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Amritsar 'genocide' commemoration: Sikhs to march through London Amritsar 'genocide' commemoration: Sikhs march through London
(about 1 hour later)
Several thousand Sikhs are expected to march through central London in protest at the storming of India's Golden Temple 30 years ago. Members of the Sikh community are gathering to march through central London in protest over the storming of India's Golden Temple 30 years ago.
Sikhs say thousands were killed when Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent the army into Sikhism's holiest shrine to flush out militants. Thousands are due at the event, as protesters demand the bloody assault of June 1984 be recognised as a genocide.
Protesters say India did too little to prevent the killing of thousands of Sikhs in rioting later that year. Crowds from all over the country have assembled in Hyde Park.
They are calling for the deaths to be recognised as genocide. Sikhs say thousands were murdered when Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sent the army into Sikhism's holiest shrine to flush out militants.
'No justice' Demonstrators also say India did too little to prevent the killing of thousands of Sikhs in rioting later that year.
It happened three decades ago but time has not dimmed Sikhs' memory of the bloody assault in June 1984.
British Sikhs have also been angered by the revelation in previously secret papers published by the UK government in January, which showed that an SAS officer was recruited to help plan the operation.British Sikhs have also been angered by the revelation in previously secret papers published by the UK government in January, which showed that an SAS officer was recruited to help plan the operation.
'No justice'
It has added to what has often been a preoccupation among Sikhs - including those in Britain - with the scars left by the events of 1984.It has added to what has often been a preoccupation among Sikhs - including those in Britain - with the scars left by the events of 1984.
Their march, which promises to be as colourful as it is noisy, will make clear that many British Sikhs believe that justice has never been done. In Leicester, police are investigating after a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalised with graffiti appearing to refer to the attack,
"Never forget 84" and "We want justice #84" have been sprayed on the base of the statue in Leicester's Golden Mile.
Sunday's march, which promises to be as colourful as it is noisy, will make clear that many British Sikhs believe that justice has never been done.
Although in June 1984 the Golden Temple had been occupied by heavily-armed extremists, even moderate Sikhs were horrified by the violence of the Indian army's attack.Although in June 1984 the Golden Temple had been occupied by heavily-armed extremists, even moderate Sikhs were horrified by the violence of the Indian army's attack.
The spectacular collection of shrines in Amritsar in Punjab is central to Sikhism.The spectacular collection of shrines in Amritsar in Punjab is central to Sikhism.
The temple - or gurdwara - was built of white marble by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjun, in the 16th Century - and later partly coated in real gold.The temple - or gurdwara - was built of white marble by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjun, in the 16th Century - and later partly coated in real gold.
Guru Arjun later completed the Adi Granth - the holy scripture of Sikhism - and placed it in the temple.Guru Arjun later completed the Adi Granth - the holy scripture of Sikhism - and placed it in the temple.
The image of the Golden Temple in the centre of a lake of holy water - the "Amritsar" that gives the city its name - is iconic for Sikhs.The image of the Golden Temple in the centre of a lake of holy water - the "Amritsar" that gives the city its name - is iconic for Sikhs.
This building and others around it were taken over by militants under the leadership of an extremist seminary student Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.This building and others around it were taken over by militants under the leadership of an extremist seminary student Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Blue StarBlue Star
Bhindranwale wanted an independent homeland for Sikhs, where they could escape what he claimed was discrimination from the Hindu majority.Bhindranwale wanted an independent homeland for Sikhs, where they could escape what he claimed was discrimination from the Hindu majority.
There were also demands for a greater share of the water from sources serving Rajastan and Punjab.There were also demands for a greater share of the water from sources serving Rajastan and Punjab.
To the government of Indira Gandhi, the movement represented a destabilising influence in a strategically important part of the country.To the government of Indira Gandhi, the movement represented a destabilising influence in a strategically important part of the country.
Mrs Gandhi ordered Operation Blue Star, which led to commandos, and later tanks, being used to attack the temple complex.Mrs Gandhi ordered Operation Blue Star, which led to commandos, and later tanks, being used to attack the temple complex.
The botched attack led to the deaths of many.The botched attack led to the deaths of many.
Storming of the Golden TempleStorming of the Golden Temple
The media were largely excluded but after the attack Indian troops showed off weapons captured from the militants for the cameras.The media were largely excluded but after the attack Indian troops showed off weapons captured from the militants for the cameras.
They also carried out a sweep of Punjabi villages and towns, during which tens of thousands of young men were arrested, according to Sikh groups.They also carried out a sweep of Punjabi villages and towns, during which tens of thousands of young men were arrested, according to Sikh groups.
Five months later - at the end of October - two of Indira Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards shot and killed her, in revenge for what had happened.Five months later - at the end of October - two of Indira Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards shot and killed her, in revenge for what had happened.
It triggered an outburst of communal violence targeted at Sikhs, especially in the capital Delhi.It triggered an outburst of communal violence targeted at Sikhs, especially in the capital Delhi.
'Communal violence''Communal violence'
Sikh homes and businesses were attacked and set on fire and at least 3,000 people were killed.Sikh homes and businesses were attacked and set on fire and at least 3,000 people were killed.
There are claims that many of those killed were identified using voting lists.There are claims that many of those killed were identified using voting lists.
It is not the first time British Sikhs have marched through London to protest against the attack on the Golden Temple and India's failure to prevent the killings in November 1984.It is not the first time British Sikhs have marched through London to protest against the attack on the Golden Temple and India's failure to prevent the killings in November 1984.
But the protest has been given fresh impetus by the publication of the papers released under the 30-year rule, indicating a British role in planning Operation Blue Star.But the protest has been given fresh impetus by the publication of the papers released under the 30-year rule, indicating a British role in planning Operation Blue Star.
The documents suggest that an SAS officer was authorised to advise the Indian authorities with the full knowledge of Margaret Thatcher who was then prime minister.The documents suggest that an SAS officer was authorised to advise the Indian authorities with the full knowledge of Margaret Thatcher who was then prime minister.
Letters among the papers reveal an awareness that a military attack on the complex would "exacerbate communal violence in Punjab".Letters among the papers reveal an awareness that a military attack on the complex would "exacerbate communal violence in Punjab".
Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood has been asked to "establish the facts" but Sikh groups are demanding an independent, judge-led, inquiry.Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood has been asked to "establish the facts" but Sikh groups are demanding an independent, judge-led, inquiry.
Ceremonial dressCeremonial dress
The Sikh Federation says that as the documents date from February 1984, the British government can be held responsible for its failure to warn British Sikhs who travelled to Punjab in the months that followed and were caught up in the violence.The Sikh Federation says that as the documents date from February 1984, the British government can be held responsible for its failure to warn British Sikhs who travelled to Punjab in the months that followed and were caught up in the violence.
There will be a few people with first-hand experience of the aftermath of Operation Blue Star on the march in London.There will be a few people with first-hand experience of the aftermath of Operation Blue Star on the march in London.
It will be led by five Sikhs in ceremonial dress with swords drawn, and will include floats on the themes of "truth", "freedom" and "justice".It will be led by five Sikhs in ceremonial dress with swords drawn, and will include floats on the themes of "truth", "freedom" and "justice".
Among older British Sikhs, some still support calls for an independent homeland in Punjab.Among older British Sikhs, some still support calls for an independent homeland in Punjab.
Even as that aspiration fades with the passing years, a younger generation - some too young to remember the events of June 1984 - remain determined that what they say was the massacre of Sikhs should not go unpunished.Even as that aspiration fades with the passing years, a younger generation - some too young to remember the events of June 1984 - remain determined that what they say was the massacre of Sikhs should not go unpunished.