Dal Khalsa Writes To President Obama - Full Text

'US should recognize the Sikh struggle for
right to self determination'

November 08^th, 2010

Full text of the letter:

Appeal to His Excellency Hon’ble Mr. Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
on a visit to India
6-9 November 2010

Through the good offices of
Mr. Timothy J. Roemer
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the United States of America in India


On behalf of the Dal Khalsa–a Sikh political organization dedicated to serve the cause of the Sikh nation, I welcome you to India. Our welcome to you would have been more sweet and fulfilling had you visited Golden Temple, Amritsar–the Vatican of the Sikh people. Nevertheless, I am sure you will take this opportunity to go beyond the Indian mainstream and delve into the status and plight of nations and peoples, like the Sikhs, who are contesting the hegemony of the Indian state over the last many decades.

During the course of your visit, you are scheduled to discuss global counter -terrorism measures. May be submit that in this part of the world, like in many others, blatant and gross abuse of human rights of minorities have been the root causes for violence against the state. I am sure that your advisers have briefed you about the day-light carnage of 3000 plus Sikhs on the streets of New Delhi-the capital of this country 26 years ago, for which no police, paramilitary or political functionary has been brought to justice.

Partnerships with India by the US is welcome for peace in the region, but both countries and more so the United States will have to focus on respect for human rights, freedom, justice and respect for rule of law. Ensuring that India focuses on these for its minorities and regional peoples and the aboriginal peoples, is another area where your government needs to pay attention.

Your counterpart in India–Dr. Manmohan Singh belongs to the Sikh faith and both of you present the new face of world politics, however may I say that the beleaguered Sikh people are waiting for some solid action from both of you.

Sikhs have had self-rule for many years in the eighteenth century. Since 1947 when India gained independence, we have experienced slavery, torture and abrogation of our civil, economic, religious and political rights. India has crushed Sikhs by violent means and methods. For far too long, we have suffered persecution and discrimination because of our religious beliefs, which differ from the mainly Hindu-Indian heartland.

Peace in South Asia is one the prime concerns of your government. Peace is possible if people within the countries are given equal rights and opportunities. So far, the international community has failed the Sikh people. You have it in you to reverse this trend. You are the sheet anchor of exploring and achieving alternative goals. The Sikh right to self-determination is still to be recognized by the international community. In recent times, the struggle for right to self-determination is a peaceful and democratic struggle, which faces the onslaught and might of the State.

Punjab, Kashmir and the North-East are separable limbs held together by brute force, draconian laws, political chicanery, and vested-interest oriented foreign policy of many countries including yours and an uninvolved United Nations and an indifferent world community.

In such a scenario, we are left with no choice but to appeal. This is an appeal to your good sense for your intervention, your sense of history to recognize the slavery of some peoples and political adroitness for fostering peace in this region.

Early this year in April 2010, the US Commission for International Religion Freedoms released its Annual Report and placed India on the Watch List. According to the Commission, India requires, “close monitoring due to the nature and extent of violations of religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by the government”. Last year too, India was criticized for the violence against Christians and Muslims and slow justice for the Gujarat riot victims.

It is significant that the panel has urged Washington “to integrate concern for religious freedom and related human rights into all bilateral contacts with India, and for the US ambassador to India to speak out against, and seek to visit sites of communal violence”. Furthermore, since the last two years, the Commission members, “attempted to visit India, but no visas were granted”.

This is your mandate, Mr. President, made available to you by a US Commission. A country that refuses visas to your country’s Commission and a country which happens to be on the Watch List for two years in a row. Need we say more?

Let your visit be the harbinger of respect for the minorities, and a new beginning of recognition of the rightful aspirations of Sikhs and other minorities of this region. The goal of political freedom is part of the Sikh consciousness, notwithstanding their present conditions –a consciousness reinforced every morning and evening in personal as well as community prayers.

We take this opportunity to urge you to recognize our distinct identity and status and enable us to protect and promote our rights and dignity.

With profound regards.

Sincerely
Harcharnjit Singh Dhami
President, Dal Khalsa
Date- 6 Nov 2010