Sikhs Rally For Suicide Bomber On Parliament Hill

[BhagatBalmik]

http://www.cbc.ca/ne...l-milewski.html

Sikhs rally for suicide bomber on Parliament Hill

But, this time, the politicians stay insideBy Terry Milewski, CBC News Posted: Mar 28, 2012 10:23 PM ET Last Updated: Mar 28, 2012 10:49 PM ET

Parliament Hill in Ottawa may present many bizarre spectacles. But has the wide, green lawn in front of the Parliament Buildings ever seen something as bizarre as a demonstration in support of a convicted "human bomb?"

That's what happened on Wednesday when several hundred Canadian Sikhs bused to Ottawa to demand clemency for an admitted terrorist named Balwant Singh Rajoana. Rajoana, on death row in India, must surely be the most unlikely poster boy for a "human rights campaign" that the Canadian capital has ever seen.

In India, the term "human bomb" denotes a suicide bomber — although Rajoana only aspired to blow himself up and never pressed the button. But he proudly acknowledges that he was the backup bomber, ready to step in if the lead bomber failed in the 1995 assassination of his fellow Sikh, Beant Singh, chief minister of the state of Punjab.

Seventeen others died as collateral damage. Rajoana, sentenced to death in 2007, claimed to have directed the attack as a member of the Babbar Khalsa, the banned terrorist group whose Vancouver cell is blamed for the Air India bombing of 1985. The BK was one of several underground groups fighting for a separate Sikh state in Punjab.

On death row, Rajoana waived his right to appeal, refused to ask for clemency and said he wished to "die as a martyr" for the Sikh cause. His hanging was set for Saturday, March 31. But, on Wednesday morning, facing strikes and demonstrations all over Punjab, the Indian government ordered a stay of execution.

This was not enough for the demonstrators in Ottawa, who consider Rajoana a "living martyr" and a "political prisoner." They cloaked their rally in the banner of "human rights" and a spokesman for the Canadian Sikh Coalition, Moninder Singh Bual, urged Sikhs to "liberate the thousands of Sikh political prisoners facing a similar plight to Bhai Rajoana.”

"Bhai," meaning brother, is a term of esteem given to Sikh priests and other respected figures.

Convicted killers have often received such praise throughout the long history of Sikh extremism, in which Canada has always played an important role. And, if there were any doubt that Canada remains a stronghold of Sikh separatism, Wednesday's demonstration should settle it.

The Air India bombing may have been 27 years ago, but a low-level struggle goes on and, for weeks, a campaign has been waged to draw political figures into the defence of Rajoana and the condemnation of the government of India.

In the past, such efforts have often succeeded. Large and politically energetic Sikh communities in B.C. and Ontario present rich pickings for the pandering politician. Over the years, Conservatives, Liberals and New Democrats have all been caught cozying up to Sikh extremists in pursuit of donations, endorsements and votes.

But this tendency fell into disrepute in 2007, when politicians from all parties were spotted applauding a Vaisakhi parade float in Surrey, B.C., bearing the garlanded portrait of the "martyred" Talwinder Singh Parmar, the architect of 331 deaths in the Air India bombing. At the Air India inquiry under retired justice John Major, relatives of the victims reserved special scorn for this spectacle.

"I'm sorry, I know it's about your votes, but that's dirty business," Perviz Madon testified. Her husband, Sam, died in the bombing.

"You don't want to be associated with a group that is linked to terrorism," she went on. "You don't want those kind of votes!"

Of course, the appetite for votes has not disappeared. During the 2011 campaign, extremist voices again clambered onto the political stage in pursuit of respectability and influence. But the defence of Rajoana may have been too much to swallow.

Jasbir Sandhu and Jinny Sims, two NDP MPs from B.C., gave minimal assistance to the Rajoana campaign by issuing a press release condemning capital punishment. But they kept clear of any sympathy for Rajoana himself and neither spoke at the rally on Parliament Hill. Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis, did speak there but made the same point and, like the two NDPers, condemned political violence. No Conservative MPs ventured into the neighbourhood.

So it may be that the influence of Sikh extremists is fading. But they're certainly not giving up. And, for now, they've ensured that the "human bomb," Balwant Singh Rajoana, lives on.

[N30S1NGH]

As mentioned in other thread, i will mention in here as well:

This article is somewhat biased/failed to show other side but overall states hard facts on collateral damage of 16 other innocent lives was lost.

I will not judge the ground reality of those times of gureilla war fare (extreme lack of resources on precision of targets) as such i m not sure if collateral damage could have prevented. However, i am sure all the efforts were made and intent was to avoid/prevent collateral damage but it turned out to unfortunate chain set of events resulted in loss of 16 innocent civilians.

In Sikh dharam yudh maryada(war rules), collateral damage where innocent lives lost should be avoided at all cost. However, hard reality is collateral damage bound to open in one point with there is minimal lack of resource.

I have western case to compare:

When islamic terrorist hijacked plane in sept 11, one of planes was bound to hit washington, then gov't of united states made very hard decision to shot down the plane before it kills more innocent lives. Collateral damage- plane full off innocent lives was shot along with terrorist in order to avoid more innocent lives being lost. In this particular, USA knew collateral damage cannot be avoided.

In comparison the case with killing of beant.

Beant mass murderer terrorist in the plane happen to be around surronding (innocent lives in the plane) bound to kill more innocent lives, to avoid killing of more innocent lives he was stopped.

Big and striking difference of those both cases is an intent, while USA knew collateral damage cannot be avoided, they went ahead anyway knowingly. Bhai Dilawaar Singh, Bhai Balwant Singh intent to avoid collateral damage off innocent lives being lost but turned out to be unfortunate set of events innocent lives were lost.

While keeping in mind ground realities are very different, collateral damage could or could not be avoided, lack of remorse in the sikh community abroad and in punjab, lack of remorse shown by sri akaal takth sahib jathedars(all these years) of innocent lives were lost in collateral damage of beant case its mind boggling. This is so wrong on many levels and against khalsa dharam yudh sidhant. If anything, no one even felt to seek an statement of bhai balwant singh ji himself of innocent lives were lost. This is where as community we have failed in punjab and abroad. Even if you want to have political spin on this unfortunate events of innocent lives were lost - To win any cause or support of others, we must win an public opinion first.

On a side note:

Protesting in india was must, since dynamics and history of sikhs and contributions of sikhs in india are intertwined with fabric shape of india. Protesting in India was extremely helpful and bought positive result.

However, protesting in foreign countries of this particular case its an suicide of good image of sikhs world wide (as unfortunate event of collateral damage) cannot be separated.

First of all, protests of this case at least in Canada, have back fired miserably (see article and comments in the article from wider public), gee what were we thinking when collateral damage of this case is attached to all over this case - positive coverage? especially when western media doesnt understand or has intention to understand punjab history?, they are at fault partially, other half, we as sikh community are at fault - failed to see bigger picture.

All sangat abroad should have gathered in gurdwara would rather should have listen to bir ras kirtan or dhadi varan instead rather protesting of this particular case in outside parliament and attract media attention.

Now speaking on wider subject- sikh protesting infront of these corporation type gov't and UN- its waste of time

If 30 different self immolations(peace shown in drastic manner) of tibetans buddhist monks near UN across the globe, couldn't have any effect on big corporation gov't (USA, CANADA, UK) relations with China, then what makes us think we could have any effect- carrying placards/banners infront of greedy corporate type gov't??

Just picture yourself as representing big pool of corporations name- USA, CANADA OR UK, if during business dealing with India which happens every day, small group in india brings human rights issue to plate, are we really naive to think- big corporations will kill their business dealing with India by putting pressure on India.

When I wear evil googles of big corporation working out business deal with India and see small group of people protesting be it - kashmiri, sikhs, muslims, christians- i only see tribal group are bickering and i ignore them or pass small universal "human rights statement" hoping these tribal groups go away.

What have we became?

Beggars, Herds of cattle sheeps getting whipped right,left and center?

I cannot believe we turned from lion giving calculated response (from guru maharaj time to bandai khalsa to tat khalsa to baba bir singh ji naurangabad to baba maharaj singh time to sant jarnail singh bhindranwale time) to bunch of whinners/beggars/herds of sheeps keeping going (protesting) in front ofcapitalist corporations and media- which simply don't give a hoots about tribal groups(all minorities suffering) and its issue (sadly put) when there is 'business as usual at stake' with India, China or any other evil country which abuses human rights.

We need to go back to the basics- parchar, parchar and more parchar in gurdwaras.

[chatanga]

We need to go back to the basics- parchar, parchar and more parchar in gurdwaras.

This is the key work for us.