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** Tom Watson Uk Member Of Parliament Reveals Biggest Secret: Britain Involved In 1984 Army Attack On Darbar Sahib


WaljinderSingh
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Evidence also emerging of SAS involvement in Sri Lanka during same period + British trade interests in the sub-continent:

Britain allowed ex-SAS officers to train Sri Lankans as Tamil Tigers rebelled
British former soldiers assisted country's security forces soon after Golden Temple massacre in India, documents reveal
Phil Miller and Rajeev Syal
The Guardian, Thursday 16 January 2014 20.10 GMT
Former SAS officers were allowed by the British government to train security forces in Sri Lanka around the time of the 1980s Golden Temple massacre, recently released government documents show.
The disclosure comes days after documents emerged appearing to show that SAS officers were involved in training Indian troops in the months leading up to the raid on the Amritsar temple, the Sikh religion's holiest site, in June 1984.
It will intensify the diplomatic tensions over Britain's role in the raid in Amritsar and add to evidence suggesting the government was happy to let former and serving special forces soldiers operate in India.
The new documents show that in September 1984 foreign secretary Geoffrey Howe's private secretary, Peter Ricketts, wrote to David Barclay, private secretary to prime minister Margaret Thatcher about a request to allow a British company with SAS connections to work in Sri Lanka.
At the time the Sri Lankan government was trying to put down an insurgency by the Tamil Tigers and other groups in the north and east of the island.
Ricketts wrote: "The Sri Lankan government have engaged another British company [name removed] to provide training in counter-terrorist techniques … The presence of [the company's] employees, including some ex-SAS personnel, in Sri Lanka, has aroused controversy and the Indian government have expressed concern to us about the firm's involvement.
"We have made it clear that this is a purely commercial matter and that HMG are not involved." The firm was allowed to continue working in Sri Lanka.
The papers will be part of an investigation begun by the cabinet secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, on the orders of David Cameron to determine Britain's actions in relation to the Amritsar raid.
The Indian government says that about 400 people were killed when its premier, Indira Gandhi, sent troops into the temple complex in June 1984 in the six-day operation called Blue Star.
Sikh groups, which have called for an inquiry into the British role in "one of the darkest episodes in Sikh history", put the death toll in the thousands, including many pilgrims.
Another document, relating to Sri Lanka, shows that days after the killings Thatcher was asked by Gandhi to stop helping the Sri Lankan government with military advice.
She told Thatcher: "We hope that you will use your influence to persuade [sri Lanka's] President Jayewardene to give a positive lead by making constructive suggestions at the All Parties Conference.
"Military aid and anti-insurgency assistance are not enough to overcome a political crisis which has to be faced and resolved."
This appears to be a reference to the Indian government's suspicion in 1984 that the SAS was training the Sri Lankan military.
The Guardian revealed on Wednesday that Thatcher gave Gandhi Britain's full support in the immediate aftermath of the 1984 Golden Temple raid.
Other documents in the file reveal Whitehall's interest in lucrative arms sales to India at this time.
A secret Foreign Office briefing, of 22 June 1984, sent to Downing Street, stressed that British commercial interests in India were "very substantial, it is a large and growing market for both commercial and defence sales".
The document claimed: "British exports in 1983 exceeded £800m and since 1975 India has bought British defence equipment worth over £1.25bn."
Cameron on Wednesday appeared to downplay the likelihood of an inquiry finding evidence that Britain was to blame for the raid.
Labour's former deputy chairman, Tom Watson, has suggested Britain might have had a role in the assault on Amritsar in exchange for India agreeing to purchase a fleet of helicopters in a £65m deal.
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Source:

http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2014/01/a-conspiracy-too-far-read-the-documents-and-make-up-your-own-mind

A conspiracy too far? Read the documents and make up your own mind.

January 15th, 2014 |

9th November 1983

Indian Defence Minister meets Margaret Thatcher in Number 10 Downing Street.

“The Prime Minister expressed her pleasure at the high degree of co-operation between the UK and India on military ministers”

1983-nov-9-to-Simon-Lowe-Venkataraman.jp

Captain Ramsdale, pilot is sent to Yeovil before going to India in order to “familiarize himself with the helicopter and the state of project negotiaions”

1983-Nov-22-to-Mr-Wingfield-Cap-Ransdale

Late November

Margaret Thatcher meets Indira Gandhi in Delhi at the Commonwealth Heads of State meeting.

30th November

Downing Street to FCO

“One matter which arose during the Prime Minister’s visit to India for CHOGM was the prospect of Westland winning a contract worth over £50 million for 27 of their new W 30 helicopters, of which, I understand, 21 would be for the oil and Natural Gas Commission for servicing off-shore rigs and six for the Indian Air Force. I believe that we are unlikely to win the contract unless we offer substantial aid.

1983-Nov-30-to-Ricketts-FCO-Westland-Hel

Report requested for the PM by 6th December.

December

Document requested by 6th December appears to be missing.

3rd February 1984

Missing document from the Foreign Secretary about the removal of “dissident Sikhs from the Golden Temple”.

6th February

Downing Street to FCO

“Thank you for your letter of 3 February about the Indian request for advice on plans for the removal of dissident Sikhs from the Golden Temple. The Prime Minister is content the Foreign Secretary should procedd as he proposes. She will look forward to receiving a report on the adviser’s visit”Adviser’s report missing.

1984-Feb-6-to-F.E.R.-Butler-at-No.-10-.j

14th February

Confidential note to the PM from PL Gregson at the Cabinet Office.

“The government of India seeks to use £50 million from the bilateral aid programme to buy 21 Westland W30 helicopters”

Minister of Overseas Development is “sceptical of the commercial case”

“The Minister of State for Defence Procurement (Mr Pattie) may have views on the links with sales of military helicopters”

1984-Feb-14-1-to-Margret-Thatcher-Sale-o

1984-Feb-14-2-to-Margret-Thatcher-Sale-o

1984-Feb-14-3-to-Margret-Thatcher-Sale-o

1984-Feb-14-4-to-Margret-Thatcher-Sale-o

23rd February

“The Indian authorities recently sort British advice over a plan to remove Sikh extremists from the Golden Temple”

“Knowledge of the SAS officer’s visit and his plan has been tightly held both in India and in London”

1984-Feb-23-to-Hugh-Taylor-SAS-Involveme

http://www.tom-watson.co.uk/2014/01/letter-to-william-hague-2

Letter to William Hague

January 14th, 2014 |

The Rt Hon William Hague MP
Foreign Secretary
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
14 January 2014
Dear Mr Hague
I have recently viewed facsimile copies of correspondence allegedly concerning the UK’s involvement in the raid on the Golden Temple in 1984. These documents are part of the PREM 19/1273 series and have apparently been released under the 30 year rule on disclosure of government papers.
If the documents are authentic, it shows that Britain secretly provided planning advice to India’s military in the build up to the raid on the Golden Temple, Amritsar in 1984. Please confirm whether the enclosed documents are indeed official government records.
As you know, the events of that time led to thousands of innocent Sikhs losing their lives. There were many documented human rights abuses, many still the subject of investigation. It is, therefore, not unreasonable for British Sikhs, all of whom know someone who was affected by these events, to have some answers.
I urge you to clarify, as soon as possible, whether there are other documents withheld by the government on this matter, on what grounds and by which departments. It seems inconceivable that there would not be further correspondence that has been retained, which details the UK’s involvement in the run up to the raid on the Golden Temple, in addition to the enclosures.
Parliament has the right to know where military operatives were deployed and there should be full disclosure of the facts surrounding this case. I request that you give consideration to an urgent inquiry to establish what further records are held and to reveal the UK’s precise involvement in this affair.
Was the Cabinet informed? Which ministers took the decision to give military support? How many personnel were involved? Was there a UK military presence in a operational, logistical, observational or advisory capacity during the siege at Amritsar?
British Sikhs deserve answers.
I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely
Tom Watson
Member of Parliament for West Bromwich East
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AISSF and SFJ handover memorandum to British High Commission, New Delhi.

http://asrandhawa.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/the-copy-of-mamorandum-given-to-british-high-commission-new-delhi-from-sikhs-for-justice/

The copy of mamorandum given to British high commission, New Delhi from Sikhs for Justice.

photo-1.jpg?w=487

January 17, 2014

Sir James David Bevan KCMG

British High Commissioner to India

Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110021 India

Email: web.newdelhi@fco.gov.uk

Phone +91 (11) 2419 2100 Fax +91 (11) 2419 2464

Re: Massacre of Sikhs during June 1984 attack on GoldenTemple – Disclosure by Tom Watson, MP for West Bromwich East, that he had seen “top secret papers from Mrs. Thatcher authorizing Special Air Services (SAS) to work with the Indian government”

Sub: PASS a resolution that planning by British forces SAS with Indian army to invade GoldenTemple in June 1984 that resulted in the death of more than 10,000 Sikhs was grave blunder.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) is a registered organization committed to work for the betterment of Sikh community, promoting the values of Sikhism and to raise voice on the issues concerning the Sikh community.

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) is an international human rights organization which believes and adheres to Universal Declaration of Human Rights and endeavors to create an environment in which minorities – regardless of race, religion, language, gender, or ethnicity – can freely exercise their right to “self determination” as enshrined in the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Recently Tom Watson has cited two letters which have only just been released under the 30-year rule

One, dated 6 February 1984 from the prime minister’s office, talks about the “Indian request for advice on plans for the removal of dissident Sikhs from the GoldenTemple”. It states that the prime minister is “content that the foreign secretary should proceed as he proposes”. The other letter, dated 23 February 1984, said “the foreign secretary decided to respond favorably to the Indian request and, with the prime minister’s agreement, an SAS officer has visited India and drawn up a plan which has been approved by Mrs. Gandhi. The foreign secretary believes that the Indian government may put the plan into operation shortly”.

That Army invasion of Golden Temple in June 1984 with the support of British intelligence agency’s on a day when Golden Temple is most visited, most crowded and most occupied by innocent Sikh pilgrims who gather to commemorate martyrdom of 5th Guru Arjun Dev Ji resulted in destruction of Akal Takhat Sahib and the loss of thousands of innocent Sikh lives. The eye-witnesses claim that more than ten (10) thousand Sikhs were massacred.

The planning by British government with the Indian government that started with June 1984 genocidal attacks on the Sikhs doesn’t end with the death of over 10,000 innocent Sikh men, women, children, and the greatest Sikh leader in modern history (Shaheed Sant Jarnail Singh Ji Khalsa Bhindranwale). The British government is also guilty of all the innocent blood that spilt since June 1984. This includes more than 30,000 Sikhs systematically killed during November Sikh Genocide and the 1984 to 1996 Punjab Liberation Struggle which resulted in the Indian police killing over 100,000 Sikhs across India.

Winston Churchill once said the “British people are highly indebted and obliged to Sikhs… As a result of their timely help, we are today able to live with honor, dignity and independence”, but because of the United Kingdom, we are today NOT able to live with honor, dignity and independence.

We urge you to:

  • PASS a resolution that planning by British forces SAS with Indian army to invade GoldenTemple in June 1984 that resulted in the death of more than 10,000 Sikhs was grave blunder.
  • DECLARE that British government is remorseful for the massacre of innocent Sikhs during the attack on GoldenTemple and the loss of more than 100,000 Sikh lives from 1984 to 1996.

  • CONDEMN that action of PM Thatcher of colluding with Indira Gandhi to attack GoldenTemple in June 1984 was wrong.

The British people, their monarchy and their government owe a debt to the Sikh Nation. This debt to the Sikh Nation will only be repaid by the full and unconditional support of the British government in assisting the Sikhs to reclaim their legal land of Punjab back from India.

Submitted By:

Karnail Singh Peermohammad Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

President Legal Advisor

All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) Sikhs For Justice (SFJ)

Phone: +91 98144-99503 Phone: +1 718-938-7801

+91 88721-11984 +1 647-969-2025

Email: aissf_news@yahoo.com Email: gurpatwant.pannun@sikhsforjustice.org

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The mentality of the British government of the time is shown when instead of urging the Indian government to exercise restraint and look to a peaceful solution, it looks like the government jumped at the chance to do the Indians a favour in return for sales of military equipment. The British government was in a better position than other western governments in putting pressure on the Indian government to not go ahead with the operation by citing the fact that the attack would cause trouble not just in India but also in the UK given the large Sikh population living here.

The Sikh demand should not just be for full disclosure which is the least that can be expected from a responsible government but a real commitment from the government to make amends for the actions of the government of the time. This should take the form of assisting Sikh groups in their fight for justice for the genocide committed by the Indian government.

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