2368 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS February 15, 2005 Whereas, Glenna Black has remained active their right to self-determination, which is the by most of the countries of the world at that among her community and friends; and essence of democracy, can the people there time. do not accept the Indian con- Whereas, Glenna Black has exemplified a finally live in freedom, peace, and prosperity. stitution. No Sikh representative has ever life of love and dedication to all of her family Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Coun- signed it. Indian police arrested human-rights activ- and friends. cil of Khalistan’s very informative press re- ist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed Therefore, I join with the family and friends lease on the denial of bail to these Sikh activ- their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in of Glenna and the residents of the entire 18th ists into the RECORD at this time. which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, Congressional District of Ohio in wishing Glen- [From Council of Khalistan] tortured, and murdered, then their bodies na Black a very happy 92nd birthday. BAIL DENIED FOR 11 SIKHS ARRESTED FOR were declared unidentified and secretly cre- f HOISTING SIKH FLAG IN —IS THIS mated. Khalra was murdered in police cus- DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH? tody. His body was not given to his family. SIKHS ARRESTED FOR RAISING Eleven Sikhs who were arrested for raising No one has been brought to justice for the FLAG ARE DENIED BAIL the Sikh flag on Republic Day, January 26, kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh have been denied bail. Thirty-five Sikhs were Khalra. The police never released the body of charged and 31 are being held. They raised former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gurdev HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS the saffron flag of Khalsa Raj at Gurdwara Singh Kaunke after SSP OF NEW YORK Shaheed Ganj in Amritsar. They have been Ghotna murdered him. He has never been IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES charged with sedition and ‘‘making inflam- tried for the Jathedar Kaunke murder. In 1994, the U.S. State Department reported Tuesday, February 15, 2005 matory speeches.’’ Khalsa Raj Party Presi- dent Dr. Jagjit Singh Chohan said that they that the Indian government had pad over Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on January 26, had raised the flag according to Sikh 41,000 cash bounties for killing Sikhs. celebrated its Republic Day, the anniver- tradion. India is not one country; it is a polyglot sary of the adoption of its constitution. On that Punjab Pradesh Congress Party President thrown together for the convenience of the Hanspal said, ‘‘We will not allow them to British colonialists. It is doomed to break up day a group of Sikh activists raised the Sikh as they did. Last year, the Punjab Legisla- flag at a Gurdwara in the city of Amritsar in raise their heads for Khalistan.’’ Maninder Singh Bitta, President of the All-India tive Assembly passed a bill cancelling the accordance with Sikh tradition. For this, com- Youth Congress, demanded that Dr. Chohan government’s daylight robbery of Punjab plaints were issued against 35 Sikhs and 31 and others be deported to , claiming river water. The Assembly explicitly stated have been arrested. they are Pakistani agents. Former Chief the sovereignty of Punjab. Now eleven of them have had their bail de- Minister Badal said, ‘‘We will not permit the ‘‘I urge the international community to nied, keeping them in detention. The Punjab militancy to raise its head again.’’ help us free Khalistan from Indian occupa- and Haryana High Court has ruled that speak- ‘‘How can India call itself democratic when tion,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Freedom is the birthright of all people and nations,’’ he said. ing out for Khalistan is not a crime, yet they it suppresses a basic right like freedom of speech?,’’ said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, ‘‘The arrest and denial of bail for these ac- are charged with ‘‘sedition’’ and ‘‘making in- President of the Council of Khalistan, which tivists for raising the Sikh flag and making flammatory speeches’’ for raising a flag and leads the Sikh struggle for freedom. ‘‘The speeches shows that there is no freedom for speaking out for freedom for the Sikh home- Punjab and Haryana High Court has already Sikhs within India,’’ he said. ‘‘As Professor land. ruled in the case of the late Colonel Partap Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Mr. Speaker, what kind of democracy is Singh that speaking in support of freedom Akal Takht, said, ‘If a Sikh is not for this? The Movement Against State Repression for Khalistan is not a crime,’’ Dr. Aulakh Khalistan, he is not a Sikh’,’’ Dr. Aulakh (MASR) was already reporting that India held said. ‘‘How can these activists be arrested for noted. ‘‘We must continue to press for free- dom,’’ he said. ‘‘Without political power, re- 52,268 political prisoners. These activists add something that is not a crime?’’ The Indian government has murdered over ligions cannot flourish and nations perish. A 11 to that number. 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 sovereign Khalistan is essential for the sur- This is just the latest illustration that exer- Christians since 1948, over 90,000 Muslims in vival of the Sikh religion and the Sikh Na- cising your freedom of speech can be a very Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of tion.’’ dangerous thing in India if you are a minority. Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits, Bodos, f India has a pattern of repression. It has killed and others. The Indian Supreme Court called over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than the Indian government’s murders of Sikhs LEADER IN EDUCATION 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 90,000 ‘‘worse than a genocide.’’ According to a re- Kashmiri Muslims, thousands of other Chris- port by the Movement Against State Repres- sion (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs and tens of thou- HON. JIM COSTA tians and Muslims throughout the country, and sands of other minorities are being held as OF CALIFORNIA tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits political prisoners in India without charge or IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (the aboriginal people of South Asia), trial. Some have been in illegal custody Tuesday, February 15, 2005 Manipuris, Tamils, and others. The U.S. State since 1984! We demand the immediate release Department reported in 1994 that the Indian of all these political prisoners. Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to government had paid over 41,000 cash boun- ‘‘The Sikh Nation is indebted to the lead- honor and congratulate Rutherford ‘‘Bud’’ Gas- ties to police officers for killing Sikhs. One ers of Dal Khalsa who raised the Sikh flag, ton, Sr., of Fresno, California. Bud has re- such bounty went to an officer who killed a including Harcharan Singh Dhami, Presi- ceived many noted awards throughout the dent, Kanwarpal Singh Bittu, General Sec- three-year-old boy. retary, Satnam Singh Paonta Sahib, and years and most recently he is a recipient of We must not just sit and watch while a others,’’ said Dr. Aulakh. ‘‘We praise Dr. the Kremen School of Education and Human country that proclaims itself ‘‘the world’s larg- Chohan for his remarks. But how can Sikhs Development ‘‘Noted Alumni Award’’. est democracy’’ tramples on the most basic of like Badal, Hanspal, Bitta, and others call Mr. Gaston was born in Georgia, but at- democratic freedoms, such as the freedom to themselves Sikhs when they deny the Sikh tended high school in Brakenridge, Pennsyl- speak out and to hold a peaceful demonstra- aspirations for freedom? Clearly, they are vania where he graduated from Har Brack tion. That is not the hallmark of a democracy. doing the bidding of the Indian government, High School. Then Bud moved to Fresno, which controls them.’’ It is the hallmark of a police state. The Sikh Nation declared its independence where he attended California State University, The time has come to let India know that we from India on October 7, 1987 and formed the Fresno and received a Bachelor’s degree in are watching and to let them know that this is Council of Khalistan at that time to lead the Education, and a Master’s Degree in Edu- unacceptable. struggle for independence. When India be- cation Administration. There are steps that we can take to support came independent, Sikhs were equal partners Bud joined Fresno Unified School District in the rights of all people in south Asia. It is time in the transfer of power and were to receive 1953 as a teacher at Columbia School. After that we take these steps. They include cutting their own state, but the weak and ignorant ten years, he became Principal of Tielman and off our aid and trade with India and putting the Sikh leaders of the time were tricked into Emerson Elementary School, and stayed with staying with India on the promise that they Congress on record in support of self-deter- would have ‘‘the glow of freedom’’ and no Fresno Unified until he retired in 1986. mination for the Sikhs of Punjab, Khalistan, law affecting the Sikhs would pass without Beyond his scholastic achievements, Mr. the Christian people of Nagaland, the their consent. Sikhs ruled an independent Gaston has also served the country well. He Kashmiris, and all the people of South Asia and sovereign Punjab from 1710 to 1716 and gave the United States Army five years of who are seeking freedom. Only by exercising again from 1765 to 1849 and were recognized service and moved up the ranks to become

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