Author:
Publication: http://thomas.loc.gov
Date: May 17, 2004
House of Representatives
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
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.
