[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.

                          ____________________