REDFM Legal Viewpoint -- Human Rights Issues in Punjab from 1984 1995

Описание: I've been co-hosting a weekly legal affairs radio show on RedFM 106.7 (Fridays, 7-8 PM MST). On June 6, 2014 the show canvassed the 'decade of disappearance' in India's Punjab. This decade, which ran from 1984-1994, saw impunity and gross excesses. June 5, 2014 was the 30th anniversary of Operation Bluestar which then resulted in chaos and conflict.

The human rights violations precipitated large numbers of Sikhs coming to Canada to claim refugee status because of a well founded fear of persecution in their country of origin.

Jaswant Singh Kalra, trained as a lawyer, was a human rights defender and lost his life for speaking out. His investigation and efforts revealed thousands of illegal cremations in the Amritsar district alone. In 1995 he came to Canada and gave a speech, returned to India and then was picked up and killed by members of the Punjab Police. In 2005, 6 individuals were sentenced to 7 years imprisonment for his death (later extended to life imprisonment for 4 of the 6).

Jagmeet Singh, member of Legislative Assembly (NDP) spoke in support of a resolution to recognize Jaswant Singh Kalra as an important defender of human rights.

We also discussed the case of Satwant Singh Manak. Manak has come forward to cast light on this period of darkness. Manak was a former Punjab Police member. He's indicated that he witnessed the death of 15 individuals killed in (fake) encounters. He's been trying to register a FIR (First Information Report) against the alleged perpetrators of these crimes that he was a witness to for almost twenty years. His statements as to the murder of a 15 year old boy is bone chilling.

Clips from Ensaaf.org including the trailer for "The Last Killing". We are hoping to have representatives from this organization on our program in the future.

The Rule of Law is the biggest bulwark against impunity; we hope that India, as the world's largest democracy understands that democracy means very little without institutional safeguards against the violations of individual rights.