IndiaPost.com - GOPIO condemns attacks against PIOs in Malaysia

NEW YORK: The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) has objected to the actions by the Government of Malaysia and/or other entities deemed as violations of United Nations Article 2 on Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the universally accepted norms of civil society. GOPIO International also protested the actions of the Government of Malaysia and/or other entities perpetrated against the ethnic population of Indian origin in Malaysia, targeting a selected ethnic group to deprive them of their lawful rights and guaranteed pursuit of livelihood in peaceful co-existence with other groups within Malaysia.

Inder Singh, President of GOPIO International, said in a statement, "We view the current situation in Malaysia, denying the rights and freedoms to the ethnic population of Indian origin, with grave concern. We call on the Government of Malaysia to take all necessary steps to bring an immediate cessation of such actions and to guarantee the rights of the ethnic Indian population.

We also petition the United Nations and the Governments of United States, United Kingdom and India, as well as the Commonwealth, to seek prompt remedial action from Government of Malaysia," said "The actions of the government of Malaysia and/or other entities directed against ethnic Indian Origin population are deliberately perpetrated to deprive those citizens of their rightful place in the Malaysian society.

The public humiliation of the ethnic population creates an impression of deteriorating social conditions in Malaysia", observed GOPIO International Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham. "Governments must not subvert the guaranteed rights of the people that suit its own motives and burden the entire society with fear and mistrust", continued Dr. Abraham. GOPIO International’s Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran stated that "people of Indian origin throughout the Indian Diaspora are generally a peaceful, law abiding ethnic group and have contributed tremendously to their respective country’s economic growth and progress.

Depriving them of their rights as citizens would be counter-productive to the interests of any progressive society, as well as to Malaysia. GOPIO expects the Government of Malaysia to quickly take all appropriate and necessary measures to abide by the internationally approved laws and norms of civil conduct and provide the guaranteed means for the rights of the ethnic population of Indian origin living in Malaysia not to be infringed or deprived", continued Ramsaran.

GOPIO International encourages and fully supports all efforts for the fair and equal treatment of all citizens of any country, especially one with a significant population of people of Indian origin. GOPIO International urges the Government of Malaysia to promptly take all necessary actions to remedy this situation so that everyone’s rights in Malaysia can be guaranteed and protected. We urge the people of Malaysia to voice their collective concerns on actions that adversely affect their entire society.