Call to Action

ACTION CALL - Contact your MP about UK involvement in Sikh Genocide The Sikh Network Independent investigation into UK government assistance during the 1984 Sikh Genocide CALL TO ACTION - STANDARD LETTER FOR YOUR MP You can use the following link to write to your MP or enter your postcode to find out who your MP is: https://www.writetothem.com/ You can use the following to find the email for your MP: http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/mps/ Dear [MPs name] Cover up of UK involvement with the Indian security forces in assisting in the Sikh Genocide in the 1980s I would be grateful if as a matter of urgency you could write to the Prime Minister, copying your letter to the Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary, regarding the above important matter that deeply concerns me as a law-abiding British Sikh. Please send me a copy of your letter when it is sent and any responses when they are received. On Friday 4 November 2016 The Times carried an article titled: ‘Files on Sikh massacre are withdrawn ‘to hide SAS role’ and the Daily Mail an article titled ‘Did the SAS kill at Amritsar? Foreign Office hastily recalls files 'detailing UK role' in notorious Indian army crackdown on Sikhs’. The media are continuing to report on the ‘cover up’ and the Labour Party has officially called for a ‘full independent investigation’. The Scottish National Party has already called for an independent public inquiry and dozens of Conservative MPs are also supportive. This matter is expected to be raised in Parliament by politicians from all sides, especially those who want the truth and believe they have been misled along with their constituents. At the same time a letter was sent by KRW Law on behalf of the Sikh Federation (UK) to the Home Secretary, copied to the Foreign Secretary that I would strongly suggest you read. The link to the letter is: http://krw-law.ie/sikh-federation/ The Home Secretary’s views in respect of the possibility of a further investigation have been sought and she has been put on notice that the Sikh Federation (UK) will seek a public inquiry if the Home Secretary is not in a position to commission an independent investigation, which would discharge concerns raised by the Sikh Federation (UK). The confidential note dated 3 July 1984 that has been unearthed by a researcher working with the Sikh Federation (UK) and shared with Ministers by KRW Law suggests that there has either been gross incompetence or more seriously there has been a systematic and deliberate cover up since 1984 and Parliament and the British public have been misled. Parliament was initially misled on 30 July 1984 by Ray Whitney, the then Parliamentary Under Secretary, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when responding to a question from John Watts the Conservative MP for Slough about discussions Her Majesty’s Government had with the Government of India. Parliament was again misled some 30 years later on 4 February 2014 by William Hague, the then Foreign Secretary as SAS military assistance to India was almost certainly not a ‘one off’ and unashamedly appears to have continued immediately following the Sikh Genocide in Amritsar in June 1984. This would have been picked up by Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary as part of the internal review he conducted that was commissioned by David Cameron, the then Prime Minister in January 2014. Sir Jeremy’s review has therefore been shown to be inadequate and the content and conclusions presented to Parliament inaccurate and misleading. On 4 February 2014 William Hague told Parliament that ‘one of the questions raised is whether there could have been British Military involvement in subsequent operation Black Thunder I and II. From everything that the Cabinet Secretary has seen having examined hundreds of files – 200 files – the answer to that is no’. It is a matter of deep concern, that it appears Parliament has been deliberately misled in relation to the UK’s role and involvement. The Sikh Federation (UK) researcher has identified 41 files on India from 1984 that the FCO still refuses to release after 32 years. This includes file FCO 37/3663 with the title: ‘Indian National Security Guard’. The mere existence of a file that the FCO refuses to release combined with the confidential note dated 3 July 1984 the researcher has found suggests the SAS was almost certainly involved in providing advice in the immediate aftermath of the Sikh Genocide in June 1984 in setting up the National Security Guard (NSG). It is a matter of fact that the NSG was formed in July 1984 and went on to lead Operations Black Thunder I and II, which consisted of further assaults on the Sri Harmandir Sahib (or Golden Temple Complex) in 1986 and 1988. In addition, the NSG conducted Operation Black Hawk, a heliborne operation in the Mand area of Punjab in January 1988 and Operation Mouse Trap in the Tarn Taran district of Punjab in August 1989. The NSG's official website states that “The NSG was modelled on the pattern of the SAS”. If the SAS did not support the setting up of the NSG, the file would presumably be more or less empty, or have information that is not sensitive that could easily be published. You must ask why this file is being intentionally held back. The researcher also found 39 other files released on 26 August 2016 relating to India from 1984 where the FCO has permanently withheld part of the file. For example, including messages between Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi on file FCO 37/3694, telegrams dated 27/4/1984 and 30/4/1984 on file FCO 37/3638 titled ‘Foreign policy of India’ and several files relating to defence sales including the ‘Sale of Sea King and Westland W30 helicopters to India’ (FCO 37/3667) and the ‘Proposed sale of light combat aircraft to India’ (FCO 37/3677). Clarity is also needed why Foreign Office Ministers took the unprecedented step of authorising the removal of 33 FCO-India files from the National Archives relating to 1984 that were released after 32 years on 24 August 2016 under the 30-year rule that should be moving to a 20-year rule. These were hastily removed on 21 September 2016 and have still not yet been returned. William Hague had previously told Parliament in February 2014 that Sir Jeremy Heywood’s review was ‘rigorous and thorough’ and the ‘extensive’ search was through ‘some 200 files and over 23,000 documents’. These latest actions by the FCO suggest a genuine lack of confidence in the integrity of the internal review conducted by Sir Jeremy Heywood. The latest revelation has increased demands for the release of the UK military adviser’s visit report and assessment he gave to the Indian authorities in February 1984 that Sir Jeremy Heywood stated in his report that he had examined. From what Parliament was told by William Hague in February 2014 the advice given more than 32 years ago was not acted upon, so should be released unless the present government has something to hide. The Prime Minister should now intervene before further damaging publicity and Parliamentary challenge and release the UK military adviser’s visit report and assessment from February 1984 and all relevant files in full from the 1984-1986 period under the 30 year rule without further delay. This would demonstrate greater transparency to Parliament, the British public and the worldwide Sikh community who deserve the truth on UK involvement with the Indian security forces in the 1980s. The Home Secretary should immediately respond to KRW Law and enter a dialogue with the Sikh Federation (UK), its researchers and lawyers to address their concerns and discuss the possibility of commissioning an independent investigation. Name Full address, including postcode If you would like to continue as a Sikh Network Activist and help us to lobby MPs please email your details to info@thesikhnetwork.com