S Asia Pakistan, India Urged To Spare ‘Sikh Homeland’ In Case Of War

[Archived_Member16]

Pakistan, India urged to spare‘Sikh homeland’ in case of war
By Our Special Correspondent

LONDON, Jan 27: In a significant development, a broad-based coalition of leading Sikh organisations, based in the Indian state of Punjab as well as representing the worldwide diaspora, has formally asked India to remove all its nuclear weapons and facilities from the ‘Sikh homeland’ and called upon both India and Pakistan to undertake not to target the territory in case of war.A delegation of leading UK-based Sikhs delivered a document setting out their demands to the Indian and Pakistani high commissions in London. It was also delivered to the UN Security Council via the French Embassy, with France currently holding the presidency of that body.

The Sikhs are looking for the UN to intervene on their behalf if the two governments fail to act on their demands. The demands have also been passed to UN’s human rights bodies in Geneva which have been asked to warn the two states against carrying out any crime against humanity in the ‘Sikh Homeland’.

The Sikhs maintain that they are not a party to the Indo-Pak dispute and, as non-combatants in the event of a war between the nuclear rivals, their population centre and homeland should not face what military experts have said is the likely outcome - a theatre of war in Punjab which becomes a nuclear conflict causing horrific casualties on a massive scale.

They say that since 1947 their nation has not had its sovereign rights respected and has been denied the right of self-determination under international law and it is now effectively unable to defend its people and territory from outside attack.

Pakistan, India urged to spare‘Sikh homeland’ in case of war -DAWN - Top Stories; January 28, 2009

 

[spnadmin]

Re: Pakistan, India urged to spare‘Sikh homeland’ in case of war

Soul_Jyot Veer ji,

I have read this article -- a couple of days ago perhaps. And I was very divided in my response ... but it was a painful response. No! I do not want to see the "Sikh homeland" become the theatre of a nuclear holocaust in which every shred of Sikh history and culture is destroyed. No! I do not want to see any other part of Pakistan, India, or the Himalayas, or Asia, or any other part of the world burnt into oblivion by a holocaust either.

What I am not getting is the thinking of the people who made these statements. Are they saying, " Spare the Sikh homeland.Spare Khalistan! Pick pick another theatre of war. We have suffered enough. It is time for someone else to suffer under this threat!" I sincerely hope that I am wrong.

If that is the implied message -- and that is how I am reading it -- then we, all of us, on the planet, have to back to 'school' and learn some basics about empathy and compassion. First reading for the class -- Guru Nanak's hymn on the destruction of Lahore. Second reading - read it again, for He speaks against ego, greed and anger which is the cause all suffering for each of us. Third reading -- read it again. Guru Nanak holds everyone accountable for disaster and tragedy. Not this group and that group. Everyone. Fourth reading - read it again, for he tells us that the seeds of these horrors go back into the dawn of time, and uses examples from the Vedas. Fifth reading - read it again. He tells us it is time to stop.

 

[Admin]

Is there source on: who are these so called Sikh Organisations?

 

[spnadmin]

Good point, Aman ji -- I just sent an email message to the newspaper inquiring for more information.

 

[Archived_Member16]

Re: Pakistan, India urged to spare ‘Sikh homeland’ in case of war

Sikhs Proclaim No War
Jagmohan Singh - World Sikh News

​

LONDON: Anyone who thought that Sikhs would sit back and allow India and Pakistan to wage their daily verbal duel and war cries without opprobrium from any quarters is in for a rude shock. Just as civil society in the two countries has geared up to denounce any possibility of war, the Sikhs too, as a people have shown exemplary solidarity to jointly proclaim peace in the Indian sub-continent and ask the two countries not to ignore the sentiments and concerns of the non-combatant Sikh populace in the region.

Continued war mongering between India and Pakistan, which has reached fever pitch since 26/11 has brought about a rare unity amongst Sikh groups from Punjab and across the world seeking intervention of the international community, particularly the United Nations for building public opinion against war between the two countries and usage of nuclear {censored}nal of the two countries built up by them over the decades.

Making their intentions absolutely clear in unmistakably direct terms, the document submitted by a consortium of 36 Sikh organisations from Punjab, United Kingdom, Canada, Europe and the United States to the Indian, Pakistani and French Embassies on 26 January, calls for immediate de-escalation of the hostile rhetoric between the two countries and urging the international community to do exert diplomatic pressure enabling the two countries to engage in dialogue and avert war, which is likely to bring about nuclear catastrophe in the region, particularly in the homeland of the Sikhs –Punjab.


The Sikh nation, presently sandwiched between the two warring cultures, stands for universal peace and brotherhood. Historically we have been wronged a lot and the present war hysteria, which presents a dangerous situation for the entire region, is likely to engage the Sikh people in their severest test ever and is also likely to annihilate thousands of innocent people on both sides of the Radcliffe line, but the majority of the brunt is likely to be borne by the Sikhs and Punjabis.


Advocate activist Ranjit Singh Srai, who was instrumental in bringing about this rare feat amongst the Sikhs said that, “Sikhs are looking for the UN to intervene on their behalf if the Indian government fails to act on their demands.”


The 36 Sikh organisations which submitted the Appeal
American Gurdwara Prabandakh Committee, Anti-defamation Sikh Council for Freedom of Khalistan, USA, Baba Banda Singh Bahadhur Society Abbotsford, Canada, Council of Khalistan, Dal Khalsa International, UK, Daljit Singh Bittu, Presidium Member, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) (Panch Pardhani), Punjab, Dr. Amarjit Singh, Director, Khalistan Affairs Centre, Washington DC, USA, Gurdwara Sahib Kalgidhar Darbar, Abbotsford, Canada, Gurdwara Sahib Dasmesh Darbar, Surrey Canada, International Sikh Youth Federation (Germany), Italy Sikh Council, Justice (Retd.) Ajit Singh Bains, Convenor, Punjab Human Rights Organisation, Kanwarpal Singh, Political Affairs Spokesman, Dal Khalsa, Punjab, Kashmir Singh, Gen-Secretary, British Sikh Federation, Khalistan Government in exile, Khalsa Human Rights, UK, Kulwant Singh Dhesi, British Sikh Council, Mohkam Singh, Convenor Khalsa Action Committee, Punjab, Narain Singh, Shiromani Sikh Council International, Punjab, National Council of Gurdwaras, UK, National Sikh Committee Italy, Navkiran Singh, Advocate, General Secretary, Lawyers for Human Rights International, Punjab, Ontario Gurdwara Committee (OGC), Canada, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), UK, Shiromani Akali Dal (Punj Pardhani), Canada, Shiromani Akali Dal (Punj Pardhani), France, Shiromani Sikh Council, UK, Sikh Council of Belgium, Sikh Federation (UK), Sikh Foundation Switzerland, Sikh Secretariat, UK, Sikh Youth of America, Simranjit Singh Mann, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Punjab, United Sikh Federation, Canada, Voices for Freedom, Young Sikhs (UK).

He further pointed that leaving nothing to chance, the list of demands has been forwarded to various UN forums in Geneva as well. On behalf of the multifarious religious, social, human rights and political bodies of the Sikh Nation, the urgent appeal was presented to the embassies in London by Amrik Singh Gill, President Sikh Federation (UK), Amrik Singh Sahota, OBE, President, Council of Khalistan, Balbir Singh, Shiromani Sikh Council, UK, Councillor Gurdial Singh Atwal, Chairman, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), UK and Co-ordinator SAD(A) International Committee, Gurmej Singh Gill, Prime Minister, Khalistan Government in Exile and Manmohan Singh, Vice-President Dal Khalsa International.


“Neither India nor Pakistan has been willing to sign up to the UN's non-proliferation regime or unilaterally renounce their nuclear weapons capabilities in order to create a nuclear weapons-free South Asia, underlining their willingness to use such weapons. The Sikhs, for whom the consequences are unimaginable, therefore have no alternative but to appeal to the international community to take immediate steps to stop yet another calamity imminently befalling them” says the well-drafted appeal.


Spelling out the need for such a united step by the Sikhs, the spokesperson said that, Sikhs stood for peace in the Indian sub-continent and wanted the two countries to resolve all disputes politically, taking into account the aspirations of the Sikh nation. He said that if it is not so done as part of a conflict-resolution process, the geo-political situation has the full potential to degenerate into a Gaza-type human rights nightmare for the Sikh people in their homeland Punjab.


Tracing the track of Sikh sufferings from 1947 to the present times, the appeal condemns the consistent denial of the right to self-determination to the Sikhs, upholds Sikh nationhood and proclaims that “Until those sovereign rights are restored, which we submit will help provide an enduring solution to the problems of the region as a whole, it is the duty of the international community to deliver that protection and prevent the potential annihilation of the world’s fifth largest religion.”


Speaking for Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and all others living in this region, this urgent action appeal categorically asks “The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Commission and other UN bodies to establish a dialogue with Indian and Pakistani leaders to make them fully aware of their human rights obligations towards the Sikhs and to formally warn those leaderships that any breach of international law or mass rights violations in this context will result in action by a duly constituted criminal court.”


When was the last time you came across such a unified Sikh effort? It surely calls for commendation by the Sikhs in Punjab and the Sikh Diaspora across the globe which is ever anxious about the political situation at ground zero in the Sikh homeland.


28 January 2009

 

[spnadmin]

Re: Pakistan, India urged to spare ‘Sikh homeland’ in case of war

Soul_jyot ji

I am glad you found more information about this story -- clearly identifying who was involved.

If they are truly behind these 2 ideas:

Spelling out the need for such a united step by the Sikhs, the spokesperson said that, Sikhs stood for peace in the Indian sub-continent and wanted the two countries to resolve all disputes politically, taking into account the aspirations of the Sikh nation. He said that if it is not so done as part of a conflict-resolution process, the geo-political situation has the full potential to degenerate into a Gaza-type human rights nightmare for the Sikh people in their homeland Punjab.

and

Speaking for Sikhs, Muslims, Christians and all others living in this region, this urgent action appeal categorically asks “The UN High Commissioner on Human Rights, the UN Human Rights Commission and other UN bodies to establish a dialogue with Indian and Pakistani leaders to make them fully aware of their human rights obligations towards the Sikhs and to formally warn those leaderships that any breach of international law or mass rights violations in this context will result in action by a duly constituted criminal court.”

Then they are doing a good thing. Thanks

 

[Gyani Jarnail Singh]

NUCLEAR WAR OR ANY TYPE OF WAR..ANYWHERE IS bad NEWS
SARBATT DA BHALLA IS NOT SERVED THRU WARS...
SIKHISM IS A RELIGION OF PEACE...SWORD IS ONLY LAST RESORT
DEFEAT THE ENEMIES INSIDE FIRST...THE FANATICS..THE CHAUVINISTS...THE UNBELEIVERS IN HUMANITY OF MAN...ALL THESE MUST GO
TO BE REPLACED BY...NA KO BERI NAHIN BEGANA..SAGAL SANG HUM KO BAN AYEE..:yes:

 

[spnadmin]

Gyani ji

I think you are right about this idea of enemies within and they take on many forms. The job of a fanatic is to create political confusion and to demoralize the public to the point where nothing short of armed conflict seems correct. Look at any nation that was taken over by totalitarian leadership. First there was always that period of breaking down institutions and spirits from within. Thanks for your post.

 

[ac_marshall]

Well, the regions that would be affected in case of a war would not just be a homeland of Sikhs. Are there not Sikhs outside Punjab? Are there not non-Sikhs in Punjab (about 37%)? I do not understand the term Sikh Homeland. Sikhs are present all over the world for over a century. In that case the whole of India (Including North East and Deccan) belong to Sikhs. Why not appeal for global elimination of nuclear weapons? Such narrow minded statements will not do good for anyone and no religion be it Hinduism, Islam or Sikhism supports that.