WSN Special Report STOCKTONCA: Responding to a call given by Panthak Committees the IHRO and others spearheading the movement for liberation and Human Rights in Khalistan (Punjab) Sikhs staged vocal but peaceful protest demonstrations throughout North America Europe and other parts of the world. In Punjab a protest rally was organized by IHRO at Khalsa College Amritsar Memorandums addressed to the UN Secretary General were forwarded to local Politicians and Representatives with copies to Amnesty International Asia Watch and other human rights groups. The petition calls upon the United Nations to take effective steps to stop the Human Rights Violations of the Sikhs and Kashmiris in India by Indian government India is fast becoming a theocratic state intolerant of any other community other than Hindus. A climate of fear has been installed in minority communities (especially Sikhs and Muslims) as atrocities against them still go unchecked.
The memorial lists said that killing of political activists had become a way of life and routine affair for Indian security forces. Torture rape and deaths in police custody were pervasive. Reports by Amnesty International Asia Watch and I.H.R.O. bore testimony. It was surprising that the UN had not raised its little finger against these violations.
The memorandum also referred to the demolition of Babri masjid by a combination of the government of India and the night wing Hindu groups such as B.J.P. V.H.P. and R.S.S. It asked the United Nations secretary general to view the recent developments at Ayodhya as a culmination of the Indian states campaign against the human rights of Sikhs Muslims and other minority groups.
New York: Thousands of Sikhs from Massachusetts Connecticut New York and New Jersey representing over 12 Sikh Gurdwara’s on the Eastern Coast and various Cont. on Page 14&15 other Sikh organizations participated in a major protest outside the United Nations in New York on Dec 101992. The United Nations was marking the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec.10, 1948.
Busloads of Sikhs assembled at Long Island City Queens New York. The cold winters and breezy December morning of New York did not deter them from marching for five miles over the East River to the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza through the streets and avenues of New York City on a busy working day. Prominent among those who participated were S.Ajit Singh Cheema S.Paramjit Singh Dhaliwal S.Tejinder Singh Kahlon S.Ujjagar Singh (of White Plains) Dr.Amarjit Singh of Khalistan Affairs Center Bhai Aviar Singh S.Kamikar Singh Grewal S.Jamail Singh Grewal S.Pritam Singh Grewal S.Charan Singh Kalsi of New Jersey S. Harbhajan Singh Gill (W.S.O. U.S.A.) S.Amarjit Singh Buttar President New England Sikh Study Circle Mass. S.Manbal Singh Mass. Dr.Gurcharan Singh New York Sardar Satjiwan Singh Khalsa.
The marchers were raising slogans like “Indian Democracy Shame shame; what we want Human Rights; Sikhs demand Human Rights; Khalistan Zindabad Sant Bhindranwale Zindabad.” At the head of the protest March was a 25×10 orange blimp stating “India out of Khalistan” with thousands of small fish type blimps stating “Sikhs want Human Rights.”
Washington D.C.: Sikhs took out a protest procession from White House which ended in front of Indian embassy where Dr.Rajwant Singh said““Draconian laws have been enacted aimed at oppressing peoples in Punjab Kashmir and minority regions of India where summary executions torture and detention without legal representation is routine and common place.
Women are being gang-raped. Tens of thousands of persons are languishing in jails under insufferable conditions without any legal representation or trials. Asia Watch and Physicians for Human Rights have reported that there have been politically motivated mass disappearances of citizens in these areas The IHRO is investigating a series of reports suggesting the killing of innocent civilians and political dissenters by government death squads. According to India Today “Truth has been the main victim of this functioning. Many of the cases of killing of militants as reported to the police and dutifully carried by newspapers are plain disinformation.”
In Ayodhya India recent events have shown the insensitivity of the Indian Government to maintaining basic freedom of religion. The sacred Muslim mosque in Ayodhya was destroyed by members of a Hindu fundamentalist Party (Bhartiya Janata Patyy) and of the World Hindu Council (Vishwa Hindu Parishad). The demolition of the mosque isa culmination of a series of events which include the storming of the Golden Temple of the Sikhs in Amritsar India in 1984 sub-sequent-anti-Sikh riots and frequent Hindu-Muslim riots. These are reflections of current policy of the New Delhi Government towards minorities
New Delhi not heeded international protests such as the United Nations recommendations that India review those laws that are in clear violation of civil and political rights. U.S. House of Representatives voted to cut aid to India in an appropriations bill this year due to India’s abominable human rights record.
We the International Human Rights Org. therefore urge the United Nations and the United States and all people who stand for justice to become the voice of those multitudes that have been made helpless and of those voices have been silenced forever.
Chicago: Sikhs held a rally in front of Indian Consulate and raised slogans against the barbaric Indian govt. Jagdishwer Singh Ghuman Secy. Gurdwara Committee took Indian Govt to task for its treatment of minorities. Surinderpal Singh Kalra and A.Sheikh who is a Kashmiri leader asked Sikhs and Muslims to join hands against their common enemy Brahmanism.
Seattle Washington: Though there was a snowstorm and disruption of traffic still some Sikhs held a demonstration in front of the federal building. Memorandum was forwarded on behalf of the local Sikh organizations.
Detroit MI: Memorandum was presented to the Mayor on behalf of local Sikh community which detailed atrocities which govt. of India is perpetuating on its innocent citizens particularly Sikhs and Muslims.
Dallas TX: Media-men were briefed about Indian violation of human rights Jim Landers of The Dallas Morning News was thanked for his objective journalism in exposing Hindu fundamentalism.
Los Angeles CA: Sikhs and Muslims came together in holding a peaceful protest in front of City Hall which lasted three hours.
San Jose CA: Sikhs and Muslims held a vocal but peaceful protest in front of federal buildings which drew large crowd attention Different local TV channels and press reporters were present in good strength to cover the event Although it was raining the enthusiastic crowd was not deterred and chanted slogans of “Free Punjab Kashmir.” Speakers strongly condemned the barbarian attack on Babri mosque and demanded an end to killing of minorities.
The speakers were: S.Ram Singh, S.Jaswinder Singh Jandi Dr.Pritpal Singh Bhai Davinder Singh S.Harkanwal Singh SJatinder Singh Hundal S.Jagroop Singh Mr.Husson J.Hamdani and Mr Shameen Ziadi Muslim leaders.
Vancouver Canada: Hundreds of Sikhs and Muslims gathered at Robson Square and showed their anger and resentment at continuous Violations of human fights in India. The rally was organized by BC branch of International Sikh Youth Federation. Participants showed solidarity with the Muslims on Babri mosque issue.
Toronto: The United Nations Assoc of Canada called a convention at the Toronto Metro Center to focus on the Human Rights issue. Participation of Kurds Somali’s Guatemalans and Vietnamese added to the successful day.
The Sikh community was represented by Narinder Pal Singh Baljit S.Bajwa Surjit S.Gill and Gurdev S.Gill (coordinator of IHRO North America).
Gurdev Gill addressed the gathering and gave details of the Violations of the Human Rights of Indias Sikhs and Kashmiris Stating that the governments behavior proved it was a false democracy and the west has been quiet about it.
Indian secular government attacked Sikhs Holy Place in 1984 (Darbar Sahib). Since then women are raped houses were looted by policemen thousands are kept in jail without trial. Daily at least 20 youth Sikh boys are killed in fake encounters. And now attack on Muslim demolition of Babri mosque.
They presented a memorandum o U.N. Secretary General the IHRO Book on Human Rights violations in India.
London England: Hundreds of Sikhs and Muslims denounced 8OV1. of India for the atrocities on the citizens of Khalistan Kashmir and other nationalists struggling for their freedom The demonstration was jointly organized by England branch of IHRO and International Sikh youth federation England. Memorandum presented on the letterhead of THRO gave detailed cases where innocent people were murdered after being arrested by police. The demonstration organized by IHRO (Europe) outside the offices of the United Nations in London was an unqualified success. This demonstration was supported by other major Sikh organizations including the International Sikh Youth Federation Babar Khalsa International Government in Exile Akhand Kinani Jatha and representatives of various Sikhs Gurdwara’s in the U.K.
The president and the vice president of IHRO Barrister Harjit Singh and Gurdial Singh Avwal Presented a petition in the presence of Balwinder Singh Narinderjit Singh Balbir Singh and Sewa Singh Lali to the officer of the U.N in London who promised to send the petition to their head office in New York Similar demonstrations were held in Brussels (Belgium) Paris (France) Bonn (Germany) and Amsterdam (Holland). In Brussels the Petition was presented by Peter Lindt (Vice President I.H.R.O.) In Bonn the Petition was presented by Sukhwinder Singh (Vice President IHRO) in Holland by Amrik Singh (Executive Member) in Paris by Gurdial Singh (Associate Secretary). The petition was also sent to Geneva the Center for Human Rights Similar demonstration were held in Auckland (New Zealand) and Sidney (Australia) Toronto and Vancouver.
Amritsar: A dozen social political and religious groups of Punjab including International Human Rights Organization saw more than 500 people attend the convention and protest that sought United Nations intervention to stop India’s campaign against human rights of the people of Punjab and Kashmir.
The groups which signed the memorandum include apart from I.H.R.O. the International Democratic Party All India Youth Akali Dal Baba Akali Dal Sikh Students Federation Khalsa College Teachers Union Daman Virodhi Front Punjab Sikh Lawyers Council Takhat Sri Patna Saheb Parbendhak Committee Samajwadi Janata Party Punjab Sikh Vichar Manch Sikh Information Center and Bairagi Saints Institutions.
The protest convention attended by more than 500 persons unanimously endorsed the IHROs memorandum and added the following resolution:
“The House strongly condemns the storming of the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya and holds responsible for this the Indian Government and the BJP and its frontal organizations like the RSS the VHP and the Bajrang Dal. The House calls upon the world nations to exert their diplomatic pressure on the Indian Government to hand over the demolished mosque to the Muslims so that they can rebuild it according to their own tenets.”
About two dozen political parties non-party groups NGOs and religious institutions participated in the convention Almost all the speakers at the convention took a serious notice of the fact that the UN did not pay any attention to the rights issue in India particularly Punjab and Kashmir where they said the human rights situation was very grave. The important speakers included Kirpal Singh ex-MP (President of the Chicf Khalsa Divan and the Punjab Janata Morcha) Manjit Singh Kadian General Secretary Bharti Kisan Union BKU (Indian Farmers Union) Faiz Ahmed and Eru (Islamic Students Assoc.) Tarsem Chand Mansa (International Democratic Party IDP) Jaswant Singh Khalra President Damon Virodhi Front (Front Against Repression) Garmanjit Singh Jammu of the Babbar Sikh Vidyarthi Jathebandi (Babbar Sikh Students Org.) Sukhbir Singh Khalsa (Sikh Students Federation) Daljit Singh Sandhu (Mann Akali Dal) Iqbal Singh Tung (Baba Akali Dal) Sarbjit Singh Gumtala (All India Youth Akali Dal) Giani Jagmohan Singh (Gurmat Missionary College Ludhiana) Dr.Mehar Singh (Medicos Association) and Dr.Gurbachan Singh Saini of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Association (PAUTA).
The presidium of the convention consisted of Dr.JInderjit Kaur of the Pingalwara Amritsar Bhai Kalyan Singh General Secretary Takht Sri Patna Sahib (Bihar) Dr.T.S.Chahal President Khalsa College Teachers Union Professor Balwinder Singh Head Department of Journalism (Khalsa College) and IHRO Chairman D.S.Gill.
The memorandum pointed out that representatives of the dozen odd groups met at Khalsa College Amritsar on Dec10 the UN sponsored human rights day to express their resentment against the U.N. lack of action against India and its fascist ways.
The groups also called upon ail Akali groups to build a strong mass movement against Indian government’s repressive politicies. In another resolution the groups held the Indian prime minister and the Hindu fundamentalist organizations responsible for the demolition Babri masjid at Ayodhia. They called upon the world public opinion to build up pressure on India to hand over the Babri site to Muslims so that they could rebuild the masjid The groups also asked militants to own or disown every incident involving loss of innocent human life.
Reports of Demonstrations and memorandums presentations are still pouring in.
Special thanks to all of the correspondents who contributed to this report including Dr. Amarjit Singh Dr. Rajwant Singh S. Balwinder Pal Singh S. Gurdey Singh Gill S Amajit Singh Buttar.-Editor.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 30, 1992
