GOPIO NEWS BULLETIN

September 2005

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CONTENTS

HURRICANE KATRINA AFFECTS INDIAN AMERICANS GOPIO TO RAISE FUNDS FOR KATRINA VICTIMS
BRUSSELS CONFERENCE TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN EUROPE AND INDIA
GOPIO PROTESTS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OF NRIs IN THE MIDDLE EAST
GOPIO OPPOSES FIJI PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO INDIA
GOPIO CHAPTER NEWS

GOPIO TRINIDAD AND TOBAO NATIONAL AWARDS 2005
GOPIO SURINAME CONFERENCE POSTPONED

NEWS ROUND-UP FROM NEW DELHI

o DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MOIA - CLARITY OF MOIA VISION AND PRIORITIES

UPDATE ON THE FOURTH PBD AT HYDERABAD
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR DIASPORA YOUTH CONCLUDED

USER-FRIENDLY MOIA WEBSITE
DWARKA - INDIAS MODERN SUB-CITY WITHIN THE CAPITAL

NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE

FOUR INDIAN AMERICANS IN MITs ANNUAL TOP 35 INNOVATORS
PRESIDENT BUSH NOMINATES SANTANU BARUAH AS ASST. SEC. OF COMMERCE
TWO NRIs IN UK ASIAN POWER LIST

NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD

TINA CHAKRAVARTY IS MISS INDIA USA
INDO-CANADIAN SECURE FM RADIO STATION LICENSE
TURBAN PERMITTED DURING SOCCER TOURNAMENT
GREAT POTENTAIL FOR BANANA EXPORT TO GULF REGION

NRIs CAN LEARN BENGALI ON LINE
NRI GIFTS TENNIS COURT TO LUDHIANA
HOTELS CANNOT DEMAND PAYMENT IN FOREIGN CURRENCY FROM NRIs
SUPREME COURT RULING COULD COST MORE TO NRI STUDENTS
KERALA GOVERNMENT TO EASE NRI TRAVEL PROBLEMS
HYATT PLANS 15 FIVE-STAR HOTELS IN INDIA
ASIANS ADD 103 BILLION TO BRITISH ECONOMY
SOUTH AFRICA TO RECRUIT INDIAN TEACHERS
NRI SHARE DEALS MAY BE OUT OF FIPB AMBIT
ICCR LAUNCHES SOFTWARE TO PROPOGATE HINDI ABROAD

GOPIO SEEKS FEEDBACK
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
EDITORIAL BOARD

HURRICANE KATRINA AFFECTS INDIAN AMERICANS - GOPIO TO RAISE FUNDS FOR KATRINA VICTIMS

Most of the 6,000 Indian American residents took shelter with friends and relatives outside New Orleans before hurricane KATRINA hit the city. Many of them lost everything. Indian American Congressman Bobby Jindals residence was also flooded.

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has expressed sincere concern and requests for support for the countless thousands of families who have been severely affected by the extra-ordinary level of devastation, damage, suffering and loss of life and property caused by hurricane KATRINA.

GOPIO urges immediate donations for this urgent humanitarian effort, which will be sent promptly to the agencies actively involved in relief and rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas. Tax deductible contributions should be made payable to GOPIO and sent to: GOPIO International, c/o Haresh Panchal, Treasurer, 134 Sweet Berry Ct., San Jose, CA 95439, USA, Tel: 408-772-8745.

For further information, please contact GOPIO President Inder Singh at gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or by telephone at 818-708-3885 or Chairman Dr Thomas Abraham at 230-329-8010, Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran at 718-939-8194.

The National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA), an umbrella organization of various other associations has also launched a campaign to mobilize the community to donate money for this cause. It has set up a Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. The entire amount of money collected will be handed over to the American Red Cross for providing assistance to the hurricane victims.

Tax deductible checks payable to NFIA Hurricane Relief Fund should be sent to NFIA, 6912 Winter Lane, Annandale VA 22003.

BRUSSELS CONFERENCE TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN EUROPE AND INDIA

The coming Conference in Brussels on the theme EU-India Strategic Plan: Enhancing Trade and Investment scheduled for 8-9 November 2005 is all set to become a major event of the year for Europe and India watchers. Following the EU-India Summit scheduled to take place on 7-8 September 2005 in New Delhi, the EICC event in November will prove to be a major catalyst to promote economic co-operation between Europe and India and push into motion the agendas of the Strategic Partnership agreement signed by EU and India last year. So far 138 participants have registered for the event. The formal inauguration of the Conference will be held on the 8^th. November evening in the Hotel Sheraton Tower and other business sessions will take place in the European Parliament on 9 November 2005. The Conference is being organized by the Europe India Chamber of Commerce in association with the Commonwealth Business Council and Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Belgium. Belgian Prime Minister Mr. Guy Verhofstadt has been invited to address the inaugural session of the Conference as Chief Guest. Indias Trade and Commerce Minister Mr. Kamal Nath will also address the Conference. The event is first of its kind being organized in Europe designed to enhance trade and investment and offer opportunities to share views of economic relations between Europe and India in the context of the Strategic Partnership Agreement. The Conference will be attended by industrialists, parliamentarians, European Commission officials, community leaders, trade and commerce bodies, various diplomatic missions of the EU countries including mission of US, China, Russia, Japan and Canada.

Although Conference registration is free, those interested to attend the event are requested to first register. For Conference registration and other details, please contact Sunil Prasad, Secretary General EICC and President, GOPIO Belgium on Tel & Fax: +32-2-469 2677, GSM: +32-472 207 338 or by E-mail: sunil.prasad@coditel.net For Conference details, please visit EICC Website: www.eicc.be

The Conference organizers have negotiated a special room tariff with Hotel Capital for Single Room per night for 85 and Double Room for 95 inclusive of breakfast, taxes and services. The hotel is very conveniently located with easy access to The Hotel Sheraton and the European Parliament. In view of the exorbitant hotel tariffs in Brussels, the offer made by hotel Capital is interesting. Those wishing to book through the internet, it is suggested that the participants use the Hotel Capital website booking form (http://www.hotelcapital.be). This form returns the information pre-formatted to the hotel. The participant can also send the form by fax on +32 2 646 3314 or by E-mail: info@hotelcapital.be attention Mr. Robert van der Plas. In the comment form, the request should mention their participation to the EICC-CBC-GOPIO Conference in order to avail the preferential rates. The Forms can also be downloaded from EICC website (www.eicc.be).

Below is the Tentative Programme of the Conference:

Tentative Programme

EICC-CBC-GOPIO Conference

EU-India Strategic Plan: Enhancing Trade and Investment
Tuesday, 8 November 2005

Horizon Room Top Floor

Hotel Sheraton Brussels, Place Rogier, Brussels (Belgium)

(INAUGURAL SESSION)

17:00 18:15 Registration Pick-Up /Reception

18:15 18:30 WELCOME ADDRESS - Mr. Nirj Deva MEP, Chairman, EICC

18:30 18:45 ADDRESS BY His Excellency Mr. Dipak Chatterjee, Ambassador of India to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union

18:45 19:05 INAUGURAL ADDRESS BY CHIEF GUEST Mr. Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium

19:05 19:25 Address by Mr. Kamal Nath, Minister for Trade and Commerce, Government of India

19:25 - 19:45 Address by Mr. S. P. Hinduja, Chairman, Hinduja Group

19:45 20:00 Address by Ms. Neena Gill, MEP & President, South Asia Delegation for the European Parliament

20:00 20.10 Address by Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO International

20:10 20:20 Sunil Prasad, Secretary General EICC

20:20 - 21:45 Dinner hosted by EICC

Wednesday 9 November 2005

European Parliament

rue Wiertz Wiertzstraat, B-1047 BRUSSELS

(BUSINESS SESSIONS)

08:45 09:15 Arrival of participants

09:15 09:25 Opening of the Business Sessions Address by Nirj Deva, Chairman, EICC

09:25 09:40 ADDRESS BY (Confirmation awaited from a VIP)

09:40 10:00 ADDRESS by (Confirmation awaited from a VIP)

10:00 10:20 Key-Note address by Hon. Sam Pitroda, Chairman, World-Tel

10:20 10:35 Address by Dr. Mohan Kaul, Director General, Commonwealth Business Council

10:35 10:50 Mr. Ashok Sajjanhar, Dy. Chief of Mission, Indian Embassy

10:50 11:00 Greetings by Mr. Inder Singh President, GOPIO International

11:00 11:20 Tea/Coffee Break

SESSION 1

11:20 13:00 Trade and Investment: Corner Stone of EU-India Relations Views of Captains of Industry and Corporate World

Chair: Lord Dr. Diljit S Rana MBE

Dr. Ajit Shetty, CEO, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Belgium

Ms. Colette Mathur, Director, World Economic Forum, Switzerland

Mr. B. Ramlinga Raju, Chairman, Satyam Computers, India

Mr. Sanjay Dalmia, Chairman, Dalmia Group of Companies, India

Mr. Geoffrey H Lipman, Special Trade Advisor, World Tourism Organization

Inter-active session

13:00 14:00 Participants move to lunch

Seated/Buffet WELCOME BY MR. SANJAY DALMIA AND MR. NIRJ DEVA MEP

(Lunch hosted by Dalmia Group and EICC)

SESSION 2

14:00 15:25 Investment potential in specific sectors in India: Experts views

Chair: (Confimation expected from a VIP)

IT Sector Mr. Jan Boll, Sr. Vice President, Philips

Bio-tech Industry Prof. Dr. Marc Van Montagu

Aviation Sector Dr. Kiran Rao, Sr. Vice President, Airbus Industrie

Automobile Sector Mr. Thierry Moulonguet, Joint DG, RENAULT

Energy and Shipping Sector Mr. Ravi K Mehrotra, Chairman & CEO, Foresight Group Ltd.

Export and infrastructure Sector - Mr. R. Veeramani, President Indo-Japan Chamber of Commerce, India

Inter-active session

SESSION 3

15:25 17:00 Indias Investment policies and Institutional weakness

Chair: Mr. Bogdan Golik, MEP and Chairman, Polish Chamber of Commerce

Financial Sector and Asset Management Mr. Ravi Shankar, Managing Director, EPIC Asset Group, UK

EU-India Economic Co-operation and role of Corporate and Business in Bridging the Gap - Mr. Michel Sabatier, Secretary General, Euro-India Centre

Banking Industry - Mr. Rutger Koopmans, Director, ING Bank & Chairman, Netherlands India Chamber of Commerce & Trade

Stakes for India in the Enlarged Europe - Dr Jean-Joseph BOILLOT, Financial Counsellor India & South Asia, French Embassy, New Delhi

Mr. Akash Passey, Vice President, VOLVO, India

Discussion

17:00 17:30 Key Note address by Mr. Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner

17:30 17: 45 Closing Remarks by Dr. Prem Sharma, Patron, EICC and Chairman, India Development Trust, UK

GOPIO PROTESTS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OF NRIs IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) condemns the human rights abuses and slave-like labour conditions which Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) endure in the Middle East. The treatment meted out to them constitutes servitude and forced labour and are slave-like and it makes them vulnerable to human trafficking.

GOPIO recognizes the service and opportunities given by the governments of the countries of the Middle East to NRIs, but GOPIO opposes and condemns the inhumane treatment against NRIs. This inhumane treatment constitutes economic indentureship and enslavement against them. There can be no true emancipation from indentureship or slavery if governments regard NRIs who work in their countries as economically indentured workers.

GOPIO is taking steps to have these human rights violations raised at the United Nations, and GOPIO plans to work with international human rights organisations including the Carter Center for Human Rights and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) of the United States of America, to expose these gross violations of human rights and to bring pressure upon governments to ensure that the human rights of NRIs in their countries are respected, promoted and enforced.

GOPIO calls upon the governments of the Middle East to appoint immediately independent Commissions of Inquiry in an effort for them to take steps to remedy these gross violations of human rights against NRIs, said GOPIO President Inder Singh.

Approximately 3.5 million NRIs work in the Middle East. It has been found by independent bodies that they have been, and are being denied basic human rights. International Human Rights organizations, including the New York based non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) and a State Department Report of the United States of America expressed concerns about the slave-like conditions which NRIs suffer from and their vulnerability to human trafficking. The United Nations Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights also found that NRIs are exploited and referred to this exploitation of migrant workers as one of the contemporary forms of slavery, noting that women migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to slavery-like exploitation and forced labour.

HRW recently published evidence which showed that NRI workers in the Middle East continue to work under conditions which amount to forced labour. Some of the conditions which NRI workers have to endure as given in evidence before HRW include:

(a) Salary deductions once they reached the foreign countries.

(b) They are compelled to work well in excess of 8 hours a day without payment of overtime wages although the laws of the country provide rest and provisions for overtime Pay. Other workers get these benefits but NRIs do not get them.

(d) Employers take the passports of NRI women as soon as they arrive in the countries and they do not provide them with official residency permits. They suffer forced confinement and in many cases are actually locked in at their places of employment. They are prevented from complaining to their embassies and to the governments about their contract violations, gross mistreatment including sexual abuse and rape and other oppressive treatment.

(e) The conditions under which they live do not afford the women personal privacy or security and they have in most cases no way of exit safety in cases of emergency such as fire.

The mission of GOPIOs Human Rights Commission is to actively monitor all aspects of human rights conditions and treatment of persons of Indian origin living outside of India and to seek prompt and full remedy and redress for any violation of their human rights and / or international law.

GOPIO Human Rights Commission Chairman, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj S.C. is a Senior Attorney-at-Law based in Trinidad and Tobago. He is engaged in the practice of human rights law, constitutional law and public law in the Caribbean and before Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, England. He is a former Member of Parliament, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs and Leader of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Commission Co-Chairman, Dr. Parveen Chopra has been a chair/vice chair/commissioner of Human Rights Commission for seventeen years for Nassau County, New York. He has a law degree and doctorate in Business Administration and has taught business and law courses for over 20 years in several universities.

GOPIO Human Rights Commission can be reached as follows: Chairman Ramesh L. Maharaj, E-mail: rlmaharaj@tstt.net.tt or Co-Chairman Dr. Parveen Chopra, E-mail: parveenchopra@yahoo.com. Or contact GOPIO President Inder Singh, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net, Tel: (818) 708-3885.

GOPIO OPPOSES FIJI PRIME MINISTERS VISIT TO INDIA

The Fijian Prime Minister Mr. Laisenia Qarase will be in India on a state visit from October 8-10, 2005, in connection with the opening of the Fiji High Commission in New Delhi. The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), which actively monitors the interests and concerns of NRIs/PIOs worldwide, expresses its concerns on this visit by the Prime Minister of Fiji.

The planned visit of Mr. Laisenia Qarase has greatly disappointed the Indian Diaspora and PIO community members, especially those from Fiji. We believe this is a major negative departure of Indias established policy towards Fiji, particularly after the brutal sabotage of a freely elected government in 2000 when a person of Indian origin was ousted in the coup. There are some genuine reasons why we do not believe India should be entertaining Mr. Laisenia Qarase at this sensitive stage of developments in Fiji when there are definite signs that Indian community will be in the advantageous position in the coming election. This government of Mr. Laisenia Qarase is very unpopular, and even the international community is not pleased with some of the actions that the government has been implementing in Fiji:

Ever since he assumed the position of Prime Minister and interim PM before that (after the 2000 coup), Mr. Qarase has been engaged in actions of racial discrimination and has shown minimal tolerance towards the Indian community. He has initiated the so-called affirmative action programme for the indigenous community which blatantly discriminates against the people of Indian origin. This is so contrary to all international standards that the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) has found 22 areas in which the policies of the Fijian Government are racially discriminatory in nature and in action and has asked the government to take corrective measures as a matter of priority.

Then there is the multi party Cabinet case in which Mr. Qarase has denied the Fiji Labour Party, and through it, the entire Fiji-Indian community, their constitutional right to participate in government at the Cabinet level. Mr. Qarases stance in this case is racist, as there can be no other reason for him to deny the right of the duly elected Labour Party representing the PIO community in Fiji to participate in national policy making.

Mr. Qarase was very devious and manipulative in the manner in which he finally responded to Fijis Supreme Court ruling that the Labor Party must be invited to participate in government and be given Cabinet seats in proportion to their representation in Parliament. But tokenism was not acceptable to the elected officials of the PIO dominated Labor Party, so having exhausted all other avenues; they finally and grudgingly opted to take up the role of official opposition.

There is now the matter of the so-called Reconciliation Tolerance and Unity Bill which the Labour party has rightly dubbed Terrorist Amnesty Bill. Mr. Qarase is adamant in going ahead with this Bill designed to pardon George Speight and his close accomplices now serving jail sentences for their criminal activities in the 2000 coup that ousted the then ruling Labor party.

That so-called Unity Bill has been widely condemned in Fiji by people of all races and from all walks of life. In particular, the Fiji Law Society, the Army and Police are vigorously opposed to it. Likewise, international legal and judicial opinions have also expressed opposition to the Bill.

We also urge Government of India to reconsider any grant of technical and financial assistance to Fiji unless and until the above issues have been amicably resolved, said Dr. Thomas Abraham, GOPIO Chairman.

The people of Fiji go to the polls next year and it is expected that Mr. Qarase will use his visit to India as a major public relations exercise with the PIO community in Fiji as a means of legitimising his actions in Fiji. India should not and must not --be seen condoning the anti-law and order activities of this government at this point in time, or at any time for that matter.

A state visit to India by Mr. Qarase would also be assessed as very detrimental to Government of Indias image among the PIO community worldwide. India will be viewed to be colluding with a government which has openly backed George Speight and the 2000 coup criminals who brutally ousted the legitimate government of Fiji.