Dear Orkney News
The petition was accompanied by this information………
“In a few days, India will delete as many as 7 million Muslims in Assam State from its master list of “citizens” because they speak the wrong language and worship the wrong God.
Husbands, wives, and children could be torn apart and left to rot in prison camps.
This is how genocides begin – how the nightmare of the Rohingya began. But it’s all unfolding quietly — if we raise a massive alarm calling for the UN Secretary-General and key governments to intervene – we can stop this horror before it starts:
The Assam government has already begun quietly building another new prison camp and deploying troops.
Like the Burmese regime that attacked the Rohingya, the government claims they’re acting against illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. But the vast majority of the people targeted are just poor, illiterate Muslim citizens without “proper” documentation. They’ve never needed it before!
António Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN, has pledged to fight on behalf of those who can’t:
“I will raise my voice. I will take action. I will use my rights to stand up for your rights.”
We need to hold him to those words because right now the Bengali Muslims in India have no one to speak for them on the global stage — except us.
Sign the petition below and together we can stop a road to genocide in Assam:
The rise of virulent Hindu nationalism in India is behind this aggressive move to render millions of Muslims stateless and vulnerable. History teaches us that these movements know no limits except the ones citizens set for them. Let’s draw a line in Assam, and send a message to governments everywhere – we’re watching.”
I tried to think of what I can do about this, so I have signed the petition, and written an email to Antonio Guterres ………..Here’s my email…………..
“With reference to the situation which is developing in India, regarding some of the inhabitants of the state of Assam.
This is the 21st Century – we tend to think that we have put this kind of behaviour behind us. Unfortunately, as a species, we appear to learn nothing. Those who want to behave this way, have to be prevented from doing so, if that is possible without armed conflict.
Please, do what you can about the developing situation in Assam. Please, don’t let it happen again – we’ve had too much of it, far too much of it. We’re supposed to be civilised and progressing.
This is a heartfelt plea from an ordinary citizen of the planet Earth – which is what we all are – including the poor souls in Assam, who may be treated as non-beings, if we don’t take what action we can. Please – take that action.
Thank you
Bernie Bell, Orkney
This is how it begins. Does it all sound all too familiar? How many more times? Where next? Please, do what you can.