G
OPIO Asks Government of India to Take
Pro-Active Stand on Human Rights of PIOs Human Rights Experiences: People of
Indian Origin in the Caribbean, Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe was the theme of
an all-day conference held at St John’s University, in Queens, New York on
Saturday, March 20, 2004. Sponsored by the University’s Center on Latin
American & Caribbean Studies (CLACS) and co-sponsored by the Global
Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), GOPIO-New York and the Guyanese
East Indian Civic Association (GEICA), the daylong conference was inaugurated on
Friday, March 19th at the World’s Fair Marina Banquet Hall. Former Trinidad
and Tobago prime minister Basdeo Panday was the Guest of Honor and former Fiji
PM Mahendra Chaudhry delivered the keynote address. The day-long conference was
organized into four sessions. The conference discussed the human rights
experiences of people of Indian origin (PIO) living in different countries
outside of India with significant PIO populations. These countries and regions
included Fiji, USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.
According to Ashook Ramsaran, GOPIO Secretary General and conference
co-organizer, the conference focused on the nature, causes and elements of human
rights abuses as they affect Indians living outside of India. "We examined
those countries and regions where the experiences of Indian assimilation have
been both harmonious and contentious," Ramsaran said. "We are pleased
with the interest and support that St John’s University has provided for this
global forum to address a crucial issue of concern to over 20 million people of
Indian origin living outside of India. There is no doubt that this conference
has indeed advanced the discussions on an important subject at this critical
time in the history of the Indian diaspora", Ramsaran continued. The
conference organizers brought scholars, rights advocates, PIO political leaders,
and policy makers the world over to examine the causal nature, extent and
consequences of such abuses and to address some of the underlying issues
therein. "The lessons so learned", Prakash Singh, GEICA’s director
and conference co-organizer, "can be a yardstick for other groups in
tackling this ubiquitous problem now simmering in many regions of the
world". GOPIO has been involved in the human rights issues of PIOs since
its inception in 1989 at the First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin.
The primary motivation for the first convention was the dismissal of the duly
elected Indian dominated government in Fiji. GOIO had filed with the United
Nations cases of human rights violations of PIOs in Fiji and Sri Lanka in 1991
and 1992 respectively. "Although we have seen some improvements in the PIO
human rights issues in the later part of 1990s, rights violations of people of
Indian origin continue to be a major issue," said Dr. Thomas Abraham,
Chairman of GOPIO. In May 2000, when the democratically elected government in
Fiji, headed by Mr. Mahendra Chaudhry, along with his cabinet colleagues were
taken hostage by an extreme political group, GOPIO launched a campaign for his
release and the restoration of democracy in Fiji. GOPIO met with the UN Human
Rights Commission and campaigned at the Commonwealth Ministers’ Meeting to
restore Fijian democracy. At the GOPIO convention in Zurich in June 2000,
immediately following the Fiji crisis, GOPIO passed the famous Zurich
declaration, which says "when any person of Indian origin is abused,
attacked or discriminated against in any part of the world because of his or her
ethnicity, all persons of Indian origin around the world will deem such an act
or action directed against all of them and will stand together in the pursuit of
justice." This declaration was re-iterated by Dr. Abraham at the conference
inauguration. GOPIO president Inder Singh said that GOPIO would continue its
commitment to help our communities around the world. "GOPIO’s Human
Rights Commission is being constituted to include representation from all
regions of the world," said Singh. The conference commenced with opening
remarks by St. John’s Vice Provost Dr. Brian Nedwek, conference Chairperson Dr
Alina Camacho-Gingerich of St. John’s University and GOPIO chairman Dr.
Abraham. Congressman Gregory Meeks complimented GOPIO for its determination to
make a better world. "Racial profiling of some communities in the US is not
acceptable," said Meeks. In his keynote address, Mahendra Chaudhry has said
that racism is not less than terrorism and in this day in age, people often fail
to recognize that racism is a form of terrorism. "People usually associate
racism with just one race feeling more superior than the another, and forget to
think that it is a form of terrorism," said Chaudhry. "The extreme
elements are responsible in promoting paramount of one race over the
other," Chaudhry added. He has also said that there is suffering in silence
and that these experiences should be known. Chaudhry, who made a special trip to
the conference, has been fighting violation of political rights of Indo-Fijians
in Fiji. "Fiji Indians suffered indenture and now they are suffering by
widespread discrimination and violation of political rights," Chaudhry
said. Basdeo Panday, former PM and leader of the United National Congress in
Trinidad and Tobago, in his keynote address at the conference said that the
Indian Diaspora would not be able to help the Indians living in Trinidad,
Suriname, Guyana and other countries because the Diaspora is not well organized
yet although some initial progress has been done by GOPIO. "The Indian
Diaspora indeed is certainly big and it is very difficult to organize and make
it work together because of the size," Panday Said. Panday complimented
GOPIO for bringing the consciousness of the Indian government about the powerful
Indian Diaspora. In his keynote address, Prof. Vinai Lal of UCLA said that
Indian Diaspora is making a great impact in transnational economic and cultural
exchange. However, Lal said that Indians can be oppressed without much happening
to the oppressors. "Indian govt. is not capable of providing help at times
of crisis except toothless response," said Lal. According to Pravasi
Bharatiya Divas organized by Govt. of India is deceptive exercise. Prof.
Parasram Thakur, Vice Provost of University of Bernice, Guyana, spoke on the
subject, "Negotiating My Rights – Rights to Negotiate." Prof. Thakur
highlighted the problem of negotiating with the larger community. Dr. Dwijendra
Battacharya and Dr. Jitendra Roy spoke on the atrocities against Hindus,
Christians and Buddhists in Bangladesh and asked Govt. of India to take an
active role with Bangladesh Govt. to stop the atrocities. Dr. Balgopal Pallasana,
professor Emeritus at University Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, spoke about
personal and national identity and said when they do not compromise, the
problems arise. Dr. Leonard Baynes, professor of Law at St. John’s University
said that discrimination and rights violations stem from acts of colonialism
which is still in the US to some extend. Prof. Surendra Kaushik of Pace
University of New York said that all discriminations and rights violation of
PIOs should be noted in a global registry. Dr. Jagat Motwani, a community
activist and author, said that some of PIOs whose rights are violated bring it
to themselves because of the disunity of the community. Attorney and rights
activist and Dr. Dolly Hassan spoke about the problems and rights violations of
PIOs after 9/11 terrorist acts. Bal Naipaul of St. Catherine, Canada spoke about
the divisiveness of Indian community in Canada and the lack of networking with
the African community to fight discrimination and rights violations in Canada.
Dhanendra Kanani, a member of Council of Racial Equality in UK said that the
main problem is how to create a sense of commonality for people of Indian
origin. "British Indians were able to connect more locally than
nationally," said Kanani. Dr. Prem Misir, Pro-Chancelor of University of
Guyana said the current Guyana Govt. under Bharrat Jagdeo has made many
constitutional amendments, constituted many commissions to protect the rights of
children, women and indigenous people and that there is a constructive dialogue
between communities now in Guyana. However, Guyana community activist and
founder of Guyana Indian Heritage Association (GIHA) Ryaan Shah contested that
argument and provided statistics of increasing violence against Indians in
Guyana. This was also contested by Prof. Rishi Thakur of University of Guyana.
Anthropologist Dr. Kumar Mahabir of Costaatt Community College in Trindiad and
Tobago spoke of the increasing violence and discrimination against PIOs in
Trinidad and Tobago. "PIO Businessmen and professionals have imposed a
night-time self-curfew, and hire private bodyguards and armed escorts while
their children are leaving to USA and Canada," said Mahabir.
Indo-Trinidadian Dr. Christendat Mahadeo from University of Illinois said that
Indo-Caribbean should actively participate in the political process and take
more civic responsibility in the US. The last speaker of the conference, Hon.
Ravi Dev, a member of the Guyana Parliament representing ROAR, said that PIOs’
human rights can be respected only if the community advances its political
rights. The conference session ended with concluding remarks by St. John’s
University’s Vice Provost Dr. Willard Gingerich who thanked the organizers for
putting together the conference at the university. The conference concluded with
a plenary session on Sunday, March 21st, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel where the
delegates passed the following resolutions:
I. Resolution on Fiji WHEREAS all
citizens of Fiji are duly entitled to equal justice and freedom as provided
under United Nations charters, AND WHEREAS the constitution of Fiji guarantees
appropriate representation of all its people in the government, AND WHEREAS the
Supreme Court of Fiji has determined that the constitution of Fiji must be
observed and democracy restored by the Government of Fiji, AND WHEREAS persons
of Indian origin in Fiji are still being denied their legitimate constitutional
and legislative representation, WE call on the Government of Fiji to fully
implement the decision of its Supreme Court and restore all rights and
privileges to persons of Indian origin in Fiji.
II. Resolution on Trinidad &
Tobago WHEREAS all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are duly entitled to equal
justice and freedom as provided under United Nations charters, AND WHEREAS there
exists in Trinidad and Tobago a heightened state of atrocities stemming from
abduction and kidnapping of persons of Indian origin in Trinidad and Tobago, AND
WHEREAS there is deep concern that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is not
effectively dealing with this crisis which continues to terrorize persons of
Indian origin in Trinidad and Tobago, WE call on the Government of Trinidad and
Tobago take immediate actions to bring an end to the abuse of human rights
against persons of Indian origin in Trinidad and Tobago; AND FURTHER, we call on
the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to immediately file a report with the
United Nations International Human Rights Commission detailing what direct
actions the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has taken to bring a cessation of
the abduction and kidnapping perpetuated against of persons of Indian origin in
Trinidad and Tobago.
IIIa. Resolution on Bangladesh WHEREAS all citizens of
Bangladesh are duly entitled to equal justice and freedom as provided under
United Nations charters, AND WHEREAS we are fully cognizant of the many
atrocities being committed against the minority citizens of Bangladesh,
especially against Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, WE call on the Government
of Bangladesh to take immediate actions to put an end to this abuse of human
rights being perpetuated against minority groups in Bangladesh.
IIIb. Resolution
on Bangladesh WHEREAS all citizens of Bangladesh are duly entitled to equal
justice and freedom as provided under United Nations charters, AND WHEREAS we
are fully cognizant of the many atrocities being committed against the minority
citizens of Bangladesh, especially against Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, WE
call on the Government of India to take immediate steps with the Government of
Bangladesh to put an end to this abuse of human rights being perpetuated against
minority groups in Bangladesh.
IV. Resolution on Guyana WHEREAS all citizens of
Guyana are duly entitled to equal justice and freedom as provided under United
Nations charters, WE condemn the on-going human rights abuses perpetrated
against persons of Indian origin in Guyana. AND we call on the Government of
Guyana to take all additional and necessary measures to remedy the abuses
forthwith. AND WE further condemn any and all groups that perpetuate such
violence against persons of Indian origin in Guyana.
V. Resolution to Government
of India WHEREAS all citizens are duly entitled to equal justice and freedom as
provided under United Nations charters, AND WHEREAS persons of Indian origin
living in various countries outside of India are faced human rights abuses in
various forms, WE call on the Government of India to closely and actively
monitor the human rights abuses perpetuated against persons of Indian origin
living in various countries outside of India, and to take all necessary measures
and seek appropriate remedy to put an end to those abuses. Photos attached:
Photo 1 - Release of the souvenir brochure for the conference on Human Rights
Experience of People of Indian Origin in New York, form L. to R.: GOPIO Chairman
Dr. Thomas Abraham, GOPIO President Inder Singh, former Fiji Prime Minister
Mahendra Chaudhry, former Trinidad and Tobago prime Minister Basdeo Panday and
GOPIO-New York President Lal Motwani
Photo 2 - Former Trinidad and Tobago prime
Minister Basdeo Panday speaking at the conference Photo 3 - Former Fiji Prime
Minister Mahendra Chaudhryspekaing at the conference
Photo 4 - Ravi Dev, leader
of Guyana politial party ROAR speaking at the conference
Photo 5 - Former Fiji
Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry industed as Honorary Life Member of GOPIO. From
L. to R.: GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran, GOPIO Preisdent Inder Singh,
GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham and former PM Chaudhry