LUDHIANA: Asylum seekers from Punjab are facing a tough time in the West with the foreign governments increasingly doubting their credentials. More and more Punjabi youths are now being deported by these countries in the wake of restoration of peace in Punjab, sighting of extradition treaties between India, the United Kingdom and Canada and the greater interest shown by their government on strengthening mutual trade ties. The observation of the British Home Office in London to a member of its Parliament, Keven Hughes, on January 26, is an eye-opener to the fact that there is a see-change in the British outlook on the border state.

The two-page letter by Nicholas Baker, parliamentary under secretary of state, justifies the rejection of the asylum plea of Kashmir Singh, brother-in-law of the most wanted Khalistan Commando Force chief, Paramjit Singh Panjwar. He said the case was reviewed on the plea of nine British MPs paying particular attention to the current situation in Punjab and found it lacking in merit. Citing a report of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of December 1994, the Home Office noted that the prevailing situation in Punjab “bears little resemblance to that of even 18 months ago. From Indian press reports, the number of lives lost in Punjab from militants in 1992 was 4.000. In 1993, it was 394. In the first three quarters of 1994 there were only a few militant related incidents resulting in 51 reported deaths.

The communiqué further clinches the issue by remarking: “The democratic process in the area is now fully operational even at the lowest levels and the main Sikh party, the Akali Dal, is fully involved in the process. Legal processes are reasserting themselves and the courts have intervened on behalf of a number of detainees and several habeas corpus proceedings have been instituted. Everyday life is returning to normal with indus. trial and agricultural endeavor now flourishing.”

Baker further quotes the visit of the National Human Rights Commission of India to Punjab in April last to show that “life in urban and rural areas has largely returned to normal.” He has also taken due cognizance of the progress made by India on the human rights front, providing it a “new profile.” citing an order of the Supreme Court in September passing judgment on 51 police officers of the Uttar Pradesh found guilty of killing 10 Sikh pilgrims, Baker shows satisfaction that “the order expresses concern about complaints of custodial abuses and other human rights violations and calls on state authorities to take immediate corrective measures.”

The assurance given by the Union Home Minister in Parliament regarding a review of cases under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) to save innocent people, has also been found satisfactory.

The Home Office has also sent copies of the letter to Eric Avebury, Alan Keen, Jacques Amold, Niranjan Deva, John Spellar, Sir Harold Walker, Peter Skinner and Michael Ellitt, MPs who had taken up the case of Kashmir Singh.

As a result of such a perception of the situation here, Kashmir Singh, was illegally entered the UK in May 1993 was disqualified for refugee status first in August last and then in January. He was to be deported to India on January 25, which was later put off to January 30. But the last minute pleas again made by the nine British MPs, international human rights organization and the Amnesty International on his behalf have deferred his deportation for the time being as the case shall be reviewed afresh. He has been under arrest in Camps field House Immigration Detention Center since June 1993.

The governments of Canada and Germany too are acting tough on Punjabi asylum-seekers now and have recently deported several youths who have been in the news.

Mann Singh alias Hard cop Singh of Humbran village in Ludhiana district, entered Canada in December 1992 being a member of the All India Sikh Students Federation. He was deported about six months back and was immediately arrested by the police in Delhi and is presently lodged in jail at Moga in Faridkot district.

Likewise, Germany deported Devinderpal Singh of Bathinda a month ago and Kuldip Singh of Delhi

earlier.

However, the chairman of the International Human Rights Organization (IHRO), D.S. Gill, has stoutly opposed these deportations pleading that the life of those deported was in danger in Punjab. Narrating the fate of such deportees in the recent past, he alleged that they became immediate victims of police high handedness on landing and were either arrested, eliminated in stringed encounters or plainly disappeared.

Gill, who has taken up the cases of these deportees at various fore, in a status report sent to western embassies said that Kuldip Singh was tortured to death in custody in Delhi and Devinder Pal Singh and Mann Singh Sidhu were arrested. Besides, Harpal Singh Gosal and Maninder Singh Gill, who had come from Canada, had disappeared allegedly at the hands of the police.

Observing that this amply showed that human rights were still being violated here, Gill said these deportees were not extradited since the Government of India never asked for them but still they met such a fate, He has appealed to western governments not to collude in this violation of fundamental liberties.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 24, 1995