Internet Freedom in the World's Largest Democracy.

I do not know how much press coverage this has been getting in India, so I will cover it here.

There has just been passed a horrendous law the effectively ends free expression on the Internet in the Republic of India.  It forbids Internet writers to: 

Section 3:  use, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update, share or store any

information that : —...

 (2 ) (b) - is harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing,  blasphemous,objectionable, defamatory, vulgar, obscene,  pornographic,paedophilic,  libellous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, orracially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable, disparaging, relating orencouraging money laundering or gambling, or otherwise unlawful inany manner whatever;

First, looking at (b),  no matter what is written someone, somewhere,  among the  1.2 billion people in India will find it “otherwise objectionable.”  This, in itself - if enforced -   

effectively ends all freedom of expression on the Net.

And furthermore

 (j) threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India,

friendly relations with foreign states, or or public order or  causes

incitement to the commission of any cognisable offence or prevents

investigation of any offence or is insulting any other nation.

Next, looking at the first clause of  (j) - threatens the unity, integrity, defence, security or sovereignty of India – that would seem to forbid any mention of Khalistan or any other liberation movement within the Republic. I find it somewhat amusing that it also means it is against the law to speak ill of Pakistan and China!  It does, after all, include anything that is insulting any other nation.

This law will, of course, be selectively enforced, the government of India (GOI) blocking sites it does not like.  This blog is a very small player in the blogosphere and probably beneath the notice of the GOI, officially, at least.  I want to ensure my beloved readers that I will continue to write as I always have, encouraging the self-determination of the Sikh Qaum and the chardi kala of the Panth.  However, preparing for the worst, anyone who would like to receive e-mail copies of my posts, please contact me directly and I will put you on my mailing list.

I am writing and publishing from the United States of America and I have been careful to follow the laws of this land.  As I am a strong believer in freedom of speech and freedom of the press, I do not follow the ridiculous restrictions of censorship laws of India.  Reading blank pages would be boring to you, I'm afraid.

I do not know what will happen in the future, that, of course, will be the Hukam of Vaheguru.  Perhaps nothing will happen.  We can always hope and pray for the best – and of course, prepare for the worst.  Whatever happens, please know that I personally love you all and you are ever in my heart and in my prayers.

The entire text of this law can be found at http://www.mit.gov.in/sites/upload_files/dit/files/due_dilligance4intermediary07_02_11.pdf

FIVE GUNNED DOWN IN BAHRAIN

In solidarity with the people of Bahrain

 

 

Bahrain locks down kingdom as uprising surges 

"...Doctors at the country's main hospital said their facility was taken over by security forces, blocking physicians from either leaving or treating the wounded on site.

"There are many people injured, but we can't bring them to the hospital because of the travel restrictions, and doctors can't come to us," said Ali Marsouk, a resident of the Shiite village of Sitra, who said helicopters fired on homes in a three-hour attack..."

A freedom struggle is noble and good and exciting to the imaginations of all who believe in freedom.  Is that why this is being painted as Shiites (the majority) against Sunnis (the rulers).  What better way to get the West to turn away than to report it as a Muslim sectarian  conflict?  Boring!  But this is the People against the Tyrants. 

THIS IS THE PEOPLE AGAINST THE TYRANT!

  
I am not an expert on the Middle East, of course, but it does not escape me that the ruling al-Khalifah family is a long-time ally of the United States of America.  But what do I know?

Cui bono?  (Who profits?)

 

MORE IMAGES OF BAHRAIN from GHADEER AL-SHAMLAN

pleas help us they kill us now :(

 

 

STAND WITH BAHRAIN

We Sikhs have a long history of standing with people fighting injustice anywhere.  Today on my Facebook page, I received this plea for help from my gallant young friend in Bahrain, Ghadeer Al-Shamlam:

Please Published for all people you know

Help us to reach our voice to foreign countries

...

What's going on with this world.. why everyone is watching what's happening in Bahrain and no one is taking any action?? WHY?? aren't we humans??? don't we deserve to live as well... Where are the people of the world??????? Bahrain is calling.. listen or it will be too late...

I feel so helpless.  All the attention of the world is right now focused on the four-fold disaster in Japan (earthquake/tsunami/nuclear meltdown/volcano)  and the good people of Bahrain have been nearly forgotten.  Japan, of course, must be helped, but do we have such small hearts and minds that we can only help in one place?  Please look at these pictures that Ghadeer ji just sent me.  This is what the government of Bahrain, with the help of the Saudis and, I just heard, the Kuwaitis, are doing to their own citizens.  As Sikhs, we know what it feels like to be attacked by what is supposed to be our own government.

One more picture, a screenshot from a YouTube video about the attackj on peaceful protesters.  (See also the second video below)

 It seems a particularly destructive form of tear gas is being used against the protesters.  I've breathed tear gas a few times and even the ordinary form is bad enough.

LET US ALL STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR SISTERS AND BROTHERS !!

TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SAY ARDAS FOR THEM!!

FREE BAHRAIN ZINDABAD!!

MASSACRE IN BAHRAIN: Eyewitness Reports

puplish plz


bahrainies need u

How many of our Sikh mothers, daughters, sisters have experienced this?  The dress is different;  the feelings are the same.

Last night, looking for something entirely different, I came upon this discussion about the Bahrain military's attack on its own citizens peacefully protesting from the Flickr group, Global Photojournalism; Politics, News, Protest, and Culture. 

The pictures and discussion of Bahrain can be found  here.

We Sikhs have had a lot of experience of this in "India" and so we can understand what these Bahrainis are going through.  Let's send them our prayers and comfort.  At this point, I don't know what more we can do. 

What follows is from Ghadeer Shamlan, a young woman, age 18, a law student from Bahrain, obviously a person of great courage.  I hope thesepictures and reports helps to make the situation real to you.  These are real live (and dead) human beings and they need and deserve our compassion and concern.

Posted in the Flickr group, Global Photojournalism; Politics, News, Protest, and Culture. 

From 16 Feb 2011, Bahrain

Here is some of what 2 eye-witnesses said about todays attack in Bahrain

Witness 1 (woman): I was sitting with another woman getting ready pray "salat el-lail" which is a type of prayers the Shiites have , the woman was with her two months old baby, she gave me the baby so that she go to prepare for the prayers , just few minutes then the Bahraini forces started attacking with out any caution , one of the military forces men came to me and started beating me and he took the baby and throw her on the ground and shot her with his gone without any mercy,

she added it was really terrorism dead bodies and parts were everywhere on the ground , they throw some people over the bridge and drive there cars "police cars" over them, also they took injured people and bodies "alive" in closed fridges to unknown place. It was like a real war she added !!

witness (2) " man" : we were lying to sleep as suddenly the tear-bombs and gun-shots came from everywhere without any notifications we started running heading to salmaniya , while that i got injured by the gun-shots , the man who was killed and had his head blasted was killed in front of me they put the gun on his head directly and shot , his head parts spread everywhere !!!

\

puplish plz

bahrainies need u

A protester takes cover around a corner as Bahrain's security forces fire tear gas on demonstrators marching from Salmaniya Hospital to Pearl Square, in Manama February 19, 2011. Anti-government protesters in Bahrain swarmed back into a symbolic square on Saturday, putting riot police to flight in a striking victory for their cause. REUTERS/James Dugga

A child badly injured and possibly killed by Bahraini military forces

Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs are from Ghadeer Shamlan

KIRPANS IN QUEBEC - follow up statement

Where have my brains been hiding? Why didn't I see this immediately?   This whole thing was a set-up by Bloc Quebecois.

I was reading this editorial (I'll copy/paste it below) when I realised what a dolt I've been. Quebec has been fuming ever since the Montreal public schools were ordered to let that kid keep his kirpan in school. This accommodation (or not) for the niqab was the perfect opportunity to get even with us and take it even a bit farther.

The Quebec government is well aware of the importance of the kirpan to Sikhs because of the above case. When they invited the Sikhs to testify, they knew very well they would be carrying kirpans. They purposely made no arrangements with security to permit the Sikhs in, knowing that they Sikhs would refuse to surrender their kirpans. They knew the Sikhs would rightfully raise a huge stink at being treated so unfairly.

This publicity give the Bloc the chance to up the ante and get kirpans banned not only from the Quebec Legislature but to also try to get them banned from the Canadian Parliament where Navdeep Singh has been attending with his kirpan for more than six years and, I might add, has made no attempt to stab any opposition MP.

So we've been seriously punked! What are we going to do about it?

I realise that probably everybody else saw this from the beginning, it's so obvious.

My dear readers please sign the petition (if you haven't already) :   Say NO!! To Bloc's Call to Ban KIRPANS in Parliament

and also join the Facebook Cause with the same name.  



The article that brought about this much belated epiphany (italics mine):

Only in Quebec you say?

Other provinces have long tolerated minority rights. Not us



By DON MACPHERSON,
The Gazette
January 27, 2011

What is it about Quebec that makes it more dangerous for orthodox Sikhs to wear the kirpan here than elsewhere in Canada?

After Sikh boys in other provinces had been allowed to wear the dagger-like religious symbol to school for a hundred years, why was it still considered unsafe in 2002 for a Sikh boy to do the same here, even under severe restrictions?

And in the latest incident involving the kirpan, why was a Sikh delegation barred from the National Assembly last week after refusing to surrender their kirpans, when a Sikh member of Parliament is allowed to wear his in the House of Commons?

(And why, after Liberal Navdeep Singh had been doing so for more than six years, did the Bloc Quebecois only get around to objecting after the incident at the Assembly?)

Safety was the official reason given by the Assembly's security service for forbidding the Sikhs to wear their kirpans. But, as ruefrontenac.comblogger Marco Fortier pointed out, the kirpan is no more dangerous a weapon than the table knives in the Assembly's restaurants.

And it's not as if the Sikhs just showed up unannounced on a bus tour, catching everybody at the Assembly by surprise. They had been invited to appear before an Assembly committee examining a bill on, ironically, religious accommodations.

But since the committee had neglected to make prior arrangements for them to be admitted while wearing their kirpans, the Sikh delegation wasn't heard.

More than one made-in-Quebec compromise between the Sikhs' religious beliefs and the need for security at the Assembly was available.

The delegation could have been escorted by Assembly constables, as was a Sikh leader invited to a ceremony at the legislature last year.
 

Or they could have been allowed to wear their kirpans sealed inside their clothing. That was the solution suggested by the Supreme Court of Canada in its 2006 "reasonable accommodation" decision in the case of the Sikh boy forbidden from wearing his kirpan to school. 

In applauding the exclusion of the Sikh delegation, Louise Beaudoin of the Parti Quebecois expressed disagreement with the Supreme Court's decision. "Multiculturalism might be a Canadian value," she said. "But it is not a Quebec one."

The conditions under which the boy could wear his kirpan to school originated not with the Supreme Court, however, but with the boy's French-language school board. They were expanded in a decision by a Frenchspeaking judge of Quebec Superior Court.

And contrary to what Beaudoin implied, the Supreme Court's decision was not based on multiculturalism.

Rather, the court ruled that forbidding the boy to wear his kirpan to school violated his freedom of religion under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

And that freedom is protected not only by the Canadian Charter but also by Quebec's own Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms -adopted seven years before the Canadian Charter.

(Beaudoin's position is wrong, but at least she took one. Liberal Immigration Minister Kathleen Weil, the sponsor of the accommodation bill, refused to say whether the Sikh delegation should have been admitted.)

So "reasonable accommodation" reflects Quebec values as well as so-called Canadian ones.

Or at least it reflects what used to be Quebec values, before the backlash against the Supreme Court's decision on the kirpan.

Since then, the parties have been competing over the identity question for the votes of the majority, at the expense of the Quebec Charter and the rights of minorities, and not only religious ones.

dmacpherson@montrealgazette.com
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette

Reprinted from Sikh Philosophy Network

BURNING THE QURAN - A Position Statement

I would love to ignore that hateful ignoramus the "Reverend" Terry Jones of Gainesville, FL, USA, but I need to issue a statement because to say nothing might be construed as either support or indifference to this. I do not know what Terry Jones may or may not do.  I do know that what he proposes to do is wrong, wrong, WRONG!!  As a Sikh, I respect all religions and am bound to treat others' holy books as do their adherents.  I treat the Holy Bible, the Holy Quran and all other sacred scriptures as sacred scriptures with respect and love.  I may not - I do not - follow their teachings, but I do accept that they are inspired writings, revered by their followers and worthy of respect.

It has been pointed out to me that part of the reason for Sikhi coming into existence was the persecution of the religious groups of India, primarily the Hindus, by the Muslims.  Excuuuuuuse me!  The persecutors, sure enough, were Muslims, but not the only Muslims.  The Mughal rulers were a small group of tyrants and, it must not be forgotten that those who hunted down and killed Sikhs for a bounty were almost entirely Hindus.  It seemas forgotten that Guru Nanak Dev Ji's dear friend and traveling companion was a Muslim, the cornerstone of Harmandir Sahib Ji was laid by a Muslim, and we mustn't forget Sheik Fareed and Bhagat Kabir whose writings are included in Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, our eternal Guru were Muslims.

I remember seeing birs of Guru ji burnt in the Sikh Genocide of Delhi, 1984.  These pictures are very painful to look at.  Here, see what I mean.

 I cannot wish this on anyone.  Let all Sikhs everywhere condemn this idiot's plan to burn the Holy Quran.  Whether or not this happens, the very idea is so repulsive that it must be vociferously condemned.

FREE PAL SINGH

Bhai Pal Singh Ji

The illustrious Punjab police are at it again. Once again an innocent Sikh has been framed, arrested and tortured by the protectors of the law in East Punjab.  This time it was Bhai Pal Singh, 60, a French citizen, Sikh preacher and humantarian worker, especially among the poor farmers of Punjab.

Although the cops say that they dug up weapons, ammunition and explosives, the neighbours say that nothing was dug at all.  Is it possible that the Punjab police, not noted for their good intelligence (pun intended), have mistaken "Tat Khalsa," a religious movement with "Babbar Khalsa," a proKhalistan group, believed to be terroristic by some.  Here is one instance of what seems to be such confusion:   Tat Khalsa supporting activities of Sikh terrorists, claims Punjab police.

Don't be fooled by the turbans;  these are not friends of the Sikhs!

There is so much I would like to say, but words fail me.  We all know about the excesses of the Punjab Police.  They would not hesitate to torture even to death an innocent Sikh man who has done nothing but good.  France has done nothing, although he is a French citizen.   It falls on the shoulders of the worldwide Sangat to champion this dear brother and make his case known to the world.  Is this not one more argument that we need our own country to respond to such things? 

One of the men arrested with him has been severely tortured and is near death. Pal Singh's health is very frail and it is mostly likely he could not survive torture at the gentle hands of the Punjab police.  Harminder Kaur, in the Facebook page, Free Pal Singh, reports that "a familly friend has visited Pal Singh and said he was very weak."
 
So what can any of us do, other than sit and wring our hands?  The first thing to do is to be informed.  Here is some help to get you started.

Information is not easy to come by.  This in itself is suspicious to me.  I am relying primarily on two Facebook pages, Free Pal Singh and Voices For Freedom.   I ask you to go there and join these two pages.  Facebook is sometimes silly and frivolous, true;  it is also very powerful. 

First, the chronology, as Reported by Voices For Freedom:
Timeline of events:

Based on the reports received by Voices For Freedom

-17th July: Pal Singh was arrested at 7:00pm, as per an eye witness.
-17th July: Pal Singh was dropped at his house at 1pm.

-22nd July: Pal Singh was again arrested at at 1:30pm. No charges were levied against him.

-23rd July: The Panjab Police raids his home in Village Dandowal, Jalandhar district at 3 different times on the same day: 4:00 am, 1:00pm and 7:00pm while he was still in custody. No charges were levied on him.

-26th July: Pal Singh legal counsel, Rajwinder Singh Bains, files habeas corpus for Pal Singh

-27th July: Panjab Police presents Pal Singh in front of the magistrate late at night and gets his remand extended till 30th July.

- morning 28th July: the habeas corpus petition was taken up by Justice Arvind Kumar who had appointed a warrant officer to trace Pal Singh
- afternoon 28th July: The Panjab Police in a press conference says that Pal Singh was arrested from Jalandhar. As from eye witness’s and reports received by VFF, which are corroborated by the Times of India report, Pal Singh was arrested from his home village, a clear discrepancy.

- 30th July: Punjab police presented Pal Singh in front of the judge and requested another remand of 7 days, the judge allowed 1 day

- 31st July, Punjab police presented Pal singh in court and the out the outcome – not known yet

Based on information from a village fellow Gurmukh Singh who reported, said that the Panjab Police took Pal Singh to his fields alone, sat with him for almost an hour in the field and then took him to his residence and from their drove him back to the jail. No news or journalists were invited and nothing was seen being carried with them. Next morning zeenews reports that that “Pal Singh told the interrogators that he had kept a large quantity of explosives, arms and ammunitions near his residence at his village Dhandowal. He led a police team to the spot and handed over the consignment consisting of 15 Kilogram RDX, 3 detonators, 45 caliber sub-machine gun, 150 cartridges, 45 caliber, 1 Magazine AK 47, 100 cartridges of AK 47 and 3 packets fuse wire, the police added”

Gaping gaps appear in the story requiring a re-investigation and a CBI enquiry. Voices For Freedom has contacted the National Human Rights Commission in India, seeking the safety of Pal Singh and to initiate a CBI inquiry.

Panjab police has a nefarious record of violating human rights and making concocted stories.

*********************************************

Next, a few questions and links:

Who is Pal Singh?
 

What is the official story of his arrest?  This is a lot of nonsense, but it is useful to know the official story.

Click on picture to see larger, readable page.

A photo from Times of India of their story. 

What really happened at his arrest? (See the Timeline above)
What can I do?

Here is a list of human rights organisations that we would like to mobilise to help Bhai Pal Singh ji.  Please visit each of them asking for help for our brother.

Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/

Avocats Sans Frontières
http://www.avocatssansfrontieres-france.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=173&Itemid=129&lang=en

The Advocates for Human Rights
http://www.mnadvocates.org/

Giste
http://www.gisti.org/

Human Rights Watch
http://www.hrw.org/


International Coalition against Enforced Disappearances
http://www.icaed.org/the-coalition/


UN Watch
http://www.unwatch.org/site/c.bdKKISNqEmG/b.1277549/k.D7FE/UN_Watch__Monitoring_the_UN_Promoting_Human_Rights.htm

World Organisation Against Torture
http://www.omct.org/


Asian Human Rights Commission (Asia)
http://www.ahrchk.net/

Asian Centre for Human Rights (Asia)
http://www.achrweb.org/countries/india.htm

All pictures are from the Free Pal Singh Facebook page except that of the Punjab Police, which is from in.com.

AUSTIN GURUDWARA and Young Fateh!

I generally am not a fan of rap, but I like this.  Please listen and then go to the donation page of the Save The Gurudwara site. 

Before the music, some pictures of what we are saving:

Now the music.  Sing along with the hook:

They Cant tear it down
Its the only one left standing in that town
they cant tear it down
they trynna bulldoze the shrine
We need ta fight back, its about time..

All the lyrics:

They can tear down a building/ but cant knock down our spirits/
they was scared before - but now its time to fear it
Austin Texas / We cant just let them Reck This
Gurujis HOme/ It up to us to protect it

Everybody talking Change/ land of the free
but Its a Damn Shame/ no one doin a damn thang
where da A.K's Lets Jus Reign on they Parade/
They trynna make us fade/ lets go on a crusade/

Christopher Columbus ---------- robbed all the natives/
Declared it his own/ then brought over slave ships/
history repeats/ this is kinda like the same shit
the Couple didnt like it/ tomorrow its the nation/

"Sikhs need get out"... forced assimilation/
we need to fight back/ for our temples salvation/
government racist/ This is discrimination/
i put my hand out/ For your collaboration/

Sikh Activist, we in affliationt
shaheed baba deep singh is my inspiration/
need come together for our generation
They already tried to knock out our popultion

the 50 stars, Blue star operations
they didnt think twice/ no hesitation
skip the starbucks, give that as a donation
before my holy temple comes to termination

Thanks to Young Fateh.

STOP THE DEMOLITION OF THE AUSTIN GURUDWARA!

Imagine that you have no gurudwara in your area to worship in and the sangat uses a makeshift manufactured house as an impromptu gurudwara.  The nearest gurudwara is more than 100 miles (120 km) away.  Then you all get together, raise money and after many difficulties actually get your new gurudwara built.  At last, you have a real, permanent home for Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj Then someone in your town manages to get the government to issue an order to demolish the gurudwara you love and have worked so long and hard to build.  How would you feel?  What would you do?  An small congregation in Austin, Texas, is facing this bleak situation.

Today, I am both sad and angry.  Who would want to tear down the only gurudwara within 100 miles, legally built, unobtrusive?  Evidently some of the good citizens of Austin, Texas, USA.  Jasleen Kaur who was instrumental in getting this gurudwara built sent me an e-mail which says, in part,

We're currently raising money to take this to the state supreme court, but it will be an expensive battle.

it is heart breaking, literally.  all i can do is encourage the sangat to keep us in their ardaas and do as many chaupai sahib paath as they can for our victory.

 Our sisters and brothers in Austin, Texas, USA need our help.  Will we stand with them and help them to overcome this obstacle?  They need our prayers and our donations to fight the legal battle in the Texas Supreme Court.  With the help of the worldwide Saadh Sangat and the kirpaa of Vaheguru, this is a battle that will be won!

Please go to their website  Save The Austin Gurudwara and donate whatever you can.  Please be generous.  


Here is the Austin Gurudwara Sahib as it stands today...

 None of us wants to see this:

The article says:  "Sikhs around the world and shocked, saddened, and flabbergasted by such an unjust ruling."  I would like to amend that to "people of goodwill of any faith - or no faith - around the world..."  I have said that this blog has a world-wide readership.  This would be a good time to speak up.  Even if you cannot send a donation, please send a word of encouragement to AustinGurdwara@gmail.com. 

Here is the article about this from the Free Press:

COURT, SHOCKINGLY, ORDERS DESTRUCTION OF AUSTIN TEMPLE

Austin. July 16, 2010

Sikhs are shocked and outraged at a ruling by a Texas Court of Appeals ordering that the only Sikh Temple (Gurudwara) in Austin, Texas be torn down.

Austin Gurdwara Sahib (AGS), a non-profit, Sikh organization purchased land in West side of the Greater Austin area in 2003 to start the first permanent Gurudwara in the Capital City. For years, religious services were hosted weekly in a manufactured home located on the property. In 2005, to improve the facilities, AGS, with the congregation’s support, decided to build a more contemporary building. In this regard, AGS applied for, and was granted, all the necessary permits from the city. The approval process from the city included meetings with Planning & Zoning committees as well as the City Council at large. AGS also met with and provided full disclosure to the neighborhood association.

The construction commenced in late 2007, and the members of the Austin Sikh community celebrated laying the initial foundation stone of the first Sikh temple of its kind in Austin. However, the festive mood came to an abrupt stop immediately after the foundation had finished in Feb 2008, when the Bolliers filed for an injunction against the construction. John and wife Leslie, who is an attorney, were relative newcomers to the neighborhood arriving about 3 years after AGS had been using its property for religious services. Citing to the deed restrictions, the Bolliers argued vehemently against the construction of the Sikh Temple on the grounds that it would be an eye-sore and a traffic magnate, and would lower their property’s value.

 By agreement, AGS and the Bolliers agreed to cease construction until the issue was resolved by the trial court. In March 2009, the case was heard by Honorable Judge Susan Covington in the 353rd Judicial District in Travis County Texas. Over the course of several days, the court heard evidence presented by both sides, and rendered an informed decision denying Bollier’s request for an injunction and further ordered them to pay 80% of the associated court costs. In fact, the plantiff, Leslie Bollier, was cited for inequitable conduct in connection with the AGS use of the property.

After the trial court’s favorable ruling, AGS proceded to complete the Temple construction over the next few months. Meanwhile, not satisfied with the trial court’s decision, Bolliers filed an appeal. In July 2010, months after the construction of the Temple was complete, the Appellate Court reversed the lower court’s ruling. In fact, it went so far as to order the completed structure to be torn down! Sikhs around the world and shocked, saddened, and flabbergasted by such an unjust ruling.

 The AGS intends to vigorously appeal and ask the court to reconsider its decision. A website www.SaveGurudwara.com is being set up to provide updates on the matter as well as to collect donations for the legal fight.

Press Release issued by: Austin Gurdwara Sahib, 5104 Avispa Way, Austin TX 78738 Email: AustinGurdwara@Gmail.com.

Wordless Wednesday - Brown Pelican, State Bird of Louisiana

Louisiana Pelican

CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST SAJJAN KUMAR!

We have been trying for this for a long, long time.  Here is the release I received this morning.  A nice thing to see in my inbox.   Now, Step One is complete.  I will be keeping a close eye on this.  In the meantime, you might like to friend Sikhs For Justice in Facebook. 

Sikhs Justice May 20 at 9:45am

The sustained struggle for Justice by victims of November 1984 Sikh Genocide, Human Rights Advocacy group Sikhs For Justice and All India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF) bore fruit when a Delhi Court ordered framing of charges against Congress Leader Sajjan Kumar for his role in killing of Sikhs during the November 1984 Sikh Genocide. The charges will be framed under Murder; Looting, Dacoity and Robbery; Spreading enmity between communities; Violation of curfew orders, Arson, burning of Gurudwara and burning of Houses. Additional Sessions Judge Sunita Gupta allowed CBI's plea seeking prosecution of Sajjan Kumar under various sections of Indian Penal Code after finding prima facie evidence against him. Besides Sajjan Kumar, the other accused in the case are Balwan Khokhar, Mahender Yadav, Maha Singh, Capt Bhagmal, Santosh Rani, Girdhari Lal and Krishna Khokhar.
This case relates to killing of five Sikhs in Delhi Cantonment area by a mob led by Sajjan Kumar and other accused during the November 1984 Sikh Genocide. On the basis of recommendations of Justice Nanavati Commission, this case was entrusted to CBI in 2005 for further investigation/ reinvestigation against Sajjan Kumar and other accused. The investigation and the case against the accused would have closed for lack of evidence if it had not been for the efforts of the Human Rights Advocacy group Sikhs for Justice and AISSF who brought forward and (held the arm) of star witnesses like Jagdish Kaur, Nirpreet Kaur, Jagsher Singh, Sheila Kaur to testify against the powerful politicians. Sikhs For Justice and AISSF even arranged for the investigation agency to be taken to Amritsar where the statement of the witnesses were recorded. It was after testimonies of these important witnesses that the CBI filed chargesheet against the accused.
Sikhs for Justice and AISSF are pursuing a legal battle in Indian courts to get punished those guilty of killing Sikhs during the November 1984 Sikh Genocide in India. Sikhs for Justice has established a legal team which is headed by Advocate Kamna Vohra along with Advocate Navkiran Singh Advocates have also been appointed to represent the CBI including Senior Advocate Mr. RS Cheema, Mr. DP Singh and Mr. Y.P. Saxena.

Senior advocate Mr. HS Phoolka who is representing the victims of the Genocide since last 25 years said that the framing of the charges will pave for trial in the case. The Delhi High Court had earlier issued direction to complete the trial within six months of cases relating to November 1984 Sikh Genocide. The trial will be held on day today basis.
Advocate Kamna Vohra appearing for the victims stated this is a very important development and she is very hopeful that the perpetrators of the November 1984 Sikh Genocide will be punished.
Attorney Gurpatwant S Pannun, Legal Advisor of Sikhs for Justice stated that as a human rights advocacy group we have completed our task by locating and bringing the witnesses forward and now it is upto the Indian Judiciary to bring the cases to their logical conclusions and punish the perpetrators of the Genocide. He stated that the hopes of the victims and all others are now pinned on the Indian Judiciary.
AISSF President Karnail Singh Peermohammed stated that though delayed, he is hopeful that justice will be done. He stated that the wounds of the Sikh community will be healed only after the killers of the Sikhs are punished by law.
In January 2010, CBI filed two charge sheets against Sajjan Kumar for his role in the November 1984 massacre of Sikhs. The chargesheets pertained to killing of seven Sikhs in Sultanpuri, North-West Delhi and killing of five Sikhs in Delhi Cantonment in November 1984.
The charges in this case will be formally framed in the court on May 24, 2010.
The Sikhs for Justice legal time is currently pursuing 32 Appeals involving 98 accused in Delhi High Court and 3 Appeals against acquittal of accused at the Supreme Court of India.
Newspaper Coverage:
http://news.outlookindia.com/printitem.aspx?682688
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_cbi-alleges-sajjan-kumar-incited-mob-during-84-riots_1385521
http://www.ptinews.com/news/661453_CBI-alleges-Sajjan-incited-mob-during--84-riots
http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/621108/

Photograph from The Hindu 16 February 2010

HONOUR THE LUDHIANA SHAHEEDS

I have been very lax in writing about this. It is excruciatingly painful to me, as it is to us all. When will those idiots running what passes for a government in India going to clean up their act? When is what passes for a police force in Punjab going to protect and defend the citizens instead of murdering and torturing them? And when are Those Fools in Amritsar going to stand up as our leaders and give us something to be proud of in them? WHEN, WHEN, WHEN?

We have no idea how many have been injured and how many have achieved shaheedi in this latest round of violence. I just received this e-mail from Kaurs United. If you live anywhere near British Columbia, Canada, please attend. It's the least you can do to show your appreciation of and solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Occupied Khalistan.

Click on poster to enlarge

FROM KAURS UNITED:

Vaheguru jee ka Khalsa Vaheguru jee kee Fateh!!

"Freedom from slavery is achieved only when a person starts to feel and understand that he would prefer death to life as a slave; when he does not consider living (as a slave) worthwhile." - Sant Jarnail Singh jee Khalsa Bhinderanwale, Mukhi Damdami Taksal Jatha Bhindran

Khalsa Jee,
The time has come again where Sikhs have taken the ultimate step of giving their lives in protest of Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji's disrespect and slander. You've assuredly seen videos of the recent Ludhiana Kaandh and the brutal beating, shooting, and abusing of Singhs who were protesting against Ashutosh Noormahal, the government hired self-acclaimed "Baba", who insults Gursikhs, and claims that the jot of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is in HIM, and not in Guru Granth Sahib Ji. If we conversed with Sant Jarnail Singh ji today, would Sant Ji not send another Jatha of 13+ Singhs to protect the honour of the Sikh Nation and fight the disrespect of our Gurus?

Numerous Singhs have been killed by police bullets in the past few days when we were sitting in our warm homes.... What's worse is that many bodies have been taken by the police, and we are not even able to count how many have actually gotten Shaheed. Shaheed families have been offered money from the government, to remain quiet about their loved one's Shaheedi. Khalsa Jee, are we feeling Panthic Dardh, or just worried about our own hungers and desires? Why are we not thinking about our brothers who were brave enough to fight in the front line against those who disrespected our Guru?

THIS SUNDAY AT SUKH SAGAR GURDWARA SAHIB .... Sikh Youth and Families from all over B.C. will gather to pray for our Shaheeds and the beautiful Singhs who are still in the hospital, barely recovering from the attacks (http://dhansikhi.com/Multimedia/VideoMain.aspx).
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm : Chaupai Sahib Jaap
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm : Rehraas Sahib
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm : Youth Kirtan Darbar and Katha

Sangat Jee, let's not disappoint our Shaheeds and mistakenly believe or imply that our time is more valuable than their sacrifice. Whether it means calling in for compassionate leave that day or finishing your work early, please, for the sake of our SHAHEEDS, attend this event for as long as you possibly can, as times of unity may not last forever... Alas, some Gursikhs around the world are left to feel this Panthic Dardh all alone, and cry for the safety of their brothers, and for the freedom of their Nation, while we can share our pain together. Let's share our love this Sunday and prove to every Anti- Panthic Dusht that we will never be silenced. Are the Panth's SHAHEEDS worth your time?

--
~ ਰੱਖੋ ਮੱਤ ਉੱਚੀ

1984 VIDEO

I think the less said about this video, the better. Especially note our brother and sister from about 3:10 to 4:20.

FORGET?! WHO ARE THEY KIDDING?




And then they cannot understand our desire for self-determination.

Where Ever It Is Dark - An Illustrated Poem

I came across this poem one day while reading Preeti Kaur ji's blog, The World I Stitch. As I read, I saw pictures of all that our children go through in school, especially in America and I felt the need to illustrate her painfully beautiful poem. She has graciously given me permission to reproduce the poem here. The words are hers; I am to blame for the pictures. (She approves of them, though!)

I would suggest that any children experiencing such problems, go to Khalsa Kids. There is a lot of help there. Parents are welcome, too, of course!

where ever it is dark-- poem for sikh children- REVISED

where ever it is dark (revised, kid-friendly version) 12/7/07
for r. singh (especially) and children everywhere

after school
i tell my mummy
i don't want to go back
tomorrow

she asks me why

i tell her
today in the playground
bullies
push me
punch me
kick me
shout at me
potato head!
raghead!
alladin!
even osama bin laden!
everything i know
i am not

i fight back
throw a fist

imagine the bullies as monsters
call them ugly things too
my cheeks burn
my heart thumps
i am MAD

i didn't start this
i am just one
and no one listens
when i yell
stop it!
leave me alone!
no one helps me
when the bullies
rip the cloth
from my head
pull off
my patka

not even the friends
i swing with
everyday on the monkey-bars
or the kids
who swap sandwiches with me
in the cafeteria
not even the adults
who patrol the playgrounds
to make sure
everyone follows the rules

after
bloody noses
bruises
scratches
the teachers sit us down

a peace negotiation
where no one questions
the bullies

why am i a target?

inside
i am like a match
like the ones my daddy warns me not to play with
a blue flame
which grows shorter every second
burning my insides
faster than i expect

i go home
and cry
and cry

i tell my mummy
everything

my mummy
wraps her arms
around my shoulders
tells me she loves me
with her eyes

she unwraps
my joora
lets loose
my long hair
runs her fingers through

mummy whispers
your hair
is like the night sky
your hair
is the universe

she combs my kes
with a kanga
twists my hair firm
on the top of my head
a galaxy you carry high
mummy says

she takes the square patka cloth
angles it
like a diamond
sets the patka on my scalp
and ties it tight
mummy tells me
this patka
crowns you

one day
you will wear a turban
cloth as long as the seven oceans
the full span of the earth
will rest on your head

be a brave young prince
like Sahibzaada Zorawar Singh Ji
like Sahibzaada Fateh Singh Ji
when bullies
big as kings
threaten them
for carrying the universe on their heads

like true princes
when bullies
torture them
with three nights
in the cold
in the dark

when everyone wanted them to just be children
they raised their chins high

no tears
just the ways of the lion prince

with questions and conversation
a duty for the kingdom

mummy kisses my cheeks
i kiss her back

i tell her
i will go back to school tomorrow
i will be like a prince
a shooting star

bright and brave
where ever it is cold
where ever it is dark

pk