UNESCO

[sikhi]

http://witness84.com/unesco/

:: Heritage Status For Sri Darbar Sahib ::

The Sikhs face a big threat to their sovereignty - the jurisdiction of the Sri Harimandir Sahib and Akal Takht is to be formally conceded over to the jurisdiction of the Indian Government, if this 'behind the scenes stealth' move is allowed to go through.

Without any consultation with the Panth, collusion between the Government of India and some misinformed Sikhs, has resulted in an application for 'heritage status' to UNESCO.

In essence, the Harimandir Sahib should have no formal juridical control by any manmade political institution. Its physical protection and management is the responsibility of the Sikh Panth.

The Akal Takht is the political seat of Sikhs, representing the sovereignty of Guru Panth in the balance of Guru Granth & Guru Panth - it is the 'living' decision making institution of the Sikh Panth. With a Heritage status, the independent sovereignty of Guru Panth will be formally taken away, making one of Sikhi's main institutions defunct. This is why the world's buildings representing seats of sovereignty institutions - like Buckingham Palace or Windsor Palace in UK, the White House, be as they be beautiful buildings, never apply for heritage status as they are 'living' sovereign institutions.

We present the argument below in more detail- the pros and cons for this application in order for a consultation within the global Sikh community. In addition to this website, we are taking this argument into the community.

Witness84 was able to get hands

on this 'very secret' document - an event that in itself sent alarm signals. We have studied this document and had lawyers in the UK deliberate on the documents.

Witness84 is taking a stand of opposing this application with the most forceful vigour. Our campaign is to make representations to UNESCO and SGPC - we make these letters available below for YOU to join in and make this a common Panthic campaign, which requires urgent action as the application is at an advanced stage.

In addition, we are building a PETITION page by the end of this week.. please show us your support by signing this.

Witness84

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We have drafted the following letters. All you need to do is sign and send immediately:

1) Letter to UNESCO

2) Letter to SGPC

3) Letter to Prime Minister

4) Letter to President

5) Letter to Chief Minister of Punjab

Director General UNESCO

Mr. Koichiro Matsuura

Director-General

UNESCO

7, Place de Fontenoy

75007 Paris

France

Fax number : 00 +33 (0)1 45 67 16 9

EMAIL Spokesperson@unesco.org

SGPC FAX 0091 [0]183-2553919

E-mail : sgpc@vsnl.com

The President of India

Mr Abdul Kalam

Rashterpatti Bhavan

New Delhi , India

Tel +91 (011) 2301 7824

Fax +91 (011) 2301 2290

Prime Minister of India

Dr Manmohan Singh

New Delhi

Tel +91 (011) 2301 8939

Fax +91 (011) 2301 6857

Email: http://pmindia.nic.in/write.htm

Capt. Amarinder Singh

Chief Minister

Punjab

cm@punjabmail.gov.in

Tel 2740325, 2740769

[V]

BUMP :lol: @

[Guest rsingh]

just an update, there was a meeting this weekend. the sangat decided that this was a threat to the panth.

dont know much more. could domeone who went give more info.

[Guest rsingh]

a friend told me,...........

The Meeting was about the problem, it simple terms what will happen is that the sikhs will be renting Darbar Sahib from the Government. That could mean one day Government may say that no Kirtan after 9pm as it will destory the brick work.

We will need to follow this as Government will own the Building. The whole thing sounds good when you hear it but its plain rubbish its a trick to destory the Khalsa Panth.

In 1986 the Khalsa decleared Khalistan as a Country and made some other laws. But if we sign the paper we will not be allowed to do this.

Problems like Raag mala and Keski as a "K" would have to go to GOI so they will have tell us what we are allowed to do.

In simple term Government will decided everything for the SIkhs and this is a other way to destory sikhi.

One strong point from the meeting was that Golden temple is not a Dead Build its a Live and kirtan goes on 24/7.

So at the moment we all need to get together no Jatha no Group just as plan Sikhs. If you support the movement or not. This is a problem for all sikhs so get together and do what is needed.

They will be petition going on, we all need to work together and the youth will need to play a active role.

This is the greatest challenge we have faced along with the french ban since 84. We need to show the Sikh youth are live and kicking. we need to wake everyne u

p. raise in parliment, get things going in US and canda. get the International community on our side.

[s s Jhamka]

vaheguru ji ka khalsa

vaheguru ji ki fateh

yes a agree we need to get moving on this on i think it was going to be endorsed at the end of september. So please get ur lettters out and forward them to Dr Rai of Sikh Human Rights Group or contact www.witness84.com.

We keep getting sucked into these well thought out plans by goverment forces. WE cant sit by and see this go ahead. Contact as many ppl as poss and fold them with letters and calls

take care

sukdev

[Guest rsingh]

A recent article on W!N News Network

Sikhs oppose Darbar Sahib Heritage Status

Tuesday, 21st September 2004

A potentially big rift within the world-wide Sikh community was highlighted today when a senior community activist expressed his worry that the Darbar Sahib (mistakenly known as the Golden Temple). In an interview with the BBC Asian Network he said he was opposed to the shrine being designated a world heritage site.

The Darbar Sahib is being considered for inclusion on the UN's list of the world's most important places. But human rights activist Dr Jasdev Singh Rai, speaking on the Breakfast show with Gagan Grewal, said the move would put the holiest of Sikh shrines into the hands of the Indian government.

Dr Rai said: "If all else fails then we will go to the courts to ensure that ultimate control of the Golden Temple doesn't pass to the Indian government."

The threat of legal action might put the process in jeopardy and exposes a split between those who want the prestigious title to be conferred on the historical and religious place of worship (mistakenly referred to temple), and those opposed to co-operation with the Indian government in any shape or form.

Both the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee - the Sikh committee that manages the affairs of the shrine - and the state government have promised to do everything possible to fulfil the requirements to help the UN survey.

If everything goes as planned it is hoped

by next year UNESCO, the UN's education and cultural wing, will list it as a world heritage site. The BBC reported last month that the UN survey was being carried out by Professor Eman ul-Haq. Documents to start the process were submitted last year.

In 1984 the government of India attacked the Golden Temple to flush out those it saw claimed militants. The destruction caused to the holy place of worship has since been a big source of tension between the Sikh community and the Indian government.

http://news.waheguroo.com/?633Q6-17274-696...9443-Q3134-3837

I would like to ask the International Sangat to come on board.

My brothers and sisters from USA, CANADA, etc please join te sangat in UK to fight the unesco issue.

We can not give the Darbar Sahib to GOI .

[amandeep]

Everyone, this is a complete red herring. There is no threat to any kind of sovereignty from the assignation of World Heritage Status on the complex of buildings at Amritsar.

This application is simply a way that an important heritage asset can be protected. The protection covers the fabric of the buildings and the architectural status only - there are no other concerns from UNESCO. The British Houses of Parliament & The Vatican in Rome both have World Heritage Status - clearly there is no impact on these important political and religious buildings and no interference in their functioning

If heritage status is assigned to the Darbar Sahib and associated buildings then the Sikh community can be assured that that any future renovations or conservation work is carried out to a world class level (we have seen in the very recent history the bodged conservation at Baba Atal Sahib, where green bathroom tiles were placed over priceless wall paintings. Similarly the reguilding of the Harimandir Sahib where the many of the original guilded plates were replaced with poor copies or indeed the destruction of important Bungas, Akharas & Havelis to make way for Shopping plazas and the like. Furthermore, the UNESCO status gives the Sikhs a chance to stop the city from encroaching onto the Gurdwara complex. The city politicians in Amritsar in the past have allowed buildings to be put up which completely blot the landscape of the Darbar Sahib and some of that can now be protected.

It is in the community’s interest that the fabric of the building and the architectural and artistic importance of the buildings are preserved - Heritage Status gives us that - otherwise it is incredib

ly vulnerable to all kinds of attacks. Rather than oppose this move Sikhs around the world should actively embrace it. Please don’t fall for the mischievous comments of Jasdev Rai

[Guest rsingh]

more like do not fall for the mischievous comments of "amandeep"

This is not a "hoax" this says that the SGPC represents the sikhs and it is established by the Government of India. it takes away the authority of Sri Akal Takath. if it was a hoax why wouldnt the SGPC give Dr Rai the document until he threatened legal action.

Dr Rai has donr alot for sikhs, he runns the sikh human rights and his words are true. He has, is and will do an excelllent job.

[amandeep]

Ownership and control of the buildings do not change - and certainly does not pass from one hands to another- its as simple as that. You are getting upset over nothing

[Guest rsingh]

but you still have the matter of the SGPC being a organisation created by india gov law and therefore answerable to the indian Gov. this document says to the whole world that the SGPC is the highest authority of the sikhs and what ever it says goes.

therefore sikhs are answerable to the Gov and therefore Akal Takatha has no authority.

To me the SGPC means nothing, they dont nopt represent sikhs akal Takath is te highest seat and its hukam is final.

Akal takath is a soverighn supreem court which is not answerableto anyone individual, org, or institution in this world. it was and is the right of Akal takath to have an army althought the Gov's seem threaterned by that.

Also the docu says the SIKHS OWN the darbar sahb therefore sarbat khalsa needed to be called before they decided this

amandeep you should listen to the audio online and then make up your mind