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Representatives from the Sikh Federation (UK),
Sikh Secretariat and Young Sikhs (UK) were delighted
to speak at the biggest ever 'Unite Against Fascism'
conference in the UK. The conference at the TUC
Conference Centre in central London on Saturday
18 February titled 'Stop the BNP' had an impressive
list of speakers, but the Sikh representatives
were congratulated on their powerful speeches
and impact on behalf of the Sikh community.
Speakers included Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of
London, Michael Meacher MP, Glyn Ford MEP, Billy
Hayes CWU General Secretary, Barry Camfield TGWU
Assistant General Secretary, Gurinder Chadha the
Director of 'Bend it like Beckham' and Kat Fletcher
the NUS President.
The organisers were elated in having agreed to
a visible Sikh speaker in the main plenary session
to talk about 'Alliances to stop the BNP'. The
conference was told the BNP was a parasite that
has for several years been falsely trying to make
out that they are the friends of the Sikhs.
They were trying to adopt a divide and rule policy
and were conveniently highlighting the long and
well established Anglo-Sikh relationship. But
they were forgetting that the huge sacrifices
that Sikhs made fighting shoulder to shoulder
with British soldiers, was to get rid of fascism
in Europe and for the freedoms we enjoy today,
which the BNP increasingly threaten.
A packed out conference was told recently Nick
Griffin referred to his Sikh friends, but that
was a contradiction of terms as no true Sikh could
be a friend to the BNP. It was made clear Sikhs
have nothing in common with the BNP and Sikhs
abhor everything they stand for.
The Federation spokesman then referred to three
sorts of alliance necessary to try and stop the
BNP beginning with the role of Government. Those
present were told Government should not take communities
like the Sikhs for granted. Sikhs are a hard working,
law- abiding community with a long and illustrious
Anglo-Sikh history and yet are often forgotten.
Sikhs as the largest and most visible ethnic minority
in the UK facing increased racism and hate from
what has interestingly been called 'mistaken identity'.
If the government continues to ignore the Sikhs
and issues that concern them, they themselves
are giving an opportunity to the likes of the
BNP to exploit differences and tensions in what
is a highly volatile political environment.
The conference was told the public is also closely
observing whether the law and our courts will
deliver convictions of those in the BNP that are
clearly breaking the law. The Government again
had a role to play here or it will be seen as
failing law-abiding citizens. The Federation spokesman
pointed out members of the BNP had been caught
on camera by the BBC admitting they wanted to
blow up places of worship in the UK (more specifically
mosques) using rocket launchers and use machine-guns
to kill innocent worshippers. Those present were
asked to consider why the legal system and courts
allowed the BNP to continue to promote not only
'racism' but also 'terrorism' especially in the
post 7/7 era.
The second alliance mentioned was that of mainstream
political parties who needed to ensure that the
long term political map of representation was
radically different from what we have now. It
was explained using the Sikh community as an example
that Sikhs were hugely underrepresented in the
Houses of Parliament - the Commons and the Lords.
It was a sad reflection of Parliament that at
present there is no visible Sikh representation.
A call was made for mainstream political parties
to take a fundamental look at themselves and route
out anything that suggests institutional racism.
It was explained that the representation at local
levels was little better. In the UK there were
only around 80 Sikh councilors compared to around
200 if Sikhs were fairly represented in terms
of population. However, over half those councilors
are in a handful of local authorities. For example,
over one-third of them are from around the West
London area alone.
It was made clear that the locations the BNP often
target are some of the most deprived in the country,
where there are large numbers of ethnic minorities.
This represented a big challenge for the political
parties as the BNP build on local resentment towards
ethnic minorities to win votes. The long term
combined aim of mainstream political parties should
be for a greater spread of representation by ethnic
minorities.
Sikhs born and bred up in the UK should be encouraged
to represent any part of the UK. Similarly, ethnic
minorities should feel comfortable about being
represented by a non-ethnic minority, especially
if this will result in the BNP being defeated.
In short the mainstream political parties needed
to become much more sophisticated in the candidates
they field against the BNP.
The third and final alliance mentioned was the
alliance of what was termed the 'sensible majority'.
The conference was told these were difficult times
as the events of 7/7 and extremists in the Muslim
community had in recent weeks provided fuel for
the BNP fire. They had given the BNP a footing
for not only recruiting more members, but also
securing many more potential voters. The Federation
said: "The alliance of the 'sensible majority'
must be on high alert and guard against all extreme
elements, who by their actions will push people
towards the far right. In turn the far right will
try and maximise on the 'politics of fear'.
The various organisations gathered at the conference
who should be part of that 'sensible majority'
were challenged to put their own house in order.
Complacency in the present environment, where
people are genuinely scared was described as the
biggest threat. The danger presented by the BNP
was greater today than at any time in recent history.
The Federation speaker left the conference with
one final chilling thought concerning what has
happened in different parts of the world when
those seeking election and power resort to the
'politics of fear'. Those present were asked to
consider the world's so-called largest democracy,
India and the experience of the minority Sikh
community in the last 25 years.
Reference was made to November 1984, when the
ruling Congress party in India provided mobs with
voting lists, transport, kerosene, weapons and
egged on by state sponsored TV and radio provided
them with a 'license to kill' innocent Sikhs.
In Delhi alone and in a matter of a few days over
20,000 innocent Sikhs were taken from their homes
and burnt alive in anti-Sikh pogroms.
The conference was told this all happened in the
presence of political leaders and heads of state
from across the world, who remained silent. To
date Sikhs are still waiting for international
justice. The ruling Congress used the 'politics
of fear' to win elections. Mention was also made
of the anti-Muslim pogroms in Gujarat that resulted
in the election victory of right wing Hindu fanatics.
The Federation spokesman was extremely well received
and
concluded: "We have a huge challenge before
us, but together we can defeat the evil of the
BNP."
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