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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E1309 HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD— Extensions of Remarks E1309 HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS June 21, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1309 the academy.’’ The bill directed the Air Force In 2000, Deborah married her long-time best for raising the Sikh flag and making speeches. to develop a plan to ensure that the academy friend, Alvin Benjamin of Glen Head, New The Movement Against State Repression re- maintains a climate free from coercive reli- York. Alvin is the Owner/President of Ben- ports that over 52,000 Sikhs are political pris- gious intimidation and inappropriate proselyt- jamin Development in Garden City, New York. oners in ‘‘the world’s largest democracy.’’ izing. They currently reside in Glen Head, Manhat- More than a quarter of a million Sikhs have As a Coloradan and a Member of the tan, and Highland Beach, Florida. been murdered, according to figures compiled Armed Services Committee, I have been fol- Since her retirement, Mrs. Benjamin has de- from the Punjab State Magistracy. lowing this matter closely and have noted that voted much of her time to charitable organiza- Sikhs are only one of India’s targets. Other Lt. Gen. John Rosa, the Academy’s super- tions dedicated to improving the lives of chil- minorities such as Christians, Muslims, and intendent, has said that the problem is ‘‘some- dren. She is most actively involved with the others have also been subjected to tyrannical thing that keeps me awake at night,’’ and esti- Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, which is repression. More than 300,000 Christians mated it will take 6 years to fix. dedicated to finding a cure for this rare, but have been killed in Nagaland, and thousands The good news is that several reviews of serious blood disease. Additionally, Mrs. Ben- elsewhere in the country. Over 900,000 Kash- the situation at the Academy are underway, jamin has lent her support to Palm Beach mir Muslims, at least 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims and a task force report is due this week. I am County-based Kids In New Directions, which in Gujarat, and thousands of other Muslims, also appreciative that the Academy has al- assists children in making positive life choices have been victims of India’s tyranny. And tens ready begun taking steps to address the issue and developing leadership skills. Countless of thousands of people in Assam, Bodoland, by holding classes on religious tolerance. But children in New York, Florida, and throughout Manipur, Tamil Nadu, and around the country, it is important to remember that an unwilling- our nation have benefited from Deborah Ben- as well as countless Dalit ‘‘Untouchables’’ ness to tolerate other cultures and faiths is not jamin’s philanthropy and her generosity of time have been killed as well. only inconsistent with our constitutional prin- and spirt. Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. We must ciples, but detrimental to the mission of the Air Al and Deborah Benjamin enjoy spending take a stand for freedom for all, as the Presi- Force and of the military in general. Our men time with their families, friends, traveling, giv- dent committed us to doing in January. The and women in uniform need to work together ing to charities in the New York and Florida time has come to stop all our aid and trade to be successful, and can only inspire others area, and remain lovingly devoted to one an- with India, to end our burgeoning military co- to serve and serve well if they are able to other after 5 years of marriage. operation, and to demand the peaceful resolu- demonstrate tolerance toward all. Mr. Speaker, I ask the entire House of Rep- tion of the situation in South Asia through a Representative HUNTER’s amendment re- resentatives to join me now in thanking Debo- free and fair plebiscite for all the national moved the language calling for corrective ac- rah Benjamin for her selfless contributions to groups there. tion. His amendment appeared to downplay society, in congratulating her on her 50th birth- Mr. Speaker, I would like to put the Times the seriousness of a problem that Air Force day, and in extending our best wishes for her of India article about the demonstration into Academy officials themselves have acknowl- future success and happiness as she marks the RECORD at this time. edged. In response, Representative OBEY of- this important and joyous milestone. [From the Times of India, Jun. 6, 2005] fered an amendment that slightly revised the f KHALISTAN DEMAND RAISED ON GENOCIDE DAY language adopted by the Appropriations Com- (By Yudhvir Rana) DEMAND FOR FREEDOM ALIVE IN mittee but retained its essential elements. Amritsar.—The pent up secessionist emo- I voted for that Obey amendment, and re- PUNJAB, KHALISTAN tions of Sikh radicals whipped up on the gret that it was not approved and that the Genocide Day observed as Ardas Divas at Hunter amendment prevailed. I hope that the HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS Akal Takht on Monday, as a large number of Sikh youth including women brandishing Air Force does not make the mistake of con- OF NEW YORK cluding that adoption of the Hunter amend- naked swords raised slogans for Sikh’s inde- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES pendent state Khalistan while passing pejo- ment means that they should lessen their ef- Tuesday, June 21, 2005 rative remarks against SAD-Badal president forts to respond to the problem they have Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC president identified. Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Bibi Jagir Kaur for not coming up to the as- take note of the demonstrations in Punjab, f pirations of Sikhs and addressing their prob- Khalistan that surrounded the 21st anniversary lems. CONGRATULATING MRS. DEBORAH of the Indian government’s attack on the Gold- The ferocity of slogans multiplied after BENJAMIN ON HER 50TH BIRTH- en Temple. Groups such as Dal Khalsa and Sikh radical leader Simranjit Singh Mann, DAY others marched through the streets of Amrit- president of SAD (Amritsar) announced that sar, converging at the Golden Temple for a Sikhs’s hurt feelings could only be assuaged big rally, according to The Times of India. when Sikhs independent state Khalistan HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN comes into existence. He suggested that OF NEW YORK They carried posters of Sant Jarnail Singh Khalistan could be created on the buffer zone IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Bhindranwale, a Sikh freedom leader killed in between India and Pakistan. the Golden Temple attacks, as well as posters Baba Harnam Singh, 15th chief of Tuesday, June 21, 2005 of the demolished Golden Temple. Damdami Taksal joined Simranjit Singh Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today As you know, the Indian government also Mann with his arms wielding supporters and to join the Benjamin family of Glen Head, New attacked 125 other Gurdwaras—Sikh places of announced to observe the martyrdom day of York in celebration of the 50th birthday of Mrs. worship—at the same time. Over 20,000 Sikhs Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwalae at Taksal’s headquarters at Gurdwara Deborah Benjamin, which will be commemo- were killed. The Sikh holy book, the Guru Gurdarshan Parkash, Chowk Mehta on June rated this Saturday, June 25th, 2005 at Granth Sahib, was shot full of bullet holes. 12. Gotham Hall in Manhattan. Sikh boys between the ages of 8 and 13 were The radical activists including from Dal Deborah Ann Coyle Benjamin was born on shot on the premises. Khalsa, Dal Khalsa, SAD(A), Damdami June 28, 1955, in Peninsula Hospital in Rock- Former Member of Parliament Simranjit Taksal, Sikh Students Federation (Bittu), away Beach, New York. Deborah is the eldest Singh Mann said that the only way to assuage Akal Federation jointly put up the board of of Ken and Gladys Coyle’s three children. Her the wounds of the attack is by freeing Shaheedee Gallery at the gallery situated sister, Denise DeVita, and brother, Ken Coyle, Khalistan, the Sikh homeland. Another speak- outside Akal Takht against the wishes of SGPC. A large number of Sikhs and con- Jr., both live on Long Island in New York. er said that the movement to free Khalistan is verged at Akal Takht on the 21st anniver- Deborah spent her childhood and early by peaceful means. Khalistan declared its sary of Operation Bluestar. adulthood in Rockville Centre, New York, independence from India in 1997. That is now Posters of demolished Akal Takht, Sikh where she attended Hewitt Grammar School, eight years ago. militant leaders and pamphlet on the life of and graduated from South Side High School. Police and intelligence operatives were sur- Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwalae were distrib- After high school she attended Elizabeth reptitiously watching this peaceful demonstra- uted among Sikh sangat. Seton College in Westchester, New York. tion. Apparently, 21 years after the Golden A large number of policemen in plain clothes and sleuths of various intelligence In the years after college, Deborah worked Temple attack, the Sikhs’ demand for freedom agencies were hovering around the Akal for her father’s insurance company, the still frightens them. Takht and its surrounding. A police officer Wheatley Agency, for 20 years and retired in India claims it is democratic, Mr. Speaker, of DSP rank remained present among Sikh 2000 as Vice President of Group Insurance yet it sends police to spy on a peaceful dem- sangat sitting in front of Akal Takht during Sales. onstration. In January, 35 Sikhs were arrested the ceremony. VerDate jul 14 2003 05:25 Jun 22, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A21JN8.036 E21PT1 E1310 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks June 21, 2005 Earlier Parkash Singh Badal and Bibi JUSTICE DELAYED, BUT JUSTICE and Schwerner were intended as a message Jagir Kaur condemned congress government FINALLY SERVED to civil rights activists that the Klan was to be for rubbing salt to the wounds of Sikhs.
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