Pallone Introduces Special Order: Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh

[Guest guest]

Pallone Introduces Special Order: Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh

 

Following the meeting with HAF, a special order was introduced in

the US Congress today by Congressman Pallone of NJ re the

persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh

 

>From http://thomas.loc.gov

 

PERSECUTION OF HINDUS IN BANGLADESH -- (House of Representatives -

May 17, 2004) [Page: H3057] GPO's PDF---

 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the

gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is recognized for 5 minutes.

 

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to express my deep

concern over the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. The coalition

government of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP, which came to

power on October 1, 2001, has initiated a violent campaign. And

since the BNP's parliamentary victory nearly 3 years ago, a campaign

of terrorism, murder, and religious cleansing has been unleashed on

Hindus living in Bangladesh. I had written a letter to Bangladesh's

Prime Minister Zia in 2002 about this violent persecution, but I

have received no response to date; and it is a fact that unabashed

violence has continued freely.

 

Although the latest wave of violence has been ensuing since the BNP

took power in 2001, Hindus have been a disappearing minority in

Bangladesh at the hands of Bangladeshi forces that have employed

human rights abuses, atrocities, and ethno-religious cleansing

tools. In 1941, Hindus comprised 28 percent of the population; but

by 1991, the Hindu population dwindled to a meager 8 percent. A

large part of this decrease in the Hindu population can be

attributed to the 1971 genocide by the then-Muslim East Pakistan

Party, whereby 2.5 million Hindus were murdered and 10 million

Hindus fled to India as refugees.

 

Reminiscent of the Jewish Holocaust, Hindu homes were marked by a

yellow H, which in fact guided the pillagers to their homes. Over

the following 30 years, thousands of Hindu temples were destroyed,

Hindus were systematically disenfranchised from holding political

power, and prejudicial legislation ensured an unstable existence for

Hindus. In fact, Islamic extremists have routinely dispossessed

Hindus and, for that matter, Christians and Buddhists, of their

ancestral properties and land, burned down their homes, and

desecrated and razed temples, which has resulted in forcing many to

flee as refugees.

 

Mr. Speaker, I have reviewed numerous reports that attest to the

current violent persecution in Bangladesh. These reports have been

written by the International Federation of Bangladeshi Hindus and

Friends, Amnesty International, the U.S. State Department's Annual

Report on International Religious Freedom, CNN, BBC, and multiple

Bangladeshi newspapers that reflect the testimonies of the Hindu

victims.

\

This campaign of minority cleansing in progress in Bangladesh has to

be stopped. Since 1971, when Bangladesh was born as a secular

democratic country out of Islamic Pakistan, all minority populations

have declined, and this Islamization must be put to an end through

the government's leadership. In an effort to uphold pluralistic

democracy in Bangladesh and protection

[Page: H3058] GPO's PDFof Hindus and all minorities, the following

must be implemented:

 

[Time: 19:45]

 

First, restoration of secularism in the constitution of Bangladesh,

as it existed in the first constitution of independent Bangladesh in

1972.

 

Second, passage of affirmative action and hate crime laws that

acknowledge the minority communities of Bangladesh.

 

Third, production of a white paper on atrocities against the

minorities over the years, and assurance that the perpetrators of

the ongoing pogrom are brought to justice.

 

Fourth, repatriation of the refugees, displaced people, with full

compensation to the victims.

 

Fifth, ending of oppression of journalists and writers who report

minority and human rights violations.

 

Six, termination of the illegal torture in custody of members of

secular parties.

 

And seventh, allowance of an independent commission to investigate

the atrocities perpetrated against the minority groups.

 

Mr. Speaker, I hope that these goals can be achieved and the

Government of Bangladesh can take the necessary steps to

international human and civil rights.

 

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