Press Release
Displayed by Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar New Westminster
New Westminster, BC, June 22, 2014 : As part of the awareness of the 1984 Sikh Genocide, that takes place each year at Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar, this year marks the thirtieth year of these tragic events, and is a reminder of the injustices that the victims and their families are still living through thirty years later.
Once again the Gurdwara Sahib is reaching out to the wider Community through a massive media campaign, which educates and informs the community of these tragic events. For one week, a large Billboard on the South side of Queensborough Bridge will be displayed, informing the Community of the atrocities of the 1984 Sikh Genocide.
When asked, about the significance of this Campaign, the Gurdwara Director, Jagjit Singh stated, "30 years of justice denied is in itself a heinous crime that has caused unnecessary suffering and pain to the victims, families and the entire community. The Sikh Genocide of 1984 has denied the very basic Human Rights, Liberties and Freedoms, all core Canadian values that we take for granted here today."
This billboard advertisement falls upon the Nagar Kirtan week, where thousands of Sikhs from British Columbia and around the West Coast of Canada and the United States, come to New Westminster for the annual Sikh Parade. The Nagar Kirtan event is held to commemorate the martyrdom of the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Arjan Dev Ji, who was tortured and become the first Sikh martyr, for not giving up his beliefs.
Even though those events took place in 1606, one would hope that injustices that took place in the worlds largest democracy, only 30 years ago, that were well documented by international journalists and agencies, would have been dealt with in a timely manner, especially with those responsible being so clearly identified by witnesses.
Similar to the denial of the World War II, Holocaust against Jews, there are still elements in our Community that deny these events ever took place in 1984, and that Sikhs are making this up. With so much information available through interviews, photographs and videos on the Internet today, this campaign aims to get people talking about the Sikh Genocide and for them to research and learn the truth of the extent and severity of these acts against Sikhs for themselves, so that they never occur again anywhere in the world, and to bring those responsible to justice.
For more information please contact Amandeep Singh Garcha at 604-715-9055
604-715-9055.
KHALSA DIWAN SOCIETY
GURDWARA SAHIB SUKH SAGAR
347 Wood St., New Westminster, B.C. V3M 5K6
Ph. (604) 638-7380(604) 638-7380
Fax: (604) 521-4936
Email: [email protected]