[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 27978-27979]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       NEWSPAPER SAYS INDIAN GOVERNMENT KNEW OF PARLIAMENT ATTACK

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2001

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, the recent attack on India's 
Parliament by terrorists must be condemned. While there are

[[Page 27979]]

many legitimate grievances against the Indian government, terrorism is 
never acceptable. Nevertheless, the Deccan Chronicle, an Indian 
newspaper, reported something very interesting about the recent attack. 
It reported that the Indian government knew about the attack in advance 
and did nothing. Thirteen people, including the terrorists, lost their 
lives as a result of the attack.
  Mr. Speaker, India has a history of supporting terrorism and making 
it look like the work of others in order to condemn people who oppose 
the actions of the Indian government and to justify their own attacks 
on these targets. According to Soft Target, published in 1989 by two 
Canadian journalists, the Indian government blew up its own airliner in 
1985, killing 329 innocent people, including some Americans, to create 
the impression of ``Sikh terrorism'' and enhance its repression of the 
Sikhs. In November 1994, the Hitavada newspaper reported that the 
Indian government paid Surendra Nath, who was then the governor of 
Punjab, the equivalent of $1.5 billion to generate and support 
terrorist activity in Kashmir and Punjab, Khalistan.
  While I appreciate recent words of support from the Indian Government 
regarding America's war against terrorism, it is important that we do 
not forget some recent actions by the very same government. For 
example, in May 1999, the Indian Express reported that the Indian 
Defense Minister convened a meeting with the Ambassadors from Cuba, 
Communist China, Russia, Serbia, Libya, and Iraq--the latter two known 
terrorist nations and potential targets in the ongoing effort to 
eradicate terror--to set up a security alliance ``to stop the U.S.''.
  It is also important to re-examine India's own human rights record in 
a number of areas. It has been reported that India represses its 
Christian minority. Specifically, it has been reported that nuns have 
been raped, priests have been murdered, and a missionary and his two 
sons were burned to death. The media reports that numerous churches 
have been burned. A few years ago, police gunfire closed a Christian 
religious festival. In addition, the pro-Fascist RSS, the parent 
organization of the ruling party, published a booklet detailing how to 
bring false criminal complaints against Christians and other 
minorities. Press reports indicate that Prime Minister Vajpayee 
promised a New York audience that he would ``always be'' remain a 
member this organization.
  Since 1984, certain human rights organizations have reported that the 
Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs. Since 1947, over 
200,000 Christians have been killed, and since 1988, over 75,000 
Kashmiri Muslims have been killed. In addition, tens of thousands of 
other minorities, such as Dalit ``untouchables,'' Tamils, Assamese, 
Manipuris, and others have been killed.
  A May report issued by the Movement Against State Repression cited 
the Indian government's admission that 52,268 Sikh political prisoners 
are rotting in Indian jails without charge or trial. It further claims 
that many have been in illegal custody since 1984. Tens of thousands of 
other minorities are also being held as political prisoners in the 
country that proudly proclaims itself ``the world's largest 
democracy.''
  Also in May, Indian troops set fire to Gurdwara (a Sikh temple) and 
some Sikh homes in a village in Kashmir. Two independent investigations 
have shown that the Indian government carried out the massacre of 35 
Sikhs in Chithisinghpora. These incidents are just the tip of the 
iceberg of Indian terror against its minorities and its neighbors.
  Again, while I am grateful for recent words of support from the 
Indian Government regarding America's war against terrorists, the U.S. 
Government and the American public should not forget about these recent 
acts of repression. Democracies are not supposed to behave this way. If 
we are going to fight terrorism, then we must be consistent. There are 
actions we can take that will help influence India to end its reign of 
terror in South Asia. We must end our aid to India until they 
demonstrate a better regard on human rights. The hard-earned dollars of 
the American people should not be going to support countries that 
practice terrorism. We should also show our support for freedom rather 
than terrorism by supporting a free and fair plebiscite on the question 
of independence in Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagalim, and all the nations of 
South Asia that seek freedom from repressive occupation. Let us strike 
a blow for freedom, not terrorism.


  Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Deccan Chronicle article into 
the Record.

       [From the Deccan Chronicle, Dec. 14, 2001]

                      Delhi Knew But Advani Slept

       New Delhi, Dec. 13. Union Home Minister L K Advani had full 
     intelligence information of a terrorist attack on Parliament.
       Despite this, no measures were taken to tighten security in 
     and around the Parliament House with the five terrorists 
     driving in past two security parameters manner by the Delhi 
     police and the CRPF, unchallenged.
       In his first reaction to the terrorist attack, Advani 
     claimed, ``There has been no breach of security.'' He said 
     there was ``no intelligence lapse''. He said on television 
     that there could be no protection against fidayeen attacks 
     maintaining that they even ``had the temerity to attack 
     Pentagon.'' The Home Minister said it was not possible to 
     provide fool-proof security cover in a democracy ``where 
     everything was open.'' The Union Home Ministry has been 
     flooded with intelligence information about a possible attack 
     on Parliament by terrorists. The other two targets were 
     identified as Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Prime Minister's 
     residence.
       Intelligence reports have also suggested the use of women 
     suicide squads. These have also spoken of terrorists using 
     State vehicles to launch the attack, similar to the modus 
     operandi of the terrorist groups in Kashmir for over a decade 
     now.
       Despite this, the security agencies were not alerted. The 
     terrorists used a white ambassador car with a red light, the 
     symbol of government officialdom.
       They were dressed Black Cat commandos, and were detected 
     only after they got out of the car and displayed their 
     weapons in full public view. Advani, who had been full of 
     praise for the Delhi police, did not explain how the two 
     security rings manned by the police outside Parliament were 
     penetrated with such ease.
       In fact defence minister George Fernandes stepped out of 
     line by admitting before the cameras that the government had 
     full information about a possible terrorist attack on 
     Parliament.
       He said, ``We had intelligence information of this, we knew 
     that the fidayeen could attack Parliament.'' Even so, the 
     home minister claimed there had been no intelligence lapse 
     while briefing reporters after the meeting of the Cabinet 
     committee on security.
       Najma Heptullah, who was in her room in Parliament when it 
     was attacked, said, ``The Home Minister knew of the Al Qaeda 
     threat, he should have increased the security in 
     Parliament.''
       She said she had herself asked for measures to be taken to 
     beef up Parliament security. ``There are all these people 
     roaming around all over the building'' but nothing had been 
     done.
       Interestingly Advani himself spoke of a threat to 
     Parliament at a Border Security Force function a few days 
     ago. Officials point out that despite the security threat 
     little was done to take stock of the entire situation and 
     work out a comprehensive strategy to deal with it.
       ``It was all in the realm of talk, we have always known 
     that the terrorists have been using and would use the cover 
     of the government-like vehicles and uniforms to penetrate our 
     security layers, but obviously we were unable to get this 
     across to our people,'' a senior official said.

     

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