Canberra, Australia (April 23, 2013): According to a news reported by Qaumi Awaaz Punjabi Radio, hundreds of Sikhs from across the Australia gathered in front of the High Commission of India in Canberra to protest against the suspected execution of Sikh political prisoner Prof. Devender Pal Singh Bhullar. Prof Bhullar, who was considered to be one of the brilliant minds in Sikh militant movement, had been on death row for last decade.
S. Joga Singh, coordinator of the protest, said that this protest was not the last action or option for the Sikhs, rather it was just a beginning from this side of the world.
Daljeet Singh, a Sikh activist said in his brief speech that day to day betrayal of Sikhs in India is provoking them to draw a line for the establishment of Sikh state.
Jaspreet Inderpreet Singh, cousin of Prof. Bhullar, whose father S. Manjit Singh Sohi was subjected to enforced disappearance by the Punjab police in 1991 also addressed the gathering. In his addressing he recounted all the state sponsored oppression to their family. He told that there were no whereabouts of his father till date.
A two member delegation met with German Ambassador Dr. Christoph Müller to express their concern over the death sentence because Prof. Bhullar, who was deported from German in 1995 before the trail of this case.
The German ambassador assured the Sikh representatives to oppose the capital punishment awarded to Prof. Bhullar.
As per information a Memorandum was also served to the High Commissioner of India who argued with the Sikh delegation over their calling of India law and procedures, a double standard.
Another groups of Sikh representatives visited the Australian Foreign Affair Minister Bob Carr’s office in Parliament to ask Australian authorities to raise their voice against illegal death penalty to Prof. Bhullar.
It is notable that Australia had abolished death sentence a long time ago and now it urges other countries to do the same.