[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 24, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1412-E1413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     END OF INDIA-PAKISTAN TALKS SIGNALS INSTABILITY IN SOUTH ASIA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2001

  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I was disappointed to see that the recent 
talks between Pakistan and India ended with no agreement due to India's 
intransigence. India wanted a statement that Pakistan was engaging in 
cross-border terrorism, when India itself is responsible for terrorism 
against its own people.
  Last month, a group of Indian soldiers tried to burn down a Gurdwara 
and some Sikh houses near Srinagar in Kashmir. This terrorist act was 
prevented by the efforts of townspeople of both the Sikh and Muslim 
faiths. In March 2000, during former President Clinton's visit to 
India, the government killed 35 Sikhs in Chithisinghpora, according to 
two independent investigations. The book Soft Target shows that India 
blew up its own airliner in 1985. 329 innocent people died in that 
explosion. The newspaper Hitavada report that the Indian government 
paid an official to generate state terrorism in Kashmir and in Punjab, 
Khalistan. According to a 1994 State Department report, the Indian 
government paid more than 41,000 cash bounties to police officers to 
kill Sikhs.
  Before the meeting, the Council of Khalistan wrote to President 
Musharraf. They noted that he and his government had been friendly to 
the Sikhs and their cause of freedom. They noted that in 1948 the 
Indian government promised the United Nations that it would hold a 
plebiscite so Kashmiris could decide their political status in a free 
and fair vote. This shouldn't be too hard for ``the world's largest 
democracy'' to do, but we are now more than halfway through 2001 and it 
hasn't been held yet. When does India plan to keep its promise?
  In addition, the people of Khalistan, the Sikh homeland, declared 
their independence from India on October 7, 1987 and the people of 
primarily Christian Nagaland are actively seeking theirs. In all, there 
are 17 freedom movements in India. When will these people be allowed by 
``the world's largest democracy'' to exercise their right to self-
determination? Self-determination is the birthright of all people and 
nations.
  Mr. Speaker, if America can do something to help bring democracy and 
freedom to South Asia, that is not only in our national interest, it is 
the right thing to do. Fortunately, there are measures we can take to 
help bring freedom, peace, and stability to that dangerous region. The 
time has come to stop providing American aid to India--remember, this 
is public money--until India begins to treat all its people fairly and 
ends the repression against the minorities. The other thing that we can 
do is strongly urge India to hold a plebiscite, not just in Kashmir as 
it promised in 1948, but in Khalistan, Nagalim, and everywhere else 
that people seek their freedom. This will help to defuse the tense 
situation in South Asia and enhance America's national security by 
bringing us new allies in the subcontinent.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's letter 
to President Musharraf into the Record for the information of my 
colleagues.

                                             Council of Khalistan,


                           Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Tenth Master,

                                     Washington, DC June 27, 2001.
     Hon. General Pervez Musharraf,
     President of Pakistan,
     Islamabad, Pakistan.
       Dear President Musharraf, On behalf of the Sikh Nation, I 
     congratulatle you on becoming President of Pakistan. We hope 
     and pray that this step will be useful for the people of 
     Pakistan, the Sikhs, and the people of South Asia.
       Soon you will be visiting India. We sincerely hope that 
     your visit will go well and will be productive to the cause 
     of peace and freedom in South Asia.
       While you are in India, I urge you to visit the Golden 
     Temple in Amritsar. The Sikhs who visited Nankana Sahib last 
     fall were so well treated that we know you are a friend of 
     the Sikh Nation. Your visit to the Golden Temple will enhance 
     your friendship with the Sikh nation.
       You are aware that India divided Pakistan through a war and 
     created the nation of Bangladesh. You are also aware that 
     India promised in 1948 to hold a plebiscite on the future of 
     Kashimir. Fifty-three years later, that plebiscite has still 
     not been held. The people of Punjab, Khalistan also seek 
     their freedom, and General Javed Nasir has endorsed the 
     achievement of Khalistan by peaceful means. In addition, 
     there are freedom movements in Nagalim, Tamil Nadu, Assam, 
     Manipur, and other nations under Indian occupation. Self-
     determination is the birthright of all peoples and nations. 
     Support for the freedom movements within India's borders 
     would also be in Pakistan's interest, as well as the interest 
     of

[[Page E1413]]

     peace, freedom, and stability in South Asia. In addition, it 
     would help to prevent another war between India and Pakistan.
       India has murdered over 250,000 Sikh since 1984, more than 
     75,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, over 200,000 Christians 
     in Nagaland since 1947, and tens of thousands of Dalits, 
     Tamils, Manipuris, Assamese, and others. It has admitted to 
     holding over 52,000 Sikh political prisoners without charge 
     or trial. Recently in Kashmir, Muslim and Sikh villagers 
     caught a group of Indian soldiers trying to burn down a 
     Gudwara and overpowered them. Is this the way of ``the 
     world's'' largest democracy''? Add to this the fact that 
     India started the nuclear arms race in South Asia with their 
     nuclear tests. India is a destabilizing and repressive 
     country seeking hegemony in the subcontinent.
       President Musharraf, I urge you to support the freedom 
     movements in Kashmir, Khalistan, Nagaland, and all the other 
     nations seeking their freedom from India. I urge you to press 
     the Indian government on this issue and urge them to hold a 
     free and fair plebiscite on the question of independence, 
     monitored by the international community. This would go a 
     long way towards establishing stability, peace, and freedom 
     in South Asia.
           Sincerely

                                      Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

                                                        President,
                                             Council of Khalistan.

     

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