Vancouver, BC (October 9, 2012): According to information last week the Canadian Sikh Coalition and Sikh Youth of America launched a North American campaign, Free the Singh. Petition signing took place in major cities across Canada and the United States with great success as more than 7000 petitions were signed in Canada and more than 9000 in the United States.
“Many concerned citizens signed petitions hoping their governments would intervene on the unjust human rights violations taking place in Punjab, India” said CSC spokesperson Moninder Bual.
“The online petition has already surpassed 1000 signatures and the numbers continue to escalate as the campaign grows” he added.
According to information both organizations are working closely with international lawyers and human rights organizations to ensure those responsible for these violent acts are held to account.
Moninder Bual stated, “It is important to educate the world on the injustices taking place in the Indian state. The United States government signed an extradition treaty with India on the condition that Kulbir Singh would not be subjected to torture however, this was never upheld. Despite being urged by many countries to pass an anti-torture bill at the last United Nations review, the Indian government has chosen not to do so and continues to fail in not only upholding its responsibilities to its citizens, but also to the world.
The Free the Singh campaign is necessary to make the international community aware of what political activists like Kulbir Singh Barapind and Daljit Singh Bittu are subjected to in India. The Canadian Sikh Coalition and all of its allies will continue to monitor and advocate on behalf of these cases to ensure that justice is served.”
The Free the Singh campaign will continue for the weeks to come and the Canadian Sikh Coalition will persistently contact politicians, human rights organizations and all international bodies affiliated with this case.