[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 134 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 134

  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Sikh nation should be 
      allowed to exercise the right of self-determination for the 
           independence of their homeland, Punjab, Khalistan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 5, 1993

   Mr. Pete Geren of Texas (for himself, Mr. Burton of Indiana, Mr. 
 Condit, Mr. Flake, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Cox, Mr. Tucker, 
Mr. Crane, Mr. Underwood, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Lipinski, and Mr. Wilson) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Sikh nation should be 
      allowed to exercise the right of self-determination for the 
           independence of their homeland, Punjab, Khalistan.

Whereas the Sikh nation declared independence on October 7, 1987, forming the 
        separate country of Khalistan;
Whereas India has refused to allow Amnesty International and other human rights 
        organizations to conduct investigations in Punjab since 1978;
Whereas approximately 500,000 Indian security forces currently patrol the Sikh 
        homeland under undeclared martial law;
Whereas freedom is universally recognized as the birthright of all nations;
Whereas self-determination is enshrined in Article 1 of the United Nations 
        Charter;
Whereas in 1776 the American colonists exercised their right of self-
        determination by declaring their independence from England;
Whereas the Sikhs ruled Punjab from 1765 until it was annexed by the British in 
        1849;
Whereas Sikhs physically own 95 percent of the Punjab;
Whereas no Sikh nor any representative of the Sikh nation has ever signed the 
        Indian constitution;
Whereas the Sikh people and the leading Sikh political party, the Akali Dal, 
        boycotted elections under the Indian constitution on February 19, 1992, 
        to demonstrate their resolve for independence;
Whereas members of the Akali Dal again declared their resolve to attain 
        independence on April 13, 1993 (Baisakhi Day);
Whereas an independent Sikh homeland is economically, militarily, and 
        politically viable;
Whereas Khalistan will serve as a buffer state between India and Pakistan;
Whereas Sikhs are committed to the principles of freedom, justice, and 
        democracy;
Whereas an independent Sikh nation will help spread democracy and economic 
        prosperity throughout all of South Asia; and
Whereas the Sikh nation is the natural ally of the United States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the Sikhs of Khalistan, like all peoples of all 
        nations, have the right to self-determination and should be 
        allowed to exercise this right by pursuing the independence of 
        their homeland, Punjab, Khalistan; and
            (2) the United Nations should hold a plebiscite in the Sikh 
        homeland so that Sikhs can determine for themselves, under fair 
        and peaceful conditions, their political future.

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