[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PUNJAB REPORTER'S MAIL BEING SEIZED

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 1998

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, once again the truth has leaked out from 
behind the facade of Indian democracy. The Punjab government of Chief 
Minister Parkash Singh Badal has issued an order intercepting the mail 
of Sukhbir Singh Osan, a reporter based in Chandigarh who writes for 
numerous publications including Aj Di Awaaz.
  In addition to Mr. Osan, the superintendent of police, Mr. R.P. 
Singh, issued a written order to intercept the mail of ``five senior 
ex-Army officers and some politicians residing in Chandigarh,'' 
according to Burning Punjab News. Postal authorities verbally confirmed 
the existence of the order, but refused to put the confirmation in 
writing.
  This is not a new practice. In 1993, the Movement Against State 
Repression--and why does a democratic country need a ``Movement Against 
State Repression'' anyway?--went to court to get an injunction against 
the Home Secretary of the Union Territory, who was intercepting the 
mail of politicians and journalists. The High Court ruled the 
interceptions illegal, yet a mere five years later the Punjab 
government is doing the same thing. This is the reality of Indian 
``democracy.''
  Mr. Osan has been one of the few journalists with the courage to 
expose the repression, corruption, and police-state tactics of the 
Punjab government. For this, his civil rights are being violated, yet 
India and its friends here insist more loudly than ever that India is a 
``democracy.'' Clearly, it is not a democracy for Sukhbir Singh Osan 
and other political opponents of the Punjab government or for the 
minorities living under the repression of the state and central 
government. Couple this with the political detentions of several 
followers of Jasbir Singh Rode last August and the ongoing complaints 
against Sikh youth under the supposedly-expired ``Terrorist and 
Disruptive Activities Act'' (TADA), and you discover the real face of 
Indian democracy. Underneath that democratic veneer is a brutal police 
state unworthy of American aid or trade.
  I ask the American ambassador to India to raise this matter with the 
Government of India and to report back to the Congress on when this ban 
is going to be lifted. Journalists and all citizens must be free to 
receive information freely. Until India learns to respect freedom of 
the press, it has no right to call itself a democracy.
  I am inserting the article from Burning Punjab on the interception of 
Mr. Osan's mail into the Record. I hope my colleagues will take the 
time to read it.

                     CITY SCRIBE'S MAIL INTERCEPTED

       Chandigarh, January 22--The Punjab Government headed by 
     Parkash Singh Badal has ordered to intercept the mail of a 
     city scribe working for Aj Di Awaaz, five other ex-army 
     officers and a few politicians.
       According to the information, Punjab Intelligence SSP Mr. 
     R.P. Singh has directed his men in writing to collect the 
     mail of Sukhbir Singh Osan, five senior ex-army officers and 
     some politicians residing in Chandigarh.
       When contacted the postal authorities confirmed the 
     interception of mail by Punjab CID men. However, Postal 
     authorities refused to give anything in writing.
       It may be recalled that during 1993 President of Movement 
     Against State Repression, Mr. Inderjit Singh Jaijee, had 
     challenged in the Punjab & Haryana High Court the orders 
     issued by the U.T. Home Secretary to intercept the mail of 
     certain politicians and ten journalists. The High Court 
     described the said order not only unconstitutional but 
     illegal also. Sukhbir Singh Osan has invited the wrath of 
     Parkash Singh Badal and his police for daring to expose 
     corrupt practices of the Government in his dispatches from 
     time to time.

     

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