WASHINGTON: A letter signed by a bipartisan group of 43 House members was sent to Secretary of State Warren Christopher on Feb. 10 expressing the members’ strong reservations about the pending extradition treaty between the United States and India. The letter, sponsored by Reppeter King (R-NY), carried signatures ranging across the political spectrum. Signers included Rep. Gerald Solomon chairman of the Rules Committee: Rep. Ron Dellums, ranking minority member of the Internal Security Committee. Rep. Thomas Bliley, chairman of the Commerce Committee. Rep. Robert K. Dornan and prominent Democritus such as Rep. Edolphus Towns. Rep. William Lipinski, Rop. Gary Condit. Rep Neli Abercrombie. Rep. Donald Paync. Rep. Charles Wilson, and Rep. Ron Wydon. Subcommittee chairs Rep Phillip M. Crino, Rep. leana RosLchunen, Rep. Christopher Smith, Rep. Dan Burton, and others were among the signatories. They were joined by seven member of the freshman class “We are writing to express our deep concern over the extradition catty currently being negotiated between the Government of the United States and the Government of India,” the letter says. It cites the 1995 Human Rights Watch World Report, which “contains a disturbing recitation of abuses perpetrated by Indian security forces.” the report says, “including discriminatory arrests. torture, and extra-judicial executions. These violations have been confirmed by the State Department’s 1994 Country Report on Human Rights Practices.” the Icier says. The signers state that any extradition agreement signed with India must include language to address this situation.”
The letter states: We suggest that the following provision appear in any extradition treaty negotiated with India:
“Notwithstanding any other provision of this treaty, extradition shall not occur is the person sought establishes to the satisfaction of the competent judicial authority by a preponderance of the evidence that the request for extradition has in fact been made with a view to try to punish him on account of nibs race, religion, nationality. or political opinions or that he would, if surrendered, be prejudiced a this trial or punished, detained or restricted in his personal liberty by reason of his race, religion, nationality, or political opinions.”
The language in this proposed provision tracks that contained in Article 3 (a) of the Supplementary Treaty of Extradition between the Government of the United Sites and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which treaty cinched into effect in 1986. In light of the fact that such language is in effect in our extradition agreement with our closest ally, we can see no reason for not including the above proposed anti-persecution provision in the agreement currently being negotiated by the Government of India and the Government of the United States. (Some Information courtesy of Council of Khalistan).
Article extracted from this publication >> February 17, 1995
