WHAT A STORY - From Delhi 1984

A lady I know, Namjot Kaur, just told me her story of Delhi 84.

It's bloodier, nastier and more unbelievable than ours, and I'd like to share it with you, at least the strangest part. So I start in the middle.

The mob forced the Sikhs in the house onto the street, including the women and children. They separated the males from the females and threw kerosene on the males. Inderjeet, her husband, knowing what was about to happen, drew his kirpan and cut their son's throat - he was just a little boy of 9. That angered the mob and they turned their total attention to him.

As they set him alight, a man appeared beside him, with his hand on Inderjeet's shoulder. Inderjeet didn't move a muscle, just stood there burning, staring at her and smiling. Just before he died, he shouted. "Bole so nihal," and his body collapsed on the ground. Then he and their son, who whose body had been at his feet, rose and embraced the man and they both disappeared.

While Inderjeet was burning, the man's hawk kept dive-bombing the mob, which seemed unable to move. After the men disappeared, the mob ran off, screaming in terror, leaving the remaining Sikhs in safety.

Namjot is sure the 'man' was Guru Gobind Singh Ji, although he looked quite different from the pictures we see of him. This' man' was very rough-looking, a warrior with a full, bushy beard, not at all like the dandified pictures we see of Guru Maharaj Ji. The hawk, though, is a give-away. And the light around the apparition

I believe Namjot's story. I know Guru Papa Ji looks after his children.

There's much more to her story, of course, that's just the most dramatic part. I'm trying to convince her to write it out for this blog; I would even be willing to play Alex Haley to her Malcolm X, ie, I'm willing to ghost-write it, you know, as told to.

Chardi kala!

ANNIVERSARY DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF BROTHER LAIBAR SINGH

Unbelievable! This good man has been holed up in gurdwaras for a full year now. While I can't think of a better place to spend a year, our brother needs his freedom to live a happy, open life breathing the free air of 'our home and native land.' Please turn out for this demonstration to let all of Canada - and the world - that we stand together, united as a community to support our brother! (Yes, this story has been picked up all over the world!)

NOTE TO BROTHER LAIBAR JI: We have not forgotten you, dear brother! Keep smiling and remain in chardi kala. Remember that the Hukam of Vaheguru is in control. And your sister loves you. (I hope you like these pictures. I had fun doing them.) This one is supposed to be private, but since I have no way to reach you privately, here it is on the 'Net for the whole world to see!

From: No One Is Illegal:

One year too many in Sanctuary- Status for Laibar Singh!

Sunday July 13. Gathering at Abbottsford Gurudwara. Meet at 11 am for rides from Vancouver. Safeway Parking Lot (Commercial and Broadway). Return by 2 pm. To confirm a spot in car (or if you have a vehicle- we need a few more- we’ll cover gas) please email andr_e_a at hotmail.com or call 778 999 9219 or 604 568 7430.

Over the past year in sanctuary, Laibar Singh has been through conditions that few of us can imagine, let alone bear. Despite an outpouring of support and incredible actions to defend him, he remains in sanctuary- unable to leave for fear of being arrested and deported. In the past few weeks, Canadian Border Services Agency officials have been ‘visiting’ Laibar Singh in sanctuary in Abbottsford without any prior notice or consent. While they are not overtly threatening removal and their visits might seem ‘harmless’, the entering of sanctuary for any such purpose is a clear and dangerous violation of the integrity of the sanctuary of the gurudwara.

Mr. Laibar Singh also currently has a pending Humanitarian and Compassionate application to be decided upon, which includes the significant community ties he has built here, the incredible support he has from a diverse and wide variety of groups and organizations, as well as his medical condition as critical realities.

Concerns about Laibar possibly requiring emergency medical attention continue, yet CBSA has not yet provided any assurances that they will respect the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration own May 2007 report recommending to CBSA and CIC “That in cases of medical emergencies, those who have sought sanctuary, and members of their family, be allowed to receive medical treatment without the threat that they will be arrested or detained.”

On Sunday July 13, we call on all ssupporters of Laibar Singh to converge at the Abbotsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara to celebrate the resilience of Laibar’s struggle, show your solidarity with those who continue to stand for justice, and demonstrate your ongoing support for this campaign.

Let it be made clear to CBSA and the government that people are still willing to protect Laibar Singh! From coast to coast, people have been moved by the courageous mobilizing efforts in support of Mr. Singh, despite intense racist backlash to the South Asian community. The struggle against deportation and to support Laibar is not for him alone nor is it simply one case, rather it symbolizes the struggles and aspirations of his community and is part of a campaign for all (im)migrants and refugees who daily struggle to live with dignity, including those who live defiantly and patiently in sanctuary.

ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE! NO ONE IS ILLEGAL!

For further background information visit:
http://supportlaibar.blogspot.com/
http://noii-van.resist.ca/?cat=41

BACKGROUND

Mr. Singh is a 49-year old Punjabi who arrived to Canada in 2003 and in 2006, as a result of a series of inter-related causes within his spine and brain, Mr. Singh became paralyzed. Prior to suffering from his paralysis, Mr. Singh worked as a labourer.

He received his first deportation order for July 8, 2007 but took sanctuary on July 7, 2007 in the Abbotsford Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar Gurudwara. Sanctuary is an act of courage that faith communities take to protect the lives of those facing deportation in light of unjust government decisions.

While in sanctuary, Mr. Singh’s health deteriorated and he had to be hospitalized. On Monday August 13, while in the hospital, Abbottsford police and Canadian Border Services Agency officers detained Mr. Laibar Singh. However due to immense community and political pressure, including a 600-person rally at his detention hearing within 24 hours notice, Mr. Singh was granted a temporary stay. He subsequently received a deportation order for December 10th- International Human Rights Day.

In a historic and unprecedented move, approximately 1500-2000 people including elders, women, and children converged at the Vancouver International Airport and surrounded the vehicle in which Laibar was being brought to the airport in for his scheduled deportation. Canadian Border Services Agency officers were unable to remove Laibar and were forced to postpone the deportation.

Mr. Singh availed himself of sanctuary again. Yet on January 9th 2008, in a deliberate attempt to thwart outcry, CBSA provided 12-hours notice for yet another deportation order for 4 am. In light of a major backlash for violating sanctuary and in the presence of 300 supporters, CBSA backed off from the deportation. While Laibar Singh is currently safe in sanctuary, CBSA and Stockwell seem particularly insistent on removing Mr. Singh despite the reality of a wide variety of sanctuary cases, given the powerful organizing that has taken place to support him!

Two Pictures

For the last few days, I have had the picture of these two photographs, side-by-side, in my head. I now present them to you.

MUMBAI 2008, NOT PUNJAB or DELHI 1984

This is the new and improved post...a few more pictures and all bigger. Otherwise just the same. I'll delete the old one after publishing this one!

I have nothing to say about all this that would be legal for me to publish. So let this just speak for itself. All the pictures were are from the facebook photo album of Amneet Bali of the Sikh Activist Network, used with his permission. The video is picked up from YouTube, of course. Follow the link under the video to see more videos.

(Note: If anyone would like to reproduce this post, just contact me at Simayanan@gmail.com and I'll be happy to e-mail you the html.) Please, everyone needs to see these pictures and know what is happening. Our silence is death and destruction for our sisters and brothers!

FRONTLINE PUNJABI YOUTH - Sikh Protest In Mumbai

The Indian Government has taken no serious action against the dera cult leader. Even after a innocent Sikh protester was shot dead. Seeing this the Local Sikhs decided to protest and get there voices heard, so they decided to block some transport roads. However instead of listening to their outcry they were the victims of police brutality!



FROM AMNEET'S PHOTO ALBUM:


Sikh man killed in firing by Dera Bodyguard
=========================
Mumbai, June 20: A 50-year-old Sikh was today killed in firing by the bodyguard of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim Singh, who earned the wrath of Sikh clergy, outside a suburban mall during a protest against the spiritual guru by a Sikh group, which turned violent, the police said.

A group of Sikhs shouted anti-Dera slogans inside the Nirmal Lifestyles mall in suburban Mulund during a visit by Dera chief to the place this evening, a senior police officer said.

The protest by Sikhs led to altercations between Dera chief 's supporters and the Sikh group, which turned violent after the group allegedly started pelting stones, he said.

The Dera chief left the mall immediately at around 6.45 pm for a programme scheduled later in the evening.

"While the motorcade was passing for the programme, some Sikh protesters attempted to block the way and charged towards the vehicles when a private bodyguard is suspected to have opened fire," the officer said.

One person suffered grievous injuries in the firing and was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed. The deceased was identified as Balkar Singh Thakur Singh (50), he said.

==========================
Dera chief's aide admits opening fire on mob
==========================
Mumbai: A bodyguard of Dera Sachcha chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had admitted that he had fired a round from his pistol at a crowd here on Friday, a senior police official said on Saturday.

A Sikh was killed and two others injured in the firing.

The official said the bodyguard, Jaidev Singh, Satnam Aroda and Rajguru Taneja had confessed to having opened fire from his licensed Mauser pistol. They have been charged with murder as well as offences under Arms Act.

All of them belong to Ram Rahim Singh's staff.
Jaidev is one of the three bodyguards arrested in this connection. Eleven more, who were with the Dera chief at the time of the incident, had been detained and would be arrested soon, police said, adding they would be booked for rioting and assaulting.
Location: Mumbai
In this album: look at this man, what a disgrace to India

Dera Sacha Sauda Guards open fire on Sikhs in Mumbai - Video







http://youtube.com/watch?v=8EYeTCBW3zQ

1500 Arrests Made...Sikh Activists Forced To Go Underground

1500 Arrests Made...Sikh Activists Forced To Go UndergroundShare


=====================
MANN DAL MEN BEING ARRESTED
=====================
1500 Sikhs arrested and many go underground
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On hearing about the protest program by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and other Jathebandies, Badal govt has begun arresting them. 1500 Sikhs have been arrested and taken to unkown locations.

Raids have been conducted in various places by the police to stop the protests. Many Sikhs had gone underground before the police began conducting raids so that they could go on with the protest programs. Police conducted raid on the house of Akali Dal Amritsar general secretary, Prof Mohinderpal Singh, but was unable to nab him. Another raid was conducted on the house of Harbhanjan Singh Kashmiri but was also unable to arrest him. Talking to Jag Bani news on the phone Prof Mohinderpal Singh said that the police was out looking for workers of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar). He went on to say that Akali Dal Amritsar worker, Charan Singh was arrested by the police and taken to a unkown location.

The police also carried out a raid on an executive member of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) by the name of Gurnam Singh. The police was unable to capture Gurnam Singh so instead they took his old aged father Bali Singh. Prof Mohinderpal also told of how a dera sacha sauda followers store was ransacked and a false case in regards to that was put on Bagicha Singh who is the general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Youth Wing. Today the police produced Bagicha Singh in the Patiala court and sent him to jail. Prof Mohinderpal Singh said that the protest progam announced by the party head would be carried out under any circumstances and all of badals actions would be given a befitting reply.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ਰੇਲ ਰੋਕੋ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਖ ਮਾਨ ਦਲੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਫ਼ੜੋ-ਫ਼ੜੀ ਜਾਰੀ

1500 ਗਰਮ ਖਿਆਲੀ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰ ਕੀਤੇ , ਕਈ ਆਗੂ ਹੋਏ ਅੰਡਰ-ਗਰਾਊਂਡ

ਪਟਿਆਲਾ 24 ਜੂਨ (ਮਨਜਿੰਦਰ)ਡੇਰਾ ਸੱਚਾ ਸੌਦਾ ਦੇ ਸੁਰੱਖਿਆ ਗਾਰਡਾਂ ਵਲੋਂ ਮੁਲੰਡ ਸ਼ਹਿਰ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਿੱਖ ਵਿਖਾਵਾਕਾਰੀਆਂ 'ਤੇ ਕੀਤੀ ਗਈ ਗੋਲਾਬਾਰੀ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੋਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੋ਼੍ਰਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਮਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਸਿੱਖ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਵਲੋਂ ਐਲਾਨੇ ਗਏ ਰੇਲ ਰੋਕੂ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਠੁੱਸ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਬਾਦਲ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਪੱਬਾਂ ਭਾਰ ਹੋ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਬਾਦਲ ਦੇ ਇਸ਼ਾਰੇ 'ਤੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਮਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਗਰਮ-ਖਿਆਲੀ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਵਰਕਰਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਦੀ ਫੜੋ ਫੜੀ ਤੇਜ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ। ਪੁਲਸ ਸੂਤਰਾਂ ਤੋਂ ਮਿਲੀ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਭਰ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਲਗਭਗ ਡੇਢ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਗਰਮ-ਖਿਆਲੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਚੁੱਕ ਕੇ ਅਣਪਛਾਤੀ ਥਾਂ ਤੇ ਡੱਕ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ।

ਵੱਖ ਵੱਖ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀਆਂ ਦੇ 25 ਜੂਨ ਰੇਲ ਰੋਕੋ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਖਦਿਆ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੇ ਗਰਮ-ਖਿਆਲੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰੀ ਲਈ ਛਾਪਾਮਾਰੀ ਤੇਜ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਹੈ। ਰੇਲ ਰੋਕੋ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਨੇਪਰੇ ਚਾੜਨ ਲਈ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਤੋਂ ਹੀ ਤੈਅ ਕੀਤੀ ਨੀਤੀ ਦੇ ਤਹਿਤ ਸੈਂਕੜੇ ਹੀ ਗਰਮ-ਦਲੀਏ ਅੰਡਰ-ਗਰਾਊਂਡ ਹੋ ਗਏ ਹਨ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਸਹੀ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਅਮਲੀ ਜਾਮਾ ਪਹਿਨਾਇਆ ਜਾ ਸਕੇ। ਅੱਜ ਬਾਅਦ ਦੁਪਿਹਰ ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੇ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਦੇ ਜਨਰਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਪ੍ਰੋ. ਮਹਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰੀ ਲਈ ਉਨ੍ਹਾ ਦੇ ਸਰਹੰਦ ਰੋਡ ਵਿਖੇ ਸਥਿਤ ਘਰ 'ਤੇ ਛਾਪਾਮਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਲੇਕਿਨ ਉਹ ਪੁਲਸ ਦੇ ਹੱਥ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੱਗੇ। ਇਸੇ ਤਰ੍ਹਾ ਹੀ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੇ ਸ਼ਹਿਰੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਹਰਭਜਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਸ਼ਮੀਰੀ ਦੇ ਘਰ ਵੀ ਛਾਪਾਮਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੀ ਲੇਕਿਨ ਪੁਲਸ ਦੇ ਪਹੁੰਚਣ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਕਸ਼ਮੀਰੀ ਰੂਪੋਸ਼ ਹੋ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਸਨ । ਫੋਨ 'ਤੇ ਹੋਈ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਪ੍ਰੋ. ਮਹਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਪੁਲਸ ਮਾਨ ਦਲ ਦੇ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਲੱਭ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ । ਉਨ੍ਹਾ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਇਸੇ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਹੀ ਸ਼ਹਿਰੀ ਮੀਤ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਚਰਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਂੋਢਾ ਪੁਲਸ ਦੇ ਹੱਥ ਲੱਗ ਗਿਆ, ਜਿਸਨੂੰ ਚੁੱਕ ਕੇ ਪੁਲਸ ਕਿਸੇ ਅਣਹੋਦੀ ਥਾਂ 'ਤੇ ਲੈ ਗਈ ।

ਇਸੇ ਤਰਾ ਹੀ ਸਮਾਣਾ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੇ ਮਾਨ ਦਲ ਦੇ ਐਗਜੈ਼ਕਟਿਵ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਗੁਰਨਾਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਉਸਦੇ ਘਰ ਛਾਪਾ ਮਾਰਿਆ, ਜਿਥੋਂ ਗੁਰਨਾਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਤਾਂ ਪੁਲਸ ਦੇ ਹੱਥ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੱਗਿਆ ਲੇਕਿਨ ਉਸਦੇ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗ ਪਿਤਾ ਬਲੀ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਆਪਣੇ ਨਾਲ ਲੈ ਗਈ। ਪ੍ਰੋ.ਮਹਿੰਦਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਸਮਾਣਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਿਛਲੇ ਦਿਨੀਂ ਇਕ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀ ਦੀ ਦੁਕਾਨ ਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਤੋੜ ਫੋੜ ਦੇ ਝੂਠੇ ਕੇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੇ ਮਾਨ ਦਲ ਦੇ ਯੂਥ ਵਿੰਗ ਦੇ ਜਨਰਲ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਬਗੀਚਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਪੁਲਸ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਦੀ ਅਦਾਲਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕਰਕੇ ਜੇਲ ਭੇਜ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਵਲੋਂ ਐਲਾਨੇ ਗਏ ਰੇਲ ਰੋਕੋ ਪ੍ਰੋਗਰਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਹਰ ਹੀਲੇ ਨੇਪਰੇ ਚਾੜ੍ਹਿਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਬਾਦਲ ਦ ਹਰ ਧੱਕੇਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਦਾ ਮੂੰਹ ਤੋੜਵਾ ਜਵਾਬ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।
-From Jag Bani News

"Air India 182" - The CBC Docudrama

I was unable to watch this on Sunday night, as I had planned, but being prepared for that, I recorded it. This afternoon was my first opportunity to watch it uninterrupted.

So what do I think?

It was riveting, stunning, engrossing. And utterly convincing. I suffered with the families of the dead. I nearly cried, it was so sad. It was moving, deeply moving. In fact, it was the most beautifully put together propaganda piece I've seen since Gandhi, the Academy Award winner for "Best Picture" in, I believe 1982.

It is billed as a documentary, but this docudrama is much more drama than documentary. It presents one theory, that of the Canadian government and The Vancouver Sun very well. There was, however, no suggestion from beginning to end that this is one theory, unproven. If this were presented as a possibility, I would find it merely annoying. From beginning to end, however, it was presented as fact.

I think the most irritating moment to me came at the very end in words on the screen, seen but unspoken: 'Malik and Bagri were acquitted due to a lack of evidence.' How about just 'Malik and Bagri were acquitted.' How about just a hint that maybe, just maybe, a slight possibility, they were acquitted because they were not guilty? What an indictment of the Canadian justice system that these men portrayed as so obviously guilty got off scott-free.

I found the translation of our Fateh, 'Vaheguru ji ka khalsa! Vaheguru ji ki fateh' as 'God is forever victorious' to be not merely inaccurate, but bizarre. I had to listen to it three times to be sure that that is what they were 'translating.'

It was also painful seeing our strong, beautiful brothers portrayed as monsters, likable monsters, but monsters nonetheless. I was, of course, prepared for that, but it still hurts. I would like to see, just once, us Khalistanis portrayed as reasonable human beings instead of wild-eyed fanatics.

I love the note on the review of this movie on the Waheguroo Network's Khalsa TV Site:

Editor's Note: This documentary contains many innacuracies and misrepresentations. It is suggested that users take a more objective approach when viewing.

A note before I go. While I do not believe Sikh terrorists blew up that airplane, somebody clearly did. And I agree with what this movie has Inderjit Singh Reyat saying should be done to people who do such things, 'They should be shot.'

My deepest condolences to the families and friends of the dead. I know what it feels like to have our loved ones brutally and needlessly murdered. I pray that someday the true perpetrators of these crimes - in India and elsewhere - will be caught and punished - and the truth will then be told.

From the CBC Website: If you haven't seen this and would like to it will be repeated on Sunday June 29, 2008 at 10pm ET/PT on CBC Newsworld. I was hoping they post put a video of the whole thing online, but evidentally, CBC wants you to buy it for $24.98. For a few brief clips, visit the link above.

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA

VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

I suppose I could go through this whole docuDRAMA point by point, but that would be tedious. Suffice to say, in substance it was pretty much what I expected, in style, well, it had style.

Pictures (from top):

Shaheed Talwinder Singh Parmar Babbar

Inderjit Singh Reyat

Ripudaman Singh Malik

Ajaib Singh Bagri