, we are denied one of the most basic, fundamental human rights: the right to freedom to fear, the fear of violence.” Women are targeted for persecution not only for their political beliefs, but because of their association (wife, sister, mother, daughter, etc.) to a man who is on the Government’s “hit list.” Ms. Dharmaraj went on to describe a number of ghastly transgressions against women including mistreatment of pregnant women, gang rape at gunpoint and psychological abuse (ie. threatening to kill their children or raping women in front of their children). After detailing a number of cases that Amnesty had documented, she then strongly criticized the Indian Government for its failure to comply with Amnesty’s recommendations for improving the human rights situation, despite lip service to the contrary. She also maintained that there is no accountability for the heinous crimes committed in India, because the people responsible are almost never brought up on charges. The final speaker was Ravinder Singh Shergill, who brought out the stark realities of the situation in India. He brought into question the validity of India’s claim of being a democratic nation, by drawing comparisons between the United States and India. He also did a fine job fielding questions on the present state of affairs in India, particularly those from an adversarial, Kashmin Hindu man who persisted in defending the Government of India. The people in attendance were greatly impressed and emotionally affected by the information presented by the speakers, and by the forum in general. The high attendance and positive feedback pleased the organizers, and the Sikh Students Association of UG Berkeley hopes to hold a similar event in the near future.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 10, 1993
