Rally/march For Remembrance, Justice And Freedom

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

Although the "Rally/March for Remembrance, Justice and Freedom" is a success every year, Daas has a feeling that this year is going to be the biggest one ever as it is being organised on a more global scale.

This will also mean more global organisation and it is good the sangat is being informed as soon as possible in advance.

I think a Panthic event such as this at such a large scale with so much organsation required needs a Sticky on this forum as soon as possible. Admin Jee, Bentee for a Sticky?

Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!!

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STICKY PLEASE!

Mod Note : We will be pinning threads regarding events 10 weeks before they start so in this case, we will pin this topic around mid March. As you can see we have many PINNED topics already in this Events section and we have to be fair to other organisers too... otherwise the whole Events forum will end up being "pinned".

Please do continue to post up until such time. I am sure there will be many Vaisakhi events coming up to pin too. We are sure you will support us in this matter.

VJKK VJKF

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Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!!

Just come back from Punjab. Was talking to a group of youth in early twenties and they asked in Punjabi, "So do you go to them 'meleh' every June in London to fight the Indian government?" - I suppose the news gets to some youth some how, LOL, even though some of them get the wrong impression lol, but a lot do get the point as well I think, especially the educated ones that go colleges and universities and have access to a wide range of information like the internet through forums like this one.

Anyway, under 10 weeks left, past mid march now, so a Sticky as promised now maybe Admin Jee?

Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!!

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

The Project Plan for the "Never Forget 84 - Rally & March for Freedom" taking place on Sunday 4 June in central London has been developed. There are currently 111 separate tasks on the detailed 8-page project plan. The tasks are split between the 15 headings set out in the original message. Namely:

1) Funding and sponsorship

2) Logistics for the day

3) Media and public relations

4) Advertising and publicity

5) Stewarding and security

6) Liaison with the authorities (Met Police, Hyde Park, insurance company, GLA, Westminster Council etc.)

7) Production and distribution of merchandise

8) Production and display of multi-media material

9) Liaison with speakers (including non-Sikh speakers)

10) Attendance of non-Sikh groups and the general public

11) Co-ordination with organisers of similar events in other countries

12) Liaison and arrangements for Sikhs from mainland Europe

13) Getting the maximum number of people out on the day

14) Programmes for the 'Park' and 'Square' with speakers (Sikh and non-Sikh) and topics known in advance

15) Banners and placards for the day

Over 50 people have already volunteered to take on seva in preparing for the event. In the coming weeks many more volunteers will be needed at a local level.

If you would like to volunteer to do things locally please email sikhfederationuk@yahoo.co.uk.

Local volunteers will be asked to

i) encourage the local press, local radio and local TV to cover the event

ii) distribute posters and postcards at a local level - in Gurdwaras, Universities etc

iii) encourage Gurdwaras to make weekly announcements and put posters on notice boards

iv) arrange for the on-line poster to be displayed on plasma screens or large screens via PowerPoint were facilities are available in Gurdwaras

v) distribute other relevant materials related to the event

vi) encourage non-Sikh activists locally (trade unions, human rights groups, pressure groups, politicians, faith community representatives etc.) to join Sikhs for the event

vii) encourage Gurdwaras to arrange sufficient transport and publicise its availability

viii) distribute 'JOIN US' postcards targeting non-Sikhs at relevant non-Sikh events in May

ix) get your local Gurdwaras to make arrangements in May for the showing of the first 30 minutes of the double-DVD relating to Sikhs in the Square - these will be sent free to around 100 Gurdwaras by the end of April 2006

x) encourage friends and relatives to take part, informing them that the event in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 4 June will be very accommodating to 'families'

xi) get Sikh students to encourage their non-Sikh friends to join them for the event

xii) encourage those running Panjabi schools for children to get all children to take part and get their parents to also take part - a 'remembrance holiday' from Sunday Panjabi school should be given to all children

xiii) encourage Sikhs in your town to arrange to bring banners and placards - each coach should aim to bring a minimum of two banners and ten placards

At least 100 stewards will also be needed on the day. According to the draft stewarding plan the stewards will be organised in teams five and are likely to be from five towns/cities (as yet unnamed). Please watch the space to learn which towns/cities have volunteered or been volunteered.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Posted elsewhere:

Dear Jagtar Singh ji and Members,

I congratulate you and the organisers for this Rally and March for "NEVER FORGET 84"

This event (1984) was like a '' candle' compared to 'The SUN' in 1947 when one million Sikhs and Hindus were murdered and two million made refugees and made orphans, widows, females abducted and raped , their houses and property looted and pushed to unknown India in the most degrading manner in Kaflas(caravans), on foot and in trains, on their roofs, in many cases as dead bodies slaughtered on the way. Ask your fathers, mothers, grand fathers and grand mothers if the came out alive.

1947 was the first step towards the Sikh Freedom movement, when they lost every thing and also did not see the 'Glow of Freedom;

In March 1947, I was made orphan, my mother widow, and we lead a reduced life for no fault our own.

If possible please remember the dead of 1947 as of 1984.

Have you informed the United Nations, Kofi Anon, President Bush, Tony Blair, Her Majesty the Queen?

We must not fret and sulk alone in the corner, when help could be around and JUST FOR THE ASKING.

Best wishes and kindest personal regards.

Pritam Singh Rangar

London

On vacation USA

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Posted elsewhere:

Following is an audio link on the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Sikhs by the

Govt. of India, recorded under South Asia literature program by the US Library

of Congress, narrated by famous Punjabi Writer Ajeet Caur(mom of painter Aparna

Caur), who was the first one to take up pen and write courageously against the

atrocities when others were sitting in Rashtrapati Bhawan and hiding in British

Embassies.

Titled : November 1984

MUST LISTEN

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/mbrs/master/salrp/07202.mp3

Gurpreet Singh Sumra

Brampton, Canada

[singh_comradz]

just wanted to ask, did the last candle vigil put pressure on the president of india to grant clemency to davinder singh bhullar and release other prisoners and has that pressure been sustained.

and in reference to the march, does the SF feel that it will make any major difference in terms of delivering justice.

furthermore the media, including 24 hrs news channel sky news have never provided any coverage regarding these events. they seem to show more interest showing perhaps a cat being rescued out of a tree than the above.

do you guys feel there will be media coverage this time round?

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

just wanted to ask, did the last candle vigil put pressure on the president of india to grant clemency to davinder singh bhullar and release other prisoners and has that pressure been sustained.

and in reference to the march, does the SF feel that it will make any major difference in terms of delivering justice.

furthermore the media, including 24 hrs news channel sky news have never provided any coverage regarding these events. they seem to show more interest showing perhaps a cat being rescued out of a tree than the above.

do you guys feel there will be media coverage this time round?

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We have reasonably reliable information on Professor Davinderpal Singh Bhullar - the death penalty is likely to be removed, there is even some talk of possible release in the next 12 months or so. You will understand if more is not said at this stage . . .

The Rally and March, like Sikhs in the Square and Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils do make a difference - in the Sikh Diaspora, in India and with the Sikh activists still in Panjab. SF is also operating in political and diplomatic circles - a combination of these three is definitely beneficial in helping deliver justice.

Rally and march on their own making a 'major' difference in terms off delivering justice - very doubtful, but very important for the reasons stated above.

We need more Sikhs to be developing links with the media - we are hopeful this year of getting more coverage than in the past. We would welcome every Sikh playing their part. We will have a small dedicated team concentrating on greater media coverage. Please volunteer by sending your details to sikhfederationuk@yahoo.co.uk.

We are learning more from each event.

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

just wanted to ask, did the last candle vigil put pressure on the president of india to grant clemency to davinder singh bhullar and release other prisoners and has that pressure been sustained.

and in reference to the march, does the SF feel that it will make any major difference in terms of delivering justice.

furthermore the media, including 24 hrs news channel sky news have never provided any coverage regarding these events. they seem to show more interest showing perhaps a cat being rescued out of a tree than the above.

do you guys feel there will be media coverage this time round?

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A news report below in the 'Times of India' showing India's reaction to the Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils held this January 2006:

India's reaction to the Worldwide Candle Lit Vigils that were inspired by the Sikh Federation (UK)

UK tolerance of Sikh groups worries India

RASHMEE ROSHAN LALL

[ Friday, January 20, 2006 02:20:39 am TIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

LONDON: India has questioned Britain's commitment to fighting global terrorism of the non-Islamist kind by raising concerns about the new prominence and political legitimacy allegedly being given to "Sikh extremist groups" based here, TOI can reveal.

Indian concerns centre around a 'candle light vigil' outside the British parliament two days ago, in what many believe to be an overly shrill attempt by Sikh groups to underline their "opposition to the (Indian) death penalty and call for the release of all Sikh political prisoners held in jails in India."

Despite India voicing its concerns, the vigil went ahead with London's Metropolitan Police declaring there were "no grounds" for it to be banned.

Indian concerns include the allegation that the vigil's organiser, the Sikh Federation (UK), is a front organisation for a British-proscribed terrorist group, the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). The Sikh Federation has always denied the charge.

India has complained that "many of the declared office bearers of the Sikh Federation... are the same (as those of the banned ISYF)".

It alleges that the Sikh Federation chairman Amrik Singh Gill was the ISYF's former president; its vice-chairman Kuldeep Singh Chaheru was formerly ISYF (Damdani Taksal) president until the faction merged with the ISYF and general secretary Narenderjit Singh was once president of ISYF (Bitoo).

The Sikh Federation claims to be the UK's first and only Sikh political party. Its spokesman has always claimed that "the Sikh vote matters in about 40 to 50 key (British) constituencies."

Vaheguroo Jee Kaa Khalsa, Vaheguroo Jee Kee Phateh!!!

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Young Sikhs (UK) covered the Sunday 4 June 2006 'Never Forget 84 - Rally and March for Freedom' on Vaisakhi Radio last night www.sikhiradio.co.uk

A request was made for local volunteers to cover as many towns and cities as possible in the UK. They were asked to email their contact details (name, address, telephone) to sikhiradio:

Sikhiradio@hotmail.co.uk or info@sikhiradio.com

It was explained what sort of seva would be required.

Two competitions associated with Sunday 4 June were mentioned:

A POEM competition for Young Sikhs (under 21) - the two best poems would be read out in Trafalgar Square - winners would receive something associated with 1984 from a 'famous' personality

A BANNER competition for Young Sikhs (under 30s) - I think Leicester offered to 'produce' the five best banners - again winners would receive something associated with 1984 from a 'famous' personality

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Project Team need assistance in the following area:

Relevant non-Sikh events taking place towards the end of April or in May

We need to identify and provide details of any relevant non-Sikh events taking place (mainly in London or other big cities in the UK) towards the end of April or in May where we can distribute 'JOIN US' post cards to encourage non-Sikhs to take part in the 'Rally and March for Remembrance and Freedom' on Sunday 4 June 2006.

It would be helpful if this could be done by Wednesday 12 April.

Please email all information to sikhfederationuk@yahoo.co.uk

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Project Team need assistance in the following area:

Relevant non-Sikh events taking place towards the end of April or in May

We need to identify and provide details of any relevant non-Sikh events taking place (mainly in London or other big cities in the UK) towards the end of April or in May where we can distribute 'JOIN US' post cards to encourage non-Sikhs to take part in the 'Rally and March for Remembrance and Freedom' on Sunday 4 June 2006.

It would be helpful if this could be done by Wednesday 12 April.

Please email all information to sikhfederationuk@yahoo.co.uk

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Poster image should be available on-line in the next 24 hours