Sikh News
Sikh Federation UK puts forward 5-point Panthic agenda for uniting Sikh Organizations worldwide
September 22, 2015 | By Sikh Siyasat Bureau
London, UK: One of the main announcements at the Sikh Federation (UK) Annual National Sikh Convention over the weekend was the announcement of the setting up of the Federation of Sikh Organisations (Europe) and the Federation of Sikh Organisations (International).
Discussions around this have been taking place for some time, particularly in Europe and it was also deemed timely with the announcement in Punjab that organisations such as SAD (Panch Pardani) and Dal Khalsa are coming together with a shared agenda.
A view of Sangat during Sikh Federation UK’s annual convention 2015.
The only pre-conditions for joining the FSO (Europe) and the FSO (International) are firstly the recognition of the supreme authority of the institution of the Akaal Takht set up by Guru Hargobind Ji; and secondly a firm commitment to the establishment of a Sikh homeland, Khalistan, the foundation stone for which was laid in June 1984 with the attack on the Sri Harmandir Sahib Complex. Individual organisations would continue to retain their own distinct identity and areas of work, but also have a high level shared Panthic agenda.
The Federation of Sikh Organisations (Europe) will involve Panthic organisations supported by Gurdwaras from at least another dozen European countries, including Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
This will be followed by a similar set up at the international level, the Federation of Sikh Organisations (International) that will also involve leading Sikh organisations supported by Gurdwaras from Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia and India itself.
It was suggested the focus of FSO (Europe) and FSO (International) will be on leading and co-ordinating a number of campaigns across the globe as this is a joint responsibility for Sikh organisations around the world and not for one or two organisations based in a limited number of countries. The five-point plan or Panthic agenda that was proposed is as follows:
1. Opposing Article 25 of the Indian Constitution and other Indian laws that fail to specifically recognise the Sikhs.
2. Seeking the return of articles stolen from the Sikh Reference Library by the Indian Army during the 1984 attack on the Darbar Sahib, including rare and priceless manuscripts of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Hukamnamas carrying signatures of the Sikh Gurus, documents related to the Sikh Raj and Sikh contribution during the independence movement and books on Sikhi and our history.
3. Getting the international world to recognise what happen to the Sikhs in June 1984, the months that immediately followed and November 1984 as the Sikh Genocide of 1984 and campaigning for an international investigation under the auspices of the United Nations.
4. Highlighting human rights issues, such as the release of Sikh political prisoners, justice for the victims of 1984 and disappearances, torture and false encounters that followed.
5. Promoting the Sikhs right to self determination and the establishment of a Sikh homeland, Khalistan by applying pressure at the international level.
FSO (Europe) has already began to take shape and the formal set up will be established in the next few months with a major programme planned in mainland Europe with delegates from across Europe taking part.
This will be followed by the setting up of FSO (International) in early 2016 with a major international programme in North America with delegates from across globe taking part.
Any Sikh organisation in Europe or elsewhere that satisfies the two pre-conditions and wishes to join FSO (Europe) and/or FSO (International) should email the name of the organisation and full contact details of two representatives to fso@live.co.uk.
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Related Topics: Sikh Diaspora, Sikh Federation UK, Sikhs in United Kingdom
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