[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 25284]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              CONGRATULATIONS TO THE COUNCIL OF KHALISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN T. DOOLITTLE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 26, 2000

  Mr. DOOLITTLE. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, the Council of 
Khalistan held its international convention in Fort Lauderdale, 
Florida. The Council of Khalistan leads the peaceful struggle to 
liberate the Sikh homeland, Punjab, Khalistan. I would like to 
congratulate the Council on a very successful convention.
  Delegates came from all around the United States, Canada, and even as 
far away as Great Britain. They engaged in extensive discussion of 
plans to liberate Khalistan, and they passed resolutions for 
independence, human rights, and self-determination. The convention 
opened on October 7, which is the anniversary of Khalistan's 
declaration of independence from India.
  Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, who is the President of the Council of 
Khalistan, has been a tireless advocate for his people and has made 
himself a well-known presence in the halls of Congress by his 
persistence over the last thirteen years or so. He also fights for 
human rights of Christians, Muslims, and anyone else who is being 
oppressed by India. His tireless efforts have helped to keep this issue 
alive, and I salute him for this work. His struggle merits our support.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit the Council of Khalistan's press release on its 
convention for the Record.

          [Council of Khalistan, Press Release, Oct. 10, 2000]

   Council International Convention Very Successful--Delegates Very 
                        Enthusiastic and Upbeat


          Free Khalistan Essential for Survival of Sikh Nation

       Washington, D.C., October 10, 2000--The annual convention 
     of the Council of Khalistan, held this weekend in Fort 
     Lauderdale, Florida, was very successful. Delegates came from 
     all over the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. 
     The delegates were very enthusiastic and their spirit was 
     very upbeat (charhdi kala). They expressed appreciation for 
     the work of the Council of Khalistan, the government pro 
     tempore of Khalistan, the Sikh homeland that was declared 
     independent on October 7, 1987.
       Very candid discussion was held concerning the Sikh Nation 
     and its struggle for independence. The delegates agreed that 
     the liberation of Khalistan is essential for the survival of 
     the Sikh Nation. The delegates agreed to contribute one (1) 
     percent of their annual incomes to the Washington office and 
     to ask others to do the same.
       Delegates passed resolutions calling for the liberation of 
     the Sikh homeland, Khalistan, through a Shantmai Morcha 
     (peaceful agitation), for self-determination, demanding the 
     release of political prisoners in Punjab, calling for the 
     formation of a Khalsa Raj Party in Punjab, condemning the 
     Sikh Youth of America for inviting Simranjit Singh Mann to 
     their convention, and many others. The delegates decided that 
     next year's convention will be held on Columbus Day weekend, 
     2001, in Atlanta, Georgia.
       Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of 
     Khalistan, expressed satisfaction at the success of the 
     convention. ``I would like to thank everyone who helped to 
     make this convention so successful,'' he said, ``especially 
     the Fort Lauderdale Gurdwara and Sardar Manmohan Singh 
     Randhawa, who took all the reservations and helped to 
     organize the convention. The success of this convention and 
     the fact that people came from great distances to be there 
     send a strong message to the Indian government that Sikhs 
     demand an independent, sovereign Khalistan,'' he said.
       Other resolutions that were passed at the conventions 
     included resolutions demanding that human-rights groups be 
     allowed to operate in Punjab, where they have not been 
     allowed since 1978, nominating Dr. Aulakh for the Nobel Peace 
     Prize, naming Dr. Aulakh Khalistan Man of the Year 2000, 
     calling on all Gurdwaras to support the freedom struggle, 
     demanding leaders with vision, appreciating the Council of 
     Khalistan, to raise money for the Council's office, and 
     urging Sikhs and youth to get involved in the political 
     process. A committee was formed to find new leadership if 
     anything should happen to Dr. Aulakh and also support and 
     advise the Council of Khalistan in its effort to expedite the 
     liberation of Khalistan.
       ``It is appropriate that the convention opened on the 
     anniversary of Khalistan's declaration of independence,'' Dr. 
     Aulakh said. He noted that Sikhs ruled Punjab until 1849 when 
     the British forcibly annexed it into British India. No Sikh 
     representative has ever signed the Indian constitution.
       Thousands of Sikhs languish in prisons without charge or 
     trial, according to Amnesty International. Between 1993 and 
     1994, 50,000 Sikhs were made to disappear by Indian forces. 
     More than 250,000 Sikhs have been killed since 1984. Over 
     200,000 Christians have been killed since 1947 and over 
     70,000 Kashmiri Muslims have been killed since 1988. In 
     March, during President Clinton's visit to India, the Indian 
     government murdered 35 Sikhs in the village of Chithi 
     Singhpora, Kashmir. Two independent investigations and an 
     Amnesty International report have confirmed the government's 
     responsibility. The Indian Supreme Court described the 
     situation in Punjab as ``worse than a genocide.''
       ``India is on the verge of disintegration,'' said Dr. 
     Aulakh. ``Kashmir is going to be free. Khalistan will also be 
     free during this decade, by the grace of Guru. Guru gave 
     sovereignty to the Sikh Nation,'' he said. ``This convention 
     was a step forward in that effort.''





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