Even as the Sikhs for Justice, a New York-based human rights advocacy group, is gearing up to file a petition with the UNO seeking the recognition of the 1984 riots as genocide, it has come to light that the Canadian Government had rejected a similar petition filed by Newton-North Delta MP Sukh Dhaliwal and Brampton West MP Andrew Kania in June last year.
Rejecting the petition on September 20 last year, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “Events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable. The importance of seeking justice for the victims should not be diminished. Nonetheless, the crime of genocide is a specific intent offence requiring a high threshold of proof of intent to destroy an identifiable group. As far as the Government of Canada is aware, there is no evidence of such intent in this case.”
The reply also mentions about the Nanavati Commission report and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s apology for the 1984 riots. “In August 2005, the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 riots was tabled in New Delhi. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh subsequently issued a public apology to Sikhs and the nation as a whole on August 1, 2005, offering a rehabilitation package for the victims and promising action on specific cases named in the report,” it stated.
The response to the petition also dwelt upon India’s vibrant democracy, independent judiciary and free Press. “India is a fully functioning democracy with an independent judiciary and has bodies such as the National Human Rights Commission and 18 state human rights commissions that are designed to receive and process human rights complaints as directed under the Indian ‘Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993’. There have been two commissions of inquiry and eight inquiry committees appointed by several Indian Governments since 1984, who were all tasked with examining riots.”
“Canada recognises that it is the responsibility of the Government of India to fulfill its international human rights obligations and to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens regardless of religion and ethnicity. Canada also recognises that India is a highly diverse country facing many challenges but serves as an example where civil society and democracy flourish and the Press plays an active and responsible role in reporting alleged human rights abuses,” it further added.
However, Canada had expressed regret over the violence and loss of life that resulted from the riots. Dubbing promotion and protection of human rights an integral part of its foreign policy, it said: “Where there have been allegations of gross human rights violations or crimes against humanity, Canada stresses the need for independent investigations and the importance for accountability of those who are responsible.”
Meanwhile, on a recent visit to Amritsar, Dhaliwal had said he had filed the petition on the people’s demand and was willing to do so once again.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110103/punjab.htm#4
Rejecting the petition on September 20 last year, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs said: “Events of 1984 were clearly horrific and deeply regrettable. The importance of seeking justice for the victims should not be diminished. Nonetheless, the crime of genocide is a specific intent offence requiring a high threshold of proof of intent to destroy an identifiable group. As far as the Government of Canada is aware, there is no evidence of such intent in this case.”
The reply also mentions about the Nanavati Commission report and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s apology for the 1984 riots. “In August 2005, the Nanavati Commission report on the 1984 riots was tabled in New Delhi. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh subsequently issued a public apology to Sikhs and the nation as a whole on August 1, 2005, offering a rehabilitation package for the victims and promising action on specific cases named in the report,” it stated.
The response to the petition also dwelt upon India’s vibrant democracy, independent judiciary and free Press. “India is a fully functioning democracy with an independent judiciary and has bodies such as the National Human Rights Commission and 18 state human rights commissions that are designed to receive and process human rights complaints as directed under the Indian ‘Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993’. There have been two commissions of inquiry and eight inquiry committees appointed by several Indian Governments since 1984, who were all tasked with examining riots.”
“Canada recognises that it is the responsibility of the Government of India to fulfill its international human rights obligations and to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens regardless of religion and ethnicity. Canada also recognises that India is a highly diverse country facing many challenges but serves as an example where civil society and democracy flourish and the Press plays an active and responsible role in reporting alleged human rights abuses,” it further added.
However, Canada had expressed regret over the violence and loss of life that resulted from the riots. Dubbing promotion and protection of human rights an integral part of its foreign policy, it said: “Where there have been allegations of gross human rights violations or crimes against humanity, Canada stresses the need for independent investigations and the importance for accountability of those who are responsible.”
Meanwhile, on a recent visit to Amritsar, Dhaliwal had said he had filed the petition on the people’s demand and was willing to do so once again.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110103/punjab.htm#4
