Bluestar Massacre 1984-2008

From The Sikh Activist Network

Subject: Remembering Massacre Bluestar

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!
Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!

The 24th anniversary of the 1984 Holocaust by the Indian Government on Innocent Pilgrams at the Darbar Sahib is coming up. We urge everyone to change their profile picture to the following from June 3rd to June 6th in remembrance and respect for all the innocent men, women and children that were brutally murdered by the Indian Military Forces in the Massacre termed "Operation Bluestar".

The image can be found through the following link (and also at the top of this post)

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v283/39/75/58005300/n58005300_41582246_5429.jpg

If you have any difficulty accessing this image, it is also posted in the group under images with the caption "profile picture" and will be posted as the groups profile picture for the next 3 days.

For more information regarding Massacre Bluestar please feel free to post in the group or personal message any of the admins.

Waheguroo Jee Ka Khalsa!
Waheguroo Jee Kee Fateh!
--------------------

Bluestar Yet Again - Year 24

So. It is again this time of year when we remember our sisters and brothers massacred by the Indian army in 1984. I really knocked myself out last year researching and writing posts about this horror. This year, I am directing you to the blog archives in the right hand column. Go to last year's posts from 1 June to 10 June. I am simply not going to put myself through that again this year.

I was there, not actually in Harmandir Sahib, but not far away, actually part of the time in police custody. I wonder what memories are dominant in the minds of other witnesses. I think I remember most the smell. Decomposing dead bodies, blood, defecation, urine, our sacred pool turned into a butcher's sewer. Do I really remember body parts floating there or is that some later dream or imagining? The sweltering heat; Amritsar in the summer is always just too hot.

One friend has told me about a family member's memory of boxes of shoes. Boxes and boxes and boxes of shoes. Big shoes from the men, smaller shoes from the women, and, most tragically, the tiny, tiny shoes of the children.

Another friend has told of bullets flying across their balcony as they ducked down, trying not to be hit. They all survived uninjured in that family.

I realise most of the readers of this blog are too young to have memories of the Bluestar Massacre, many of you were not even born yet! Still, this is your heritage. You need to know and understand what happened. Educate yourselves, please!

NEVER FORGET 1984

KHALISTAN ZINDABAD!!

JUNE 1984 MEMORIALS - WESTERN CANADA

First, go to the Panthic Weekly and read:

.The Ghalughara: Operation Blue Star - A Retrospect


Look a minute at this lovely little flower, the forget-me-not. It rather has the shape, I think of a blue star. A beautiful reminder of an ugly event!

Now, as we are entering the season of the Third Ghalughara, I know there are many memorials planned in different places. If you have anything planned, we will be happy to post it here in The Road To Khalistan. Please feel free to send it to my e-mail at simayanan@gmail.com.

Here is the first I have received from BC Sikhs.

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki fatheh!

***PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL BC, ALBERTA, WASHINGTON SANGAT***

June 2nd to June 8th, 2008 is INTERNATIONAL 1984 MEMORIAL WEEK.

There are special events happening ALL WEEK.

If you feel "enough" is not done in our community to reach out, to make our issues known, to commemorate our history, to celebrate Gurbani - this week will have a range of events covering all of these topics.

PLEASE ATTEND AS MANY EVENTS AS YOU CAN, AND BRING YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS.

It is *EXTREMELY* important that we come out in large numbers on Saturday, June 7th at Vancouver Art Gallery, to commemorate the 24th anniversary of the June 1984 Massacre of Sikhs in Punjab and the November 1984 Massacre of Sikhs in Delhi.

Still, 24 years after this horrendous attack, the perpetrators roam free and have NEVER BEEN SENTENCED by the faulty and corrupt criminal justice system of India, which claims to be the world's largest democracy but is instead one of the world's largest human rights abusers and has one of the highest rates of child poverty worldwide.

The Sikh youth in BC have been working with local intellectuals, politicians, community leaders, business people, activists, and have invited esteemed guests from out of country for this WEEK-LONG MEMORIAL, including Author and Professor at the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Cynthia Mahmood; World-Renowned Advocate for 1984 Victims in India, Harvinder Singh Phoolka; Director of the Sikh Research Institute, Harinder Singh; Program Associate at Ensaaf, Jasmine Marwaha; Professor of Sociology at Langara College, Indira Prahst; Communications & Gender Development student Kamal Arora; and many others.

LET'S JOIN HANDS TOGETHER TO GIVE A VOICE TO THE VICTIMS OF INDIA'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.

Let's stand up for justice for victims of oppression everywhere.

Let's gather as a whole community to recognize the sacrifices of human rights defenders around the world.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THESE EVENTS THIS WEEK:

* 1984 OPEN COMMUNITY FORUM / DISCUSSION With Dr. Mahmood & H.S. Phoolka
Tuesday, June 3 at 6:00pm at SFU Surrey Campus
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=14830067431

* 1984 REMEMBRANCE KEERTAN DARBAR
Wednesday, June 4 at 6:00pm at Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=13806259319

* SIKH WOMEN IN 1984 - Discussion / Q&A with Dr. Cynthia Mahmood
Thursday, June 5 at 6:00pm at Guru Nanak Academy
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=23153317246

* HUMAN RIGHTS IN INDIA - FORUM (Tickets By Invitation Only)
Friday, June 6 at 6:00pm at Kwantlen University College
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=15273083443

* CAMPAIGN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL MEMORIAL :: Lest We Forget :: 1984
Saturday, June 7 at 6:00pm at Vancouver Art Gallery
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=15197493201

Vaheguru ji ka khalsa, Vaheguru ji ki fatheh!

__._,_.___
--
WHY TRY TO FIT IN?
YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!

PETITION: Golf Digest Depicts Fifth Sikh Guru as "Golf Guru"

SALDEF requests that this be widely distributed, so here it is:

From SALDEF:




Golf Digest Depicts Fifth Sikh Guru as "Golf Guru"


SALDEF urges retraction and apology for gross irreverence of Sikh faith



Washington D.C. – May 29, 2008: The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the nation’s oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization, calls upon Golf Digest to apologize for the depiction of Sikhism’s Fifth Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, as a “Golfing Guru" in its May 2008 edition.



Sign the Petition expressing your displeasure about the image to Golf Digest

On page 66 of the publication appears an article titled “The Golf Guru” which answers reader's questions about general topics associated with golf. The beginning of the article features an image which, at first glance, appears to be a South Asian man dawned in a turban and beard, holding a golf club and wearing a golf glove. The image used is an obvious play on words where consumers have their questions answered by a “Golf Guru.”

However, under closer examination, the image Golf Digest uses appears to in fact be a widely distributed picture of Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Sikhism’s fifth Guru. Guru Arjan Dev Ji was instrumental in strengthening the message of equality and freedom of the Sikh faith. He stood up against all types of religious oppression and denounced social segregation.
SALDEF has contacted Golf Digest publisher, Thomas Blair commenting, “While we understand the message that Golf Digest attempted, and failed, to send to their consumers, the decision to use the specific picture shows the cultural and religious ignorance of Golf Digest staff and senior executives.”

SALDEF urges the community to sign the petition to voice your displeasure in the use of the image in their publication.

SALDEF would like to thank Sartaj Singh Dhami and Harjit Singh Sandhar for bringing this depiction to our attention and for allowing us to use the photo above which was taken from Mr. Dhami's blog, Restoring the Pride.

Please distribute this widely to family, friends and at the local Gurdwara

SCARS

I was just reading a thread about abbreviations, of all things, in one of the Sikh forums I regularly participate in. A Sikh friend has commented to me that Sikhs will argue, seriously, with each other about ANYTHING. That argument convinvces me. (OK, not to be mysterious, someone refered to the "Sikh Relay Marathon" as the SRM. SRM, however, usually stands for "Sikh Rehat Maryada," the Sikh Code of Conduct. I admit it confused me a bit, at first, but is it really something to argue about when we really do have so many serious problems facing us?)

One of my daughters-in-law sent this to me, and I think it's appropriate to share it here:

Some years ago, on a hot summer day, a little boy
decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole that was behind his
house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back
door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went.
He flew into the water, not realising that as he swam toward the
middle of the lake, an crocodile was swimming toward the shore.

In the house, his mother was looking out the window. She saw the two
as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward
the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could.

Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed, and made a U-turn
to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the
crocodile reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little
boy by the arms, just as the crocodile snatched his legs. That began
a very incredible tug-of-war between the two.

The crocodile was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was
much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his
truck, took aim, and shot the crocodile. Remarkably, after weeks and
weeks in the hospital, the little boy Survived. His legs were
extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. On his arms,
there were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his
flesh, in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma,
asked the boy if he would show him his scars.

The boy lifted his pant legs. Then, with obvious pride, he said to
the reporter, 'But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms,
too. I have them because my Mom wouldn't let go.'

You and I can identify with that little boy.

We have scars, too. No, not from an crocodile, but the scars of a
painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly, and have caused us
deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused
to let go. In the midst of your struggle, S/He's been right there,
holding on to you.

Gurbani teaches that God loves you.

You are a child of God. S/He wants to protect you, and provide for
you in every way. But, sometimes, we foolishly wade into dangerous
situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life -
the terrifying world ocean - is filled with peril ~ and we forget
that anything can - and does - happen. That is when the tug-of-war
begins.

If you have the scars of His/Her love on your arms, be very, very
grateful. S/He will not ever let you go.

Never judge other persons' scars, because you don't know how they got them

(A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the
bricks that others throw at him or her.)

Chardi kala!

--WHY TRY TO FIT IN?
YOU WERE BORN TO STAND OUT!

Sukhvir Singh's Attacker Sentenced

I guess I have been most remiss in not writing about the sentencing of the [person] who so viciously attacked Sikhvir Singh Ji. Our dear brother is saintly, and Mr. Vazquez got off very lightly, at his request. First, please watch this video from our local PBS station, KCTS Channel 9:



I, personally, believe Lius Vazquez got off way too lightly. While I applaud the forgiving nature of Sikhvir Singh Ji, I believe the judge should have given out a much harsher sentence. Other yaxi drivers have been assaulted in the past, but for many reasons didn't want to or were unable to go to court. I'm afraid this light sentence will insure that others will be assaulted in the future.

This thoughtful article is reprinted from AASRA Magazine. Please visit their link and read the whole magazine. It's from my local area and I read it on a regular basis myself. I am including only a few pictures from the article; I hope you will go see the rest of them.

Forgiveness Echoes In Court

Wed, 05/21/2008 - 03:03 — tejdev

A historic judgment!

Sukhvir Singh’s forgiveness for a man who called him an “Iraqi terrorist” and “responsible for 9/11” led a King County Superior Judge to be lenient and spared him from a longer jail sentence. Judge Monica Benton sentenced Luis Vázquez, 21, of Kent, to nine months in jail and 240 hours of community service for the hate crime. He will be eligible for work-release during his time in jail, the judge said.

Sukhvir Singh suffered a brutal, hate-filled attack on the night of November 24, 2007 after police directed a drunken Mr. Vázquez to be driven home in Sukhvir's cab. Mr. Vázquez called Sukhvir an "Iraqi terrorist" and threatened to kill him. As his anger escalated, he attacked Sukhvir from the back seat, putting him in a chokehold, knocking off his turban, biting into his head, and pulling out clumps of his hair. Sukhvir Singh became the innocent victim for Luis Vázquez to vent anger and frustration and hate because of alcohol and having been turned away from Apple Cup at the Husky Stadium. This lead to numerous calls to the 911 center from others using the freeway. Everyone was impressed by the calm of Sukhvir Singh who barely escaped death and brought the taxi to a stop at the busy time of traffic. The attack led to traffic being held up on Interstate 5 highway until the police intervened. Singh, who pulled to the side of the freeway, told police that he had been afraid for his life and that of others on the road.

Vázquez pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, second-degree assault and malicious harassment, the state's name for a hate crime, for the Nov. 24 attack on Sukhvir Singh, an Indian-born member of the Sikh religious community. Vázquez said he did not remember the drunken assault. "I'm really, really sorry for what I put you through," Vázquez told Singh during the hearing that was packed with his family and members of the Sikh community. "I'm sorry for making you have to look back over your shoulder when you walk." His attorney, Greg Girard, called him a responsible man who realizes alcohol played a big role in his actions; he is now in treatment.

In court Sukhvir Singh spoke through an interpreter. He said he did not want to see the young man's life ruined. "If someone has made a mistake, they should learn a lesson from it," Singh said. "They should be punished accordingly, and it should be known to society that it is not good to have hate toward any human being." Several members of the Sikh community spoke at the hearing. They talked about how the Sikhs are peaceful and have no ties to terrorists but have endured prejudice and slurs since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Many members of the Sikh community spoke at the hearing to express the frustration and anguish the community has felt on account of this and other hate filled incidents targeting the young and old in the community. Hardeep Singh, a community attorney helping Sukhvir Singh, expressed how the incident has affected him at a personal level and how he expected the judgment to ensure that hate and prejudice were not accepted in our communities.

"The Sikhs in this community have contributed a lot, and it's very hurtful when people attack us based on our looks," said Hardeep Singh Rekhi. There have been "a number of such incidents ... but nothing so egregious" as what Singh endured at the hands of Vázquez , Jasmit Singh Kochhar said. "Hate is one of the most divisive and intolerable emotions that we can have." Gurdev Singh Maan said 9/11 left the Sikh community as hurt as everyone else; he couldn't understand how some could equate Sikhs with terrorists, or even "where they find that word."

Benton, the judge, said Vázquez should be given leniency in the same way that Singh has given forgiveness, adding that the attack only reiterated that the community needs to "talk about and address our racial differences. When one drinks, as you did, Mr. Vázquez , those deep-seated fears arise and those prejudices surface," she said. "It is unfortunate, truly, that you do not recall this event, because he will never forget it."

Truly the Sikhs who have been victims of hate never forget what they have been through, while forgiving their attackers again and again. They are denied justice in every part of the world. One Sikh man (who wanted to stay anonymous) asked if a Sikh or minority gets in trouble with the law there is no leniency even if it is a speeding ticket, but maybe it is the color of the skin that matters even in a justice system that is meant to be fair? Once his turn signal malfunctioned and he had to pay full fine for “improper lane change.” What the future holds for the community is surely a big question? The acceptance of guilt by Luis Vázquez and forgiveness by Sukhvir Singh has left the community with a “wait and see attitude.” Surely this judgment will go a long way and reflect on the justice system of this country.

The statement issued by Sikh Coalition reads: “The journey in front of us is arduous. This was one of the very few cases in the recent past that have been prosecuted as a hate crime. The Sikh community's experiences with hate assaults in Hoboken, New Jersey and Roseburg, Oregon have left the community disheartened.

In the Oregon case, a Grand Jury did not charge an attacker with a hate crime after attackers tore off a Sikh's turban and stole it. Even worse, in New Jersey, the Hudson County prosecutor refused to charge a women who grabbed and pulled a turban with a hate assault even though she told the victim that she had a problem with his turban.

Nevertheless, the resources invested in order to achieve this result in Seattle were significant. It took a lot of time for dozens of community volunteers who took off time from work, called the press, mobilized other community organizations, pursued all legal options available, organized meetings, and showed patience, poise and perseverance through a somber vigil.

As a community, we have a long way to go before prosecutors and the public alike understand that attacks on Sikhs are generally not random occurrences but the result of a huge societal animus against our articles of faith.”


“When one drinks, as you did, Mr. Vázquez , those deep-seated fears arise and those prejudices surface. It is unfortunate, truly, that you do not recall this event, because he will never forget it.” King County Superior Court Judge Monica J. Benton




"The Sikhs in this community have contributed a lot, and it's very hurtful when people attack us based on our looks" Hardeep Singh Rekhi


“There have been a number of such incidents ... but nothing so egregious as what Sukhvir Singh endured at the hands of Vázquez.” Jasmit Singh Kochhar


“Hate is one of the most divisive and intolerable emotions that we can have. 9/11 left the Sikh community as hurt as everyone else. I can’t understand how some could equate Sikhs with terrorists, or even where they find that word." Gurdev Singh Maan


Sukhvir Singh speaks through an interpreter. Deputy Prosecutor Mike Hogan is on the right. "If someone has made a mistake, they should learn a lesson from it," Singh said. "They should be punished accordingly, and it should be known to society that it is not good to have hate toward any human being."


Luis Vázquez sits with his attorney, Greg Girard, in the courtroom filled with Sikhs and members of Luis Vázquez family.


Press reporters from various news media cover the event.


Press reporters from various news media cover the event.


"I'm really, really sorry for what I put you through. I'm sorry for making you have to look back over your shoulder when you walk." Luis Vázquez


Luis Vázquez in the courtroom filled with Sikhs and members of Luis Vázquez family.


Attorney Greg Girard talks with Deputy Prosecutor Mike Hogan, while Hardeep Singh and Sukhvir Singh look on.


Hardeep Singh (center), with Sukhvir Singh (left) and Deputy Prosecutor Mike Hogan.

Editor: Sarab Singh, Kent, Washington, USA. No rights reserved.