Indian Diaspora Body Opposes Fiji Leader's India VisitHindustanTimes.com
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1477493,00050001.htm
By the Indo-Asian News Service
Wed, Aug 31, 2005
NEW YORK -- The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) has opposed Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's upcoming visit to India, slamming him for denying fundamental rights to Indians in his country.
Qarase is likely to visit India in October in connection with the opening of the Fiji high commission in New Delhi.
"The planned visit of Mr. Laisenia Qarase has greatly disappointed the Indian diaspora and PIO (People of Indian Origin) community members, especially those from Fiji," said GOPIO, a US based body with chapters in other countries.
"We believe this is a major negative departure of India's 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."
In 2000, businessman George Speight led a coup that ousted the then ruling Labour party led by ethnic Indian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry.
GOPIO said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should not entertain 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."
GOPIO alleged that since he became prime minister in 2001," Qarase has been engaged in actions of racial discrimination and has shown minimal tolerance towards the Indian community."
The diaspora organisation said Qarase had initiated an affirmative action programme for the indigenous community "which blatantly discriminates against the people of Indian origin," contrary to international standards established by the UN.
Furthermore, it contended, Qarase has denied a berth in the cabinet to the Fiji Labour Party and through it the entire Fiji-Indian community.
"Mr. Qarase's 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."
Qarase is in the process of reinstating Speight, under the so-called Reconciliation Tolerance and Unity Bill, which the Labour party has dubbed "Terrorist Amnesty Bill."
Speight and his close accomplices are serving jail sentences for their criminal activities in the 2000 coup.
"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 GOPIO chairman Thomas Abraham.
The people of Fiji go to the polls next year and GOPIO said it believes 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.
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