GLOBAL ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE
INDIAN ORIGIN
(GOPIO), INC.
P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA
Tel: 203/329-8010, Fax: 203/322-2233
E-mail: gopio@optonline.net,
Web: www.gopio.net
Summary
Report – GOPIO’s Third European Regional Conference, Leiden, The Netherlands,
7-9 June 2002
The
third European Regional Conference GOPIO took place at Holiday Inn Leiden on
the 8th and 9th June 2002. Welcoming the honorable guests
and the participants GOPIO Chairman Ram Lakhina who is also the President of
the host organization, Foundation for the Critical Choices of India elaborated
the considerable potential of the PIO/NRI community for India’s economic and social development. Lakhina said “PIOs/NRISs are a very
substantial national asset for India. Until recently the potential of this
asset was not fully appreciated by the Government of India. The establishment
of The High Level Commission on Indian Diaspora and its comprehensive report
are first systematic efforts by the Government of India in the right
direction.”
Mr
J.C. Sharma, Secretary to the ministry of external affairs in his address to
the conference emphasized the role of PIOs in accelerating in India’s development
in the past. He also provided an overview of the salient features of the report
of the High Level Comity, including its major recommendations on dual
nationality, Pravasi Bharatiya Diavas (Indian Diaspora Day) and the Bharat
Samman Awards for distinguished contribution by individual members of the
PIO/NRI community.
In
elaborating on the future potential contribution of the community, Mr. Sharma
stressed that India and Indian Diaspora are permanently linked with each other.
While appreciating the past performance of the community both by well to do
sections and by also humble members of the community particularly in economic
development and financial investments, Mr. Sharma emphasized the need to
encourage community’s contributions to areas like public health, education,
media, outsourcing from India, etc.
In
her address to the Conference, Honorable Ambassador of India, Mrs. Shyamala B.
Cowsik prodded the professionals among the PIO/NRI community in different
countries to come together in order to coordinate their varied and valued
contributions to India. GOPIO could encourage forming of such associations at
the European level.
Honourable
Keith Vaz, member of the British Parliament and the former Deputy Minister for
European Affairs, in his keynote speech noted among the participants of the
conference presence of individuals from different sectors and countries and
also those belonging to different political groups. In the context of recent
social and political changes taking place in some countries of Europe, he
emphasized the need for loyalty to the national governments of their countries,
as according to him the community was “under special focus” in the region.
Commenting on the issue of loyalty to the host community in the present
turbulent times, Mr. Vaz stated that , “We have to be good citizens of Europe”.
He also advised the PIO/NRIs to be in the mainstream of social and economic
development in those countries
Emphasizing
also the tremendous potential of the community in Europe and elsewhere, Mr. Vaz
suggested that India should consider them as a resource in their efforts to
promote further advancement of the country. Praising the unique nature of GOPIO
and its rich contributions in the past in its short existence, he underlined
its particular contribution in bringing the PIOs and NRIs under one umbrella,
with a view to mobilizing their multifaceted contribution towards India. He
also praised GOPIO’s role in monitoring the violation of human rights of
members of the community in different countries spread over the globe.
GOPIO
President Dr. Thomas Abraham, in his presentation on “PIOs as Global Citizens”
recounted the multifarious contributions of the community of 22 million and
odd, and narrated the past activities of GOPIO, emphasized its future role in
the areas of poverty alleviation, social justice and promotion of peace. “GOPIO
strongly supports recommendations to grant dual nationality to PIOs and I urge
the political parties to pass this legislation immediately in the parliament in
the interest of our Motherland,” Dr. Abraham added.
Referring
to the theme of the Conference, Dr.Abraham stated that the PIO/NRI community
has a big stake in globalization in terms of opportunities, but also
safeguarding the legitimate interests of the community, particularly those of
small and medium business enterprises and other vulnerable groups.
Drs.
B.N. Madan of Netherlands in his presentation on Problems and Prospects of PIOs
in Europe, provided a historical and overview of the situation and also commented
on the more recent context of immigration in Europe. Listing some areas of
their distinguished contributions, Dr. Madan also brought the attention of the
conference to the new emerging problems of geographical concentration in
certain parts of the country, increasing conflict in values of certain groups
in the host community and the immigrant communities in Europe, problematic and
cumbersome visa procedures and alienation between different generations of the
community. He also emphasized that despite the general trend of intolerance
towards immigrants, the PIO/NRI community is still appreciated by the host
countries as peace loving, securlarly oriented and making useful contribution
to socio-economic life of the concerned countries.
In
the following discussion, the participants emphasized the need for doing away
with the distinction between the PIOs and NRIs, more involvement of the younger
generation in the work of GOPIO and more active involvement of political
leaders of the PIO/NRI community in getting redress to their legitimate
grievances.
In
the afternoon session on Networking among PIOs, particularly in Europe, Dr.
Abraham, Raj Loomba (London) and Dr. V.V. Moharir (Amsterdam), made brief
comments on (a) the experiences of networking in the USA, the U.K. and other
countries of Europe. In the particular context of Europe, recommendations were
made for (a) formation of federal organization of cultural association of
PIOs/NRIs in different countries and (b) a federal organization of Indian
Chambers of Commerce in individual countries, to pursue issues of contribution
of PIO/NRI community to India’s development and also for safeguarding
legitimate interests of the community in Europe.
Noting
also the increasing trend towards widening the role of the European Union in
many policy areas, particularly in policies on immigration and international
trade, improving the representation of the PIO/NRI community in the European
parliament was also emphasized. The session was chaired by GOPIO
President-Elect Inder Singh (USA) and GOPIO Executive VP Jagdish Makwana
(Switzerland).
In
the last session on Violation of Civil and Political rights of PIOs in
countries like Fiji, Trinidad, Guyana, Zimbabwe, GOPIO Secretary General Ashook
Ramsaran, provided background to these cases and suggested that the conference
should pass resolutions, directing the authorities concerned at national and
international level, for redressing these grievances.
Having
noted the contributions of all speakers and participants, the GOPIO’s Third
European Regional Conference, adopted the following resolutions:
Resolution of European PIO Coordination
GOPIO and its European Chapters should initiate
efforts in formation of the European Federation of Socio-Cultural Associations
of PIO/NRI communities in different European countries and the European
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce in different European countries. In
the latter task, the representatives of the FICCI offered their assistance.
Resolution of Violations of Civil and Political Rights
Resolution
on violation of political, human and civil rights of people of Indian origin
The
Third European Regional Congress of GOPIO meeting in Leiden, the Netherlands,
on June 8, 2002
-
Re-affirms its absolute faith and belief in the basic human rights of all
people exclaimed in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
-
Notes its deep concern that in many countries of the world – more particularly
in Fiji Guyana, Trinidad, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Suriname – where people of Indian
origin comprise a significant proportion of the population and/or make their
physical, civil and political as well as social and culture wise are under
continuing attack to the levels of atrocities;
-
Calls on the United Nations, the government of India and the respective governments,
to take all appropriate measures and actions to cease the abuses and atrocities
being inflicted on people of Indian origin in the respective countries;
-
Condemns violations of human rights in all parts of the world in any and/or
every form.
Resolution
on Fiji
Whereas
we are cognizant of the forcible and violent removal of the duly elected
government, and recognizing that all citizens are duly entitled to equal
justice, freedom and protection under UN rights charters;
-
We call for the end of the practice of apartheid inflicted on PIOs;
-
We call for the cessation of all abuses, atrocities and violations of the
rights of PIO;
-
We call for the full restoration of democracy and political representation
within a period of 9 months;
-
We
request the international community to bring diplomatic and moral pressure.
Similar
resolutions on Guyana, Trinidad, Zimbabwe were also adopted.
Another
highlight of the conference was an evening filled with cruise and dinner on the
Kaag Lake sponsored by Jasbir Sachaar of London’s Asian Who’s Who.
****
Conference
Photos
A section of the delegates at the conference
GOPIO Secretary General speaks at the conference
