E428 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 28, 2006 claims to be democratic. This does not resem- ‘‘Sikhs must be very careful about the lead- number of San Francisco city commissions, in- ble any kind of democracy I know about. ers they follow,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘This of- cluding the Delinquency Prevention Commis- Mr. Speaker, we must take a stand for free- fice has worked unwaveringly for a sovereign sion, the Library Commission and the Arts dom in South Asia, as we are doing elsewhere Khalistan for almost 20 years,’’ he noted. Commission. He helped secure a branch of History shows that multinational states in the world. The time has come to cut off our such as India are doomed to failure. Coun- the public library for the Excelsior, and last aid and trade with India and until basic human tries like Austria-Hungary, India’s longtime year wrote a book about the history of the rights for all people are respected there. In ad- friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czecho- neighborhood. dition, we should put the Congress officially on slovakia, and others prove this point. India Walter Jebe was a respected authority on record in support of free and fair plebiscites in is not one country; it is a polyglot like those San Francisco history and taught courses Punjab, Khalistan, in Kashmir, in Nagaland, countries, thrown together for the conven- throughout San Francisco. He collected vast and all the other minority nations seeking their ience of the British colonialists. It is doomed quantities of photos and memorabilia on the freedom from India. It is time for America to to break up as they did. ‘‘We only hope that San Francisco Mid Winter Fair of 1894, the the breakup will be peaceful,’’ said Dr. show its active support for freedom, stability, Pan Pacific Exhibition of 1915, the 1939 Aulakh. World’s Fair and the 1906 Earthquake and dignity, and human rights. The Indian government has murdered over Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan has Fire. 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 As a prominent member of the San Fran- published a very good release on the state- Christians in Nagaland, over 90,000 Muslims ment by Dal Khalsa and the Shiromani Khalsa in Kashmir, tens of thousands of Christians cisco History Association, he headed the task Dal. I would like to add it to the RECORD now and Muslims throughout the country, and force that negotiated a deal for the Federal for the information of my colleagues. tens of thousands of Tamils, Assamese, Government to turn over the Old Mint at Fifth and Mission streets to a nonprofit organization SIKHS ARRESTED IN INDIA FOR SPEAKING FOR Manipuris, and others. The Indian Supreme KHALISTAN Court called the Indian government’s mur- to become a history museum. The Old Mint is ders of Sikhs ‘‘worse than a genocide.’’ WASHINGTON, DC, MARCH 15, 2006.—Sardar a San Francisco architectural gem that sur- Indian police arrested human-rights activ- Kanwarpal Singh Dhami, Chairman of Dal vived the 1906 Earthquake and Fire and ist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed Khalsa, and Dr. Jagjit Singh Chohan were played a vital role in rebuilding the city. A their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in arrested earlier this month for speaking out member of the Old Mint Advisory Council, Mr. which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, for an independent Khalistan. They were Jebe was responsible for overseeing the res- tortured, and murdered, then their bodies charged with sedition. These arrests follow were declared unidentified and secretly cre- toration project. the arrests of Sikh leaders last year belong- mated. He was murdered in police custody. With great appreciation for his fine work and ing to Dal Khalsa both in January and June His body was not given to his family. The po- service to our city, I extend my deepest sym- for hoisting the flag of Khalistan. Kanwarpal lice never released the body of former pathy to his wife of 53 years, Vivian Jebe, his Singh Dhami was arrested after saying that Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gurdev Singh son Walter and daughter Vivian, and thank the Sikh Panth could not live under someone Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh Ghotna them, for sharing their magnificent husband else’s rule. He was accused of ‘‘. . . sedition, murdered him. No one has been brought to promoting enmity between different groups and father with us. He was a true San Fran- justice for the Khalra kidnapping and mur- on grounds of religion, race, doing acts prej- cisco treasure and we are diminished by his der. Yet according to a report by the Move- udicial to maintenance of harmony, imputa- passing. ment Against State Repression (MASR), tions, assertions prejudicial to national inte- 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political pris- f gration and statements conducing to public oners in India without charge or trial, some mischief.’’ The government charged that he PREPARE NOW DON’T WAIT FOR A since 1984! promoted separatist and ‘terrorist’ move- HURRICANE STRIKE Only in a free Khalistan will the Sikh Na- ments. Dal Khalsa has sponsored numerous tion prosper and get justice,’’ said Dr. HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL marches and conferences in Punjab in sup- Aulakh. ‘‘India should act like a democracy OF NEW YORK port of a free Khalistan, the Sikh homeland and allow a plebiscite on independence for that declared its independence from India on Khalistan and all the nations of South IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 7, 1987. It was the organizer of the Asia,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘We must free Tuesday, March 28, 2006 Khalistan now.’’ two events at which Sikhs were arrested for Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to making speeches and raising the Khalistani f flag. It was announced today that they will call upon the United States Government to as- be joining forces with the Shiromani Khalsa TRIBUTE TO WALTER JEBE sist the islands of the Caribbean with prepara- Dal, headed by Sardar Daljit Singh Bittu, in tion for the impending 2006 hurricane season support of a free Khalistan. The Punjab and HON. NANCY PELOSI and to enter in the RECORD an editorial from Haryana High Court ruled that it is legal to the New York CaribNews entitled ‘‘Prepare ask for freedom for Khalistan, yet the Indian OF CALIFORNIA Now Don’t Wait for a Hurricane Strike’’ which government continues to treat it as a crime. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES addresses the need to take timely action now They do not even live by their own law. Tuesday, March 28, 2006 before a natural disaster occurs. Dr. Chohan said on India’s Zee TV that The impact and wreckage still linger in Gre- Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay trib- Khalistan will be free by 2007. He has also nada from 2004 and 2005. In the aftermath of been flying the Khalistani flag and that of ute to Walter G. Jebe, a longtime community Hurricanes Ivan and Emily we realized that his party, the Khalsa Raj Party, outside his leader, businessman and historian, who died office. According to the book Chakravyuh: decades of progress was wiped away and in- of leukemia in the Veterans Hospital in Palo surmountable damage was done to 90 per Web of Indian Secularism (page 183), Dr. Alto on Feb. 25th at the age of 81. The unoffi- Chohan worked with Major General Jaswant cent of the country’s housing stock and water- Singh Bhullar, Professor Manjit Singh cial mayor of San Francisco’s Excelsior dis- sheds. Similar devastation exists throughout Sidhu, Didar Singh Bains, and others ‘‘to trict, Mr. Jebe was a champion of small busi- the islands of the Caribbean who received di- stop Sikhs living abroad’’ from supporting ness and for his neighborhood and an out- rect force of the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes. It freedom for Khalistan and connived with the spoken advocate and historian. He has left an is crucial that steps be taken to prepare for Indian government for the June 1984 attack indelible mark on our city. these tragedies long before they occur. We on the Golden Temple. Mr. Jebe was born in 1924, raised in the must have programs in place to respond im- ‘‘It is evident that the Indian government Excelsior District, graduated from Balboa High is scared of the increasing amount of peace- mediately and not wait until the disaster ful activism in Punjab in support of School, studied photography at Samuel Gom- strikes. Khalistan,’’ said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, pers trade school and was drafted into the WITH 2006 HURRICANE SEASON AROUND THE President of the Council of Khalistan, which Army. After serving our Nation, Mr. Jebe re- CORNER, A LOUD CARIBBEAN APPEAL: PRE- is leading the Sikh struggle for independ- turned to San Francisco and opened Jebe’s PARE NOW DON’T WAIT FOR A HURRICANE ence. ‘‘The time of Khalistan’s liberation is Cameras on Mission Street. He was a self- STRIKE near. India will fall apart soon,’’ he said. taught businessman, and neighboring busi- MARCH 21, 2006.—Among Caribbean leaders, ‘‘We condemn the arrests of Sardar Dhami nesses took bets on how long he would last. Dr. Keith Mitchell, Grenada’s Prime Min- and Dr. Chohan but remind the Sikh Nation He stayed in business for 45 years. ister, is undoubtedly the best person, not that it must work only with leaders who are All politics was local to Mr. Jebe, who was only to talk about the importance of pre- honest, sincere, and committed to the libera- paring a country’s response system before a tion of Khalistan.’’ Dr. Aulakh noted that in a member of the Excelsior Business Associa- natural disaster occurs. He is also well quali- New York in 2000, former Member of Par- tion, the Geneva Excelsior Lions Club, the Boy fied to be the region’s spokesman on rebuild- liament Simranjit Singh Mann had called for Scouts, and other organizations he felt would ing a nation after devastation caused by a the Council of Khalistan’s office to be closed. improve the Excelsior. He also served on a hurricane.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:32 Mar 29, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A28MR8.073 E28MRPT1 jcorcoran on PROD1PC62 with REMARKS March 28, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E429 That’s because of the wreckage Hurricanes expressed the Caribbean’s disappointment at Holla Mohallah festival in Anandpur Sahib, Ivan and Emily left behind in 2004 and last the ‘‘poor response’’ to the region’s appeals Punjab, led by Dal Khalsa and the Shiromani year in Grenada. In a matter of hours Ivan for assistance in the wake of the natural dis- Khalsa Dal. The two organizations pledged wiped out decades of progress in the Eastern asters. to unite to liberate the Sikh homeland, Caribbean state, destroyed the productive ‘‘In both cases only a small percentage of Khalistan, which declared itself independent base of the economy, took at least a dozen the pledges were fulfilled,’’ he said. That’s an from India on October 7, 1987. lives and damaged 90 per cent of the coun- international scandal, a crying shame. Here Dal Khalsa, led by Satnam Singh, presi- try’s housing stock, forested areas, water- were countries and institutions making dent of Dal Khalsa, and Daljit Singh Bittu, shed and mangroves. In less than a year pledges, lifting people’s hopes but failing to Emily came along and unfortunately piled live up to their word in times of need and pledged to ‘‘provide a fresh platform for the on damage on top of damage and put a halt suffering. Sikhs who were depressed with the incom- to much of the rebuilding effort after Ivan. f petent and incapable leadership of various That put Dr. Mitchell and his people in the factions of the Akali Dal,’’ according to The unenviable position of starting from scratch SIKH ACTIVISTS ARRESTED IN Telegraph, an Indian newspaper. Satnam to rebuild a beautiful country. PUNJAB Singh said the organizations would reach out Small wonder, then, that when the United to people to involve them in ‘‘the struggle to Nations was about to launch its inter- HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS uphold our honor and dignity,’’ the news- national Central Emergency Response Fund paper reported. The Punjab government led OF NEW YORK last week in New York, the Grenada leader by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has di- was invited to join UN Secretary-General, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES rected the police that both groups be put Kofi Annan, at the head table to speak to Tuesday, March 28, 2006 under watch. delegates from around the world about the Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, Sikh activists Dal Khalsa has sponsored numerous value of being well prepared in case of a nat- marches in Punjab in support of a free ural disaster and the need for an effective re- Kanwarpal Singh Dhami and Dr. Jagjit Singh Khalistan, the Sikh homeland that declared sponse by the international community to Chohan were recently arrested by the Indian its independence from India on October 7, appeals for help. Government on charges of sedition. Their A key task was to appeal for financial and crime was to speak in support of a sovereign 1987. It was the organizer of the two events technical assistance for victims of natural Khalistan. Dr. Chohan also flies the Khalistani at which Sikhs were arrested for making disasters. flag from his residence. When did free speech speeches and raising the Khalistani flag. Speaking on behalf of Caricom and ad- become a crime in a democracy? History shows that multinational states dressing the high level meeting as a ‘‘sur- The Sikh homeland of Khalistan declared such as India are doomed to failure. Coun- vivor of an unprecedented catastrophe’’ the itself independent from India on October 7, tries like Austria-Hungary, India’s longtime Prime Minister presented a sensible case for 1987. friend the Soviet Union. Yugoslavia, Czecho- small states. ‘‘The Caribbean is among the slovakia, and others prove this point. India regions in the world most vulnerable to nat- These arrests are a follow-up to the arrests of groups of Sikh activists last year on Repub- is not one country; it is a polyglot like those ural disasters,’’ he said. ‘‘The survival of our countries. It is doomed to break up as they economies is dependent on the frequency and lic Day in January and again in June on the did. magnitude of these events.’’ anniversary of the Golden Temple for making Afterwards, he told us at Carib News that speeches in support of freedom for Khalistan ‘‘The uniting of these two organizations is he was worried and nervous about the up- and raising the flag of Khalistan. These events very good for the Sikh nation and its aspira- tions,’’ said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, Presi- coming hurricane season, which begins in were led by Dal Khalsa. Recently, Dal Khalsa June. His concern for the Caribbean region dent of the Council of Khalistan. ‘‘The In- as a whole, not simply Grenada, wasn’t mis- was put under watch by order of the Chief dian government continues to persecute and placed. Minister of Punjab after its leader, Satnam kill our Sikh brethren,’’ he said. ‘‘Unity is After all, Ivan left a trail of devastation in Singh, and the leader of the Shiromani Khalsa essential for the liberation of Khalistan,’’ he Jamaica, Haiti, St. Vincent and other is- Dal, Daljit Singh Bittu, announced that they said. ‘‘As Professor Darshan Singh, a former lands. The loss of life in Haiti was mind-bog- are joining forces to achieve sovereignty for Jathedar, said, ‘If a Sikh is not for gling and tragic. Other hurricanes also af- Khalistan. Khalistan, he is not a Sikh’,’’ Dr. Aulakh fected the Bahamas and the U.S. Last year, Mr. Speaker, these are the kinds of tactics noted: ‘‘This shows that the drive for free- Katrina took its lethal high winds and heavy that totalitarian governments use, not demo- dom is still alive in Punjab,’’ he said. ‘‘What rains to the Gulf Coast of the United States, cratic ones. A real democracy would not arrest kind of democracy watches people for de- especially New Orleans and the pitiful sight people for making speeches. This is under- manding freedom? Why don’t they watch the of tens of thousands of homeless persons, at Black Cats who have killed thousands of least 1,000 killed and the Big Easy brought to lined by the fact that, according to the Move- ment Against State Repression, India admitted Sikhs with the protection of the Indian gov- its knees wouldn’t be erased from the mem- ernment?’’ he asked. ory banks of Americans for decades to come. to holding 52,268 Sikh political prisoners. Tens Add the inept response of the Federal Emer- of thousands of other minorities are also held The Indian government has murdered over gency Management Agency, FEMA, and the as political prisoners, according to Amnesty 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 Bush White House to the nightmare and it International. How can such things happen in Christians since 1948 as well as tens of thou- would become clear why rich and poor coun- sands of Christians throughout the country, the world’s largest democracy? over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, tries alike should be petrified about the 2006 The time has come to stand up against In- hurricane season. 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims in Gujarat, tens of But hurricanes aren’t the only cause for dia’s tyranny. We should end our aid to India, thousands of Muslims elsewhere in India, and despair. Monstrous floods hit Guyana in late especially since India uses 25 percent of its tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, 2004 from which it hasn’t fully recovered. development budget for nuclear development, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and others. An In- Some estimates by the Economic Commis- and we should stop our trade until all people dian newspaper reported that the police in sion for Latin America and the Caribbean, enjoy basic human rights. And we should de- Gujarat were ordered to stand aside in that ECLAC, put the damage in Guyana to ap- clare our support for free and fair plebiscites massacre and not to get involved, a fright- proximately 60 percent of its gross domestic in Kashmir, as India promised in 1948, in Pun- ening parallel to the Delhi massacre of Sikhs product. The floods affected almost two- jab, Khalistan, in Nagaland, and wherever in 1984. The Indian Supreme Court called the thirds of the 800,000 plus persons who live people are seeking freedom. The essence of Indian government’s murders of Sikhs there. ‘‘worse than a genocide.’’ Clearly, nations and territories in the re- democracy is the right of self-determination gion should have learned some important and that basic right is being denied to minori- Indian police arrested human-rights activ- lessons from these tragedies. The first was ties in India. The best thing we can do to sup- ist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed that they should be prepared for the tragedy port stability, freedom, and human dignity in their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in long before it occurs. Next, they must have the subcontinent is to stop rewarding the ty- which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, programs in place to respond immediately rants and throw our full support behind those tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared unidentified and secretly cre- after the all clear has been given. That was seeking freedom. why it was so distressing to hear both Dr. mated. He was murdered in police custody. Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan has His body was not given to his family. The po- Mitchell and Jeremy Collymore, Coordinator issued a very good release on the arrests of of the Caribbean Emergency Response Agen- lice never released the body of former cy, CEDERA, express regret that some coun- Dr. Chohan and Mr. Dhami. I would like to in- Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gurdev Singh tries seem to be waiting until the next ca- sert it in the RECORD at this time. Thank you. Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh Ghotna lamity strikes in order to wake up. That DESIRE FOR KHALISTAN ALIVE AND WELL IN murdered him. No one has been brought to would add to the suffering. PUNJAB justice for the Khalra kidnapping and mur- In his speech to the diplomats and other WASHINGTON, D.C., MAR. 21, 2006.—Slogans of der or for the murder of Jathedar Kaunke. representatives in New York, Dr. Mitchell ‘‘Khalistan Zindabad’’ filled the air at the Yet according to a report by the Movement

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