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E752 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 8, 2001 The significance of Fort Osage is not limited been able to re-establish contact with the ness.’’ They risked their lives to help the peo- to Lewis and Clark. Both the Yellowstone Ex- Kalmyk people in the Russian Federation. For ple of Southeast Asia because they were in pedition and the Long Expedition visited the the past ten years, a wide exchange has been danger and had their human rights taken Fort in 1819. The Long Expedition brought the developed between relatives, students and away. I ask you to join me today in recog- first steamboat, Western Engineer. Only years professionals. nizing these heroic figures who proved to us later, William Becknell arrived at Fort Osage, Mr. Speaker, our country is so much richer the meaning of bravery and diligence. using the site as mile marker ‘‘0’’ for the Santa for the presence of our Kalmyk-American citi- Fe trail, again distinguishing the importance of zens. I urge my colleagues to join me and my f the Fort in relation to commerce in the west. colleagues Mr. HOYER, Mr. PITTS, Mr. CARDIN, Due to the area’s historical significance, the Mr. WAMP, and Mr. HASTINGS, in congratu- VAISAKHI DAY Fort Osage Education Center was proposed lating the Kalmyk-American community on the as part of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial fiftieth anniversary of their settlement in the Commemoration. The Education Center was United States by cosponsoring and supporting HON. DAN BURTON recently recognized by the Lewis and Clark Bi- this resolution. OF INDIANA centennial Commission as the priority project f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in Missouri and I am honored to have this his- torical site in my district. I look forward to the IN HONOR OF THE MEMBERS OF Tuesday, May 8, 2001 events surrounding the bicentennial com- THE STRATEGIC TECHNICAL DI- memoration at Fort Osage and in other areas RECTORATE COMMANDOS FAM- Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, the of the 6th District of Missouri. I join the Mis- ILY TORRANCE, CA Sikhs recently celebrated their important holi- souri Bicentennial Commission, the Missouri day of Vaisakhi Day. It is the 302nd birthday Department of Conservation and the United HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ of the Sikh Nation. On Vaisakhi Day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the last of the Sikh gurus, States Geological Survey in full support of the OF CALIFORNIA formed the Khalsa Panth. He blessed them proposed Fort Osage Education Center. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES with the blessing ‘‘Raj Kare Ga Khalsa,’’ which f Tuesday, May 8, 2001 means, ‘‘the Khalsa shall rule.’’ RESOLUTION ON KALMYK Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to The Sikhs consider Vaisakhi a very impor- SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA pay tribute to a very extraordinary group of tant holiday. It is effectively the Sikh national members who are being commemorated for holiday. As this Vaisakhi Day passed, how- HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH the Presidential Unit Citation. These heroic ever, the Sikh Nation still lives in slavery. members of the Strategic Technical Direc- OF NEW JERSEY Sikhs ruled Punjab from 1765 to 1849. They torate Commandos Family passionately and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ran a secular state with religious tolerance. diligently sacrificed their lives for ‘‘life, liberty, Sikhs, Muslims, and Hindus participated in the Tuesday, May 8, 2001 and the pursuit of happiness’’ for the people of government. When the British vacated the Southeast Asia. Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, subcontinent, the Sikhs were to receive sov- During the Vietnam War, the people of today I am introducing a resolution congratu- ereign power, but they were taken in by the Southeast Asia and the fighting soldiers of the lating the Kalmyk people in the United States false promises of Nehru and Gandhi that they United States faced many challenges that on the fiftieth anniversary of their settlement in would have freedom in Punjab. No Sikh rep- jeopardized their lives. But in 1964, the Stra- this country. The resolution also encourages resentative has ever signed the Indian con- tegic Technical Directorate (the U.S. joint serv- continuing scholarly and educational ex- stitution, and many Sikhs are demanding their ices command) was created to help the U.S. changes between the Russian Federation and independence, as declared on October 7, and Southeastern Asian soldiers to fight for the United States to encourage better under- 1987. Although they seek this peacefully, India freedom. The Strategic Technical Directorate standing and appreciation of the Kalmyk peo- considers anyone who speaks out for a sepa- included the best selected group of officers. ple and their contributions to the history and rate Sikh state, called Khalistan, to be a ‘‘ter- The members showed their intelligence, com- culture of both countries. rorist.’’ Instead, it is India that has used the The Kalmyks were originally an ethnic Mon- mitment, and bravery in combat. They self- tools of terrorism. golian nomadic people who have inhabited the lessly risked their own lives in hopeless situa- Russian steppes for around 400 years. The tions to save others. For example, in 1974, the A new report from the Movement Against present Kalmyk Republic of the Russian Fed- North Vietnamese Army attacked the city of State Repression shows that the Indian gov- eration is located north of the Caspian sea in Phuoc Long. 250 Airborne Rangers came to ernment holds, by its own admission, at least southern Russia. During World War II, the the rescue, but they faced brutal assaults from 52,268 political prisoners under the illegal and Kalmyk people were one of the seven ‘‘pun- the North Vietnamese Army and lost contact expired ‘‘Terrorist and Disruptive Activities ished peoples’’ exiled en masse by Stalin to with the Strategic Technical Directorate. After Act,’’ called TADA. Both the Movement ‘‘special settlements’’ in Siberia and Central a four-day search, the Strategic Technical Di- Against State Repression and Amnesty Inter- Asia for allegedly collaborating with the Nazis. rectorate found only 50 percent of their sur- national have confirmed that tens of thou- There were about 170,000 deportees. After viving members in the city. Another example is sands of political prisoners are being held World War II, several hundred Kalmyks who during April 1975. The Strategic Technical Di- without charge or trial. Some of them have managed to escape the Soviet Union were rectorate’s Special Missions Services went to been in jail since 1984. According to The Poli- held in Displaced Persons camps in Germany. the city of Phan Rang, where the North Viet- tics of Genocide by respected human-rights For several years, they were not allowed to namese were attacking the city. 100 of their worker Inderjit Singh Jaijee, the Indian govern- emigrate to the United States because of prej- additional commandos were captured by the ment since 1984 has murdered over 250,000 udice against their Mongolian ethnicity. North Vietnamese Army. Then the remaining Sikhs. They join thousands of Christians, Mus- However, on July 28, 1951, the Attorney Strategic Technical Directorate units went to lims, Dalits, and others who have been killed General of the United States issued a ruling defend Saigon. By the final days of April, the at the hands of the Indian government. which cleared the way for the Kalmyk people North Vietnamese Army surrounded the cap- In the spirit of Vaisakhi, the U.S. Congress in the Displaced Persons camps in Germany ital. The Strategic Technical Directorate did should support freedom for the Sikh Nation to enter the United States. In the fifty years not give up. 500 SMS commandos, the head- and the other nations of South Asia who are since their arrival, the Kalmyk emigres and quarters personnel, and the Liaison Service seeking their sovereignty and independence. their descendants have survived and pros- barged in and fought until capitulation on April We must support a free and fair plebiscite in pered. Moreover, they are the first community 30. These two examples prove how the mem- Punjab, Khalistan, on the question of inde- of Tibetan Buddhists to settle in the United bers of STD risked their lives and put 100 per- pendence and also plebiscites for Kashmir, as States. While adapting to much of America’s cent of their diligence and commitment in win- India promised in 1948, for Nagalim, and for diverse and modern culture, the Kalmyk have ning the freedom for Southeast Asia. all the nations living under Indian occupation. also sought to preserve their own unique tradi- The members of the Strategic Technical Di- We should also cut off American aid until India tions. Many continue to practice the Tibetan rectorate Commandos Family will not be for- learns to respect its own laws and the basic Buddhist religion. gotten, but be remembered and honored, for human rights of all people. Let the Sikhs, cele- Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the their survival, courage, and dedication in fight- bration of Vaisakhi remind us that the freedom Kalmyk community of the United States has ing for ‘‘life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi- is the birthright of all peoples and nations. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E753 COUNCIL OF KHALISTAN, 17 10 after the complete destruction of city of prays for the well being of the whole human Washington, DC, April 16, 2001. Sirhand where the two younger sons of Guru race. We wish every human being in the OPEN LETTER TO THE SIKH NATION: POLITICAL Sahib were beheaded after immobilizing world, including South Asia, well. We hope PRISONERS SHOULD RUN IN ELECTIONS them in a wall. Sikhs regained that the entire world will live in peace and In 1947, when India was divided, the cun- freedom and let the Sikh Nation also flour- FORM KHALSA RAJ PARTY, START A STANTMAI ish, prosper, and enjoy the glow of freedom MORCHA TO FREE KHALISTAN ning and deceitful Hindu leadership of Nehru and Gandhi promised that Sikhs would have in a free Khalistan.

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