|
CLUB INDIA
|
|
|
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin
GOPIO International (Regd. New York, USA)
Web: www.gopio.net
E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net
Tel: 818/708-3885
|
|
For the first time in the history of overseas Indians, a successful attempt was made in 1989 to bring the global Indian community together on one platform. The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), a national body of people of Indian origin in the USA, convened the First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin. During the five-day convention in New York, delegates from 22 countries, including some ministers and heads of state participated in the deliberations. The major issue of concern was human rights violations in Fiji, Guyana, Trinidad, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom and even in the US (the “Dot Buster” issue). At the conclusion of the convention, the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) was formed to network the global Indian community. GOPIO’s mission was established to monitor and address the interests and concerns of overseas Indians, both people of Indian origin (PIOs) and non-resident Indians (NRIs). Thirteen years later, the government of India started organising a conference of overseas Indians at a scale much bigger than what the NRI/PIO volunteers had put together in New York in 1989, and named it Pravasi Bhartiya Divas which has now become an annual tradition.
An estimated 25 million NRIs and people of Indian origin (PIOs) live outside India. This number is just about 2 per cent of India’s population, but its global spread is extensive. GOPIO was born to help PIO brethren in various countries, who were subjected to severe human rights violations. GOPIO filed petitions at the United Nations and made concerted efforts to fight for issues pertaining to human rights violations.
|
..............
For a year I dated the famous Eva Gabor. She introduced me to Gregory Peck, Neil Diamond
.............. |
|
GOPIO has been at the forefront to network the globally spread overseas Indian community by continuously organizing conferences in various parts of the world. For the period 2004 through 2006 alone, GOPIO organized six international conferences: January 2004 in New Delhi; March 2004 on Human Rights in New York; October 2004 in Brussels; January 2005 in Mumbai; November 2005 in Brussels again; January 2006 in Hyderabad and November 2006 in Brussels.
GOPIO accomplishments are many and are listed at www.GOPIO.net. Some of the recent achievements include:
Rejection of nomination of Sitiveni Rabuka as Fiji’s ambassador to USA
In 2004, Fiji nominated Sitiveni Rabuka, a former coup leader who later became prime minister, to be Fiji’s ambassador to the US. GOPIO appealed to the US President, secretary of state and other US agencies for the rejection of the nomination of Rabuka who overthrew the legitimate government of Fiji, violated the human rights of the elected officials and ruthlessly destroyed what the people of Fiji had worked so hard to build. That nomination was not accepted and Rabuka never became ambassador of Fiji to the US.
Uniform fee for visiting historical monuments
NRI visitors were paying higher admission fee for visiting places of tourist interest in India. In January 2006, GOPIO officials met ministers George Fernandes and Prithviraj Chavan and argued for the equal treatment of all. In February 2006 India decided to charge a uniform admission fee from all visitors, be they Indians, NRIs or foreigners.
Change in Trinity Award in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago has been giving the Trinity Award to their highly accomplished and successful people annually. However, the award insignia contains the “cross” symbol, which the Hindu nominees have been reluctant to accept. GOPIO objected to the “cross” symbol in the award and instituted a parallel award, which received appreciation from the Hindu population but invited criticism from the government of the country. This year, the TnT government formed a high level committee to design a new insignia without the “cross” symbol in it.
Protest rally at UN for rule of law in Trinidad and Tobago
GOPIO held a huge rally on July 31, 2006 in front of the United Nations in New York to protest the arbitrary decisions of Trinidad and Tobago against Chief Justice Sharma. The effort was to bring attention to illegally force Justice Sharma from office without due process and in violation of the constitution. The protest received local and international coverage and attention, and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago relented in its illegal pursuit of CJ Sharma.
GOPIO publishes a free monthly newsletter which is available at its website www.gopio.net.
Contact: GOPIO International President Inder Singh at GOPIO-Intl @sbcglobal.net or by telephone at 818-708-3885.
|
|
|
|
more...
|
|
|
|
January 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
