Annex A
EARLY DAY
MOTIONS (EDMS)
RELATING TO
SIKH HUMAN
RIGHTS TABLED
IN THE
HOUSE OF
COMMONS IN
THE LAST
12 MONTHS
1. The following four Early Day Motions (EDMs)
have been raised in the last twelve months in the House of Commons
concerning the genocide of Sikhs in June 1984, the November 1984
pogroms against tens of thousands of innocent Sikhs and abuse
of Sikh human rights by the Indian authorities over the last twenty
years.
EDM 664—20th Anniversary of the Storming
of the Golden Temple Complex
That this House notes with sadness the 20th
anniversary of the June 1984 assault by the Indian army on the
Golden Temple complex, the Sikhs' holiest shrine, where sacred
buildings and historic artefacts were destroyed or damaged beyond
repair; further notes that the unprecedented action using artillery
and tanks took place on one of the most important days in the
Sikh calendar, when there were huge numbers of pilgrims in attendance,
which resulted in thousands of innocent Sikhs being killed in
cold blood, many with their hands and feet bound, including women
and children; is appalled that scores of other Sikh Gurdwaras
were stormed by the Indian army throughout Punjab and that thousands
of Sikhs were arrested, tortured, and killed, including children;
recognises that these actions by the Indian authorities continue
to have an immeasurable impact on Sikhs throughout the world;
and extends its sympathy and support to the law-abiding, hard
working, and well respected international Sikh community.
EDM 663—Violation of human rights of Sikhs
in India
That this House notes and applauds the efforts
of human rights activists in India to highlight atrocities, including
false imprisonment, torture, deaths in custody, extra-judicial
executions and disappearances, perpetrated against Sikhs in the
last 20 years; further notes that it is estimated that over 250,000
Sikhs have been murdered and/or disappeared since June 1984; is
deeply concerned that 20 years later the Indian Government continues
to deny full access to Punjab to international human rights groups
and to the UN Rapporteur on Torture; regrets that thousands of
families are still waiting to know the fate of relatives who have
disappeared; and calls on the Prime Minister, on behalf of the
estimated 700,000 Sikhs in the United Kingdom, to lead the international
community in demanding full access to Punjab to international
human rights groups and the UN.
EDM 662—20th Anniversary of November 1984
attacks on Sikhs
That this House notes with sadness the 20th
anniversary of the November 1984 pogrom against thousands of innocent
Sikhs in a matter of days in cities across India; further notes
that Sikhs became the target of organised violence with murderous
gangs swarming into Sikh houses, hacking the occupants to pieces,
chopping off the heads of children, raping women, tying Sikh men
to tyres set aflame with kerosene and pulling Sikh passengers
from public transport to be lynched or burned alive; recognises
that Amnesty International in a memorandum to the Government of
India, complained that far from being spontaneous expressions
of popular grief and anger as made out by the authorities, the
killings were the outcome of a well organised plan marked by acts
of both deliberate commission and omission by important politicians
of the Congress and by authorities in the administration; believes
that investigation and criminal proceedings are long overdue;
and calls upon Her Majesty's Government to take the lead in the
international community to establish an independent UN inquiry
into the failure of successive governments in India to take sufficient
actions against those responsible for the events of November 1984.
EDM 1890—Anniversary of anti-Sikh pogroms
That this House remembers with sadness the 20th
anniversary of the November 1984 anti-Sikh pogroms when thousands
of innocent Sikhs were killed or injured across India; notes with
pleasure the many positive changes that have since taken place
in India where the current Prime Minister is a Sikh; and expresses
the hope that the Government of India will continue to pursue
the path of reconciliation in relation to those events by instituting
an inquiry into them that can bring closure to the victims and
relatives of those who suffered at that time.
2. 135 different opposition and backbench
UK MPs from across the political spectrum supported these EDMs
demonstrating considerable concern by elected representatives
and calling for action from the UK Government and the international
community.
3. At the end of the 2003-04 Parliamentary
Session the motions had been signed by 71 Labour MPs, 39 Conservative
MPs, 20 Liberal Democrat MPs, two Ulster Unionist Party MPs, one
Scottish National Party MP, one Plaid Cymru MP and one Independent
Conservative MP. In addition, the Sikh Federation (UK) has received
letters and messages of support from over 40 members of the Labour
Government, including Cabinet Ministers, Junior Ministers and
Parliamentary Private Secretaries that are unable to sign EDMs
due to Parliamentary protocol.
4. Given this level of Parliamentary interest
and support it is most disappointing that the Annual Report on
Human Rights 2004 remains silent on the abuse of Sikh human rights.
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