Living in the free world it’s very hard for the average person to man Rights Abuses in India Usually to determine this factor we would depend on reports from the government’s freedom fighters media and unbiased organizations such as Amnesty International or Asia Watch This creates a very confusing situation when the government is corrupt. The freedom-fighters are underground due to the threats on their lives. Media is censured and is at the mercy of the government. At the same time International Human Rights Groups are not allowed to enter nor freely allowed to interview citizens of that state.

The latest example of media censor ship in Punjab is the attempt to defame the Peaceful attempt to boycott the “farce” elections held there. The Sikh Nation decided to peacefully demonstrate their objection’s other way elections were being held by calling a boycott. The Indian government agencies (R.A.W) in an attempt to create confusion stirred up a rumor that the freedom-fighters would kill the first five voters. When in fact no Sikh organization made any such statement Rathera statement was made by a contestant that he would give the first five voters a job if they voted for him (What Democracy?) He said this to encourage voter turn-out. At this time R.A.W. twisted that statement and made up the rumor that the militants would kill the first five voters.

We have seen how the media all over the world picked up these rumors and printed them as front page stories. Once again India has been successful in showing the Sikhs as terrorists when in fact they are the ones suppressing the Sikhs. The Sikh leadership could not answer these rumors due to the censorship on the media and fact that they are mostly underground. But we living in the free world must answer these false rumors.

For if we don’t anybody else is going to do it for us. We must express our views to the media there and let them determine from the facts who are the real terrorists.

You have to understand the complete situation in Punjab and realize: Who is trying to eliminate the Sikhs? Who is killing the Youth in fake encounters? Who is raping killing and looting? Who is not letting international Human Rights Groups enter Punjab and Why? If the Sikhs want AL Independent State Why doesn’t the government even sit down and listen to their logic and why they want an Independent State? Why are U.N.O. observers to place in Punjab to observe these crimes?

Article extracted from this publication >> April 17, 1992