May 31, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER POLITICAL AWARENESS NAMES ANITA BANERJI AS ASSOCIATE IN WASHINGTON OFFICE
May 10, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS BLASTS ANTI IMMIGRATION ADS
May 9, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS CALLS FOR HEALING AT PITTSBURGH VIGIL
May 4, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS CONGRATULATES MEMBERS OF THE WHITE HOUSE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
May 1, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS DENOUNCES HATE CRIME KILLINGS IN PENNSYLVANIA
April 28, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS APPLAUDS HATE CRIMES ASSAULT SENTENCE
April 13, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS SENDS H-1B VISA INFORMATION PIECE TO CONGRESS
April 6, 2000	LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN UNDERWOOD ADDRESSES INS VIOLATION OF INDIANS' CIVIL RIGHTS
April 5, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS ANNOUNCES A SUCCESSFUL FIRST ANNUAL INDIAN-AMERICAN STAFFERS RECEPTION
March 17, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS HOPEFUL OF POSITIVE TRIP BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TO SOUTH ASIA
March 10, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER SIGNS LETTER TO OPPOSE FAULTY IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICES REORGANIZATION BILL
March 2, 2000	INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS NAMES PREM SHUNMUGAVELU AS NEW ASSOCIATE IN WASHINGTON OFFICE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 31, 2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU

INDIA ABROAD CENTER POLITICAL AWARENESS NAMES ANITA BANERJI AS ASSOCIATE IN WASHINGTON OFFICE

WASHINGTON-- Anita Banerji joined the India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) on Monday, May 22, 2000 as a new associate.  Banerji will focus on media and community outreach, as well as help run the Center's summer internship program.

Ralph Nurnberger, who assisted India Abroad Editor and Publisher Gopal Raju to develop the Center’s internship program, stated that “Banerji’s hiring is particularly significant because her experiences underscore the rationale behind the Center.  The Center was created to enable the Indian American community to become more effectively involved in the American political process.”

He explained that Banerji is an alumna of the internship program and served as an intern in the Office of Representative Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in 1996.  “The main purpose of the internship program is to enable young Indian Americans to gain first hand experience in the political process.  Anita’s career development is tangible proof that the program is a success,” Nurnberger said.

Banerji said her internship with Rep. Brown’s Office allowed her to learn intimately about the American political process. She also said the IACPA internship program inspired her to return to Washington, D.C. 

 “That summer (1996) was my introduction to politics. I realized then how important it is for the South Asian community, particularly the Indian American community, to become involved in the political process and have our voices heard,” she said. “We need to speak up for our rights, and if we do not do that for ourselves, then how can we expect Congress to represent us?”

After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) with a bachelor’s degree in print journalism in May of 1998, she came back to Capitol Hill to join the staff of Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA).  Banerji worked for a year on staff as a Legislative Correspondent for social policy issues, particularly health care and education.

Banerji said she is elated to return to the Center four years later, not just as an active alumni member, but as an associate who looks forward to promoting the Center and increase political awareness within the Asian Indian American community.  “My internship through the Center changed my life, and now I am back at the Center to apply what I have learned,” Banerji said.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 10, 2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU (202) 289-3654

INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS BLASTS ANTI IMMIGRATION ADS

WASHINGTON-- The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA), today denounced a series of attacks by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) against the H-1B visa program. FAIR is an organization dedicated to limiting immigration into the United States.

FAIR, has taken to the airwaves in Michigan and a number of other states, attacking immigrants and pro-immigration elected officials. Their attacks include denunciation of bill S. 2045 sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Spencer Abraham (R-MI). The bill would increase the cap on H-1B visas and allow for more foreign workers to fill jobs in the United States, especially in the high tech industry where there is a labor shortage. This bill would particularly affect those of Indian origin. Nearly 50 percent of H-1B visa entrants are from India.

Prem Shunmugavelu, Associate at IACPA, said, "The attacks by FAIR are irresponsible and distort facts." "They say that immigrants coming in under the H-1B visa are taking away jobs from American workers, when in reality these jobs are not being filled by those in the U.S.," continued Shunmugavelu.

Shunmugavelu added, "The shameless scare tactics that FAIR is using should be embarrassing to their organization, their members, and all Americans."

In some published advertisements by FAIR, there are arguments that show thatng doors for immigrants would allow people like Osama bin Laden into the country. These ads make comparisons that many immigrants could be terrorists similar to Osama bin Laden, bordering on issues of racism.

"We need the Indian American community at large to stand up to attacks on immigration, as the majority of our community comes from a recent wave of immigration (within the past 40 years), and denounce organizations like FAIR and their distorted attacks on hard working people," said Shunmugavelu. FAIR’s attacks are just un-FAIR," concluded Shunmugavelu.

The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian American community, and fostering responsible leadership.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 9, 2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU

WASHINGTON--  A rally against hate and a candlelight vigil were held on Friday May 5, 2000, in Pittsburgh, PA in response to the vicious hate crime killings in the city only a week before.  Richard Baumhammers of Mount Lebanon, PA, went on a shooting spree on April 28, killing five including a Jewish woman, a man of Indian origin, a Chinese American, a Vietnamese American, and an African American, and also seriously wounding another man of Indian descent, who is still in the hospital.

The rally was titled "Diversity, Respect and Peace," and many members from the community spoke about the need to work together as a community to prevent issues of hate from arising.  Kishor Pokharna, a member of the Rotary Club and a member of the Hindu Jain temple, spoke on behalf of the Indian American community and called for the need to create a strong foundation on which the communities could unite and work together.  Other speakers included those from each of the communities affected by the hate crime, the Mayor of Pittsburgh, and the Allegheny County Executive.  

A candlelight vigil was held at 8:30 p.m. on the same Friday, at the Ya Fei Restaurant, where two of the victims were killed.  Nearly 500 people showed up to the vigil, which included speakers from each of the communities affected by the hate crime, as well as: Bill Lann Lee, who is the Acting Assistant Attorney General for civil rights, Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA), and many others including Prem Shunmugavelu, Associate at the India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA).

Shunmugavelu said, “We in the Indian American community should be concerned by the sharp rise in hate crimes against our community, and we can no longer sit back and say it doesn’t affect us; we need to take action.”  Shunmugavelu was referring to the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium’s facts that said South Asian hate crime incidents rose from two in 1997 to 41 in 1998.

The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Mr. Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian-American community, and fostering responsible leadership.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 4, 2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU (202) 289-3654

INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS CONGRATULATES MEMBERS OF THE WHITE HOUSE ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS

 WASHINGTON, DC-- The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) today applauded the decision by the White House to appoint two Indian Americans to the Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. 

The Commission was created by Executive Order 13125 in order to assist the President in trying to improve the quality of life of Asian American and Pacific Islanders through Federal efforts. 

The Advisory Commission consists of 15 members from around the United States and will be chaired by the Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, former Democratic Congressman from California, and a long time supporter of IACPA. 

One of the two Indian Americans represented on the Commission is Vinod Dham, of Fremont, California, who is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Silicon Spice, Inc.  He earned much of his reputation through his work at Intel, where he headed the team responsible for the creation of the Pentium chip processor. 

The other Indian American selected to serve on the Commission is Mukesh "Mike" Patel, President of the Diplomat Hotel Corporation in Atlanta, GA. He was one of the founding members of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, which represents 15,000 hotel properties in the United States owned by Asian Americans, or about 40 percent of all the properties in the country. 

"IACPA commends the President for including two Indian Americans to his Advisory Commission," said Prem Shunmugavelu, Associate at IACPA. "President Clinton has selected 15 incredible members to his commission, and the Center is particularly proud of the two leaders he selected from our community," continued Shunmugavelu. 

The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian-American community, and fostering responsible leadership. 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 1, 2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU (202) 289-3654

INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS DENOUNCES HATE CRIME KILLINGS IN PENNSYLVANIA

WASHINGTON-- The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) denounced the racially motivated murders of 5 people, including one man of Indian origin, on

Friday in Pittsburgh. "This is just so sad; the sympathies of all us here at IACPA and all Indian Americans go out to the families of those affected by this horrific incident," said Prem Shunmugavelu, Associate at IACPA.

According to news reports, Richard Baumhammers of the Pittsburgh area went on a shooting rampage on Friday and killed a Jewish woman, an African American, three Asian Americans, including one of Indian descent, and seriously wounded another man

of Indian descent. "Hate crimes are on the rise in the South Asian American community, and this is just another example of why the Hate Crimes Prevention Act needs to be passed," said Shunmugavelu.

According to the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, there were 41 cases of racially motivated crimes against the South Asian American community in 1998. This is a sharp rise from 1997 when there were only 2 cases. This is the most recent data available.

S. 622, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, would punish those who commit crimes

that are motivated by race, religion, or sexual orientation. The bill currently sits in the Subcommittee on Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights in the Committee on the Judiciary in the Senate.

IACPA is currently working with other Jewish, African American, and Asian Pacific American organizations to address this situation and help pass S. 622 as quickly as possible.

The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Mr. Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian American community, and fostering responsible leadership. For more information on this case or IACPA, please contact Prem Shunmugavelu at .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 28, 2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU

INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS APPLAUDS HATE CRIMES ASSAULT SENTENCE

WASHINGTON-- Prem Shunmugavelu, Associate at the India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA), today applauded the decision by a judge in California to sentence Kevin Dale to 37 months in prison for a hate crimes assault against a man of Indian origin. "It is important that people realize that attacking someone simply because they are of a different skin color, will not be tolerated by the law," said Shunmugavelu.

Mark Sanjay David was beaten by Dale and others as Dale was leaving a punk rock concert in 1995, which resulted in a fractured skull and cracked vertebrae for David. "Although the sentence will not take away the pain and suffering Mark Sanjay David and his family have felt, IACPA hopes that this sentence will prevent others from taking the same sort of action in the future," added Shunmugavelu.

The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Mr. Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian-American community, and fostering responsible leadership.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 13,2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU

INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS SENDS H-1B VISA INFORMATION PIECE TO CONGRESS

WASHINGTON-- The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) issued an information piece regarding H-1B visas and their effect on the Indian-American community to the members of Congress who serve on the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans.

The information piece noted the contributions the Indian nationals who are currently here on H-1B visas have made to the U.S. economy. "Nearly 50 percent of all people coming to the United States on H1-B visas are from India," said Prem Shunmugavelu, Associate at IACPA. Shunmugavelu continued, "They contribute over $815 million in federal taxes annually."

Over 500,000 people are in the United States on an H-1B visa, and there has been a demand for more, in particular from the high-tech industry, which claims a shortage of workers. "This is an important issue for the Indian-American community; the majority of people coming into this country from India are on the H-1B program and are providing valuable contributions to the economical and social well-being of the United States," added Shunmugavelu.

The India Abroad Center was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Mr. Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian-American community, and fostering responsible leadership.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 6, 2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN UNDERWOOD ADDRESSES INS VIOLATION OF INDIANS' CIVIL RIGHTS

WASHINGTON-- The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) announced today that Congressman Bob Underwood (D-GU) took action on the recent INS raid in which 40 Indian software programmers were arrested in San Antonio, TX. Underwood wrote a letter to Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Commissioner Doris Meissner regarding the violations of the programmers' civil rights.

Congressman Underwood stated in his letter, "Although I understand the charges … were dropped… I am concerned about the potential violation of the their (programmers) civil rights." Underwood's letter contained information provided by IACPA.

Prem Shunmugavelu, IACPA Associate, was pleased with the letter that the Congressman wrote. "As the Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus, I am glad Congressman Underwood took the initiative to address the concerns of the Indian-American community and IACPA." "This is an issue that IACPA has been very involved with, and we are hopeful that the INS Commissioner will look into these concerns thoroughly and efficiently."

On January 20, 2000, the INS conducted a raid at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX and arrested and detained 40 software engineers who were in the U.S. on H-1B visas. The programmers were apparently not at a location listed on their visa, due to a fault of their employer, and many, even those holding green cards, were arrested and detained.

Shunmugavelu added, "Although these programmers were eventually released, I am disappointed by the fact that the INS has yet to apologize for their behavior." "Others in the federal government have even made public apologies.", he added Shunmugavelu was referring to Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, Karl Inderfurth, who expressed his "deep regret" to Indian Ambassador Naresh Chandra, for the way the Indian programmers were handled by the INS.

The India Abroad Center was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian-American community and fostering responsible leadership.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 5, 2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU

INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS ANNOUNCES A SUCCESSFUL FIRST ANNUAL INDIAN-AMERICAN STAFFERS RECEPTION

WASHINGTON--The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) hosted a reception on Monday, for Asian Indian-American staff members working on Capitol Hill, at White Tiger Restaurant, 301 Massachusetts Ave. NE. Nearly one-half of the Indian-American staff members working on Capitol Hill attended the event.

Gopal Raju, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IACPA, was impressed by the attendance. "I think this was a tremendous success. It was incredible to see so many active Indian-Americans on Capitol Hill. The reception was a great opportunity for them to meet and network with each other." Raju added, " The number of staff members on Capitol Hill has grown exponentially. A few years ago, I could have counted the number of staffers on one hand, the turnout at today's event shows the incredible growth." Prem Shunmugavelu, an associate of the Center stated, "As a former staff member on Capitol Hill, I was excited to see so many staffers come to the event; we as Indian-Americans are starting to make our presence known on the Hill." Shunmugavelu added, "I look forward to working with these Capitol Hill staffers on issues important to the Indian-American community."

Also discussed at the reception was the Washington 2000-Capitol Hill Mentorship Project. Indian-American staffers will be mentoring Indian-American undergraduate students who will be interning on Capitol Hill this summer as part of the Washington Leadership Program 2000. Each year for the past 6 years, IACPA has sponsored between 15-20 college students to come to Washington for the summer, learn how the political process works, and receive leadership training.

The India Abroad Center was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian-American community and fostering responsible leadership.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 17, 2000

CONTACT PREM SHUNMUGAVELU

INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS HOPEFUL OF POSITIVE TRIP BY PRESIDENT CLINTON TO SOUTH ASIA

WASHINGTON-- As President Clinton leaves for South Asia this weekend, the India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) hopes the President will use this occasion to strengthen ties between the world's two largest democracies.

"I hope that President Clinton will use this historic opportunity to make positive progress in relations between the two nations," said Prem Shunmugavelu, Associate at IACPA. "This visit is not only important for Indian-Americans, but is important for all Americans as relations between the United States and India have not always been positive," he continued.

A group of Congressmen, led by International Relations Committee Chairman Ben Gilman (R-NY), and Ranking Member Representative Sam Gejdenson (D-CT), have circulated a letter among their colleagues that has been sent to President Clinton encouraging him to forge closer relations between the two countries as well.

The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian-American community and fostering responsible leadership.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 10, 2000

CONTACT: PREM SHUNMUGAVELU

INDIA ABROAD CENTER SIGNS LETTER TO OPPOSE FAULTY IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICES REORGANIZATION BILL

WASHINGTON-- The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) signed onto a letter circulated by leading civil rights organizations that urges members of Congress to oppose H.R. 2528, the Immigration Reorganization and Improvement Act (IRIA).

"Although I believe that the intentions of the bill are good, this is the wrong way to go about it", said Prem Shunmugavelu, Washington Associate of IACPA. "The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) needs to be improved so that it is more people-friendly and efficient, but this bill would create further headaches and increase the already high back-log in processing green card applications. It would do nothing to improve customer service in the INS, something a reform that we would support should do," Shunmugavelu added.

IRIA would establish two sections within the Department of Justice, the Bureau of Immigration Services and the Bureau of Immigration Enforcement. Unfortunately, no funding is provided for coordination and accountability between these two organizations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 2,2000

CONTACT PREM SHUNMUGAVELU

INDIA ABROAD CENTER FOR POLITICAL AWARENESS NAMES PREM SHUNMUGAVELU AS NEW ASSOCIATE IN WASHINGTON OFFICE

WASHINGTON-- The India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) has named Prem Shunmugavelu as a new associate in their Washington office. Shunmugavelu joins the Center after having served on the staff of U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI).

The India Abroad Center was founded in 1994, by the publisher of India Abroad, Gopal Raju, and serves the community at large by increasing the political awareness of the Asian Indian-American community and fostering responsible leadership.

Dr. Ralph Nurnberger, who helped Mr. Raju to establish the Center and also serves as a Washington Associate, said that "Prem is a major addition to the Center's staff. He has experience on Capitol Hill and in a number of Congressional campaigns. He brings a keen understanding of American politics and the Indian American experience. We are thrilled that he has joined the staff."

Shunmugavelu is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Bachelors degree in History, with a Certificate in Business. He is a veteran of two congressional campaigns in Wisconsin, before coming to Washington to work for Senator Kohl.

Shunmugavelu emphasized his interest in the Center. "I am excited that I have the opportunity to make positive changes in the Indian-American community. I strongly identify with being both Indian and American and hope to bring my thoughts, ideas, and experience from Capitol Hill to continue to grow and expand the scope of the Center."

He added, "I am excited that I will have the opportunity to run the Center's internship program", referring to the Washington Leadership Program, which is the one of the most prestigious internships in the Asian-American community. "The Center's internship program is the perfect model for how an internship program should be run, and does a terrific job in training the leaders of tomorrow."

Shunmugavelu actively participated in the selection of the fifteen students who will be offered internships this summer. He is also engaged in developing additional programs and speakers for the summer. In addition, he is currently working on a reception for all Indian American Congressional staffers.

"I am also looking forward to working with the many other organizations in the country that fight for issues that are important to the Indian-American community, such as civil rights, immigration, and hate crimes, to name a few," as he stressed the importance of building coalitions in the community.