Friends of South Asia
Friends of South Asia (FOSA) is a California, United States based social and political activist organization. Founded jointly in 2001 by Americans of Pakistani and Indian origins, the group describes its mission as "achieve a peaceful, prosperous, and hate-free South Asia...work[ing] through people-to-people contacts, dialog, and other non-violent, non-exclusionary means."[1] FOSA activism has touched upon issues inside South Asia,[2][3] as well as outside South Asia such as those relating to Israel and United States policy in Cuba and Venezuela among others.[4][5]
History
FOSA was founded in December 2001 by a group of nine
FOSA registered as a tax-exempt non-profit charitable entity in Arts, Culture and Humanities category with United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Its non-profit status remains revoked by the IRS, as of November 2013, because FOSA has failed to file required annual reports and certifications under United States laws for three consecutive years.[11]
FOSA has an informal organizational structure, and a number of members have served as spokespeople.[
Positions and activities
Friends of South Asia was described by Metro Santa Cruz in April 2006 as "a hodgepodge of mostly secular-leaning South Asian Hindus and Muslims—university students, Silicon Valley engineers moonlighting as activists, etc.—who regularly organize local vigils, poetry readings, films and speaker events relating to South Asian issues."[14] Between 2008 and 2013, FOSA activities have included a variety of issues inside and outside South Asia.[1]
Activism on issues in India and Pakistan
Friends of South Asia has been involved with several campaigns inside India and Pakistan, including opposition the
Bangladesh garment worker rights
Friends of South Asia organized and participated[27] in protests against Walmart and Gap for buying clothes in Bangladesh. They claimed it is always a race to the bottom in garment industry: they give the contract to whoever produces the goods most cheaply, that vendors will be certain to take out their share, leaving very little for wages and improving workplace safety.
Campaign against FDI, for agrarian livelihood rights in India
Friends of South Asia has actively participated in a campaign to block foreign direct investment projects in India, and in support of traditional way of life and agrarian livelihoods. For example, activists of FOSA participated and co-authored a report on
California Hindu textbook controversy
Friends of South Asia was a prominent participant in the
Condemnation of Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal
The group advocates against what they term "militarism in India, Pakistan, and the United States." According to a 2006 statement, "We express our deepest disappointment with the recently concluded visit of George Bush to India and Pakistan, and unequivocally condemn the
Condemnation of Israel
Friends of South Asia endorsed and sponsored speeches and signed letters denouncing Israel as a colonial occupier of Palestine. In 2010, it criticized novelist Amitav Ghosh for accepting the Dan David Prize from the President of Israel.[4][37] In 2011, it endorsed a letter declaring Israel as a colonial occupier of Palestine.[5]
Condemnation of United States policy in Cuba and Venezuela
Friends of South Asia has endorsed letters, protests and rally calling United States' policy in Venezuela and Cuba as hostile, the current governments in Venezuela and Cuba as progressive.[5][38]
Literary events
The group holds an annual literary event in August, celebrating the Indian and Pakistani Independence days with readings in Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Kannada, Gujarati, and English. Topics have included "South Asian Writings on War and Terrorism,"[39] "Revisiting Changing Homelands,"[40] and "The Language of Food."[41]
Criticism
Corruption allegations against Benazir Bhutto
Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto spoke at Stanford University in October 2001.[42] According to the Stanford Report, "a handful of protesters who called themselves 'concerned Pakistani students' and 'friends of South Asia' held signs promoting peace and passed out fliers detailing corruption charges against Bhutto -- charges she disputed during her talk."[43][44]
Cosponsorship of event with PAA
On May 15, 2005, FOSA organized a San Francisco march for peace in support of the 2005 India-Pakistan peace march, with the help of seven local co-sponsors, including the Pakistan American Alliance (PAA).[45] About a week after the event, an anonymous online critic of the Association for India's Development pointed out that the Pakistan American Alliance's website included an image of a man holding a placard reading "Allah will destroy the terrorist state of India"[46][47] at an October 2004 rally in New York City co-organized by the New York chapter of PAA.[48] FOSA responded by deleting references to the Pakistan American Alliance from their website, and issuing an update stating that they were disturbed by the photo and had been unaware of PAA's politics, which were contrary to their own.[49]
Ties to Communist Party of India
In 2006, Mihir Meghani, president of the Hindu American Foundation, itself strongly linked to the Hindutva Bharatiya Janata Party,[50] was quoted in Silicon Valley newspaper Metroactive saying that "It's pretty well known that they're [FOSA] tied with the Communist Party in India...It's really a ploy to break down and dissemble [sic] Hinduism."[31] In 2006, The Stanford Daily had to retract an article accusing FOSA of having communist ties, saying "FOSA does not have any ties to Communist or terrorist groups".[51]
Controversy about speakers
Speakers hosted by Friends of South Asia have been the subject of controversy.
- Biju Mathew and Stanford University
In 2006, FOSA invited Professor
- Ghulam Nabi Fai and Kashmiri American Council
In 2003, FOSA invited and organized a forum speech that included
Allegations of subversion
According to a 2007 article by Indian pilot and animal welfare activist V. Sundaram, the book NGOs, Subversive Activists and Foreign Funds- Anti-Nation Industry contains articles describing how FOSA and eight other groups are allegedly engaged in "anti-national activities" directed toward India, which are collectively labeled "Instruments of Hate and Fratricide."[64]
See also
- Californian Hindu textbook controversy
References
- ^ a b c "Friends of South Asia". Friends of South Asia (FOSA). Retrieved 2006-04-11.
- ^ Ashfaque Swapan (October 14, 2005). "South Asian Community Rallies to Provide Earthquake Relief". India West. Archived from the original on January 8, 2006. Retrieved April 27, 2006.
- ^ a b AH Cemendtaur (May 2003). "Learning the ropes of peace activism". Peace News. Archived from the original on 2006-02-23. Retrieved 2006-04-27.
- ^ a b Boycott Israel? Amitav Ghosh & the Dan David Prize Pulse Media, May 9, 2010
- ^ a b c National Day of Action Against the US War Machine, Call for Protests on Saturday March 19 at UN Plaza Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine January 16, 2011
- ^ Raj Jayadev (January 6, 2002). "Indian-Pakistani peace gathering". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ a b Suzanne Lee (February 1, 2002). "Bay Area South Asians Kick-off Monthly Global Peace Vigils". AsianWeek. Archived from the original on April 27, 2006. Retrieved April 11, 2006.
- ^ Ryan Kim; Matthew B. Stannard; Charles Burress; Chronicle Staff Writers (June 2, 2002). "Kashmir tension watched closely by Bay relatives". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ "Friends Of South Asia & Qaumantri Punjabi Bhaichara". ACHA Peace Bulletin. February 6, 2002. Archived from the original on February 10, 2006. Retrieved April 27, 2006.
- ^ Hina Wyne (June 14, 2002). "Friends of S. Asia Not Willing to Give up Hope". Pakistan Link. Archived from the original on May 4, 2006. Retrieved April 11, 2006.
- ^ Friends of South Asia Guidestar Non-profit Company Reports, United States (2013)
- ^ "Beyond Borders: Joint Indo-Pak Fundraiser for Earthquake Relief". Friends of South Asia (FOSA). Retrieved 2006-06-09.
- ^ "Controversial Modifications to California's History Textbooks: FOSA/CAC's Position on the Issue". Friends of South Asia (FOSA) and the Coalition Against Communalism (CAC). Retrieved 2006-06-09.
- ^ a b "The Terrorists Are Here! Not!". Metro Santa Cruz. April 12, 2006.
- ^ "About Coalition Against Genocide". Coalition Against Genocide. Archived from the original on 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2006-04-25.
- ^ "Please Help Stop the Military Operation and Massacre in Balochistan". Friends of South Asia & The World Sindhi Institute. Archived from the original on 2006-03-02. Retrieved 2006-04-24.
- ^ "Major Rally in Washington, D.C., to Call Attention to Atrocities in Balochistan Province of Pakistan". The World Sindhi Institute. Archived from the original on 2007-10-28. Retrieved 2006-04-27.
- ^ "20th Anniversary Film Screening & Discussion". Students for Bhopal. Archived from the original on February 23, 2005. Retrieved 2006-04-25.
- ^ "Public Statement from South Asian Organizations Regarding Immigration Reform". South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow. Archived from the original on 2006-05-13. Retrieved 2006-04-25.
- ^ "Fight Corruption & Better Governance with Right to Information Act (RTI)". Friends Association for India's Development, Bay Area Chapter. 2006-10-16. Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2007-01-18.
- ^ "Dismantling Discrimination: NRI groups Welcome the Decision, Even if Belated, by the Indian Government to Implement Reservations in Higher Education for the Socially & Economically Backward Classes". Friends of South Asia (FOSA). 2006-06-09. Retrieved 2006-06-20.
- ^ "Theatre Without Frontiers: Video clips and discussion with Pakistani Playwright Shahid Nadeem". Ekta. Retrieved 2006-04-24.
- ^ Ras H. Siddiqui (September 13, 2002). "Pakistan & India under the Nuclear Shadow". Pakistan Link. Archived from the original on October 25, 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2006.
- ^ Ali Hasan Cemendtaur (January 5, 2005). "FOSA Celebrates Success of 'Suppressed Voices'". Pakistan Link. Archived from the original on March 14, 2006. Retrieved April 27, 2006.
- ^ "Human Rights in South Asia: Persecution of the Ahmadiyya Community in Pakistan". Friends of South Asia (FOSA). Retrieved 2006-04-24.
- ^ Ali Hasan Cemendtaur (March 4, 2004). "Traveling Film South Asia 2004 Comes to San Francisco Bay Area". Pakistan Link. Archived from the original on April 22, 2004. Retrieved April 27, 2006.
- ^ "Protestors Demand Gap Sign Bangladesh Worker Safety Accord". Archived from the original on 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
- ^ Iron and Steal: The Posco-India Story
- ^ Sanhati Anti-Posco Letters and Media Releases (2013)
- ^ Letter to the Prime Minister of India It is time to consign the Posco project to the scrap heap
- ^ a b Vrinda Normand (February 1, 2006). "Battling the Past: Indian parents and scholars go to war over how Hindu history is taught in California schools". Metroactive.
- ^ "Speak Out Against the Hindutva Assault on California's History Textbooks". Friends of South Asia (FOSA). Retrieved 2006-04-11.
- ^ "After Letter, Prof Gets Hate E-mail". The Harvard Crimson. March 14, 2006.
- ^ Charles Burress (March 10, 2006). "Hindu groups lose fight to change textbooks / But decision by state Board of Education is supported by some Hindu Americans". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Jonathan Jones (April 26, 2006). "Hindu group's motion to block texts denied". Fremont Argus.
- ^ "Bush's visit disappoints South Asian group". Daily Times. March 9, 2006.
- ^ Groups: Amitav Ghosh, don't accept Dan David prize In Minds, May 7, 2010
- ^ Goldstone Report on Gaza Endorsement List, September 22, 2009
- ^ Friends of South Asia (2005). "Friends of South Asia's Second Annual Literary Evening". Retrieved 22 July 2010.
- ^ Friends of South Asia (2006). "Friends of South Asia's Fourth Annual Literary Evening and Joint Celebration of Indian and Pakistani Independence Days". Retrieved 22 July 2010.
- ^ Friends of South Asia (2009). "Friends of South Asia's Sixth Annual Literary Evening and Joint Celebration of the 63rd Anniversary of India and Pakistan's Independence". Retrieved 22 July 2010.
- ^ Justin Diener (October 24, 2001). "Stanford Students Meet the First Female Prime Minister of Pakistan". Stanford Review.
- ^ Meredith Alexander (October 19, 2001). "Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, expresses support for war effort". Stanford Report. Archived from the original on September 11, 2006. Retrieved July 30, 2006.
- ^ Mary Nicole Nazzaro. "Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Visits Stanford University". UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism Asia Pacific Project.
- ^ "Ind-Pak Peace Solidarity March in San Francisco". Friends of South Asia (FOSA). Retrieved 2006-04-11.
- ^ "Allah will destroy the terrorist state of India". AID (Association for India's Development) Documents Repository. Archived from the original on 2006-02-07. Retrieved 2006-04-11.
- ^ "PAA co-sponsors Kashmiris rally in New York" (PDF). AID (Association for India's Development) Documents Repository. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2006-04-25.
- ^ "PAA co-sponsors Kashmiris rally in New York". Pakistan American Alliance. Archived from the original on 2005-02-04. Retrieved 2006-04-25.
- ^ "Statement of Clarification by the Friends of South Asia, on Pakistan American Alliance's co-sponsorship". Friends of South Asia (FOSA). Retrieved 2006-04-11.
- S2CID 143780494.
- ^ a b "Apology". Stanford Daily. April 10, 2006. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2006.
- ^ "Biju Mathew in the San Francisco Bay Area". Friends of South Asia (FOSA). Retrieved 2006-05-12.
- ^ "Taxi! Cabs and Capitalism in New York City". The New Press. Retrieved 2006-05-12.
- ^ Ghadar Editorial Collective (June 2004). "Return of Ghadar". Ghadar. Retrieved 2006-06-05.
- ^ Patrick Leahy (April 7, 2006). "Leftist speaker sparks debate". Stanford Daily. Archived from the original on April 12, 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2006.
- ^ "Letters to the editor". Stanford Daily. April 11, 2006. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2006.
- ^ "Letters to the editor". Stanford Daily. April 12, 2006. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2006.
- ^ "Letters to the editor". Stanford Daily. April 10, 2006. Archived from the original on April 28, 2006. Retrieved April 11, 2006.
- ^ "Retractions & Corrections". Stanford Daily. April 11, 2006. Archived from the original on February 6, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2006.
- ^ A Progressive Discussion Forum On Kashmir
- ^ Two charged with conspiring to act as unregistered agents of Pakistani Government US Department of Justice (July 19, 2011)
- ^ DOJ charges Pakistani American with Conspiracy Mother Jones (July 20, 2011)
- ^ Virginia Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Scheme to Conceal Pakistan Government Funding for His U.S. Lobbying Efforts United States Department of Justice (March 2012)
- ^ Sundaram, V (March 2007). "NGOs, subversive activists and foreign funds - III". News Today. Archived from the original on 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2010-07-22.