OTTAWA(July 21st, 2010): The World Sikh Organization (WSO) encourages S. Harvinder Singh Phoolka to continue his struggle for justice on behalf of the victims of the November 1984 genocide of Sikhs.
It has been reported that Mr. Phoolka has declared his intention to withdraw from the legal proceedings to prosecute the perpetrators of the 1984 genocide due to comments by Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Mr. Paramjit Singh Sarna. Mr. Sarna allegedly accused Mr. Phoolka of misappropriating community funds for his own benefit.
Mr. Phoolka is a hero to Sikhs across the world and has for the past 26 years dauntlessly struggled for justice. His integrity and dedication are without parallel. WSO expresses its complete support for Mr. Phoolka and encourages him to continue representing the victims. WSO and the Sikh community across the world stand with him to end the cycle of impunity for the perpetrators of the 1984 genocide of Sikhs.
The World Sikh Organization (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

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For more information, please contact:

Amanpreet Singh Bal Tel. 905-567-1795, Cell 416-677-1528, Email: asinghbal@gmail.com
or
Gian Singh Sandhu, at 250-305-2440, e-mail: gian@jackpinegroup.com

The WSO, a human rights group, requested both politicians provide evidence to back-
up their claims that there is growing radicalism among Canadian Sikhs. The Prime
Minister’s Office responded with a form letter stating that the WSO’s “comments have
been noted,” while Mr. Ignatieff’s office did not even acknowledge receipt of the letter.

“Canadian Sikhs are experiencing a backlash because of these reckless claims made by
elected officials. And yet neither the Prime Minister’s Office, nor the man who wants to
replace him in the job, can be bothered to furnish us with evidence, ” says WSO Senior
Policy Advisor Gian Singh Sandhu. “I think they owe every Canadian evidence that what
they’re saying is true.”

WSO Canada President Prem Singh Vinning adds that the baseless comments repeated
in news media are encouraging attacks on a visible minority and he fears there could be
serious consequence for Canada’s more than 400,000 Sikhs. The WSO has requested
that these politicians either provide proof of what they’re claiming, or correct the public
record.

“The hateful comments we’re seeing online are particularly ugly and they’re escalating.
And they often follow news stories in which these baseless claims are made,” Mr.
Vinning says. “I think it’s time for the politicians making these claims to take
some responsibility for their comments and prove that what they’re saying is true.”
The WSO also notes that Vancouver Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh has been quoted in
Canadian and Indian media claiming radicalism is on the rise and that even ‘peaceful
campaigns’ organized by Sikhs are suspect:

“(Extremism) is much more entrenched, much more sophisticated (than it was
in 1985)…it is much more moderate in appearance than you might otherwise
see,” Mr. Dosanjh told the Toronto Sun. “People run peaceful campaigns and
behind the peaceful campaigns is the evil design to hurt other people and to
dismember other countries.”

During his speech at an Air India memorial Stephen Harper called on Canadians
to marginalize “extremists…who seek to import the battles of India’s past.”
But Mr. Sandhu says the Sikh community has no idea who these supposed extremists are,
and doubts they even exist.

“If Mr. Harper has evidence of terrorist activities, we would like him to make it public,
otherwise his words taint the entire community unfairly.”

As Mr. Ignatieff’s bus tour makes its way across Canada and Prime Minister Harper
attends various events over the summer, WSO asks Sikh Canadians to ask both leaders
for evidence supporting their comments about the so-called rise in extremism in the
community.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit organization with a
mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote
and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race,
religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status

Contact:
Gian Singh Sandhu
Policy advisor
604-341-2755
gianssandhu@gmail.com
or
Balpreet Singh
Legal Counsel
416-904-9110
balpreetsingh@worldsikh.org

Sikhs across Canada are celebrating this great country and their long history here. Sikhs first arrived in Canada in the late 1800s and have since developed deep roots and ties with this nation. Today we find Sikhs actively engaged in all facets of Canadian life from business to politics to the armed forces.

One of the reasons Sikhs have formed such strong bonds with Canada is that Sikh values of equality, tolerance, freedom and respect of differences are also Canadian values that we see enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As we celebrate all that Canada means to us, let us also take a moment to remember those around the world who are less fortunate and do not enjoy the same rights and freedoms we enjoy here. Canada has a long history of being a champion of human rights and we must continue to promote and protect those rights around the globe.

Once again, on behalf of WSO, we wish all Canadians a very happy Canada Day!

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

The Akhand Paath — a 48-hour non-stop reading of the Sikh scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib – will be held in memory of the 331 innocent lives lost. Akhand Paaths are held to mark solemn occasions in the Sikh community and Sikhs take turns reading from Sri Guru Granth Sahib until the reading is completed.

The Akhand Paath will conclude on the day of the tragedy, June 23 at 5:30 p.m., and will be followed by a memorial service in which hymns will be sung and 331 candles will be lit, one for each victim of the bombings.

All members of the community are welcome to attend these services.

Media are also welcome to photograph and record the event.

Sikh gurdwaras across Canada will be holding similar memorial services and prayers and the Word Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) joins the Sikh community in marking this painful anniversary.

“The bombing of Air India flight 182 was an incomprehensible tragedy.  So many innocent lives were lost, including accomplished humanitarians, scientists, artists, and community activists.  It is important that we honour their memory.  Such a tragedy should never have happened and it must never be allowed to happen again,” said WSO President Prem Singh Vinning.

For further information about the memorial contact Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey at 604-594-8117 or by email at contact@gnsg.ca .

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

“We believe the families should be compensated.  Ultimately, the best way to honour the victims is to ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again,” said WSO President Prem Singh Vinning.

Despite serious concerns over the limited involvement of the Sikh community in the Inquiry, WSO welcomes many of the Major Commission’s key recommendations.

In light of the disturbing findings of the Commission that this tragedy could have been prevented, WSO believes it is incumbent upon the Canadian Government apologize to the families for its failure to prevent the tragedy due to a “turf war” between the RCMP and CSIS.

“An apology is needed and long overdue.  There were critical and unnecessary failures in the investigation of this tragedy which have resulted in delayed justice for much too long,” said Palbinder Kaur Shergill, WSO General Counsel.

The WSO also applauds the recommendation that a National Security Advisor be appointed to oversee both agencies and ensure that information crucial to public safety is not withheld. The report highlights RCMP failures particularly, noting that they lost and destroyed evidence, investigated a terrorist conspiracy as if it were a pretty crime ring, and failed to share the intelligence it did gather with CSIS.

“We have long said that, as a society, Canada needs to be more vigilant when it comes to preventing this kind of violence and we were particularly pleased to see the Report recommending better, more sophisticated policing,” said Gian Singh Sandhu, WSO Senior Policy Advisor. “Canadian Sikhs have lived under a cloud of suspicion ever since the bombing of Air India, and routinely faced harassment and intimidation by authorities. We believe a better trained federal police force and improved cooperation between intelligence agencies could prevent that from happening again.”

“Most Canadians associate this horrible tragedy with our community, and Sikhs will always bear the sorrow of that,” Sandhu said. “But at least this report helps us understand some of what went wrong, and what we can do to prevent it from happening again.”

As we approach the 25^th anniversary of the Air India tragedy, WSO joins the Sikh community and all Canadians in remembering the innocent lives lost.  Such a tragedy must never be allowed to happen again.

The World Sikh Organization (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

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During a meeting with the NDP leader, the WSO presented Mr. Layton with a plaque featuring the kirpan, the Sikh article of faith that represents grace, dignity, and defence of the defenceless.

The plaque is inscribed, “In recognition of your outstanding contribution towards the advancement of human rights in Canada and abroad. Your fearless advocacy for the underprivileged members of our society is a testament to your dedication.”

“The WSO and Canada’s over 400,000 Sikhs appreciate Mr. Layton’s support on human rights issues, particularly those affecting Sikhs,” said WSO President Prem Singh Vinning.

In April, Mr. Layton presented a petition in the House calling on the federal government to officially apologize for the 1914 Komagata Maru tragedy, in which 376 Indian immigrants, mostly Sikhs, sat for two months in the Vancouver Harbour before being turned back. Twenty were killed after disembarking in India. In 2008, the B.C. legislature apologized unanimously for the incident.

Mr. Layton also showed courageous leadership in March when he asked his caucus not to attend events featuring Indian Roads and Highways Minister Kamal Nath, who is accused of leading a mob that burnt several Sikhs alive in November 1984. (To date, the Indian justice system has failed to convict any of the politicians connected with the 1984 massacre.)

Mr. Layton also released a statement expressing sympathy on the 26th anniversary of the invasion of the Darbar Sahib complex, the Golden Temple, and demanding accountability for the innocent lives lost.

“When innocent lives are lost with no accountability or explanation from the government, we have an obligation, as one democratic government to another, to ask why and seek honest answers for our citizens,” Mr. Layton said, in his statement.
The full statement is available at http://www.ndp.ca/press/statement-from-ndp-leader-jack-layton-on-remembering-1984

For further information and pictures of the event please visit www.worldsikh.ca

The World Sikh Organization (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Honourable Guests; Ladies and gentlemen:

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to the 25th Parliamentary Dinner organized by the World Sikh Organization of Canada.

For the benefit of our guests let me briefly touch on who Sikhs are and what WSO does.

The Sikh religion was revealed and taught through Guru Nanak in the form of Ten Gurus (1469 -1708), and now through Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh Scripture) and the community of Sikhs. We are a world wide community of 25 million.

15 Million of us live in Punjab Five million of us live in other parts of India. Five Million of us live outside of India, of which Canada is home to over 500,000 of us.
Sikhism is a dutiful way of life for achieving peace by doing service to society. Guru Nanak teaches us a three prong life to achieve this goal.

Kirat Karna : earning an honest living
Naam Japna: remembering God
Wand Chhakna: sharing what we have with others

The WSO Canada is a non-profit umbrella organization founded in 1984 with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

Through a National Assembly of 31 Executive Members, WSO strives to reflect the Canadian Sikh community from coast to coast. To fulfill our mandate we draw no financial support from any level of government. Instead the Sikh community is our inspirational and financial resource.

June is a month of remembrance in the Sikh community as we remember innocents lives lost across the world to violence. The first week off June brings back the memories of the Indian army assault on Darbar Sahib (commonly known as the Golden Temple ) and 38 other Sikh shrines in 1984. Sikhs mourn the loss of thousands of innocent lives during that tragic episode. It was a devastating historical event in which thousands of Sikh pilgrims – women, children, the elderly and infirm – were brutally killed by the Indian army. The orchestrated death and desecration that took place is permanently etched in the psyche of the Sikh community.
We also recall the massacre of innocents in June 1989 at Tiannamen Square in China where hundreds of pro-democracy protestors were attacked and killed only for peacefully exercising their freedom of speech.

And of course, who can forget the tragic events of June 23, 1985 when 329 innocent lives were lost in the Air India bombing, the single greatest act of terrorism in Canadian history. This year of course marks the 25th anniversary of that sad day as the victims families, Canadian Sikhs and all Canadians in general continue to wait for justice.

In memory of all the innocent lives lost, we would request all of our guests to rise for a moment of silence.
Thank you.

With respect to the loss of innocent lives, our guest speaker today, has indepth knowledge of the massacre of Sikhs on the streets of Delhi in November 1984. I am sure you will find his address illuminating and thought provoking.
In closing, on behalf of the National Executive of WSO I would like to thank each and every one of you for attending. Enjoy the evening.

Ottawa:  May 31, 2010  The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) welcomes Indian journalist, author, and human rights advocate Manoj Mitta as the guest speaker at their annual Parliamentary Dinner on Thursday June 3, 2010.

Mr. Mitta, who is a Senior Editor of the Times of India and the author of When a Tree Shook Delhi: The 1984 Pogrom of Sikhs, has a law degree from the University of Hyderbad and covers judicial accountability and human rights issues. He has been critical of India’s record on human rights.

His speech is “Dancing with the Elephant: the Current State of Human Rights and Impunity in India.”

The dinner is a tradition for the WSO, which seeks to promote understanding and stimulate thought on issues of broad national interest. This year they expect to host approximately 200 guests including several MPs and diplomats.

Mr. Mitta will also be speaking in Toronto on Saturday June 5, in Edmonton on Sunday June 6, Calgary on Tuesday June 8 and in Vancouver on Friday June 11.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

If you’re interested in attending the dinner or arranging an interview with Mr. Mitta,

please contact:

Amanpreet Singh Bal, WSO Event Coordinator

phone:  (416) 677-1528

asinghbal@gmail.com

The human rights organization wants to remind the Raymond, Alberta school board that the Canadian Charter of Rights recognizes the multicultural heritage of Canadians. All Canadians have the right to maintain their cultural identities.

“Tolerance and accommodation of diversity are what make us Canadian,” says Gian Singh Sandhu, the WSO’s policy advisor. “Forcing individuals to abandon their cultural or religious practices is not the Canadian way and it creates an atmosphere of intolerance and inequity.”

The school district has a policy on graduation attire that reflects a narrow definition of formal wear: men are required to wear dress pants. Mr. Sandhu says that Sikh Canadians can sympathize with Mr. Jacobs’ plight, as it mirrors their own struggle to wear clothing that reflects their faith, such as the turban, while in uniform. In 1990, Cst. Baltej Dhillon won the right to wear the turban while on duty as an RCMP officer. And it took years of debate, but now Sikh veterans have the right to wear turbans in Canadian Legion Halls.

WSO President Prem Singh Vinning echoed Mr. Sandhu’s view of the young Canadian’s right to honour his heritage.

“Accommodation of a kilt should be a non-issue in Canada: I cannot conceive of any hardship it would pose,” Mr. Vinning says. He adds that crucifixes, yarmulkes and turbans are all accommodated in schools across Canada, there is no reason the Scottish kilt should be treated any differently.

The World Sikh Organization (WSO) is a non-profit international organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.

After the Canadiens’ playoff victory, 50,000 fans poured on to Montreal streets and a mob of approximately 500 started throwing bottles at police and smashed the windows of three downtown stores. Effigies of Penguins’ star Sydney Crosby were also burnt. Despite the violence and looting, Montreal police assistant director Sylvain Brouillette congratulated the fans who came out to celebrate the Canadiens’ victory and said “It was only about 500 out of 50,000 who took part in criminal acts.”

Quebec Premier Jean Charest stated, “This isn’t about hockey. Let’s be clear, these people are not interested in the Montreal Canadiens. Unfortunately they are only interested in trashing things. It’s too bad because it casts a shadow a bit over events.”

This measured and moderate response in response to the violence in Montreal that led to at least 41 arrests, is in stark contrast to the reaction to recent events in the Sikh community in which a lone irresponsible radio statement and a few offensive comments posted online resulted in a firestorm of hysteria amongst some politicians and media, smearing the entire community as being prone to violence and extremism.

In contrast to the events in Montreal, every year tens of thousands of Sikhs gather for Vaisakhi parades across Canada. Crowds top 100,000 in Surrey and Mississauga. These are fun-filled, well organized and peaceful events in which not even one incident of violence has been ever reported. Vaisakhi parades are funded entirely by the Sikh community without any government assistance. Thousands of people are generously fed for free over an event that lasts several hours. And when the event is over, the city streets are left cleaner than when the event started.

WSO Canada President Prem Singh Vinning said, “Any violence is absolutely unacceptable. But unlike the response to the situation in Montreal where the media and politicians have recognized that Canadiens fans as a whole are not to be blamed for the looting and vandalism, it’s disappointing that the same reasonable approach wasn’t applied to recent events in the Sikh community. Some opportunistic individuals have vilified the entire community based on the actions of a few and all Canadian Sikh are paying the price.”

The irresponsible smear campaign against the Sikh community has resulted in a marked rise in anti-Sikh sentiment. Bigoted and discriminatory comments against the Sikh community, some going so far as to call for violence against Sikhs, are now widespread on the internet on various mainstream media and social networking sites. However those who were quick to create an uproar over the alleged rise in “extremism” in the Sikh community seem unconcerned by the recent backlash and rise in intolerance towards Canadian Sikhs. Why the double standard?

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) is a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote and protect the interests of the Sikh Diaspora, as well as to promote and advocate for the protection of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, and social and economic status.