Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Louise and James McNeil in recognition of their 75th wedding anniversary, celebrated December 27, 2003.

Louise and James McNeil, of Fayettville, North Carolina, were married on December 5, 1928. They have been blessed with 12 children, 1 adopted son, 48 grandchildren, 76 great grandchildren, and 29 great-great grandchildren.

James still works for his real estate business, McNeil & Sons Real Estate Investments, managing several rental properties that he owns. He started the company in 1960.

He started working as a sharecropper and, in 1942, he had saved enough money to buy his first farm, a 25-acre tract. Later that year, James bought another 62 acres with a house on it. He now owns a 160- acre farm. Additionally, Louise has always been heralded as an inspiration for her family.

Mr. Speaker, Louise Scott McNeil and James McNeil have dedicated their lives to each other for an incredible 75 years of matrimony. As such, they are more than worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable couple.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Medgar Evers College for adding a Baccalaureate degree program in Social Work to its curriculum. Social Work is an invaluable profession for creative and positive change in our communities, and I commend Medgar Evers for fulfilling this vital social need.

The announcement of this degree program coincides with National Social Work Month. Being a social worker myself, I know the vital role this profession plays in empowering individuals and enhancing social well-being.

Social workers are able to reach the most disaffected members of our communities. People who otherwise would have fallen through the cracks are taught to identify and manage the underlying environmental forces behind their social problems.

There are approximately half a million social workers actively involved in helping individuals with various needs in areas such as health, mental illness, diversity, children, families, aging, poverty, human rights, and social injustice. Despite the far-reaching benefits of social work, it is a profession in need of new members. Nearly three fourths of all social workers were born before 1960, and their median age is 50. Programs like the one being started at Medgar Evers are essential for preparing a new generation of social workers to address the complex problems facing society today.

Social workers are on the front lines, battling the many social problems plaguing our communities. The very nature and goal of social work is to help people. I cannot think of a profession more worthy of praise or more significant in impact.

Medgar Evers College faithfully serves the community by fulfilling its mission of meeting ``the educational and social needs of Central Brooklyn through the development and maintenance of high quality, professional career-oriented undergraduate degree programs in the context of liberal education.'' The creation of a degree in Social Work is another step forward in this fine educational tradition.

I know that my own education in social work has been invaluable in both my personal and professional lives, and I am happy that Medgar Evers is supporting this noble and important profession.

Mr. Speaker, Medgar Evers College is working hard to serve its community through the addition of a Social Work degree to its curriculum. As such, it is worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable institution.

Mr. Speaker, the House is to be commended for swift action this week on S. 1881, The Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act. This bill removes the barriers that would have prevented the program from functioning as intended. I am particularly pleased about the provisions concerning third party inspections, which were included in the bill.

The training for the third party inspection program is complete and with passage of S. 1881, the program will finally get underway. S. 1881 also rightly includes an 18-month delay in the implementation of the labeling provisions in section 301 of MDUFMA. During this time, questions concerning the requisite scope of the labeling requirement can be resolved. The agency, industry and the Congress have an interest in reaching a solution that permits the identification of the manufacturer of some categories of products by the end user, yet maintains flexibility for the many other products produced by FDA regulated industries. I am certain all interested parties will continue to work toward that balanced solution. And I look forward to finalizing the labeling provisions in a manner, which meets the concerns of industry, consumers and the FDA.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my special order at this time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bertha Woodard Johnson. Bertha Woodard Johnson is the daughter of the late Sadie Woodard and Richard Wallace. She was born in Chester, South Carolina and reared by her mother and grandmother. Mrs. Johnson spent a life providing services for the needy, with a particular vocation of serving children and the elderly. She has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life through active participation and personal generous donations of her time and talent. This passion to help people led her to become a care giver and nurse for over 45 years. Before retiring, she received numerous awards and accolades for her dedicated service including ``Nurse of the Year.''

In a recent celebration in my district, where people came together to pay tribute to Bertha Johnson, they came from all over. They came from Tampa, Florida. Pastor Giles, of course his wife, Deacon Jackson, her daughter Mary and of course Natalie and Ramona. They just came from everywhere to celebrate the life of Bertha Johnson. She is a person that had done so much to improve the quality of life for so many. There were people there who said ``I would not be able to be where I am if it had not been for Bertha Johnson.'' Not her children but people that she influenced, people that she encouraged to do positive things this life. It was the most moving experience I think I have ever encountered.

And I would like to take this opportunity to salute Bertha Johnson; her husband, Charlie Johnson; and all of the Johnson family for the outstanding job that they have done in terms of improving the quality of life for people down through the years and to listen to folks call her Mother that were not even her children but they came and were supportive of her because of the fact that she made such a difference in their lives. There are not too many people around that have the influence and have been able to give the kind of support that Bertha Woodard Johnson has given to so many but recognizing that she could not have done that without the support of her husband, Charlie Johnson, who has been right there by her side and she was able to go out and do things on behalf of people.

I would like to say to the House here today we take the time now to salute Bertha Woodard Johnson for the outstanding work that she has done down through the years and say to those that came to encourage her we salute them as well because we can say without any reservation that Bertha Johnson has made a difference and it is a life well lived. We continue to support her and we know that she will continue to do great things on behalf of the people not only in the area where she lives but throughout this Nation. We salute Bertha Johnson on this day.

Mr. Speaker, I noticed the other day that India is dissolving its Parliament on February 6. They will be having new elections soon, perhaps as soon as March.

These elections, unlike ours, change faces, but don't seem to change policy. The repression of minorities continues no matter who wins. This repression has killed over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947, over 85,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, and tens of thousands of other minorities. More than 52,000 Sikhs, as well as tens of thousands of other minorities, continue to be held as political prisoners. Yet India cites elections like the ones upcoming to show that it is a democracy.

That isn't very democratic for the minorities, is it, Mr. Speaker? As I have said before, the mere fact that they have the right to choose their oppressors doesn't mean they live in a democracy.

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, has issued an open letter to the Sikhs in Punjab on the elections urging the Sikhs in Punjab to reject all major parties and vote for candidates inclined to support the freedom of Khalistan, the Sikh homeland that declared its independence on October 7, 1987. That is the only way the Sikhs can survive. The Akali Dal is corrupt, he points out, and the Congress Party organized the June 1984 attack on the Golden Temple, the seat of Sikhism.

We can support this cause by stopping U.S. aid to India until human rights are fully observed for all people there and by declaring our support for a free and fair vote on the subject of independence for Khalistan, for Kashmir, for Nagalim, and for all the minority nations of South Asia.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to put the Council of Khalistan's open letter on the upcoming elections into the Record at this time.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC, February 4, 2004.

Open Letter to the Khalsa Panth

Parliament Dissolved; Elections Coming Sikhs Must Stop Supporting

Corrupt Badal, Who Diminished Image of Sikh Nation Only in a Free

Khalistan Can Sikhs Prosper Akali Leadership Controlled by Indian

Government

Dear Khalsa Panth: WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JI KI

Mr. Speaker, as an American and a Democrat, it was not good news when I was informed by Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, that Senator John Kerry, the frontrunner for my party's nomination for President, had made a speech in Oklahoma on January 31 in which he described the Sikhs as terrorists. This is a mistake on Senator Kerry's part and one I hope he will correct promptly.

I have been following South Asian affairs for some time now and I can tell you that Sikhs are committed to freedom. I have met members of the Sikh community here in the United States, which is half a million strong, and they are hardworking people who are dedicated to their families, their religion, America, and freedom for their Sikh brothers and sisters back home in Punjab, Khalistan.

The Indian government has been oppressing the Sikhs ever since independence. Shortly after India got its independence, the Indian government sent out a memo describing Sikhs as ``a criminal class'' and ordering police to take special measures to suppress them. This is shameful. Since 1984, India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs, according to the Punjab State Magistracy and human-rights organizations. They hold over 52,000 political prisoners. Some have been in illegal custody without charge or trial for 20 years, Mr. Speaker. Two decades! Is that a democratic way to do things?

India's propaganda machine is working overtime to maintain this false picture of Sikhs as a ``criminal class'' devoted to terrorism. They have even hired two lobbying firms, expensive ones, to carry out this work. Unfortunately, it appears that they managed to misinform the Senator from Massachusetts on this matter. I am sure he will correct himself soon, and I urge him to do so.

In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, it is up to us to do what we can to press for democracy in the subcontinent. Cutting off India's aid would be a good start. This is one of the most effective ways to promote basic human rights for everyone in South Asia. Another very effective means would be to call on India to hold a free and fair vote on the question of independence, the democratic way. By doing this, we help bring the glow of freedom and the blessings of liberty to everyone in that troubled part of the world.

I also call on Senator Kerry to recognize the legitimate aspirations of the Sikhs and the others fighting to free themselves from the yoke of Indian oppression. That they are doing so by peaceful, democratic, nonviolent means shows that the Indian government's picture of them as terrorists is false. I await the Senator's correction.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to add the Council of Khalistan's letter to Senator Kerry requesting a correction and repudiation of his statement to the Record so that people can see the real situation in South Asia.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC, February 11, 2004.

Senator John F. Kerry,

U.S. Senate,

Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Kerry: I am writing to you today on behalf of

half a million Sikh Americans and over 25 million Sikhs

worldwide to say that your remarks equating Sikhs with

terrorists were offensive to the Sikh community. While giving

a speech in Oklahoma, you referred to ``the Sikhs in India''

as an example of terrorism.

Sikhism is an independent, monotheistic, revealed religion,

not a part of any other religion. Sikhs are distinctive by

our religion, language, and culture from any other people on

Earth.

Sikhs ruled Punjab from 1710 to 1716 and again from 1765 to

1849. Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians all participated

in the government. Sikhs are a separate nation and people.

At the time of India's independence, three nations were to

receive sovereign power: the Muslims, who got Pakistan, the

Hindus, who got India, and the Sikhs. Sikhs took their share

with India on the solemn promise that Sikhs would enjoy ``the

glow of freedom'' in Punjab and no law affecting Sikh rights

would be passed without our consent. Instead, almost as soon

as the ink was dry on India's independence, Nehru sent out a

directive describing Sikhs as ``a criminal class'' and

ordering police to take extraordinary measures against us.

Since June 1984, India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs,

according to figures compiled by the Punjab State Magistracy

and human rights groups and published in the book The

Politics of Genocide by Inderjit Singh Jaijee. A report from

the Movement Against State Repression (MASR) shows that India

admitted to holding 52,268 Sikhs as political prisoners. Some

have been in illegal custody since 1984! Tens of thousands of

other minorities are also being held as political prisoners,

according to Amnesty International. Indian forces carried out

the March 2000 massacre in the village of Chithisinghpora,

according to two independent investigations. Indian forces

were caught red-handed trying to set fire to a Sikh Gurdwara

and Sikh homes in a village in Kashmir. Sikh and Muslim

villagers joined hands to stop them.

The book Soft Target, written by two Canadian journalists,

Zuhair Kashmeri of the Toronto Globe and Mail and Brian

McAndrew of the Toronto Star, shows conclusively that the

Indian government blew up its own airliner in 1985, killing

329 innocent people, to blame it on the Sikhs and have an

excuse for more repression.

Other minorities such as Christians and Muslims, among

others, have also felt the lash of Indian repression. Over

300,000 Christians in Nagaland have been killed by the

terrorist Indian regime. Nuns have been raped, priests have

been murdered, churches have been burned, schools and prayer

halls have been destroyed, all with impunity. A mob of

militant Hindus affiliated with the parent organization of

the ruling BJP murdered missionary Graham Staines and his two

sons by burning them to death while they slept in their jeep,

all the while chanting ``Victory to Hannuman,'' a Hindu god.

India threw missionary Joseph Cooper from Pennsylvania out of

the country after he was beaten so severely that he had to

spend a week in the hospital. A Christian religious

festival on the theme ``Jesus is the answer'' was broken

up by police gunfire.

Almost two years ago, Muslims were massacred in Gujarat

while police were ordered to stand by and do nothing,

according to Indian newspaper reports. One newspaper quoted a

policeman as saying that the Indian government planned the

massacre in advance. This is an eerie parallel to the 1984

massacre of Sikhs in Delhi, in which police were locked in

their barracks while the state-run radio and television

called for more Sikh blood.

An Indian Cabinet minister was quoted as saying that

everyone who lives in India must either be a Hindu or be

subservient to Hindus. This kind of religious fanaticism as

state policy is dangerous and anti-democratic. We would not

want it in America; why should we support it in India?

On October 7, 1987, Sikhs declared their independence from

India, naming their new country Khalistan. We are committed

to liberating Khalistan by peaceful, democratic, nonviolent

means. History shows that multinational states such as

Austria-Hungary, the Soviet Union, and India are doomed to

fall apart. We intend to see that this happens peacefully, in

the manner of Czechoslovakia, not violently like Yugoslavia.

Yet simply supporting a sovereign, independent Khalistan is

what India calls terrorism.

The 20,000 Sikhs who were murdered in the June 1984 attack

on the Golden Temple and 37 other Sikh Gurdwaras throughout

Punjab were not terrorists. They were seeking refuge from the

Indian government's tyranny. Yet the Indian government

insists on describing them as ``terrorists,'' as if repeating

it often enough will make it true.

Senator Kerry, we respectfully request that you apologize

to the Sikh Nation and the Sikh community in the United

States for your remark. I urge you to support measures to

bring freedom to all the people of the subcontinent. Sikhs

share the commitment to freedom you showed when you fought in

Vietnam and in your service in public office. There was even

a Sikh member of Congress in the late 1950s, Dalip Singh

Saund of California. We look forward to working with you in

the future to bring the blessings of liberty to everyone in

the subcontinent.

If you would like any further information or would like to

meet about these issues, please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

President, Council of Khalistan.

Mr. Speaker, on January 26, India celebrated its Republic Day, the anniversary of the adoption of its Constitution. Now if it would only live by that constitution.

The Council of Khalistan organized a successful protest outside the Indian Embassy here in Washington. While India celebrated, minorities are being killed. India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 85,000 Kashmiri Muslims, and tens of thousands of other minorities. There are tens of thousands of political prisoners, according to Amnesty International. These include over 52,000 Sikhs, a study from the Movement Against State Repression showed. That doesn't sound like a republic to me.

People came to the protest from all over the East Coast. They chanted slogans like ``Khalistan Zindabad,'' ``Long live Khalistan,'' and many others. They educated the public about the repression of minorities in India while the attendees at the Ambassador's party celebrated India's freedom.

We salute India's freedom, but it is time that these benefits extended to everyone within its borders, not just the Brahmin elites and their friends. It is time for the repression to end and for the minorities to live in freedom too.

Mr. Speaker, this kind of repression is unacceptable in any country, but especially in one that proclaims itself democratic.

Perhaps they feel that this repression is necessary to hold the country together, since India is not a single nation but many nations thrown together under one banner, much like the Soviet Union or the Austro-Hungarian Empire. History shows that such nations cannot long survive.

Now I know you're wondering what America can do to help. We should uphold and support the principle of self-determination for all people. The right to self-determination is the cornerstone of democracy.

The time has come to end our aid to India so that all the people there can enjoy the glow of freedom. The best way to secure the blessings of liberty for everyone within India's artificial borders is to stop aiding the tyrants who oppress them with U.S. taxpayer dollars. The other thing that we must do, Mr. Speaker, perhaps equally important, is to take a stand for the essential right of self- determination by putting this Congress on record in support of a free and fair plebiscite with international monitoring on the question of independence for all the minority nations of the subcontinent. This will ensure them the opportunity to enjoy the full rights of free people.

Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan issued an outstanding press release on its Republic Day protest. I would like to insert it into the Record at this time for the information of my colleagues and the public.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC, January 26, 2004.

Sikhs Protest Indian Genocide on Republic Day

Demand Freedom for Sikh Nation of Khalistan. No Democracy for Sikhs,

Christians, Muslims, Others

Sikhs from around the East Coast demonstrated in

Washington, D.C. today to protest the ongoing genocide

against the Sikh Nation and other minorities by the Hindu

fundamentalist, terrorist Government of India. They raised

slogans of ``Khalistan Zindabad'', ``India out of

Khalistan,'' ``2-4-6-8, India is a Fascist state,'' and other

slogans.

India's Republic Day celebrates the day in 1950 when India

adopted its Constitution. But what India calls ``Republic

Day'' is Genocide Day for the minority peoples and nations of

South Asia. The Indian government has murdered over 250,000

Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 Christians since 1948,

over 85,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of

thousands of Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits, and others.

The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's

murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' According to a

study by the Movement Against State Repression, 52,268 Sikhs

are being held in illegal detention as political prisoners

without charge or trial. Some of them have been held since

1984!

``India is not a democracy for Sikhs, Muslims, Christians,

and other minorities,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

President of the Council of Khalistan, which leads the Sikh

Nation's struggle for independence. ``The rights guaranteed

in the Indian constitution are not enjoyed by non-Hindus,''

he said. ``While India celebrates, Sikhs and others are

dying,'' he said. ``Is that something to celebrate?''

Christian missionary Joseph Cooper was expelled from India

after a mob of militant Hindu nationalists allied with the

Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), a pro-Fascist organization

that is the parent organization of the ruling BJP, beat him

so severely he had to spend a week in the hospital. In 2002,

2,000 to 5,000 Muslims were attacked in Gujarat while police

were ordered to stand aside, reminiscent of the 1984 Delhi

massacres of Sikhs. Indian newspapers reported that the

government planned the Gujarat massacre in advance.

Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh

Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of

Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested,

tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared

unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police

custody. His body was not given to his family. The police

never released the body of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht

Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh Ghotna murdered

him. Ghotna has never been brought to trial for the Jathedar

Kaunke murder. No one has been brought to justice for the

kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra.

``It is good that American pressure has forced India and

Pakistan to talk about Kashmir,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``But the

atrocities still continue. Khalistan, Kashmir, and all the

nations of South Asia have the right to self-determination,''

he said. ``In a democracy, you cannot rule the people against

their will.'' On October 7, 1987, the Sikh Nation declared

its independence from India, naming its new country

Khalistan. On December 5, Dr. Aulakh met President Bush. ``I

am aware of the Sikh and Kashmiri problem,'' President Bush

told him.

History shows that multinational states such as India are

doomed to failure. Countries like Austria-Hungary, India's

longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia,

and others prove this point. India is not one country; it is

a polyglot like those countries, thrown together for the

convenience of the British colonialists. It is doomed to

break up as they did. India is ruled by Hindu theocrats whose

agenda is ``Hindu, Hindi, Hindutva, Hindu Rashtra,'' or total

Hindu domination of every facet of Indian life. An Indian

Cabinet minister said that everyone who lives in India must

be a Hindu or subservient to Hindus.

Sikhs ruled Punjab until 1849 when the British conquered

the subcontinent. Sikhs were equal partners during the

transfer of power from the British. The Muslim leader Jinnah

got Pakistan, the Hindu leaders got India, but the Sikh

leadership was fooled by the Hindu leadership promising that

Sikhs would have ``the glow of freedom'' in Northwest India.

The Sikhs took their share with India on that promise.

``Democracies don't commit genocide,'' Dr. Aulakh said.

``Only in a free and sovereign Khalistan will the Sikh Nation

prosper. In a democracy, the right to self-determination is

the sine qua non and India should allow a

plebiscite for the freedom of the Sikh Nation,'' he said.

``India should also allow self-determination in Christian

Nagaland, Kashmir, Assam, and the other nations fighting for

freedom to bring peace to South Asia.''

``As Professor Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal

Takht, said, `If a Sikh is not for Khalistan, he is not a

Sikh','' Dr. Aulakh noted. ``We must continue to press for

our God-given birthright of freedom,'' he said. ``Without

political power, religions cannot flourish and nations

perish.''

Mr. Speaker, recently, the French National Assembly enacted a law banning religious symbols such as ``conspicuous crosses,'' yarmulkes, Muslim headscarves, and Sikh turbans from schools. Many religious organizations spoke out against it, including many Sikh organizations. Belgium is thinking about such a law also.

The Council of Khalistan wrote a letter on February 11 noting that none of the other Sikh organizations mentioned the persecution of Sikhs in India or their struggle for freedom in their communications about this law. Yet a free and sovereign Sikh homeland, Khalistan, would have put the Sikhs in a much stronger position to protest these discriminatory and unfair rules.

The letter, brought to me by Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, the tireless fighter for freedom in South Asia, calls on Sikh organizations to stand up to the repression by working for freedom for the Sikh people.

In my years of public service, I have had the privilege of knowing many Sikhs. They are hardworking people and they are very supportive of the cause of freedom. Yet the Indian government's response is to step up the repression in the name of Hindutva--total Hindu domination of every facet of life in the subcontinent. An Indian Cabinet minister even said that everyone who lives in India must either be a Hindu or be subservient to Hindus.

Over a quarter of a million Sikhs have been killed by the Indian government in the last 20 years, Mr. Speaker. More than 52,000 are political prisoners. Even one political prisoner is unacceptable, Mr. Speaker. Even one government murder is unacceptable, especially when no one is punished for it and especially when the country where it happens proudly proclaims its commitment to democratic values.

Over 200 years ago, Americans fought to achieve our independence from an overbearing British monarchy. Today, the Sikhs fight for their freedom by peaceful means, which the Indian government falsely describes as terrorist. We are the beacon of hope for the freedom- loving people of the world, Mr. Speaker. We owe it to them and to ourselves to help them if we can.

One way to help is to stop aid to India as long as these egregious human rights violations continue. Everyone is entitled to live in peace and freedom, to go to work and enjoy life with the family and friends. Yet minorities in India are unable to do that because militant Hindus aligned with the RSS, the parent organization of the ruling party, and the government itself in many cases commit terrible acts

of violence against Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Dalits, Assamese, Bodos, Tamils, Manipuris, and other minorities. This is unacceptable and the hardworking taxpayers of our country should not be called upon to support it.

Another measure that we can take is to declare our strong support for freedom through a free and fair plebiscite on independence where it is sought. India is a multinational state and history shows that such states do not survive. By helping to ensure that democracy is allowed to work for the cause of freedom and self-determination, we can make sure that whatever changes occur in the subcontinent happen peacefully.

Mr. Speaker, I don't mean to be long-winded, so I will stop here and place the Council of Khalistan's excellent open letter into the Record.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC, February 11, 2004.

Open Letter to Sikh Organizations and Institutions:

An Appeal to the Khalsa Panth

only in a free khalistan can sikhs prosper--every sikh must work to

liberate khalistan

Dear Khalsa Panth: Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki

Fateh!

Recently, France passed a law banning the wearing of

turbans and other religious symbols such as yarmulkes, Muslim

head scarves, and ``conspicuous crosses'' in schools. This is

a major violation of religious rights. Belgium is considering

a similar law. Sikhs must do whatever we can to protest this

unfair, discriminatory action.

Because Sikhs are slaves in India, there is nobody to

defend the Sikh interests internationally. Recently, an issue

came up of the French banning the wearing of turbans in

school. If Khalistan were free, the Sikh Nation could call

the French Ambassador and tell him to stop this harassment of

Sikhs. Our Ambassador to France would tell the French

government the same thing: the turban is part of the Sikh

religion and Sikhs should not be harassed.

When Khalistan is free, we will be in a much stronger

position to fight such offenses against our religion. We will

be able to exert influence that we cannot bring to bear now.

This is just one more reason that the liberation of Khalistan

is essential. Yet prominent Sikh organizations like the Sikh

Council on Religion and Education (SCORE), SMART, the Sikh

Coalition, and other organizations refuse to mention the

oppression of the Sikhs by the Indian regime and the struggle

to liberate Khalistan. They are more concerned about their

positions than about the Sikh people. These organizations are

heavily infiltrated and often controlled by operatives of the

Indian government. We appreciate the British Sikh Federation,

which continually promotes the cause of Sikh rights and

freedom for Khalistan. These other organizations must promote

the cause of Sikh freedom as well. Whenever they have the

opportunity to communicate with the outside world, they

should promote freedom and independence for Khalistan.

The Guru granted sovereignty to the Sikh Nation, saying

``In Grieb Sikhin Ko Deon Patshahi.'' The Sikh Nation must

achieve its independence to fulfill the mandate of the Guru.

We always remember it by reciting every morning and evening,

``Raj Kare Ga Khalsa.'' Now is the time to act on it. Do we

mean what we say every morning and evening? I urge Sikhs to

unite and take action to liberate our homeland, Punjab,

Khalistan. It is time to start a Shantmai Morcha to liberate

Khalistan from Indian occupation.

Never forget that the Akal Takht Sahib and Darbar Sahib are

under the control of the Indian government, the same Indian

government that has murdered over a quarter of a million

Sikhs in the past twenty years. The Jathedar of the Akal

Takht and the head granthi of Darbar Sahib toe the line that

the Indian government tells them. They are not appointed by

the Khalsa Panth. The SGPC also is controlled by the Indian

government that has brutally murdered our people. These

institutions will remain under the control of the Indian

regime until we free the Sikh homeland, Punjab, Khalistan,

from Indian occupation and oppression and sever our relations

with the New Delhi government.

The Indian government invaded and desecrated the Golden

Temple and 125 other Sikh Gurdwaras throughout Punjab to

murder Sant Bhindranwale and 20,000 other Sikhs during June

1984 in Punjab. If Sikhs will not even protect the sanctity

of the Golden Temple, how can the Sikh Nation survive as a

nation?

The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since

1984, according to figures compiled by the Punjab State

Magistracy and human rights groups. These figures were

published in Inderjit Singh Jaijee's excellent book, The

Politics of Genocide. According to the Movement Against State

Repression (MASR), the Indian regime admitted to holding

52,268 Sikhs as political prisoners. They are being held

without charge or trial, some of them since 1984!

How can a democratic state hold political prisoners? The

regime has made over 50,000 Sikhs ``disappear'' by picking

them up, torturing and murdering them, and then secretly

cremating them, declaring them ``unidentified.'' Their bodies

are not given to their families. The bodies of Jathedar

Gurdev Singh Kaunke and Sardar Jaswant Singh Khalra, who were

murdered by the police, were never given to their families.

Other minorities also feel the lash of Indian repression.

India has killed over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland since

1947 and murdered priests, raped nuns, burned churches, and

destroyed Christian schools and prayer halls. They expelled

missionary Joseph Cooper from the country after militant

Hindu nationalists beat him up so badly that he had to be in

the hospital for a week. Missionary Graham Staines and his

two young sons were burned to death while sleeping in their

jeep by a mob of militant Hindus chanting ``Victory to

Hannuman,'' a Hindu god. Since they were allied with the pro-

Fascist RSS, the parent organization of the ruling BJP, they

were able to commit this atrocity with impunity. Muslims were

massacred in Gujarat while the police were under orders to

stand aside and let the massacre occur, a frightening

parallel to the 1984 Delhi massacres of Sikhs. A policeman

told an Indian newspaper that the Gujarat massacre was

planned in advance by the government.

This kind of treatment of its minorities only confirms the

kind of country that India, is. It is a fundamentalist Hindu

theocracy, not secular or democratic at all. Remember what

Narinder Singh, a spokesman for the Golden Temple, told

America's National Public Radio in 1997: ``The Indian

government, they are always boasting that they are

democratic, that they are secular. They have nothing to do

with a secularism, nothing to do with a democracy. They just

kill Sikhs just to please the majority.''

Remember the words of Professor Darshan Singh, former

Jathedar of the Akal Takht: ``If a Sikh is not a Khalistani,

he is not a Sikh.'' The time to achieve our independence is

now. India is not one country. It is a polyglot empire thrown

together under one roof for the administrative convenience of

the British colonialists. It has 18 official languages.

History shows that such countries are doomed to fall apart.

India will collapse just like the AustroHungarian Empire, the

Soviet Union, and other multinational states.

Soon Kashmir will be free from Indian occupation. Now

America is involved in it. As L.K. Advani predicted, ``When

Kashmir goes, India goes.'' We agree with him and we urge the

Indian government to hold a free and fair plebiscite on the

question of independence and to sit down with representatives

of the Sikh Nation to negotiate the boundaries of a

sovereign, independent Khalistan. We want to make sure that

India's collapse happens peacefully like that of

Czechoslovakia, not violently like the breakup of Yugoslavia.

The essence of democracy is self-determination. It is time

for India to act like the democracy it claims to be.

When I met President Bush on December 5, he personally told

me, ``I am aware of the Sikh and Kashmiri problem and we

stopped India and Pakistan from going to nuclear war.'' The

Sikh diaspora has a moral responsibility to help the Sikh

Nation to achieve its sovereignty by freeing Khalistan from

Indian occupation.

The time has come to liberate our homeland. Sikhs must

claim their birthright by liberating Khalistan. Only by

freeing Khalistan will we put an end to this corruption and

restore control of Punjab and its assets to the people, to

whom it rightfully belongs. A free Khalistan is a must for

the survival of the Sikh nation and will provide an optimal

environment for the Sikh Nation to progress to its optimum

potential politically, religiously, and economically.

Panth Da Sewadar,

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

President, Council of Khalistan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Gregg Cherry who has shown a deep commitment to serving and improving his community through his work with child services and a career in law enforcement.

Gregg was born March 29, 1955, to James and Audrey Cherry. He is the oldest of five children. He was born and raised in the Bedford- Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Gregg is a graduate of the old Boys High School where he played several positions on the football team. His football career continued at Shaw University where he received bachelors degrees in English and Communications in 1980. He is the loving father of Craig and Raven Cherry.

It was his love and commitment to his community which led him to a career in law enforcement. During his tenure as an investigator and caseworker for the Bureau of Child Welfare, Gregg saw the many inconsistencies and tragedies children encountered in the child welfare system and wanted to make a positive difference. So, in 1984, he joined the New York City Police Department.

He graduated in the first police academy class under the tutelage of Benjamin Ward, the first African American Police Commissioner of New York City. He began his service at the 79th police precinct. His no- nonsense attitude quickly gained the respect of his community and peers alike.

For his work, Gregg was honored in 1977 with a Gold Shield as a detective. He also served as an organized crime investigator and in the vice and narcotics units in the NYPCD. Gregg's other law enforcement efforts include work as an Anti Terrorist Profiler, a security monitor of Federal installations in the New York area, and an independent investigative consultant with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

After 20 years of stellar service, Gregg retired on January 16th of this year and is now planning to pursue a career in Federal law enforcement.

Mr. Speaker, Gregg Cherry has had a long and distinguished career in the NYCPD and remains committed to serving his community and country with his future employment in Federal law enforcement. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today; and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Marvin L. Lifshutz in recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments in the field of health care law.

Marvin has specialized in the representation of health care professionals for 40 years. He has represented individual physicians, medical groups, medical staffs at hospitals and medical societies. He represents private practices and hospital-based practices for a variety of specialty clients, including the negotiation of exclusive contracts for employees, independent contractors and chiefs of departments.

In the area of managed care, he has created the organizational structures for independent practice associations and their by-laws, negotiated contracts with health maintenance organizations as well as union health care contracts. He has also formed large and small groups of health care providers in setting up medical clinics.

Marvin has assisted in mergers as well as the purchase and sale of medical practices for all subspecialties. He has also represented health care providers who provide Medicare or Medicaid services in the State of New York. Marvin currently represents physicians and physician groups in managed care negotiations and also represents companies acquiring management service organizations (MSOs) that are in the process of going public.

With such a wealth of information, he has shared his expertise on health care law with

business, health and legal groups. He lectures at the State and County Medical Societies as well as the health care division of the C.P.A. Society on issues of medical practices, managed care, hospital staff privileges, limited partnerships and asset protection for physicians. Marvin also has several medical societies as clients and has lectured at many hospitals to the attending medical staff on different health care issues. Additionally, he has lectured to residents at different hospitals throughout New York State.

Marvin also represents large health care groups in negotiating different contracts for various HMOs. He has formed many multiple specialty groups with MSOs and has negotiated with investment bankers who are acquiring many health care groups which are going to be taken public. Marvin has served as a consultant to a number of hospitals on different matters that pertain to their needs, and in conjunction with other groups he has performed compliance studies for large health care organizations.

Mr. Speaker, Marvin L. Lifshutz has demonstrated exceptional skills and knowledge in the field of health care law and continues to provide important representation in this area. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, as you are keenly aware, the road to peace for the people of Sudan has been long and perilous. Last July, I spoke on the floor about the prospects for peace in the Sudan and the progress that was being made in negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army. I am gratified to report that agreement has now been reached on the issue of wealth- sharing; and just this past weekend, issues were resolved with regard to the Nuba Mountain and Southern Blue Nile regions, two of the three disputed areas between the parties. My understanding is that an agreement on the disputed areas will be signed as soon as resolution can be reached on the third disputed area, Abyei.

Mr. Speaker, we remain optimistic that these recent events will soon lead to an historic accord on a Framework Agreement, which will, at last, bring an end to the 20-year war in Sudan and bring peace and social stability to all the people of Sudan.

Mr. Speaker, peace is near in the Sudan.

I would like to recognize the commitment of President Bashir and the Khartoum government and that of SPLM/A and Mr. Garang in their tireless efforts to make this historic moment possible. I would also like to recognize the continuing commitment of this administration to achieving peace in the Sudan and that of Special Envoy John Danforth for his role as a catalyst for the peace process.

Mr. Speaker, I call on my distinguished colleagues to join me in celebrating this historic milestone and in praying that a peace agreement will soon be reached. We should look forward to the day when peace is at hand, when U.S. sanctions can be lifted and Sudan removed from the State Department's State Sponsors of Terrorists list and given the opportunity to receive the benefits of American ingenuity, technology and investment for their sustained growth and economic prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, the government of France has recently enacted a new policy prohibiting Sikh boys from wearing their turbans in school. They also prohibited Muslim girls from wearing the traditional head scarves in school.

This policy is a threat to religious expression in France. It limits the ability of religious minorities to express their religion in the way that they are supposed to express their religion.

Sikhs fought actively in both World Wars to help keep the French people free. They fought in their turbans in Africa and the Middle East in World War I and they fought in the liberation of France in World War II. Yet the French authorities see fit to deny them their full religious expression.

Recently, Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, wrote an excellent letter to French President Jacques Chirac about this unreasonable policy. I am inserting it into the Record with the consent of the House and I urge my colleagues to read it.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC, January 19, 2004.

Hon. Jacques Chirac,

President of France,

Champs Elysees, Paris, France

Dear President Chirac: I am writing to you today on behalf

of the Sikh community of France and the 25 million strong

Sikh Nation around the world.

Recently, France has made laws prohibiting Muslim

schoolgirls from wearing head scarves and Sikh boys from

wearing their turbans.

The turban is a Sikh religious symbol. Sikhs are not

allowed to remove their turbans. They are a major symbol of

our religion. The Sikh Gurus commanded us to wear the turban

at all times over unshorn hair, which is a gift from God. The

Sikh religion is a sovereign, independent, monotheistic

religion like Christianity. The Sikh religion requires every

Sikh to wear five symbols. Unshorn hair is one of them.

As you know, Sikh soldiers wearing their turbans fought to

defend France and defend its freedom during World War II.

They also helped France and Britain to win World War I by

fighting in Africa and the Middle East. We were proud to do

so. Sikhs are commanded to fight against injustice wherever

it appears. We believe in the freedom and equality of all

people.

France is a secular, democratic republic. That implies a

country that protects freedom of religious expression for all

people. To force Sikhs to remove the turban is to destroy

Sikhs' freedom of religious expression. That is neither

secular, democratic, nor republican. It is simply the kind of

system that Sikhs came to France and other countries to

escape.

President Chirac, I encourage you to reconsider this ill-

advised ban. Sikhs must be free to express our religion as

fully as any other Frenchman.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh.

President, Council of Khalistan.

Mr. Speaker, last month in Punjab, a seminar was held on the topic of Khalistan. Given the oppression that Sikhs have faced at the hands of the Indian government for attempting to secure their independence, this was a very courageous act. All of those who organized the event and who participated are to be commended for their courage. Freedom is the birthright of every people.

The seminar was organized by former Member of Parliament Atinder Pal Singh. Speakers included Professor Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon, who reportedly made an extremely strong argument for the Sikh Nation's right to self-determination.

The Indian government claims that there is no support for Sikh independence, Mr. Speaker, but this seminar and other events show otherwise. Perhaps this answers the obvious question: If India is a democracy and if there is no support for an independent Khalistan, then why not simply hold a free and fair plebiscite on the issue, as democratic countries do, and settle it once and for all? Wouldn't that be the fair and democratic way to take care of this issue?

America can support this just cause and we have a moral obligation to do so. We can stop our aid to India until all people there enjoy full freedom and we can officially call on India to hold a free and fair, democratic vote to determine the political future of the Sikhs of Khalistan and all the other minority nations seeking their freedom, such as predominantly Christian Nagaland and predominantly Muslim Kashmir.

The Council of Khalistan issued a press release on the Khalistan seminar, which I would like to put in the Record at this time to show that the cause of freedom is universal and that it still has strong support in Punjab, Khalistan.

Seminar on Khalistan Held in Punjab

Independence Movement Is Alive and Well in Punjab, Khalistan

Washington, D.C., December 17, 2003--Former Member of

Parliament Atinder Pal Singh organized a seminar on Khalistan

last month at Baba Makhan Shah Labana Hall, Sector 30,

Chandigarh. Speakers included Professor Gurdarshan Singh

Dhillon and others. Dr. Dhillon made a very strong argument

for the right of the Sikh Nation to rule itself in a

sovereign, independent Khalistan. General Narinder Singh was

invited, but unable to attend. This seminar shows that the

cause of Khalistan is alive and well in Punjab, despite the

claims of the Indian government that there is no support for

Khalistan and that only outside Sikhs are supporting

independence.

``The outside Sikhs have an important role to play,'' said

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of

Khalistan. ``They have exposed the human rights against the

Sikhs to the international community and internationalized

the cause of independence for Khalistan,'' he said. ``They

have also preserved Sikh history in the Congressional Record

from 1984 to date, defeating the Indian government's attempts

to alter it. However, it is the Sikhs in Punjab, Khalistan

who are keeping the cause alive and liberating Khalistan,''

he said. ``It is very good to

see this support for the cause of a sovereign, independent

Khalistan,'' said Dr. Aulakh. On October 7, 1987, the Sikh

Nation declared its independence from India, naming its new

country Khalistan.

``We salute Sardar Atinder Pal Singh for organizing this

important event and we salute all the presenters who

presented their papers,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``They put the

Indian government on notice that its effort to suppress the

Sikh independence movement by force has failed and will

continue to fail,'' he said.

``The mere fact that this seminar was conducted shows that

there is a significant change in the repression in Punjab,''

Dr. Aulakh said. ``It shows that people feel free to exercise

their basic right of freedom of speech,'' he said. ``This is

a step forward for the liberation of the Sikh Nation. There

is a new upsurge of support for the cause of Sikh freedom,''

Dr. Aulakh said. ``The flame of freedom burns brightly in the

hearts of the Sikh people, in Punjab, Khalistan and outside

as well.''

``Every day, Sikhs pray `Raj Kare Ga Khalsa,' which means

`The Khalsa shall rule,' said Dr. Aulakh. ``Sikhs must claim

their birthright by liberating Khalistan. I hope that this

seminar will be the forerunner to a Shantmai Morcha (peaceful

agitation) to establish a sovereign, independent Khalistan,

thus fulfilling the desires of the Sikh Nation for Raj Kare

Ga Khalsa,'' he said. ``Guru Gobind Singh gave sovereignty to

the Sikh Nation and we must achieve it.''

The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since

1984, more than 300,000 Christians since 1948, over 85,000

Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of

Tamils, Assamese, Mampuris, Dalits, and others. The Indian

Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs

``worse than a genocide.''

Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh

Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of

Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested,

tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared

unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police

custody. His body was not given to his family. The police

never released the body of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht

Sardar Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh Ghotna

murdered him. Ghotna has never been brought to trial for the

Jathedar Kaunke murder. No one has been brought to justice

for the kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra.

According to a report by the Movement Against State

Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political

prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in

illegal custody since 1984!

``As Professor Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal

Takht, said, `If a Sikh is not for Khalistan, he is not a

Sikh','' Dr. Aulakh noted. ``We must continue to press for

our God-given birthright of freedom,'' he said. ``Without

political power, religions cannot flourish and nations

perish.''

Mr. Speaker, recently my friend Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, the President of the Council of Khalistan, issued a New Year's message to the Sikhs. In it, he took note of the progress that has been made towards freedom for the Sikhs and other minority nations in South Asia. He also wrote that the effort to liberate the Sikh homeland, Khalistan, must continue.

As you may know, the Sikhs declared their independence from India on October 7, 1987. They named their country Khalistan. Since that time, tens of thousands of Sikhs have been murdered to suppress the Sikh freedom movement and tens of thousands more have been held as political prisoners.

Dr. Aulakh noted that seminars on Khalistan were held openly last year. He noted the ceremony honoring Sikh martyrs Satwant Singh, Beant Singh, and Kehar Singh. He wrote about recent initiatives by the Khalsa Panchayat to move the cause of freedom for the Sikhs forward.

Mr. Speaker, the right to self-determination is the cornerstone of democracy. It is time for the United States, founded on the principle of self-determination, to support self-determination for the Sikhs. We can do this by cutting off our aid to India until the Sikhs of Khalistan, the Muslims of Kashmir, the Christians of Nagaland, and all the minorities enjoy full rights and freedom and by putting the Congress on record in support of self-determination for Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and the other nations seeking their freedom in the form of a free and fair plebiscite on the question of independence.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to place Dr. Aulakh's letter into the Record at this time for the information of my colleagues.

New Year's Message to the Khalsa Panth

Washington, Jan. 19.--Happy New Year to you and your family

and the Khalsa Panth. May 2004 be your best year ever.

The Guru gave sovereignty to the Sikh Nation. (``In Grieb

Sikhin Ko Deon Patshahi.'') The Sikh Nation must achieve it.

We always remember it by reciting every morning and evening,

``Raj Kare Ga Khalsa.'' Now is the time to act on it. Do we

mean what we say every morning and evening?

The fire of freedom still burns strong and bright in the

heart of the Sikh Nation. 2003

was an encouraging year for the Sikh freedom struggle. Sikhs

openly held seminars in Punjab on the subject of Khalistan.

This is a very good sign and we salute the people who

participated in these seminars. They are keeping the flame of

freedom lit. Now I urge Sikhs to unite and take action to

liberate our homeland, Punjab, Khalistan. It is time to start

a Shantmai Morcha to liberate Khalistan from Indian

occupation.

Never forget that the Akal Takht Sahib and Darbar Sahib are

under the control of the Indian government, the same Indian

government that has murdered over a quarter of a million

Sikhs in the past twenty years. The Jathedar of the Akal

Takht and the head granthi of Darbar Sahib toe the line that

the Indian government tells them. They are not appointed by

the Khalsa Panth. The SGPC, which appoints them, does not

represent the Sikh Nation anymore. They have become the

puppets of the Indian government and have lost credibility

with the Sikh Nation. Otherwise they would behave like a real

Jathedar, Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke, rather than like

Indian government puppet Jathedar Aroor Singh, who gave a

Siropa to General Dyer for the massacre at Jalianawa Bagh.

These institutions will remain under the control of the

Indian regime until we free the Sikh homeland, Punjab,

Khalistan, from Indian occupation and oppression and sever

our relations with the New Delhi government.

The Sikh Nation is a nation of martyrs. It is encouraging

that the SGPC and the Akal Takht honored the Sikh martyrs S.

Satwant Singh, S. Beant Singh, and S. Kehar Singh. Recent

initiatives by the Khalsa Panchayat to bring the Sikh

tradition and glory to the Khalsa Panth are highly

appreciated. This is a good start to establishing Khalsa Raj

as the Akali movement in the 1920s freed the Sikh Gurdwaras

from the Mahants who were puppets of the Indian government.

Today, the Akali leaders are the new Mahants.

The Akali Dal conspired with the Indian government in 1984

to invade the Golden Temple to murder Sant Bhindranwale and

20,000 other Sikh during June 1984 in Punjab. If Sikhs will

not even protect the sanctity of the Golden Temple, how can

the Sikh Nation survive as a nation?

The Akali Dal has lost all its credibility. The Badal

government was so corrupt openly and no Akali leader would

come forward and tell Badal and his wife to stop this

unparalelled corruption. That is why the Akali Dal was

defeated in the elections by the Congress Party.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has done one good thing for

which we must appreciate him. He is prosecuting Badal, his

son, and his wife for their corruption during their five

years in power, 1997-2002. How could a Chief Minister of

modest means amass over Rs4300 crore? He should pay the taxes

on this wealth and account to the Sikh Nation where he got

it. This ill-gotten wealth should be confiscated.

Badal has destroyed the moral fabric of the Sikh religion.

What happened to the concept of fairness and honesty? Because

Sikhs are slaves in India, there is nobody to defend the Sikh

interests internationally. Recently, an issue came up of the

French banning the wearing of turbans in school. If Khalistan

were free, the Sikh Nation could call the French Ambassador

and tell him to stop this harassment of Sikhs. Our Ambassador

to France would tell the French government the same thing:

the turban is part of the Sikh religion and Sikhs should not

be harassed.

When Sikhs ruled Punjab, a French general, General Ventura,

commanded the Sikh artillery. He himself wore a beard and a

turban. In World War II, the Sikh army wearing turbans helped

to liberate France so that France could enjoy freedom.

Khalsa Ji, let's pray to Guru for freedom, unity,

sovereignty, prosperity, and happiness for the Sikh Nation

around the world and for everyone. The Khalsa Panth is

determined to establish Khalsa Raj, as the events of this

past year show.

India is not one country. It has 18 official languages.

Soon Kashmir will be free from Indian occupation. Now America

is involved in it. As L.K. Advani predicted, ``When Kashmir

goes, India goes.'' We agree with him.

When I met President Bush on December 5, he personally told

me, ``I am aware of the Sikh and Kashmiri problem and we

stopped India and Pakistan from going to nuclear war.'' The

Sikh diaspora has a moral responsibility to help the Sikh

Nation to achieve its sovereignty by freeing Khalistan from

Indian occupation.

As President of the Council of Khalistan, I wish everybody

a 2004 that brings freedom, prosperity, and happiness to you

and to the Khalsa Panth. A free Khalistan is a must for the

survival of the Sikh nation and will provide an optimal

environment for the Sikh Nation to progress to its optimum

potential politically, religiously, and economically.

Panth Da Sewadar,

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

President, Council of Khalistan.