By: Ram Narayanan
ramn_one@adelphia.net
March 05, 2004

Goaded by Robert Giuda, a lawmaker in the New Hampshire State Assembly who has formed a pro-Pakistani organization called "Americans For Resolution of Kashmir," Congressman Dan Burton had scheduled "a hatchet-job on India" hearings on March 3, 2004 in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness.

The hearings were supposed to be on the so-called "atrocities being perpetrated by India against the people of Kashmir". The hearings were titled, "Decades of Terror: Exploring Human rights Abuses in Kashmir and the Disputed Territories".

The list of witnesses Rep Burton had wanted to include:

Mrs. Dortit Radzin from Human Rights Watch
Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, the Khalistani
Dr. Gulam Nabi Fai, Kashmir American Council
Mr. Bob Giuda
Mr. Atliya Inayatullah, Advocate for Victims.

However, it is authoritatively learnt that the hearings have been postponed indefinitely. USINPAC gets a good part of the credit for getting the hearings off schedule. From the moment it came to know about it, USINPAC questioned the timing of the hearings (when peace talks are going on) and also expressed serious reservations about the the quality and fairness (and the questionable character) of some of the witnesses. The message was consistently conveyed to key Members of Congress i.e. Congressman Tom Davis (Chairman of the House Government Reforms Committee), Congressman Chris Cannon (Vice Chair of the Wellness Committee), Congresswoman Diane Watson (Ranking Minority Member of the Committee). The State Department also weighed in regarding this issue.

While, doubtless, this development is a severe setback for the anti-India Pakistani lobbyists, we should never make the mistake of resting on our oars. In your opinion what steps should we take NOW to prepare well for a future contingency of a similar sort?

One suggestion that has been made is to search and assemble (with appropriate URLs and references) any and all information that you have on the following issues :

1. Detailed background information on the witnesses - especially in their anti-India activities and their support for terrorism.

2. Human rights violations with references in Pakistan including Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK).

3. Comparative conditions that exist in Indian J&K versus the status of rights/economy in POK

IMPORTANT: We also need to compile a list of credible American (including Indian American) public figures who can be counted upon to effectively counteract the lies of the pro-Pak lobbyists if a future hearing is convened by Representative Dan Burron and the likes.

Let's get our act together and scuttle or face and successfully overcome any possibility of another heinous farce that Burton may pull together in future - your help is kindly needed and appreciated.

Ram Narayanan