[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
SIKH NATION THANKS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA
______
HON. GARY A. CONDIT
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, March 17, 1994
Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to direct your attention to the
overwhelming gratitude of Sikhs around the world for President
Clinton's support of the protection of Sikh rights in a letter to me
dated December 27.
Specifically, the President stated in his letter that he desires a
peaceful solution to the crisis in the Sikh homeland that protects Sikh
rights.
President Clinton's letter was in response to a November 17 letter to
the President that I initiated, asking the President to diplomatically
intervene to resolve the crisis in Khalistan. The letter was signed by
23 additional bipartisan Members of Congress.
Various Sikh leaders throughout the Sikh homeland, Punjab, Khalistan,
have issued statements supporting President Clinton's remarks. I am
including for the record, a memorandum presented on February 21, 1994
to the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, by Col. Pratap Singh, President of
the Khalsa Raj Party. The Khalsa Raj Party advocates liberation for the
Sikh homeland through peaceful and democratic means. As you may recall,
Col. Pratap Singh was arrested and held in detention for 4 months in
1992 because of the freedom aspirations of the Khalsa Raj Party.
In his memorandum, Col. Pratap Singh places on record the Sikh
Nation's, deep appreciation and gratitude to President Bill Clinton,
the Congress and the people of the United States of America for their
articulation of Sikh grievances. The memorandum also places on record,
our appreciation of the American Sikhs, in particular the Council of
Khalistan headed by Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, for their contribution in
bringing awareness among the people and the Government of the United
States of the true situation of the beleaguered Sikh Nation in India.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Khalsa Raj Party's memorandum, and I
recognize the danger that Col. Pratap Singh is in by even submitting
this memorandum of thanks. On February 12, The Tribune in Chandigarh,
Punjab reported that Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh threatened to
arrest Sikh leaders for only planning to hold a rally in support of
President Clinton. As a matter of grave concern, I urge the Government
of India not to torture or harass any of the Sikh leaders for
supporting President Clinton's statement.
Besides the Khalsa Raj Party, the Akali Dal (Mann) organized a
thanksgiving meeting for President Clinton in Ludhiana on February 16,
1994. The Akali Dal (Mann) also led a delegation of Sikh leaders to the
U.S. Embassy in New Delhi on February 21, 1994 and submitted a
memorandum of thanks signed by all major Sikh political, social, and
human rights groups. Also, a group of professors from Punjab University
signed a statement on February 5, 1993, saying according to the
February 6 edition of The Tribune, that the U.S. President had done a
service to the state by suggesting to the Government of India to
respect the rights of the Sikhs according to the U.N. Charter.
Unfortunately, the President of the Akali Dal (Mann), Mr. Simranjit
Singh Mann, was unable to personally present the Sikh memorandum of
thanks to the U.S. Embassy because he has been held in detention the
past 2 months for calling for an independent, sovereign Sikh state
through peaceful and democratic means.
At present, Mr. Mann is being jailed by the Indian government under
antidemocratic, draconian laws declared, disturbing and completely
unacceptable by the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Similarly,
Asia Watch has called for the complete repeal of the draconian laws
that hold Mr. Mann in jail.
I find it unconscionable that the Indian government can detain a
person who is only peacefully asking the Indian government to recognize
the Sikh right of self-determination. It is time the right of self-
determination be exercised in the Sikh homeland, without the further
loss of life or denial of human rights.
As a matter of grave concern, I ask that Mr. Mann not be tortured or
harassed by the Indian government, as he has been in the past. I also
demand that Mr. Mann be immediately released and allowed to continue
all peaceful and democratic activities for the freedom of the Sikh
nation.
In addition to the Khalsa Raj Party memorandum, I am including three
articles from The Tribune that clearly demonstrates the wide scope of
support in the Sikh homeland, Punjab, Khalistan for President Clinton's
support of Sikh rights. A press release from the Council of Khalistan
concerning the Khalsa Raj Party memorandum is also included. I am also
including the letter I received from President Clinton on December 27,
1993.
I hope my colleagues in the U.S. Congress understand the message of
hope and love that President Clinton has sent to the Sikh Nation, and
the gratitude the Sikh Nation has expressed in return. As for many
nations, America is truly a beacon of freedom and democracy for the
Sikh Nation and its brave people.
Memorandum
(Presented to US Embassy, New Delhi on February 21, 1994)
This memorandum is prepared jointly by the political
parties, human rights, religious, social and farmers
organizations representing the Sikhs living in the Punjab and
other states of India to place on record their deep
appreciation and gratitude to President Bill Clinton, the
Congress and the people of the United States of America for
their articulation of Sikh grievances from time to time. The
latest letter dated Dec. 27, 1993 by the President in reply
to Representative Gary Condit and 23 other Congressmen who
jointly wrote to the President highlighting persistent state
repression and violation of human rights of the Sikhs in
Punjab, Khalistan. Although Mr. Clinton's letter was true,
though mild, reflection of the state of affairs, it caused a
furor in this country. The Congress party and its government
at the Centre and some states reacted sharply, criticizing in
the vilest language President Clinton, holding government
sponsored anti-U.S. demonstrations and burning his effigies.
One such demonstration was held in front of the US Embassy in
Delhi, personally organized by the Chief Minister of Punjab.
It will be pertinent to note that the ``Sikh rights'' which
the President has mentioned in his letter have been
consistently violated by the Indian state ever since
Independence in 1947. For example, the promises made to the
Sikhs during long years of freedom struggle were broken in
letter and spirit once the very same leaders of the Congress
who had made solemn commitments became India's rulers. The
constitution framed was so inimical to the Sikh interests
that their representatives in the Constituent Assembly
refused to sign that document in protest.
The first 36 years after independence saw intermittent
peaceful agitations launched by the Sikhs to secure their
right, viz, establishment of the promised autonomous region
in the Sikh majority area, creation of federal structure,
demarcation of Punjabi speaking state and for the protection
of the minorities interests. All these issues were fully
debated and agreed upon at numerous fora before independence.
the Sikhs, who were the third equal party besides Hindus and
Muslims during the parleys for transfer of power from British
to Indians, had the option to join India or Pakistan.
Pakistan leadership had offered them permanent share in
sovereignty at the Centre and the province of British Punjab
which would have resulted in Pakistan's Eastern border beyond
Delhi.
Notwithstanding, the Sikhs threw in their lot with India
for historic and contemporary reasons even though 50 percent
of their population uprooted from the fertile lands of
Pakistan. It was thus a partnership between India and the
Sikhs based on moral, ethical, and mutual understanding. But
every term of the ``partnership'' was repeatedly violated by
the stronger partner, India. With the use of naked power the
Sikhs have been reduced to second class citizens and their
homeland turned into a vassal state, far worse than they had
experienced during the hundred years British rule over
Punjab.
With evil intent to keep the Sikhs under subjugation, their
holiest shrines all over the Punjab were attacked by the
major part of the Indian army reducing some of them to rubble
in June 1984 through the utterly uncalled for Operation
``Blue Star'', killing thousands of Sikhs in the process.
After Indira Gandhi's assassination, a consequence of brutal
oppression of the Sikh people, the Indian government headed
by her son, Rajiv Gandhi, mounted a genocidal campaign to
exterminate the Sikhs later that year in which many more
Sikhs perished, large numbers of their womenfolk were rape
and abducted, and billions worth of properties destroyed.
Anti Sikh policies have been pursued ruthlessly ever since.
Over hundred thousand Sikhs have been butchered since ``Blue
Star''. Extrajudicial killings, rape, torture, extortion,
custodial crimes and various other forms of atrocities have
been perpetrated on the community at an enormous scale. There
is total Police Raj in the Punjab which has patronage of the
Central government. Security forces have been given carte
blanche to commit any crime with impunity. They are
accountable to no higher administrative or political
authority. the so-called ``popular'' government in the Punjab
is the result of boycott of elections in Feb. 1992 by Sikh
political parties. It has no mandate of the people. Even
after massive rigging with open help of the police and
paramilitary forces, less than 8% voted for the Congress. In
effect, it is an extension of the Central rule which had been
undemocratically imposed for a record period in the Punjab.
Democracy, rule of law and even the rights enshrined in the
constitution have long ceased to apply to the Sikhs. Through
draconian legislation, the judiciary has been marginalized.
The Sikh homeland has been virtually transformed into a vast
Auswhitz camp.
The Sikhs continue to live under the shadow of bayonets and
bullets. Justice-political, social, and economic--is totally
denied to them. For nearly 15 years international human
rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Asia
Watch have not been allowed to investigate the Punjab. India
has to much to hide.
President Clinton's statement on violation of Sikh rights
has not come a day soon. Had the international community
protested in the wake of ``Blue Star'' and genocide of the
Sikhs in 1984, tens of thousands of innocent lives would have
been saved, the Sikh women would not have suffered the trauma
of rape and dishonor and, above all, the Indian state would
have been forced to establish the rule of law and to observe
civilized behavior.
Being dispossessed and stateless, the Sikhs have no means
of voicing their anguish to the International organizations
like the UNO. Likewise, they are greatly handicapped in
explaining their case to foreign governments. They are,
therefore, particularly beholden to the United States of
America for the concern shown in this critical period of
their history. They further seek support in their just
cause for right of self-determination under the provision
of the International Covenant on Civil and Political
rights to which India is a signatory.
We would also like to place on record our appreciation of
the American Sikhs, in particular the Council of Khalistan
headed by Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, for their contribution in
bringing awareness among the people and the government of the
USA of the true situation of the beleaguered Sikh nation in
India. Thanks to their sustained efforts, Khalistan has
already been admitted to UNPO, a milestone in the march
toward establishment of a sovereign Sikh state.
Thank you President Clinton.
Thank you, the great people of the United States of
America.
Lt. Col. Pratap Singh, Retd.
President.
____
[Press Release]
sikh leaders applaud president clinton's comments
Washington, DC, February 25, 1994.--Colonel Pratap Singh,
President of the Khalsa Raj Party, submitted a memorandum
this past Monday to the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, applauding
President Clinton's support for ``Sikh rights.''
Submitted on February 21, 1994, the memorandum says: ``We
would also like to place on record our appreciation of the
American Sikhs, in particular the Council of Khalistan headed
by Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, for their contribution in
bringing awareness among the people and government of the USA
of the true situation of the beleaguered Sikh nation in
India.''
The memorandum's appreciation of the Council of Khalistan's
efforts demonstrates the links between Sikh leadership inside
and outside of Khalistan. It is also significant positive
recognition of the ardently proindependence Council of
Khalistan, from the leadership within Khalistan.
``President Clinton's support for `Sikh rights' in his
letter to Congressman Gary Condit, has become a beacon of
hope for the Sikh leadership in Khalistan,'' said Dr. Gurmit
Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan. ``It has
invigorated their determination to bring peace, justice,
self-determination, rule of law, and freedom to the Sikh
homeland, Khalistan.''
Along with Colonel Pratap Singh, Sikh intellectuals, Sikh
human rights groups, and all Akali Dal parties submitted
memorandums to the U.S. Embassy on February 21 applauding
President Clinton's comments.
____
[From the Tribune, Feb. 22, 1994]
Akalis Present Memo to U.S. Embassy
New Delhi.--Even as several political parties and
organizations have criticised President Bill Clinton for his
comments on Sikh rights, Akalis from Punjab today marched to
the US embassy here to express their gratitude to the USA for
raising the issue of human rights violations in Punjab.
The Akali leaders of the Mann faction were joined by
several human rights activists from Punjab, including Justice
Ajit Singh Bains, Mr. D.S. Gill and Mr. Inderjit Singh
Jaijee, convener of the movement against the state
repression.
Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Chief of
Mission, US Embassy, putting on record their thanks to Bill
Clinton for expressing concern for the Sikhs who according to
the Akalis, had been denied civil and political rights by the
Indian state.
Bill Clinton's statement on the Sikhs had debunked the
decade-old propaganda against the Sikhs aimed at defaming
them in the eyes of the world, the memorandum said.
The memorandum was also signed by other senior Akali
leaders like SGPC chief G.S. Tohra, Mr. Jagdev Singh Talwandi
and Mr. Pratap Singh Gill.
Prominent Akali leaders among the marchers were Akali Dal
(Mann) acting president Sant Ajit Singh, Mr. Sucha Singh
Chhotepur, Mr. Ram Singh and Mr. Charanjit Singh Walia.
Later, addressing a press conference, party general
secretary Jagmohan Singh alleged that despite tall claims of
the Punjab government, the peace had not returned to the
state. ``Instead, the people had been silenced with the
excessive use of force by the government'', he said.
The general secretary alleged that the state police with
active assistance of security forces were still committing
``excesses'' on the people and ``police encounters'' were
still the order of the day.
He said the memorandum submitted to the US embassy today
had carried wide consensus of all shades of Akalis, Sikh
intellectuals and human rights organisations, who had
participated in a seminar at Ludhiana a few days ago on the
issue of human rights violations and Bill Clinton's comments
on ``Sikh rights''.
Earlier, the Youth Congress workers led by Maninderjit
Singh Bitta staged a demonstration in front of the embassy
here protesting Bill Clinton's remarks on the Sikhs and
described them as an interference in the internal affairs fo
the county.
[From the Tribune, Feb. 6, 1994]
Former V-C Supports Clinton's Stand
Patiala.--Former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University Dr
Bhagat Singh and more university teachers have supported
American President Bill Clinton's position regarding the
violation of human rights in Punjab.
In a signed statement, the former Vice-Chancellor and a
group of university teachers said the Centre and the state
government had been treating Punjab as a law and order
problem in utter disregard to the right of its people to
``grow according to their cultural heritage''.
The U.S. President had done a service to the people of the
state by suggesting to the Government of India to respect the
rights of the Sikhs according to the U.N. Charter. A
political settlement and approval of the international
community, rather than repression were the solution to the
problem that was estranging the Sikhs who were a vital
cultural community of this subcontinent, the statement said.
The signatories to the statement were Dr Balkar Singh,
Head, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Studies, Dr Gurnam Kaur, Reader
in the same department, Mr Surinder Singh, Reader in the
Department of Punjabi Development, Dr Darshan Singh, Reader
in Religious Studies, Dr Jagtar Singh, Lecturer, Library
Science, Dr Gurnek Singh, Lecturer in Encyclopaedia of
Sikhism, Dr Gurtarn Singh, Lecturer in the Department of
Punjabi, Dr Balwinder Kaur Brar, Reader in the Department of
Punjabi, Dr Harbans Singh Kohli, Reader in the Chemistry,
Department, Mr Himmat Singh, Reader in the Sri Guru Granth
Sahib Studies Department, Dr Kirandeep Kaur, Lecturer in the
Education and Community Services Department, Dr K.S. Sidhu,
Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Dr Jagtar Singh,
Reader in the Department of Chemistry, Dr H S Sahota, Head of
the Physics Department, Dr Hari Singh Boparai, Reader,
Department of Correspondence Courses.
Yet another section of faculty members of the university
have flayed the comments of Mr Clinton.
In a written statement issued by Dr K.C. Singhal and signed
by 11 faculty members, they said the statements on India,
particularly with reference to Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab
were motivated.
They said the track record of the USA itself on the issue
of human rights had been poor. It had brazenly violated human
rights of Vietnamese by bombing civilian areas in early
seventies. More recently, it had bombed civilian population
of Iraq. It has been supporting the ``puppet regime'' of
South Africa in denying basic human rights to the black
population.
[From the Sunday Tribune, Jan. 30, 1994]
Dal (Mann) Hails Clinton's Comments
Patiala.--The Akali Dal (Mann) in a statement issued here
yesterday by its general secretary, Mr. Charanjit Singh
Walia, has appreciated the response of the President of the
USA, Mr. Bill Clinton, to the letter of 24 US Congressmen
seeking a peaceful solution to the aspirations of the Sikhs.
Mr. Walia said that this illustrated the increasing concern
of the international community towards the plight of the
``Sikh nation''.
He said Sikhs view the American President's comments as a
ray of hope for social justice and democracy.
Mr. Walia said that every effort hitherto made to seek a
solution within the parameters of the Indian constitution had
failed.
He said that instead of hiding behind the smoke screen of
``pseudo-secularism and artificial integrity'' of the
country, the Centre must open a dialogue with the ``Sikh
nation'' to discuss peaceful solution to the Sikh issue.
The White House,
Washington, DC, December 27, 1993.
Hon. Gary A. Condit,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Gary: I want to respond to the letter you and a number
of colleagues sent me on the human rights situation of the
Sikhs in Punjab. I am aware of the chronic tensions between
the Indian government and the Sikh militants, and share your
desire for a peaceful solution that protects Sikh rights.
I am pleased there have been some recent improvements in
the Sikhs' situation: a series of elections with increasing
voter turnout since 1992 has restored local self-government;
the level of violence has declined; and federal authorities
have begun to focus on ways to end police abuses. It is clear
that abuses still occur, however, and we regularly raise our
concerns about them with senior officials in the Punjab
government and the Indian government.
Human rights is an important issue in U.S.-Indian
relations. We will continue to make our concerns known to the
New Dehli authorities, and I will look forward to your
continuing advice as we proceed.
Sincerely,
Bill.
____________________