WASHINGTON,DC: ln a letter addressed to President Clinton 29 Congressmen have urged him to link US developmental aid to India to its admittance of Amnesty International into Punjab Khalistan for the purpose of investigating human rights  violations. It will be recalled that the President had on Dec 27 written to Congressman Gary Condit that human rights abuses still occur in the Sikh homeland and that we regularly raise our concerns about them with senior official in the Punjab government and the Indian government. In this context the new letter further strengthens the Presidents hand to assert upon the Indian government the need to respect Sikh rights.

The Congress letter uses the word Khalistan for the Sikh homeland the letter says Certainly it is reasonable that India which proclaims itself the world’s largest democracy be expected to yield its human rights performance to free and open international review. Without such investigation human rights abuses against the Sikhs as in the past are likely to continue

The letter has been signed by both Republicans and Democrats expressing their common concern. The letter was initiated by Congressman Roscoe Barnett of Maryland.

 In a press-release Dr.Gurmil Singh Aulakh president Council of Khalistan said this latest appeal to President Clinton continues the onslaught of American salvos against India’s policy of ethnic cleansing in Khalistan. India which receives $41 million in developmental aid annually last year suffered a $4.1 million cut from the aid package.

 Dear Mr President,

 The violence and bloodshed continues unabated in the Sikh homeland Punjab Khalistan Despite years of diplomatic pressure the Indian    Contentious W policy of brutal repression against the Sikh nation. Regrettably the Indian government has screened international open human rights record by preventing Amnesty International from investigating human rights abuses in Punjab Khalistan since We are concerned that the bloodshed end in Punjab Khalistan and that human rights organizations Such as Amnesty International be permitted to investigate human rights violations in the Sikh homeland. To this end we urge the administration to cut all developmental aid 9 India until the Indian: government permits Amnesty International to investigate human rights violations in Punjab Khalistan   Certainly it is reasonable that India which proclaims itself the world’s largest democracy be expected to yield its human rights Fide free and open international review. Without such investigation human rights abuses against the Sikh is as in the past are likely A nu

Indeed Amnesty International in its Dec 15,1993 report chronicles 80 cases in Punjab of persons who have disappeared as a result of ) Security force operations. No doubt these 80 cases are just the lip of the iceberg. Thousands of murders rapes and disappearances have Bone unreported   Punjab Khalistan because Amnesty International cannot document abuses first hand.

 In the past months the Indian government has claimed to have brought peace to Punjab Khalistan Notwithstanding such claims the Indian government refuses to repeal draconian laws which deny even the most basic human rights Using such laws the Indian government   has imprisoned tens of thousands of Sikhs according to the Movement Against State Repression. Last month 250 of these imprisoned Sikh   youth in Ajmer jail Rajasthan went on hunger strike because such laws have already detained them for three to Seven years with no hope of freedom insight. The United Nations Human Rights Commission has declared such laws as disturbing and compliably unacceptable

Punjab Chief of Police K.P.S.Gill stated on May 25 1993 that he would not allow human rights groups into Punjab until at least 1995. Such statements made by police officials rather than civilian authorities should raise concerns about the state of peace in Punjab

Khalistan on Oct.26,1993 the New York Times reported that in Punjab the new tranquility has been achieved by unleashing & reign of police terror. In light of these developments It is more urgent than ever that Amnesty International be permitted to investigate human rights atrocities in Punjab Khalistan. Cutting developmental aid to India which only amounts to $41 million is an effective way of communicating Americas concern for protection of human rights in the Sikh homeland. Undoubtedly the Indian government which spent $6.8 billion in conventional arms purchases from 1989 to 1992 has no pressing need for American developmental assistance.

Mr .President Indian repression should not be rewarded with U.S. tax dollars. We appreciate your administration’s efforts to place human rights high on America’s foreign policy agenda. However as in many places in the world the blood-letting continue in Punjab Khalistan. For years diplomatic pressure has failed to persuade the Indian government to allow international human rights organizations within its borders. In the meanwhile since 1984 over 115000 Sikhs have died at the hands of Indian police paramilitary forces death squads and Vigilante mobs. Asia Watch has reported that virtually everyone detained in Punjab is tortured. In addition Freedom House listed India as only partly free in December 1993.

The time has come for action such as cutting developmental assistance in order to persuade the Indian government to allow Amnesty International into Punjab Khalistan. America stands for freedom democracy self-determination mile of law and human rights. It should also champion these principles in the Sikh homeland. Mr President we urge you to link U.S. developmental aid to India to its admittance of Amnesty international into Punjab Khalistan for the purpose of investigating human rights violations.

Roscoe Bartlett  M.C. William J.Jefferson M.C. Peter T. King M.C.

Gary H. Condit M.C. Neil Abercrombie M.C. Floyd Flake M.C.

Dana Rohrabacher M.C. Wally Herger M.C. Edotphus Towns M.C. Pete Geren M.C. Arthur Rayenel M.C. John J.Duncan M.C. William O Lipinski M.C. James P.Moran M.C. Philip Crane M.C.

Leslie Byrne M.C.

Dan Burton M.C. George Miller M.C. Richard H.Lehman M.C. Dick Swett M

Karen Shephe

David A.Levy

Richard W.Po

Charles Wilso

George E. Brown M.C. Duncan Hunter M.C. Lincoln Dias-Balart M.C. James A. Hayes M.C. Dean Gallo. MC. Congress of the U.S. Washington DC

Article extracted from this publication >> February 18, 1994