Ed Towns

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the unveiling of a statue of Mohandas K. Gandhi in Johannesburg, South Africa, set off a discussion about the anti-black racism of the founder of India. When the eight-foot high Gandhi statue was unveiled, portraying him as a young human-rights lawyer, many leaders attacked Gandhi's anti- black statements. ``Gandhi had no love for Africans,'' said one letter in The Citizen, a South African newspaper. ``To him, Africans were no better than the `Untouchables' of India.'' As you may know, Mr. Speaker, the dark-skinned aborigines of the subcontinent, known as Dalits or ``Untouchables,'' occupy the lowest rung on the ladder of India's rigid and racist caste system. The caste system exists to protect the privileged position of the Brahmins, the top caste. Although it was officially banned by India's constitution in 1950, it is still strictly practiced in Hindu India. Others have pointed out that Gandhi ignored the suffering of black people during the colonial occupation of South Africa. When he was arrested and forced to share a cell with black prisoners, he wrote that they were ``only one degree removed from the animal.'' In other words, Mr. Speaker, he described blacks as less than human. We condemn anyone who says this in our country, such as the Ku Klux Klan and others, as we should. Why is Gandhi venerated for such statements? In addition, G.B. Singh, a Gandhi biographer, has looked through many pictures of him and never seen one single black person. Gandhi also attacked white Europeans. Gandhi is honored as the founder of India. These statements and attitudes reveal the racist underpinning behind the secular, democratic facade of India. It explains a worldview that permits a Dalit constable to be stoned to death for entering the temple on a rainy day, that allows the murders of over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 250,000 Sikhs in Punjab, Khalistan, over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir, tens of thousands of Christians and Muslims elsewhere in the country, including Graham Staines and his two young sons, and tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. It explains why the pro-Fascist, Hindu militant RSS is a powerful organization in India, in control of one of its two major political parties. India must abandon its racist attitudes and its exploitation of minorities. It must allow the enjoyment of full human rights by everyone. Until it does so, we should stop our aid and trade with India. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, the essence of democracy is the right to self-determination. India must allow self-determination for Kashmir, as it promised the United Nations in 1948, in Punjab, Khalistan, in Nagaland, and wherever the people seek to free themselves from the boot of Indian oppression. We should put this Congress on record in support of self-determination for the people of the subcontinent in the form of a free and fair plebiscite on the question of independence. Khalistan declared its independence on October 7, 1987. The people have never been allowed to have a simple, democratic vote on the matter. Instead, India continues to oppress the people there with over half a million troops. Mr. Speaker, reporter Rory Carroll of The Guardian wrote an excellent article on the controversy about the Gandhi statue. I would like to place it in the Record at this time. [The Guardian, Friday Oct. 17, 2003] Gandhi Branded Racist as Johannesburg Honours Freedom Fighter (By Rory Carroll) It was supposed to honour his resistance to racism in South Africa, but a new statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Johannesburg has triggered a row over his alleged contempt for black people. The 2.5 metre high (8ft) bronze statue depicting Gandhi as a dashing young human rights lawyer has been welcomed by Nelson Mandela, among others, for recognising the Indian who launched the fight against white minority rule at the turn of the last century. But critics have attacked the gesture for overlooking racist statements attributed to Gandhi, which suggest he viewed black people as lazy savages who were barely human. Newspapers continue to publish letters from indignant readers: ``Gandhi had no love for Africans. To [him], Africans were no better than the `Untouchables' of India,'' said a correspondent to The Citizen. Others are harsher, claiming the civil rights icon ``hated'' black people and ignored their suffering at the hands of colonial masters while championing the cause of Indians. Unveiled this month, the statue stands in Gandhi Square in central Johannesburg, not far from the office from which he worked during some of his 21 years in South Africa. The British-trained barrister was supposed to have been on a brief visit in 1893 to represent an Indian company in a legal action, but he stayed to fight racist laws after a conductor kicked him off a train for sitting in a first-class compartment reserved for whites. Outraged, he started defending Indians charged with failing to register for passes and other political offences, founded a newspaper, and formed South Africa's first organised political resistance movement. His tactics of mobilising people for passive resistance and mass protest inspired black people to organise and some historians credit Gandhi as the progenitor of the African National Congress, which formed in 1912, two years before he returned to India to fight British colonial rule. However, the new statue has prompted bitter recollections about some of Gandhi's writings. Forced to share a cell with black people, he wrote: ``Many of the native prisoners are only one degree removed from the animal and often created rows and fought among themselves.'' He was quoted at a meeting in Bombay in 1896 saying that Europeans sought to degrade Indians to the level of the ``raw kaffir, whose occupation is hunting and whose sole ambition is to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife with, and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness''. The Johannesburg daily This Day said GB Singh, the author of a critical book about Gandhi, had sifted through photos of Gandhi in South Africa and found not one black person in his vicinity. The Indian embassy in Pretoria declined to comment, as it prepared for President Thabo Mbeki's visit to India. Khulekani Ntshangase, a spokesman for the ANC Youth League, defended Gandhi, saying the critics missed the bigger picture of his immense contribution to the liberation struggle. Gandhi's offending comments were made early in his life when he was influenced by Indians working on the sugar plantations and did not get on with the black people of modern-day KwaZulu-Natal province, said Mr. Ntshangase. ``Later he got more enlightened.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, last month, Sikhs gathered from around the world to celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, with devotion, enthusiasm, and reverence. Over 25,000 Sikhs gathered in Nankana Sahib, in what is now Pakistan, for the celebration. The celebration included reading of the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, the singing of hymns, a procession through the streets, and speeches. One of the speeches was given by Dr. Gunnit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, the organization that leads the Sikh struggle for independence. Dr. Aulakh's speech was punctuated with slogans of ``Khalistan Zindabad,'' which means ``Long live Khalistan.'' Khalistan is the name of the Sikh state that declared its independence on October 7, 1987. The celebration was carried live on Pakistani television and on Punjab Radio from London, which is available worldwide. Guru Nanak had two companions, one Hindu and one Muslim. He was a shining example of acceptance of all. When Guru Nanak passed away, his burial shawl was torn in half and burned by the Hindus, and buried by the Muslims. Both Hindus and Muslims revered him. Yet today, Hindus persecute the Sikhs, the followers of Guru Nanak. More than 250,000 Sikhs have been murdered at the hands of the Indian government. According to the Movement Against State Repression, MASR, over 52,000 are being held without charge or trial as political prisoners in ``the world's largest democracy.'' Over 50,000 young Sikh men were picked up by the government, tortured, murdered, and then secretly cremated. Their bodies were declared ``unidentified'' and never returned to their families. Christians and Muslims throughout the country are also being persecuted. Over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland and over 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims have been killed by the government. In addition, tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities have been killed. Are we going to stand idly by and let this happen? By stopping our aid and trade with India and by declaring our support for the fundamental democratic principle of self-determination, we can help bring real peace, prosperity, freedom, and stability to South Asia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert the Council of Khalistan's very informative press release about the celebration of Guru Nanak's birthday into the Record at this time. [From the Council of Khalistan, Nov. 22, 2005] Sikhs Celebrate Guru Nanak's Birthday With Devotion, Enthusiasm, Reverence Washington, DC.--Over 25,000 Sikhs gathered in Nankana Sahib (now in Pakistan) last week for the celebration of the birthday of Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikh religion. About 15,000 were from Pakistan, about 4,500 were from India, and the rest were from abroad. Slogans of ``Khalistan Zindabad'' resonated throughout Nankana Sahib during the day's speeches. The celebration began with the performance of Akand Path, which is the The Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture, was read without interruption for 48 hours leading up to Guru Nanak's birthday. Hymns were sung as midnight struck. In the morning, the Pakistan Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PGPC) presented government officials and others with siropas. According to Sikh tradition, the afternoon was marked by a procession led by the Guru Granth Sahib, followed by the Panj Piaras, and then the Sangat, of all the Gurdwaras in Nankana Sahib, ending back at Gurdwara Janam Asthan. The evening program featured speeches given by various Sikh leaders, including Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, which leads the Sikh struggle for independence. When Dr. Aulakh raised slogans of ``Khalistan Zindabad,'' the Sangat responded with great enthusiasm. The Sikh Nation knows that political power is essential for the enhancement of any religion. The Sikh Nation also knows that the gold was added to cover the building of Darbar Sahib when the Sikihs ruled Punjab from 1765 to 1849. Since then, it is also called the Golden Temple. After midnight the celebration concluded with ceremonies according to the Sikh rehat maryada. The Sang at showed great devotion and reverence on this pious occasion. Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh religion. (``Marya Sikha Jagat Sitch Nanak Nirmal Panth Chalaya.'') It was an occasion of great happiness for the Khalsa Panth. The events were carried live on Pakistani TV and on Punjab Radio from London, which is heard throughout the world. Sikhs who were able to participate in the celebration were very fortunate. Guru Nanak confronted Sabar, the Moghul ruler of the time and called him a Jabbar (oppressor) and spoke out against the tyranny of the rulers of that time. He was even imprisoned by Babar, along with his followers. Guru Nanak travelled extensively, to the Middle East, where he visited Baghdad, and throughout India, along with his two companions, one Hindu, one Muslim. He spread his message of truthfulness, respect for the rights of individuals, earning an honest living, sharing with the needy, and praying to Almighty God. He was revered by Hindus and Muslims alike. When he left this world, his body was not found. The sheet covering his body was torn in two. The Hindus cremated it and the Muslims buried it, each according to their customs. Guru Nanak is remembered as Baba Nanak Shah Faqir, Hindu Da Guru, Mussleman Da Pir. He preached the equality of all the human race, including gender equality. Sikhism is a divinely revealed, monotheistic, independent religion which has 25 million followers and is the world's fifth largest religion. The Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy scripture, was written by the Gurus themselves as revealed to them by God. Nobody can add or delete anything in the holy scripture, which is considered to be a living Guru after the tenth Nanak, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on November 17, leaders of the Akali Dal, the predominant Sikh party, walked out of a seminar in Lahore after Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, Preside: of the Council of Khalistan, predicted that India will break up. The Akali leaders said ``We came to unite, not to divide India.'' In front of an audience of about 1,500 people, Dr. Aulakh predicted that Kashmir will soon be free and India will break into five or six separate countries, including Khalistan. Former Home Minister L.K. Advani, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has said that ``if Kashmir goes, India goes.'' Steve Forbes of Forbes magazine predicted in his magazine that India will break apart as the Austro-Hungarian Empire did. The Akali leaders who walked out were clearly representing the Research and analysis Wing (RAW), the intelligence operation of the Indian government. Yet as Inderjit Singh Jaijee reported in The Politics of Genocide, more than 250,000 Sikhs were murdered by the Indian government, according to figures compiled by the Punjab State Magistracy. Another 52,268 are being held as political prisoners, according to the Movement Against State Repression (MASR.) Some of these political prisoners have been held since 1984. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has apologized for the November 1984 Delhi massacres in which over 20,000 Sikhs were killed. This establishes the guilt of the Indian government beyond any doubt. If he really wants to make amends, he should end India's occupation of Khalistan, the Sikh homeland that declared its independence on October 7, 1987. India has also killed over 300,000 Christian in Nagaland, over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir, and tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and others. Tens of thousands of Muslims and Christians have been killed in other parts of the country. India is not a single country, but a multinational state that cannot hold together. We must do our part to see that this happens peacefully by supporting self-determination for all the people of South Asia. We should also cut off our aid to India and our trade as well until basic human rights are observed fully and enjoyed by all. Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan's recently issued a press release about the betrayal of the Sikhs by the Akali Dal. I would like to put this release into the Record for the information of my colleagues and the people. Akalis Again Betray Sikh Nation Washington, DC, Nov. 22, 2005.--On November 17, 2005, the Akali Dal again showed its true colors, as its leaders walked out of a seminar in Lahore after Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, predicted the breakup of India during a speech in support of liberating Khalistan, the Sikh homeland, Khalistan. The Sarbat Khalsa passed a resolution on April 29, 1986 for a free Khalistan and established the Panthic Committee. The Panthic Committee declared Khalistan's independence on October 7, 1987, forming the Council of Khalistan to lead the independence struggle. About 1,500 people attended the seminar. Dr. Aulakh predicted that Kashmir will soon be free and India will break up into six or seven countries' and Khalistan will be free. The Akali leaders said, ``We came to unite, not to divide India.'' This was a clear indication that those leaders were representing RAW, not those of the Sikh Nation. True Sikhs pray every morning ``Raj Kare Ga Khalsa'' (``the Khalsa shall rule.'') Former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Professor Darshan Singh has said, ``If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh. `` India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, according to figures compiled by the Punjab State Magistracy and human rights groups and reported in the book The Politics of Genocide by Inderjeet Singh Jaijee. It has also killed more than 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947, and thousands of Christians and Muslims elsewhere in the country, as well as tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits (``Untouchables,'' the dark-skinned aboriginal people of South Asia), Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' According to a report by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in illegal custody since 1984! Amnesty International reported that tens of thousands of other minorities are also being held as political prisoners. We demand the immediate release of all these political prisoners. Cases were registered against dozens of Sikhs for raising the Sikh flag at the Golden Temple on the anniversary of the Golden Temple attack in the presence of over 30,000 Sikhs. Warrants have been issued for their arrest. The flag of Khalistan was also raised on Republic Day, January 26. 35 Sikhs were arrested at that time. Some of them have been denied bail. Recently, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally apologized to the Sikh Nation for the genocide against the Sikhs in November 1984 in which over 20,000 Sikhs were killed just in Delhi and surrounding areas while Sikh police were locked in their barracks and Indian radio and television called for more Sikh blood. This apology establishes the Indian government's responsibility for the genocide against the Sikh Nation. India must end its occupation of Khalistan, which is the root cause of this genocide. Sikhs are a sovereign nation and they are fighting for their freedom. Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police custody. His body was not given to his family. History shows that multinational states such as India are doomed to failure. Countries like Austria-Hungary, India's longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this point. India is not one country; it is a polyglot like those countries. Steve Forbes, writing in Forbes magazine, said that India is doomed to disintegrate like the Austro-Hungarian Empire. ``India is not a homogeneous state,'' Forbes wrote. ``Neither was the Austro- Hungarian Empire. It attacked Serbia in the summer of 1914 in the hopes of destroying this irritating state after Serbia had committed a spectacular terrorist act against the Hapsburg monarchy. The empire ended up splintering, and the Hapsburgs lost their throne.'' India is doomed to fall apart just as Austria-Hungary and the others did. ``We must continue to pray for and work for our God-given birthright of freedom,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``We must continue to press for the liberation of Khalistan,'' he said. ``Without political power, religions cannot flourish and nations perish. India claims to be a democracy. It is time it recognized the right of self-determination for all people in South Asia.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I was recently informed of the passing of Gurdev Singh Sandhu at the young age of 62. I would like to extend my sympathies to his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Jaswant Kaur Sandhu, whom he married in 1974, his daughters Samreet and Ramneek, his son Sanmeet, his son-in-law Jason Pavlak, and his grandson London Singh Pavlak. Gurdev Singh Sandhu was a very passionate supporter of Sikh freedom. He came to this country at age 18 and attended Wayne State University. He worked at many careers, including working as an engineer at Motown Records, working at DEA, employment as an engineer at General Dynamics, and a Quality Manager at Thyssen-Krupp Budd Company. He even had a couple of businesses of his own. He was very involved with his children, helping with homework, coaching Little League Baseball, teaching them to ride a bike, and so many other activities. He designed the house where he and his wife lived. In his last few years, Gurdev Singh Sandhu had learned to play golf, worked in his garden, was active at a local gym, and worked in his yard and on various home-improvement projects. He had recently built a deck and designed his new garage. Gurdev Singh Sandhu was a strong supporter of the cause of Sikh freedom and the Sikh homeland, Khalistan. He had hoped to live to see Khalistan free. Hopefully, even though he won't be around to see it, this dream will be achieved in very short order. Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my condolences to Mr. Sandhu's family and friends and I know that the Members of this House join me in that. May God bless him.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tangible, but often under-appreciated efforts the part of South Korea to address an important and urgent humanitarian concern--the resettlement of North Korean refugees. South Korea has consistently maintained a policy to accommodate all North Korean refugees who have found safe haven abroad by permitting them to resettle in South Korea. The South Korean government also provides necessary cooperation, if the refugees wish to remain in another country, to avoid the forcible repatriation to North Korea against their will. In the past 50 years, South Korea has resettled more than 7,100 North Korean refugees, an average of 20 persons per year between 1954 and 1997 (878 total), but at an accelerating rate since then: 72 in 1998, 148 in 1999, 312 in 2000, 583 in 2001, 1,141 in 2002, 1,281 in 2003, 1,894 in 2004, and 882 to date in 2005, with an expectation of a total refugee population of 10,000 by the end of 2006. When North Korean refugees arrive in South Korea, they spend their first 3 months at Hanawon, a facility run by the Ministry of Unification, to receive education, orientation and basic vocational training. They also participate in social adjustment and cultural assimilation programs. Following their orientation, the refugees are then provided with a variety of resources by the South Korean government that include assistance in finding meaningful employment for 5 years and a permanent residence in cooperation with local municipalities. They also receive general health insurance coverage and seed money to help sustain independent living. For women refugees--which accounted for 68 percent of all North Korean refugees this year--the South Korean government additionally provides specific female vocational training and assistance with child- rearing and home protection. For younger refugees, the South Korean government fully subsidizes all education fees through high school. If accepted into public universities, the refugees will receive full tuition including room- and-board. Should a North Korean refugee seek to study at a private university, the related costs will be covered jointly between the government and the designated institution. It is important to note that South Korea, for some time, has been working diligently, behind the scenes, without much publicity or due recognition, in order to enhance the security of the North Korean refugees it is seeking to assist. The aim is to make all refugees and their families self-sufficient within the context of democracy and free enterprise, so that they can be full contributors to South Korean society. In this regard, the South Korean government also works in collaboration with many civic, religious, and non-governmental (charitable) organizations in a comprehensive and coordinated effort to provide a variety of resources and a strong social safety net. For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my personal appreciation to the government and people of South Korea for their important contributions to help address the urgent humanitarian crisis in North Korea through the ``firm resettlement'' policy. As a staunch ally of the United States with a mutually comprehensive alliance partnership, South Korea deserves our recognition and expression of support.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 4011.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that the Legislative Assembly in Punjab recently had a discussion on terrorism there. Terrorism is an important issue which all leaders of the world must address. However, the debate turned into partisan politics of the type we're too familiar with here--each side blaming the other for spurring the terrorism in Punjab, while they ignored the real cause of the problem--the Indian government. India has imposed a reign of terror in Punjab, Khalistan for many years, starting with a memo sent to police by their first Home Minister, Mr. Patel, describing Sikhs as ``a criminal class.'' This month marks the anniversary of one particularly brutal chapter in that reign of terror--the Delhi massacres of November 1984, in which 20,000 Sikhs were murdered. The government locked Sikh police officers in their barracks to keep them from getting involved and the government's own radio and TV called for more Sikh blood. The newspaper Hitavada reported that the Indian government paid the governor of Punjab, the late Surendra Nath, the equivalent of $1.5 billion to foment terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir. The U.S. State Department reported that the government paid more than 41,000 cash bounties to police officers for killing Sikhs. One even got a bounty for killing a three-year-old boy. Human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra compiled and published a report showing that India had a policy of picking up young Sikh men, torturing and killing them, declaring their bodies unidentified, and then secretly cremating them. Khalra identified over 25,000 such cases at three cremation grounds in Punjab. Others who have followed up on Khalra's work found that the number is at least 50,000. For his work, Mr. Khalra was arrested by the Punjab police and killed while in police custody. The only witness to the Khalra kidnapping, Rajiv Singh Randhawa, has been repeatedly arrested and harassed by the police. Gurdev Singh Kaunke was the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, the highest Sikh religious leader. He was murdered by a police official named Swaran Singh Ghotna. No one has ever been punished for this atrocity. The driver for another religious leader, Baba Charan Singh, had his legs tied to two jeeps, which then drove off in different directions, tearing the man in half. Mr. Speaker, why are such actions tolerated, especially by a government that calls itself democratic? America must take a stand against such tyranny. The time has come to stop all our trade with India and all our aid to that country until such time as basic human rights are fully protected. And we must put this Congress on record in support of self- determination for the people of Punjab, Khalistan, and all the other peoples and nations seeking freedom, such as predominantly Muslim Kashmir and predominantly Christian Nagaland. This is the most effective way to end terrorism in the subcontinent. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert the Council of Khalistan's press release into the Record now for the information of my colleagues. Punjab Assembly Debates Terrorism amarinder, badal should discuss freedom for sikh nation Washington, D.C., November 2, 2005--The Punjab Legislative Assembly recently had a session to debate terrorism. Both the Congress Party and the Akali Dal blamed each other for encouraging Sikh youth to carry out the violence. Amarinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal are trying to change the history of Punjab. They are fully aware that Punjab, Khalistan has been engaged in a long struggle for independence after the Delhi massacres of November 1984. On April 29, 1986, Sarbat Khalsa passed a resolution for the independence of Khalistan and formed the Panthic Committee. On October 7, 1987, the Panthic Committee declared the independence of Khalistan. The Council of Khalistan was formed at that time to lead the peaceful, democratic, nonviolent struggle to liberate Khalistan. These leaders are betraying the Sikh Nation. They need to be exposed and removed from their leadership roles. As Professor Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, ``If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh.'' Recently, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologized for the Delhi massacres, in which over 20,000 Sikhs were killed, firmly establishing India's guilt in this atrocity against the Sikh Nation. The Indian government controls the Sikh leadership. Both Badal's Akali Dal, which claims to be the protector of Sikh interests, and Amarinder Singh's Congress Party, which is the party that carried out the Golden Temple attack, are under Indian government control. New Sikh leadership is emerging in Dal Khalsa and other organizations. They hoisted the Khalistani flag in front of the Golden Temple on Republic Day in January and again on the anniversary of the Golden Temple attacks. They marched and made speeches for Khalistan. For this, they were charged by the Indian government and 35 were arrested. History shows that multinational states such as India are doomed to failure. Countries like Austria-Hungary, India's longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this point. India is not one country; it is a polyglot like those countries, thrown together for the convenience of the British colonialists. It is doomed to break up as they did. Last year, the Punjab Legislative Assembly passed a bill annulling all water agreements with the Indian government, preventing the government's daylight robbery of Punjab river water. Punjab needs its river water for its crops. In the bill, the Assembly explicitly stated the sovereignty of Punjab. The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 Christians since 1948, over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits, and others. The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police custody. His body was not given to his family. No one has been brought to justice for the kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra. The police never released the body of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh Ghotna murdered him. Ghotna has never been brought to trial for the Jathedar Kaunke murder. According to a report by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in illegal custody since 1984! Tens of thousands of other minorities are also being held as political prisoners, according to Amnesty International. We demand the immediate release of all these political prisoners. ``It is time to replace Amarinder Singh and Badal with new leadership that is committed to the interests of the Sikh Nation,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan. ``Only a sovereign, independent Khalistan will end the repression and lift the standard of living for the people of Punjab,'' he said. ``We must continue to press for our God-given birthright of freedom,'' he said. ``Without political power, religions cannot flourish and nations perish.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on November 1, Human Rights Watch wrote an excellent letter to the National Human Rights Commission of India demanding full accounting for the secret cremations of Sikhs in India. The secret cremations were described by India's Supreme Court as ``flagrant violation of human rights on a mass scale.'' The court ordered the Indian government in November 1995, two months after the ``disappearance'' of Jaswant Singh Khalra, to conduct a full investigation into this brutal policy. Ten years later, that investigation has never taken place. Instead, the commission has chosen to focus on the trivial issue of whether the cremations were conducted in accord with the police rules, a terrible diversion from the real issue, which is that the Indian government is carrying out this genocidal policy against the Sikh minority. This investigation must proceed, and it must be a full-fledged inquiry into this murderous policy, India must make full restitution to the victims' families. Mr. Speaker, I will be inserting the letter from Human Rights Watch into the Record at this time. November 1, 2005. Re mass secret cremations in Punjab. Hon. Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, India. Dear Justice Anand: As the National Human Rights Commission prepares to issue a decision in the Punjab mass secret cremations case, we urge the Commission to order a full accounting of the systematic abuses that occurred in Punjab, determine liability after detailed investigations into the violations, and provide for compensation for surviving family members based on a detailed understanding of the scope of violations suffered by each individual. In 1994, investigations by human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra revealed that security forces had abducted, extrajudicially executed, and secretly cremated thousands of Sikhs in Punjab from 1984 to 1994. Mr. Khalra exposed over 2,000 secret cremations in Amritsar district alone--one of 17 districts in Punjab. Subsequent investigations by human rights groups confirmed that secret cremations had occurred throughout the state, and that cremation was only one form of disposing of victims' bodies. After publicly disclosing his findings, Mr. Khalra was abducted by the Punjab police and ``disappeared'' in September 1995. In November 1995, the Supreme Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to inquire into his abduction and allegations of mass cremations. On December 12, 1996, the Indian Supreme Court found the inquiry by the CBI into mass cremations in Punjab disclosed a ``flagrant violation of human rights on a mass scale'' and ordered the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to adjudicate these mass crimes and ``determine all the issues'' (Paramjit Kaur v. State of Punjab). After challenges by the Indian government, the NHRC limited its investigation to illegal cremations in Amritsar district alone. The NHRC has now received 3,500 claims of illegal cremation in Amritsar. Instead of investigating these secret cremations as unlawful deprivations of life, the Commission has adopted the narrow issue of whether the victims' bodies were cremated according to police rules. At two hearings in October 2005, the petitioner Committee for Information and Initiative on Punjab (CIIP) challenged the Commission's decision to discard investigations, especially given the failure to identify the vast majority of victims and establish procedures, standards and mechanisms to adjudicate these cases to capture the full scope of human rights violations. In almost nine years, the Commission has not heard testimony in a single case, or held a single security official or agency responsible for human rights violations. Further, at hearings in recent months, the Commission has indicated its intention to dispense with investigations into the violations altogether, and only determine whether the cremations occurred according to police procedure. This is an odd decision for a human rights body. Human Rights Watch strongly urges the Commission to commit itself to detailed investigations into the rights violations suffered by all victims of illegal cremations and their family members, including whether individual deaths were unlawful, the role of state security forces or their agents in planning or carrying out illegal killings, identifying individual perpetrators, and determining proper compensation. It is critical that those cases not addressed by the NHRC's order of November 2004 are also investigated. Until the facts are determined, ``disappearances'' remain an ongoing crime and the NHRC ruling does not close the case. Such investigations are required by international human rights law. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which India ratified in 1979, provides in article 2 that a victim of a rights violation shall have an effective remedy and that the right to such a remedy be determined by a competent authority and be enforced when granted. A victim's right to an effective remedy imposes an obligation on the state to undertake investigations to identify the perpetrators of human rights violations. Indeed, the Commission's August 1997 order concluded that the Commission must lay the factual foundations of the case in order to establish liability, but for reasons that are not clear the Commission has never implemented its own order. Anything less than proper investigations will be a betrayal of victims and their families. We note that in the nine years since the Commission took cognizance of the Punjab mass cremations matter, it has investigated and resolved numerous other complaints of human rights violations throughout India. Moreover, the Commission has pursued cases suo motu, without even receiving a complaint, after violations came to its attention through media reports. The NHRC has earned a well-deserved reputation for taking on powerful forces in India, which makes the Commission's decisions in the Punjab cases even more puzzling. In this upcoming order, we also urge the Commission to clarify that the November 2004 order of compensation is interim. This order announced a total award of 2.5 lakhs rupees (around U.S. $5,500) to 109 families in whose cases police admitted custody of next of kin, without determining individual responsibility, providing other reparatory measures, or engaging in an inquiry into the facts as directed by the Supreme Court. This grant of compensation is not only paltry, but it does not fulfill the Commission's responsibilities under international human rights law to make an individual determination. Developing a compensation policy requires extensive investigation to clarify the extent of human rights violations, the potential beneficiaries, and the nature of injuries suffered, among other issues. The expert report submitted at the hearing on October 24, 2005 by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture (Bellevue), demonstrates that the deprivation of life occurred within a pattern of violations that included intentional abuse among multiple family members of the ``disappeared.'' The CIIP further called on the Commission to summon the authors of the report to testify. This report should compel the Commission to investigate the deprivation of the right to life of the victim, and the physical and psychological trauma inflicted upon surviving family members. In addition, our brief, submitted to the Commission in December 2003 in conjunction with Harvard Law Student Advocates for Human Rights, demonstrates that human rights bodies have considered evidence from numerous sources to adjudicate ``disappearances'' and extrajudicial executions, including evidence from international human rights experts. In its upcoming order, we urge the Commission to admit and fully weigh all evidence available, including the PHR/Bellevue report. To demonstrate its intention to fulfill the mandate of the Supreme Court, the Commission must act to redress the violations of the rights to life and liberty suffered by thousands of families in Punjab. Its failure to do so is contributing to impunity, sending the message that perpetrators of mass crimes are more powerful than the Supreme Court and National Human Rights Commission. The Commission, no doubt, is aware that the prosecution of the officials who ``disappeared'' Jaswant Singh Khalra, the human rights defender who exposed the mass cremations in Punjab, has not concluded in nine years. The Commission should not allow the Punjab mass cremations case to also stand as an example of the triumph of impunity over the right to justice. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to a fruitful dialogue with you and other members of the Commission on this case. Sincerely, Brad Adams, Executive Director, Asia Division, Human Rights Watch.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, one of the pleasures of being a Congressman is the ability to personally meet and publicly recognize individuals who have made positive contributions on behalf of their communities and business associates. One such individual with whom I have coordinated to better the lives of consumers and the automotive aftermarket is Art Lottes, III. Mr. Lottes and I began coordinating on legislation in 2001 that we believe will help motorists of all financial backgrounds, and have worked to continue to improve the competitive spirit of America's business community. That legislation is the ``Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act.'' Mr. Lottes, following years of working in his family's aftermarket business, A.E. Lottes Company, a Carquest distributor in St. Louis, Missouri, was named president of Carquest Corporation, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, my birth State. During Mr. Lottes's tenure with A.E. Lottes Company, he was one of the founding fathers of the ``Coalition for Auto Repair Equality- Care,'' a national organization headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, which represents companies in the automotive aftermarket and America's motoring consumers. He served as care's secretary-treasurer from CARE's founding in 1991 until 2002, when he was unanimously voted by the CARE Board of Directors to assume the position of CARE chairman. Mr. Lottes kept a ``hands-on-approach'' to Carquest store owners' and employees' needs, whether with A.E. Lottes Company or Carquest Corporation. He worked with many aftermarket companies nationwide to help strengthen that industry's five million-plus employee base. But, Mr. Lottes, always mindful that communities and business rely on the strengths of one another to improve the lives of all, worked for many years, and continues to, with the Juvenile Diabetes Association. He has been an active volunteer with the Triangle/Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National Juvenile Diabetes Association. He has mobilized ``Carquest Team'' walks to help raise money for the Triangle/ Eastern North Carolina Chapter, as well as raising money within Carquest Corporation for this worthy cause. Mr. Lottes is now retiring from the Carquest Corporation and from the CARE Board of Directors after many years of distinguished service to the aftermarket. Although he is officially retiring, he will continue to stay involved with the many aftermarket causes which benefit America's small business community, and with CARE, where he will be missed for his wisdom and guiding hand. I, too, will miss coordinating with Mr. Lottes, but I know that whatever he endeavors, he will do so with a pure spirit and the continued good wishes for his fellow aftermarket associates, Carquest Associates and his community. Therefore, CARE, the aftermarket and I will not say goodbye to Mr. Lottes, just so long.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Atul B. Chokshi, a member of the Brooklyn community and a distinguished member of the healthcare profession. It is an honor to represent Dr. Chokshi in the House of Representatives and it behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding leader in American Medicine. Mr. Speaker, on Dr. Atul B. Chokshi's resume he states that his life's goals are to ``be as complete a cardiologist as possible'' and ``to be as nice and loving a human being as possible.'' To the thousands of people of the Interfaith Medical Center community who have been touched by Dr. Chokshi's gentleness and caring nature, he has already met his life's goals. Born and trained in India, with an 18-month stint in England, Dr. Chokshi has been with Interfaith Medical Center for nearly his entire medical career. Joining one of Interfaith Medical Center's predecessor hospitals, Jewish Hospital and Medical Center of Brooklyn, or ``Brooklyn Jewish'' in the summer of 1978 as an Intern in Internal Medicine. Dr. Chokshi has served in a variety of positions leading up to his being named the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. As head of Interfaith Medical Center's Cardiac Cath Lab since 1993, Dr. Chokshi has pioneered thoughtful and gentle cardiology care. In November 2004, Dr. Chokshi launched the City's first Walk-in-Walk-Out transradial cardiac catheterization program. Virtually painless and allowing the patient to go home to resume normal activity within an hour, Interfaith Medical Center's Walk-in-Walk-Out service involves inserting the catheter into the radial artery at the wrist for complete cardiac evaluation and even a peripheral angiogram can be done at the same time without the use of the femoral artery. In addition to being a brilliant physician, Dr. Chokshi is an ardent student of the Bhagawad Gita, which inspired him to combine his devotion to the teachings of Lord Krishna with his cardiology expertise to help establish The Krishna Heart Institute in Ahmedabad, India. Since its opening in 2000, The Krishna Heart Institute has performed more than 4000 open heart surgeries and 25,000 other life-saving procedures. Dr. Chokshi is married to Dr. Vandana Chokshi, a radiologist with a subspecialty in Nuclear Medicine and Chief of both Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Interfaith Medical Center. Drs. Atul and Vandana Chokshi have a daughter, Krishna. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the accomplishments and selfless service of Dr. Chokshi as he offers his talents and philanthropic services for the betterment of our local and national communities. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Chokshi has continuously demonstrated a level of altruistic dedication that makes this kind gentleman and master scientist most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Bernard B. Beal, a distinguished member of the business community. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding leader and hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing his impressive accomplishments. Mr. Speaker, Bernard B. Beal is Chief Executive Officer of M.R. Beal & Company, a nationally recognized investment banking firm. Mr. Beal founded the minority-owned firm in 1988 following a successful career in municipal and corporate finance at Shearson Lehman Hutton. The oldest continuously operating African-American investment bank in the United States, the firm offers investment banking, financial advisory and broker-dealer services to municipalities, state governments and numerous corporations in the telecommunications, media, technology, energy and financial services industries. M.R. Beal & Company is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Sacramento, Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore, New Orleans and Washington, DC. Through the end of 2004, the firm has co-managed municipal financings exceeding $450 billion, senior-managed over $7 billion and has served as an underwriter in over 3,200 municipal transactions. For the past decade, M.R. Beal & Company has been ranked as one of the top twenty underwriters of municipal securities nationwide. In addition, the firm has consistently been a member of the Black Enterprise 100 List and was named BE's Finance Company of the Year in June of 2001. Mr. Beal serves on several boards. He is the Chairman of the A Better Chance Foundation whose mission is to increase the number of well- educated minority youth capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership in American society. Mr. Beal serves on the Municipal Executive Committee of the Bond Market Association and is a Trustee of the National Foundation for Affordable Housing. Mr. Beal has received numerous professional and civic awards. He has the distinction of being one of only three people listed on both the Black Enterprise list of the 25 Hottest Blacks on Wall Street in 1992 and the Top 50 Blacks on Wall Street in 2003. A graduate of Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Mr. Beal also received a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the Stanford University School of Business. He was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Sacred Heart University. Mr. Beal is married to Valerie Lancaster Beal and is the proud father of two children, Michael, a senior at Harvard University and Erica, a senior at Horace Mann High School. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the accomplishments of Bernard B. Beal as he offers his talents and philanthropic services for the betterment of our local and national communities. Mr. Speaker, Bernard B. Beal's selfless service has continuously demonstrated a level of altruistic dedication that makes him most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Eugene R. McGrath, a distinguished member of the business community. Mr. Speaker, Eugene R. McGrath is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Consolidated Edison, Inc., the holding company; and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of its largest subsidiary, Con Edison of New York, the regulated utility. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding leader and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing his impressive accomplishments. Mr. McGrath joined Con Edison of New York as an engineer following college graduation in 1963. He eventually held key executive positions in the utility's major operating and customer service areas and managed fossil-fired and nuclear generating plants. He was elected Vice President in 1978, Executive Vice President in 1982, and President and Chief Operating Officer in 1989. He became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in September 1990. Mr. McGrath serves on the board of directors of many organizations that advance economic development, human services, culture and education. He is chairman of the Union Square Partnership; director of AEGIS Insurance Services, Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company, Barnard College, the Business Council of New York State, the Fresh Air Fund, the Hudson River Foundation for Science and Environmental Research, Inc., Manhattan College, the Partnership for New York City, Schering- Plough Corporation, and the Wildlife Conservation Society. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Economic Club of New York, the Development Advisory Council for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. Within the energy industry, Mr. McGrath is a director of the Edison Electric Institute and a member of the Energy committee of the New York Building Congress. A native New Yorker, Mr. McGrath earned a mechanical engineering degree from Manhattan College in 1963, a Masters in Business Administration from Iowa College in 1980 and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University in 1989. Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $10 billion in annual revenues and $24 billion in assets, provides a wide range of energy-related products and services to its customers. Its subsidiaries include Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., Con Edison Solutions, Con Edison Energy, Con Edison Development, and Con Edison Communications. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the accomplishments and selfless service of Eugene R. McGrath, as he is more than worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a member of the Brooklyn community and distinguished member of the healthcare profession, Dr. Atul B. Chokshi. It is an honor to represent Dr. Chokshi in the House of Representatives and it behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding leader in American Medicine. Mr. Speaker, on Dr. Atul B. Chokshi's resume he states that his life's goals are to ``be as complete a cardiologist as possible'' and ``to be as nice and loving a human being as possible.'' To the thousands of people of the Interfaith Medical Center community who have been touched by Dr. Chokshi's gentleness and caring nature, he has already met his life's goals. Born and trained in India, with an 18-month stint in England, Dr. Chokshi has been with Interfaith Medical Center for nearly his entire medical career. Joining one of Interfaith Medical Center's predecessor hospitals, Jewish Hospital and Medical Center of Brooklyn, or ``Brooklyn Jewish'' in the summer of 1978 as an Intern in Internal Medicine. Dr. Chokshi has served in a variety of positions leading up to his being named the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. As head of lnterfaith Medical Center's Cardiac Cath Lab since 1993, Dr. Chokshi has pioneered thoughtful and gentle cardiology care. In November 2004, Dr. Chokshi launched the City's first Walk-in-Walk-out transradial cardiac catheterization program. Virtually painless and allowing the patient to go home to resume normal activity within an hour, Interfaith Medical Center's Walk-in-Walk-out service involves inserting the catheter into the radial artery at the wrist for complete cardiac evaluation and even a peripheral angiogram can be done at the same time without the use of the femoral artery. In addition to being a brilliant physician, Dr. Chokshi is an ardent student of the Bhagawad Gita, which inspired him to combine his devotion to the teachings of Lord Krishna with his cardiology expertise to help establish The Krishna Heart Institute in Ahmedabad, India. Since its opening in 2000, The Krishna Heart Institute has performed more than 4,000 open heart surgeries and 25,000 other life-saving procedures. Dr. Chokshi is married to Dr. Vandana Chokshi, a radiologist with a subspecialty in Nuclear Medicine and Chief of both Radiology and Nuclear Medicine at Interfaith Medical Center. Drs. Atul and Vandana Chokshi have a daughter, Krishna. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the accomplishments and selfless service of Dr. Chokshi as he offers his talents and philanthropic services for the betterment of our local and national communities. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Chokshi has continuously demonstrated a level of altruistic dedication that makes this kind gentleman and master scientist most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, over $1.6 trillion is spent on health care annually in the U.S., which is over 13% of the GDP. According to the National Coalition on Health Care, U.S. health care spending increased to $1.7 trillion in 2003 and was projected to reach $1.8 trillion in 2004. Furthermore, our country spent 15.3% of the GDP on health care in 2003 and a projected increase of 18.7% is expected within the next 10 years. Even though the U.S. spends more on health care than any other industrialized nation, and those countries provide universal health coverage to all of their citizens, approximately 45 million Americans are uninsured. Nevertheless, the U.S. remains the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee health care for all of its citizens. Clearly, universal health care is needed for all American citizens and a universal health care plan is certainly in the best economic interest of our country. When one considers that health care spending accounted for only 9.7% of the GDP in our sister nation Canada, it becomes apparent that we are not best managing our resources and serving the interest of our Nation as a whole. As members of Congress we are entrusted with the responsibility of protecting and advancing the Nation's health. It is a given that health care costs are rising for all American citizens. Let us not deceive ourselves. We are all interconnected as human beings and the health status of one impacts the health status of all regardless of one's ability to pay for health services or not. Disease, especially communicable and infectious, has no boundaries. The current health disparities and unnecessary suffering experienced by vulnerable populations such as the poor, elderly, uninsured, women and children and racial and ethnic minorities is outright immoral. It is a national disgrace and international embarrassment that America, a country with astounding wealth and means, chooses not to provide universal health care to her citizens while her sister country Canada does so for her citizens, as does the country of Cuba whose wealth is not even comparable to that of the U.S. and other industrialized nations. I urge Congress today to fully assume its responsibility as the defender of our Nation's health, and exercise its political will and sincerely work towards the implementation of a universal health care system and guarantee universal health care as a right for all American citizens.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-Hui to Washington, DC this week. President Lee was born on January 15, 1923, in Sanchih, a rural community on the outskirts of Taipei. After graduating from Taipei High School, he was admitted into Kyoto Imperial University in Japan. After World War II, he returned home to continue his studies at National Taiwan University (NTU) , majoring in agricultural economics. After being elected vice president in 1984, he helped engineer various political and economic reforms. On the sudden death of President Chiang Ching-kuo on January 13, 1988, Dr. Lee became President and completed the remainder of Chiang's. During his 2 years in office he greatly impressed the people of Taiwan with his able leadership. And, on March 21, 1990, Dr. Lee was elected in his own right by the National Assembly as president of Taiwan. President Lee Teng-hui can rightfully called the founding father of Taiwan's democratic system. ``The George Washington of Taiwan.'' At the age of 82 today, he still seeks to learn and educate himself about our American democracy. He visited the National Archives to see the Constitution and the U.S. Declaration of Independence. He received a tour at the Jefferson Memorial; no doubt prompted by the fact that he himself stood at the cradle of democracy in Taiwan. Mr. Speaker: We have an opportunity to meet with President Lee in person this Wednesday afternoon. I urge all my colleagues to participate in this historic occasion and join me in welcoming President Lee to Washington, DC. We need more friends like President Lee. Yes, we need more friends like Taiwan. I hope that soon all restrictions on high-level visits from Taiwan will be lifted including the President, the vice-President, the foreign minister and the defense minister. So that a balanced understanding of both sides of the Taiwan Strait will be directly available to Congress, the Administration and the American public. After President Lee's visit, I look forward to welcoming Taiwan's current President--Mr. Chen Shui-bian--to Washington, DC as well. Sooner rather than later.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, recently, the Council of Khalistan issued an open letter in which it called for all Sikhs to work for independence for Khalistan. The letter cites abuses against the Sikh Nation such as the torture of Jagtar Singh Hawara, who had a cigarette forced into his mouth in contravention of a Sikh religious tenet and was forced to desecrate the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. This shows that there is no freedom and no tolerance for religious minorities in Hindu-dominated India. And unfortunately, whichever party is in power, the imposition of Hindu theocracy continues. The latest atrocities have occurred under the secular Congress Party, not the openly Hindu nationalist BJP. It is outrageous that such atrocities against human beings are still occurring in the twenty-first century, Mr. Speaker. The civilized nations of the world must step in to put a stop to this tyrannical brutality. We must do whatever we can to help all people live in freedom. We can start by ending our aid and our trade with India and by publicly demanding a free and fair vote to settle the question of independence for Khalistan and all the nations of South Asia the democratic way. Separating from India appears to be the only way that the Sikhs of Punjab, Khalistan, the Muslims of Kashmir, the Christians of Nagaland, and so many other minority groups will ever have a chance to live in the freedom that is their birthright as human beings. I would like to introduce the Council of Khalistan's open letter into the Record for the information of my colleagues. It goes into much more detail than I am able to go into here. I urge my colleagues to read it carefully. Council of Khalistan, Washington, DC, October 12, 2005. All Sikhs Must Work for the Liberation of Khalistan Dear Khalsa Ji: WAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, WAHEGURU JI KI

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I note the passing of General Narinder Singh, a leader in the struggle for freedom for the Sikhs in Punjab, Khalistan. General Narinder Singh was an army general who became an activist for his people in his retirement. He frequently spoke out against the atrocities committed against the Sikhs in India. On a visit to the United States, General Narinder Singh said that ``Punjab is a police state.'' Unfortunately, it is still a police state today. Punjab police recently have arrested numerous Sikhs, held them incommunicado, and tortured them on charges of militancy. This is the same ``militancy'' that India claimed to have eradicated several years ago! In June, 35 Sikhs were arrested and many more were charged for making speeches in support of freedom for Khalistan, the Sikh homeland, and raising the Sikh flag in front of over 30,000 cheering Sikhs. Even a former Member of Parliament was arrested for making a speech. The same thing happened in January at a protest on India's Republic Day. Mr. Speaker, does this sound like the act of a tyranny or a democracy? We must not just watch while India forcibly suppresses the freedom of Sikhs and other minorities. The time has come to stop our aid and our trade with India. It is also time to enact a formal resolution calling for a free and fair plebiscite on the question of independence. The essence of democracy is the right of self-determination. Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan recently published an excellent press release on the passing of General Narinder Singh, which I would like to place in the Record. Council of Khalistan in memory of general narinder singh Washington, DC, October 12, 2005--General Narinder Singh, a strong spokesman for an independent Khalistan, died recently. He was 86. He served in the army and became an activist for the Sikh Nation after his retirement. He spoke out for human rights and for freedom for Khalistan, the Sikh homeland that declared its independence on October 7, 1987. General Narinder Singh travelled to countries such as the United States in support of these causes. He participated in political events in Punjab, Khalistan, aimed at securing freedom for the Sikh nation. ``General Narinder Singh will be sorely missed,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan. ``We salute his courage and we honor his memory. On behalf of the Sikh Nation, I extend deepest sympathies to his family,'' Dr. Aulakh said. General Narinder Singh correctly called Punjab ``a police state,'' and it remains one to this day. India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984. In addition, India has also killed more than 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947, and thousands of Christians and Muslims elsewhere in the country, as well as tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits (``Untouchables,'' the dark-skinned aboriginal people of South Asia), Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' The Movement Against State Repression (MASR) reported that 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in India without charge or trial, some since 1984! Amnesty International reported that tens of thousands of other minorities are also being held as political prisoners. We demand the immediate release of all these political prisoners. Cases were registered against dozens of Sikhs for raising the Sikh flag at the Golden Temple on the anniversary of the Golden Temple attack in the presence of more than 30,000 Sikhs. Warrants have been issued for their arrest. The flag of Khalistan was also raised on Republic Day, January 26. 35 Sikhs were arrested at that time. Some of them have been denied bail. Recently, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally apologized to the Sikh Nation for the genocide against the Sikhs in November 1984 in which over 20,000 Sikhs were killed in Delhi and surrounding areas while Sikh police were locked in their barracks and Indian radio and television called for more Sikh blood. This apology establishes the Indian government's responsibility for the genocide against the Sikh Nation. India must end its occupation of Khalistan, which is the root cause of this genocide. Sikhs are a sovereign nation and they are fighting for their freedom. In September 1995, Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra following his report exposing the government's policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police custody. His body was not given to his family. ``Only a sovereign, independent Khalistan will end the repression and lift the standard of living for the people of Punjab,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan. ``Democracies don't commit genocide.'' ``The flame of freedom still burns bright in the hearts of Sikhs despite the deployment of over half a million Indian troops to crush it,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``As Professor Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, `If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh','' Dr. Aulakh noted. Last year, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh signed a bill cancelling the agreements that allowed the diversion of Punjabi water to non-riparian states. The bill asserted the sovereignty of Punjab. Sardar Atinder Pal Singh, a former Member of Parliament, held a seminar on Khalistan in Punjab. It was well attended and featured outstanding presentations, including one by Professor Gurtej Singh, IAS, Professor of Sikhism. There have been several recent marches through Punjab demanding the establishment of an independent Khalistan. ``The Khalistan movement is on the rise and India is on the verge of disintegration,'' Dr. Aulakh said. History shows that multinational states such as India are doomed to failure. Countries like India's longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this point. India is not one country; it is a polyglot like those countries. In Forbes magazine, Steve Forbes wrote that India is doomed to disintegrate like the Austro-Hungarian Empire. ``India is not a homogeneous state,'' he wrote. ``Neither was the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It attacked Serbia in the summer of 1914 in the hopes of destroying this irritating state after Serbia had committed a spectacular terrorist act against the Hapsburg monarchy. The empire ended up splintering and the Hapsburgs lost their throne.'' India is doomed to fall apart just as Austria-Hungary and the others did. ``The best way to honor the memory of General Narinder Singh is to continue to pray for and work for our God-given birthright of freedom,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``We must continue to press for our God-given birthright of freedom,'' he said. ``Without political power religions cannot flourish and nations perish. India claims to be a democracy. It is time it recognized the right of self-determination for all people in South Asia.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan, which leads the movement to liberate the Sikh homeland, Khalistan, from Indian occupation, held its annual convention in the Detroit area October 7 through October 9. It was very successful. Delegates came from around the country and from Canada to participate. I recently made a statement about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's apology to the Sikh Nation for the Delhi massacres of November 1984 in which over 20,000 Sikhs lost their lives. This established India's culpability for the violence and terror that swept Punjab and other parts of India at that time. That underlines the need for a sovereign Khalistan to put an end to these kinds of acts. Recently, an organization called ENSAAF published a report detailing the ongoing human rights violations committed by Indian security forces in recent- militancy related arrests. From June 2005 to August 2005, Indian police claim to have arrested several dozen individuals on charges that they were trying to ``revive militancy'' in Punjab. They have been held incommunicado and tortured, according to the report. In June, 35 Sikhs were arrested and several were charged simply for making speeches in support of an independent Khalistan and raising the Sikh flag. Those arrested and charged include Simranjit Singh Mann, a former Member of Parliament, who is out on bail after making a speech in support of Khalistan. Is making a speech a crime in a democracy? Is raising a flag a crime in a democracy? How can India claim it is democratic when people are arrested for making speeches and raising a flag? These recent incidents are the latest in a pattern of repression by the Indian government that demonstrates why a free and sovereign Khalistan is needed. The Council of Khalistan convention helped maintain and increase support for that goal. We can help the people in Punjab and throughout South Asia live in freedom, Mr. Speaker. We can do so by withholding aid and trade from India until it respects human rights and by putting the Congress on record in support of self-determination for the Sikhs of Punjab, Khalistan, the Muslims of Kashmir, predominantly Christian Nagaland, and all the nations seeking freedom from India. It's time to stop using violence and settle these matters democratically. Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's press release on its convention into the Record at this time. [From the Council of Khalistan, Oct. 12, 2005] Council of Khalistan Annual Convention Very Successful Washington, DC--Delegates came from Canada, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Memphis, Florida, Illinois, California, Washington, DC, and other locations to the Council of Khalistan's annual convention, which was held October 7-9, 2005 at the Sikh Gurdwara in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The convention was very well attended and successful. The delegates were enthusiastic in support of freedom for Khalistan, the Sikh homeland that declared its independence from India on October 7, 1987. Resolutions were passed in support of a sovereign, independent Khalistan, in support of the Washington office, thanking the Sangat of Detroit, condolences for the victims of the earthquake in Kashmir, and other resolutions. Delegates spoke in support of independence for Khalistan and discussed the need to remain active on the grassroots level. They stressed the need for the active participation of Sikhs in this country and worldwide. The Council of Khalistan has preserved the true history of the Sikh Nation since 1984 by documenting every major incident in the Congressional Record, internationalizing the Sikh struggle for independence, and exposing the Indian government's repression against the Sikhs and other minorities. India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, according to figures compiled by the Punjab State Magistracy and human- rights groups and reported in the book The Politics of Genocide by Inderjeet Singh Jaijee. It has also killed more than 90.000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947, and thousands of Christians and Muslims elsewhere in the country, as well as tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits (``Untouchables,'' the dark-skinned aboriginal people of South Asia), Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' According to a report by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in illegal custody since 1984! Amnesty International reported that tens of thousands of other minorities are also being held as political prisoners. We demand the immediate release of all these political prisoners. Cases were registered against dozens of Sikhs for raising the Sikh flag at the Golden Temple on the anniversary of the Golden Temple attack in the presence of over 30,000 Sikhs. Warrants have been issued for their arrest. The flag of Khalistan was also raised on Republic Day, January 26. 35 Sikhs were arrested at that time. Some of them have been denied bail. Recently, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh formally apologized to the Sikh Nation for the genocide against the Sikhs in November 1984 in which over 20,000 Sikhs were killed in Deihl alone while Sikh police were locked in their barracks and Indian radio and television called for more Sikh blood. This apology establishes the Indian government's responsibility for the genocide against the Sikh Nation. India must end its occupation of Khalistan, which is the root cause of this genocide. Sikhs are a sovereign nation and they are fighting for their freedom. Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police custody. His body was not given to his family. ``Only a sovereign, independent Khalistan will end the repression and lift the standard of living for the people of Punjab,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan. ``Democracies don't commit genocide.'' History shows that multinational states such as India are doomed to failure. Countries like Austria-Hungary, India's longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this point. India is not one country; it is a polyglot like those countries. Steve Forbes, writing in Forbes magazine, said that India is doomed to disintegrate like the Austro-Hungarian Empire. ``India is not a homogeneous state,'' Forbes wrote. ``Neither was the Austro- Hungarian Empire. It attacked Serbia in the summer of 1914 in the hopes of destroying this irritating state after Serbia had committed a spectacular terrorist act against the Hapsburg monarchy. The empire ended up splintering, and the Hapsburgs lost their throne.'' India is doomed to fall apart just as Austria-Hungary and the others did. ``We must continue to pray for and work for our God-given birthright of freedom,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``As Professor Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, ``If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh,'' Dr. Aulakh noted. ``We must continue to press for our God-given birthright of freedom, he said, ``Without political power, religions cannot flourish and nations perish. India claims to be a democracy. It is time it recognized the right of self- determination for all people in South Asia,''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, democracy has begun to take hold in Afghanistan and Iraq recently, and today the United States has an opportunity to affirm democracy and democratic principles in another country--Cote d'ivoire. Congress, along with the Bush administration, must commit the resources that are needed to ensure that this strong U.S. ally can hold its election at the earliest possible date. Just 5 years ago, 85 percent of the Ivorian people approved a Constitution mandating that Cote d'ivoire's President remain in office until an election result. Violating this critical provision of the Constitution could render the rest of the document null and void and throw the country into further chaos. Postponing the election would also reward Cote d'ivoire's anti- government rebels, who have waged a brutal campaign of fear and intimidation. Any peace plan must include the disarmament of these rebels. Supporting democracy and democratic principles is of particular importance in Cote d'ivoire, which is the economic anchor of West Africa. I am today introducing a Sense of Congress Resolution urging the Bush Administration and the Congress to declare, unequivocally, that the United States supports a free and fair presidential election in Cote d'ivoire at the earliest possible date, and I encourage my colleagues to cosponsor this measure. Supporting democracy, not thwarting it, must be a guiding principle of America's relations with nations throughout the world.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to support the National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness, October 15, 2005. The National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a time of national reflection for all Americans affected by HIV/AIDS. Residents of Brooklyn, NY disproportionately represent newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in the U.S. According to national figures, New York City Latinos account for 7 percent of the U.S. Latino population, but more than 25 percent of the Latino AIDS cases nationwide. Simply put, the City of New York has more Latinos diagnosed with AIDS than Miami and Los Angeles combined. For nearly 25 years, tremendous strides have been made in developing comprehensive approaches to education, prevention, diagnosis and treatment for those infected by this destructive disease. Yet, far too many people are becoming infected by HIV/AIDS and are without access to quality care. As we move toward the reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act, let the National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day provide a time to remember the significant role this key legislation has made in the decline of HIV/AIDS cases throughout this country. Future Ryan White funding levels must be adequate to respond effectively to those who desperately need the medical care, prescription drugs, and key support services these funds provide. I urge my colleagues of both sides of the aisle to act together to reauthorize and adequately fund the Ryan White CARE Act in a timely manner as we commemorate the goals and ideals of the National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the Ryan White Care Act has played a significant role in the decline of HIV/AIDS cases and deaths. The care act is of utmost importance to the poor and uninsured because it is the primary means by which many receive health services. Congress must act swiftly to reauthorize and strengthen the care act and I implore Congress to do so on behalf of persons living with HIV/ AIDS in our Nation, the State of New York and the 10th Congressional District of Brooklyn in particular. New York City remains the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic nationally. According to the HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council of New York, an estimated 92,000 New Yorkers are known to be living with HIV or AIDS and approximately 25,000 individuals are living with HIV but are not diagnosed. While the reauthorization principles released by the Administration are a start, more must be done to ensure that health care and treatment is provided for New Yorkers and all people in need. In urban, rural, and suburban communities in every State and territory, the Ryan White Care Act delivers medical care, prescription drugs, and key support services to uninsured and underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS. Still, there are far too many people without access to quality HIV/AIDS care because of limited resources. Today, I strongly urge Congress to work together to reauthorize and adequately fund the Ryan Care Act in a timely manner, with the goal of improving the lives of all people living with HIV/AIDS.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 94th celebration of National Day in the Republic of China (Taiwan). Today, I join with the Taiwanese people as they celebrate their freedom. Taiwan has peacefully overcome authoritarian rule to attain democracy. It will hopefully constitute a model for the eventual establishment of a genuine democracy in China. The U.S. and Taiwan value human rights, civil liberties, a free press and the rule of law. Our shared values have produced a strong and dependable friendship for over 50 years. Today, the people of Taiwan determine their own destiny and government through free and fair elections. Many of my colleagues will be surprised to learn that Taiwan is our 8th largest trading partner. A recent survey by the World Economic Forum ranked Taiwan fifth in the world and first in Asia for growth competitiveness. The Taiwanese have been increasing their demands for American goods becoming a more valuable trading partner. The Taiwanese people have also achieved economic prosperity with one of the highest standards of living in the world. It is impressive to find that less than 1 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Now a strong member of the World Trade Organization, Taiwan's market-based economy is now the 12th largest in the world. The government of Taiwan was one of the first to come to our aid after the events of September 11th and Hurricane Katrina. Taiwan continues to be our ally in the war on terrorism by cooperating with humanitarian assistance in Iraq and Afghanistan and providing intelligence. They have shown generosity and compassion by contributing to the Twin Towers Fund and Pentagon Memorial Fund, and now to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I hope that its neighbors, especially those in China, will notice Taiwan's celebration of freedom, democracy, and a market economy. I hope Taiwan and China will work together and cultivate a future based on respect, democracy, and freedom. I am encouraged by reports that Taiwan's President, Chen Shui-bian is willing to hold a summit with President Hu Jintao and resume dialog on cross-strait issues. It is with great pleasure I congratulate Taiwan, our friend and ally, on the celebration of their 94th National Day, October 10, 2005.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Polytechnic University upon the extremely momentous occasion of its Sesquicentennial celebration. It is a privilege to represent Polytechnic University in the United States House of Representatives and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing its illustrious history and impressive accomplishments. Founded in 1854 for ``the higher education of lads and young men,'' Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute welcomed its first class of 265 students at 99 Livingston Street on September 10, 1855. The Institute thrived, and by the close of the 19th century, it was a full- fledged school of engineering with a new name--Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. By its 100th birthday in 1954, Polytechnic had outgrown its campus in varied downtown Brooklyn locations. In 1957, it moved to a centralized location at 333 Jay Street, former home to the American Safety Razor Factory. In 1973, Polytechnic merged with the New York University School of Engineering and Science and was renamed Polytechnic Institute of New York. In 1985, the Institute was granted university status by the New York State Board of Regents and officially renamed Polytechnic University. Over the next 17 years, the University experienced the greatest transformation in its history. Polytechnic spearheaded the creation of MetroTech Center, a 16-acre, $1-billion university-corporate park in Brooklyn, NY, which was built around its existing campus. The University updated its facilities and built a new home in 1992, for its Bern Dibner Library of Science and Technology and its Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications. Mr. Speaker, Polytechnic University is an extremely prestigious institution, which has dedicated itself to producing students who are prepared to change and embrace the ever-increasing technological world. Under the leadership of its new President, Jerry MacArthur Hultin, I am confident that Polytechnic University will continue to teach and challenge its students to be among our nation's brightest. Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent upon this body to recognize the prestigious accomplishments of Polytechnic University and join the university in celebrating 150 years of dedicated service to the people of the United States.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express our Nation's gratitude for the contribution made by the people and Government of Uganda to the relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kutesa was in Washington recently when he announced that his country was donating $200,000 to the Bush- Clinton Katrina Fund. Expressing his government's sympathies toward the people affected by Hurricane Katrina, Minister Kutesa said: ``We know that, under the guidance of the two former presidents, money collected by the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund will go where it is needed most and where it can be used best.'' While a contribution of $200,000 may seem small in comparison to the vastness of the hurricane's destruction, please keep in mind that Uganda is a small country that has also suffered its share of devastation. Americans must remember the terror and oppression of the Idi Amin regime, which came to an end in 1979 but its effects are still being felt. The ruthless dictator Idi Amin deliberately destroyed Uganda's economy and infrastructure and displaced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and businesses. In 1986, after a long civil war, President Yoweri Museveni came into office with promises to stabilize the country, facilitate economic growth, and restore dignity and humanity to the political process. In the years since, he has largely lived up to those promises, although-- like any country trying to emerge from decades of tyrannical government--Uganda still has problems that need to be addressed. Uganda's contribution to the recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina should be seen in the context of the bonds of friendship between our two countries. Uganda is a key regional ally in the global war on terror, and through the efforts of President Museveni and his government, East Africa is a more stable place today than it was 20 years ago. Indeed, Uganda has faced its own, home-grown terrorism, in the form of the brutal Lord's Resistance Army, which has raped and pillaged the northern part of Uganda and terrorized the population there. Led by religious zealot Joseph Kony, the Lord's Resistance Army kidnaps children and forces them to be soldiers in a pointless war against their own families and neighbors. There is a very good reason that the Lord's Resistance Army has consistently been listed as a major terrorist organization by the State Department's annual publication, Patterns of Global Terrorism. Uganda also faces a terrorist insurgency by the smaller, but no less deadly, Allied Democratic Forces. The ADF, as it is known, extends its tentacles beyond Uganda: Several of its members were captured in Afghanistan fighting for the Taliban and al-Qaeda, and they are now interned by the U.S. government at Guantanamo Bay. With all this in mind, our gratitude toward Uganda and its people, and particularly toward President Museveni, should be clear and strong. Mr. Speaker, it recently became my pleasure to become the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Uganda. I encourage all Members of this body to consider joining the caucus so that they can study more closely the U.S.-Ugandan bilateral relationship and learn more about how Uganda and the United States can work together on matters of mutual concern. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I ask that an article entitled ``Uganda Is Latest African Donor of Relief to Hurricane Katrina,'' by Washington File staff writer Jim Fisher-Thompson, be entered into the Record. This article treats in more detail some of the issues I have just described. Uganda Is Latest African Donor of Relief to Hurricane Katrina: Foreign Minister Kutesa describes $200,000 donation (By Jim Fisher-Thompson) Washington.--Uganda has joined other African nations responding to devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina with a donation of $200,000 for relief and rebuilding efforts in New Orleans and communities along the Gulf of Mexico coast. Visiting Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa told the Washington File September 7 that the government of President Yoweri Museveni and the people of Uganda ``feel with you and sympathize with you at this time of sorrow. We know you have lost dear ones, as well as considerable property. And we want Americans to know we are thinking of them and are standing shoulder to shoulder with them.'' The official made a point of mentioning the donation was not just a pledge but that the money would be transferred immediately to the Bush-Clinton Katrina fund. Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast August 29. The storm and subsequent flooding have devastated parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and left thousands homeless. A statement released by the Ugandan Embassy September 8 announcing the donation quoted Museveni as saying, ``The United States has been generous in responding to natural and humanitarian disasters all over the world, including in Africa. Uganda has more than once been the beneficiary of this generosity and justice requires us to aid the people in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who have lost their homes and loved ones.'' President Bush named his father, a former president, and former President Bill Clinton to head up fund-raising efforts for reconstruction that may cost more than $150 billion. The hope is they can duplicate their very successful fund-raising efforts for victims of the devastating tsunami that struck South Asia in December 2004. Kutesa said, ``We know that under the guidance of the two former presidents money will go where it is needed most and where it can be used best.'' Uganda joins other African nations contributing to Katrina relief including: Djibouti, $50,000; Gabon, $500,000; and Kenya, $100,000: Noting the symbolic value of the Uganda donation matched against the immense sums needed for reconstruction, Kutesa told the Washington File, ``America has been very generous in helping Uganda fight HIV/AIDS and developing its economy. So it is only right that we try to help as much as we can. We wish we could do more but we are limited.'' Kutesa said, ``We know what human tragedy can mean. Unfortunately in Africa much of it has been man-made instead of natural. The human tragedies of Idi Amin and Milton Obote, for example, led to the deaths of more than 800,000 Ugandans'' in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Now, he said, Uganda is one of the best friends America has in Africa and ``we look forward to strengthening our relations as we both cope with the aftermath of disasters that have struck our countries.'' Kutesa's next stop in America is New York City, where he said he will participate in the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting the week of September 13-17. President Museveni plans to attend with a number of other African leaders. A highlight of the U.N. gathering, Kutesa said, will be a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda in a tripartite peace process for eastern Congo begun two years ago with the help of the U.S. State Department. After Burundi recently joined, the Great Lakes peace effort is now called the ``3 plus 1'' talks.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan will be holding its annual convention in Detroit next month. It will be held from October 7 through October 9. This is a very appropriate date because Khalistan declared its independence from India on October 7, 1987 and the Council of Khalistan was formed at that time to lead the struggle to liberate Khalistan, a struggle that continues to this day, 18 years later. It is outrageous that this struggle has had to go on so long, but the Council of Khalistan has been tireless in keeping it going and keeping the flame of freedom for the Sikh nation burning. I salute them on their convention and I wish them success both with their convention and with their efforts to bring freedom to the Sikh people. It is time for India to get out of Khalistan and allow the people there to live in freedom. Until then, Mr. Speaker, we should stop our aid and trade with India and demand self-determination for the people of Khalistan, for the Kashmiris, as India promised in 1948, for the people of Nagaland, and for all the people and nations of South Asia. That is the only way to bring peace and stability to that troubled region.