NEW YORK CITY (TIP): A human rights advocacy group, Sikhs For Justice, organized a protest demonstration in front of Thailand Consulate in New York City, February 9. They were protesting the extradition to India of Jagtar Singh Tara, who the government of India wanted in connection with the murder of Beant Singh, a chief minister of the State of Punjab.

About 40 demonstrators, mainly from New York and New Jersey participated.

The protest was organized to demand from Thai government that it ask government of India to restore the custody of Jagtar Singh Tara to Thai government.

The memorandum that SFJ submitted to Thai Consulate said, “Extradition of Jagtar Singh Tara, a Sikh nationalist, violated Thai Extradition act and UN Convention against torture. It further requested the PM of Thailand to reverse January 6 extradition order.

Protesters who shouted slogans of Khalistan Zindabad, carried placards which read  Khalistan Zindabad and Tara’s Extradition is illegal.

The demonstration continued for two hours during which time speeches were made by SFJ President Avtar Singh Pannu, legal advisor to SFJ, Attorney Gurpatwant Singh Pannun  and a few others.

A representative of demonstrators was allowed to enter the Thai Consulate to submit a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister of Thailand.