Annual International Sikh Convention

[SaRpAnCh]

Sikh Federation any videos of speakers ? Will they be on gurdarbar.com?

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

SIKHS AT A POLITICAL CROSSROADS

Over 10,000 Sikhs took part in the Annual International Sikh Convention this weekend at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Wolverhampton. Many more listened on Akash Radio and Raaj Radio across Europe and via the Internet in other parts of the world.

The Convention organised by the Sikh Federation (UK) marked the 5th anniversary of the setting up of the organisation, which is often described as the first Sikh political party in the UK. The Federation has demonstrated it is the largest and most effective Sikh pressure group in the UK that works with all the main political parties.

At the Convention and on the eve of the party conference season the Federation declared Sikhs will be closely monitoring the actions of the Labour Government in the next 12 months on a range of issues where the British Sikh community have been demanding progress.

The issues are wide-ranging and include:

* Separate ethnic monitoring of Sikhs in the Census 2011

* Introduction of a Code of Practice for Sikh articles of faith

* Explaining the importance of the Sikh identity to other countries in Europe

* Taking legal action against torturers when they come to the UK

* Supporting the Sikh demand for self determination and independence

Bhai Amrik Singh, the Chair of the Sikh Federation, pointed out that Sikhs are at a political crossroads. Traditionally Sikhs have supported Labour. However, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and some of the other ‘regional’ or ‘specialist’ political parties – Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, Green Party and UK Independence Party have been very supportive on many issues.

A number of significant announcements were made by the Sikh Federation (UK) at the Convention including:

* preparations and events for the 25th anniversary of June 1984

* launch of an international campaign concerning the Sikh Reference Library on the 300th anniversary of the Guru Granth Sahib Ji

* forthcoming events at the European Parliament

The Federation also released its 2007-08 highlights booklet that received an excellent response.

Jaspal Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

GREEN PARTY CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR AN INDEPENDENT SIKH STATE AT SIKH FEDERATION (UK) CONVENTION

Speaking at the Annual International Sikh Convention organised by the Sikh Federation (UK) Jean Lambert MEP, the first UK Green MEP to be elected to the European Parliament in 1999, confirmed that the Green Party had passed a resolution at its Party Conference in support of an independent Sikh State. She also said that to call for independence was a right that Sikhs should be allowed to exercise and if you call for independence it did not make you a terrorist.

Jean Lambert explained she was on the South Asia delegation of the European Parliament and had visited the Darbar Sahib Complex. She said she was struck by the peace and tranquillity in the Complex and contrasted this to the June 1984 attack. She said her party’s resolution was directly linked to the June 1984 attack on the Darbar Sahib Complex and the 25th anniversary was an opportunity to reaffirm their support and for the international community to take action.

There are over 200 Green Party councillors in the UK, two members of the London Assembly, two Members of the Scottish Parliament, two UK Members of the European Parliament and a further 40 Green MEPs from 12 other countries in Europe that Sikhs should look for support on the issue of self determination and independence.

Alex Salmond, the Scottish National Party (SNP) leader, attended an earlier Sikh Federation (UK) Convention and spoke in support of the Sikh right to self determination. The SNP has over 360 councillors, 47 Members of the Scottish Parliament where they are the ruling party, seven MPs in Westminster and two Members of the European Parliament. Plaid Cwyru (PC) - 1 MEP, 3 MPs and 15 Assembly Members, making it the second biggest party in the National Assembly for Wales - have also been supportive on the issues of Sikh self determination and independence. The Greens, SNP, PC and UK Independence Party together represent a sizeable volume of political support for Sikh self determination and independence that will worry the Indian Government.

Jaspal Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

LIBERTY JOIN REDRESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH TO SUPPORT SIKH FEDERATION (UK) CAMPAIGN TO SECURE JUSTICE FOR SIKH VICTIMS OF TORTURE

Since 1988 UK law allows those who have tortured outside the UK to be prosecuted when they visit the UK. Jean Lambert MEP addressing the Annual International Sikh Convention pledged that Liberty would work with the Sikh Federation (UK) to do all it could to bring torturers to justice.

Bhai Amrik Singh, Chair of the Sikh Federation, welcomed the commitment from Jean Lambert MEP, who is on the Council for Liberty. He said: ‘The Federation working with UK politicians, REDRESS, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and now Liberty is determined to obtain justice for Sikh victims of torture.’

UK politicians and Ministers have been approached to ensure there is the political will to arrest, detain and prosecute those from India involved in the torture of Sikhs. An alternative which has been suggested is excluding those involved in torture from entering the UK.

Discussions are ongoing with police in Scotland Yard to determine the information required from victims of torture and their families, how their confidentiality will be protected and how the information will be corroborated by the police.

To hold accountable the Indian Government and individuals who perpetrate torture Sikh victims of torture and their families living in the UK need to come forward and supply relevant information. Anything from statements, photographs, videos, letters, voice recordings, paper articles, pictures etc. The police will then corroborate this evidence and if and when the torturer enters the UK he can be arrested, questioned, detained and prosecuted.

REDRESS, a London based human rights organisation that helps torture survivors obtain justice and reparation can provide legal assistance to individuals and the Sikh community.

The plan is to extend the UK practice across the 27 EU countries that should have similar national laws and working with like-minded Sikhs in Canada, USA and Australia to ensure they have a similar system in place so the policy of exclusion or prosecution spreads around the globe.

Jaspal Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

SIKH FEDERATION (UK) RELEASES 2007-08 HIGHLIGHTS BOOKLET

At the Annual International Sikh Convention this weekend the Sikh Federation (UK) released its 5th annual highlights booklet. Feedback suggests the latest annual booklet has been very well received.

The Sikh Federation (UK) was set up in September 2003 and is believed to be the only Sikh organisation in the UK that provides such a comprehensive record of its work since its inception. This is the Federation’s fifth highlights booklet and an electronic version is available by emailing info@sikhfederation.com or sikh_resource_centre@yahoo.co.uk

Jaspal Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

SIKH FEDERATION (UK) SETS OUT PROPOSALS FOR

25TH ANNIVERSARY OF JUNE 1984

The Sikh Federation (UK) used the opportunity of the Annual International Sikh Convention that was broadcast across Europe and via the Internet in other parts of the world to set out some of its proposals for the preparations and events for the 25th anniversary of June 1984.

More than 15 Gurdwaras/Sikh organisations have already pledged to be equal partners for the series of events/activities that are being planned for the 25th anniversary. Events in relation to the 25th anniversary will kick off with a major event in the UK Parliament towards the end of October, several related lectures in Gurdwaras and talk/discussion shows on radio.

Each Sikh organisation or Gurdwara wishing to be formally part of the Campaign 84 team is urged to contact the Sikh Federation (UK) via email on info@sikhfederation.com to obtain details of meetings in the coming months or to obtain a Campaign 84 application form that should be returned by 15 December 2008 at the latest.

Another project to raise awareness and be a lasting memory to Sikh martyrs is the production and distribution of plaques to pay tribute to Sikh martyrs from Guru Arjan Dev Ji through to the martyrs of 1984 and over last 25 years. The plaques are in the process of being designed and will go into production later this year. The plaques will be provided to Gurdwaras upon request and the plan is they will be officially unveiled in Gurdwaras in the first four to five months of 2009. Important dignitaries, such as the local MP, local MEP, Mayor etc. will perform the unveiling in the presence of the local media – press, radio and TV. In some towns it may be possible to have the plaques put up in prominent places e.g. town halls, libraries where more non-Sikhs will see them.

An event in the UK Parliament is also planned for the start of June 2009 combined with a Special Remembrance event, involving politicians from all the main political parties. A dialogue has also started with the BBC and other media to explore the possibility of awareness raising programmes to coincide with the 25th anniversaries of June 1984 and November 1984. The Sikh Federation (UK) is 100% committed as an organisation to hold a Freedom Rally in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 7 June 2009 working with Gurdwaras and other Sikh organisations.

Provided sufficient Gurdwaras/Sikh organisations come forward to support and become a part of the Campaign 84 team there is the possibility of producing a new interactive human rights exhibition that will tour the world.

Jaspal Singh

National Press Secretary

Sikh Federation (UK)

[SaRpAnCh]

Can we make a suggestion topic for all the sangat in the comming months where we can suggest stuff,ie: Make the rally longer and bigger, installation of some sort of memorial dedicated to 1984 Shaheeds in the form of a statue ie Singhs holding up a nishan sahib while digging it in the ground in the midst of the ruins of Akal Thakt some sort of memorial like that.Alongside like the SF UK has said plaques in honour of the Shaheeds with engraved pics of SS Bhindranwale and other Shaheeds of a pic of the Akal Thakt sent to every Major Gurdwara in the UK so they can be installed on Nishan Sahibs or walls in the Gurdwara.

I believe we should also get the Kashmiris involved as much as we can as this will show India a united front against Hindustan,as Kashmiris are more advanced than us in campaigning for Freedom they can be of great Help ,alongside people from Kosovo, and other countries.I believe Equdor should also be honoured as from what I have heard (Can SF UK confirm) they were the only nation to recognise KHALISTAN

[Avastha]

What happened with the guy from France who got blasted by the Federation secratary? Harbinder Singh went a bit too far to blast him like that, but the guy was a bit wrong for going on there and saying that stuff about the kirpaan... he said it was a waste of time organising that major rally in France that happened a while back - because the Singhs would not take off their kirpaanaa to enter the government building.

[Nirvair S Khalsa]

Please add any other photos, recorded video clips/audio clips of the Sikh Federation (UK)'s 2008 International Sikh Convention here. If anyone has done an audio recording of the Convention, please upload and post here.