Statement on Gujarat Genocide

Congressman Joseph Pitts (R.-Pa.) made this speech before the House of Representatives on June 18, 2002:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the atrocities committed by Hindu extremists in Gujarat, India, against Muslims and other minority groups. Last week I met with human rights, academic and religious leaders from India who shared reports documenting the designs of the extremist groups against Muslims, Christians, Dalits and others.

Trained combatants in Gujarat entered villages and attacked men, women and children. Pregnant women had their wombs ripped open and unborn babies were ripped out and tossed into burning fires. Approximately 300 women were gang raped. Over 2,000 people died. I have photos too gruesome to show in my office.

It appears that some of these Hindu extremist groups receive some of their funds from charities in the U.S. and the U.K. We should ensure that no funds from the United States gathered under charitable causes are used to finance terrorism, and we must publicly condemn the violence and officials who support ethnic cleansing.

Mr. Speaker, our government must respond to these brutal attacks and the underlying extremism. The silence of the U.S. Government is deafening."

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2002_record&page=H3612&position=all