MUMBAI ATTACKS: Reactions from U.S. orgs and others
[See SAJAforum's full coverage of the Mumbai attacks]
Several statements have been issued. More being added. Add any you find in the comments below.
"President-elect Obama strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and his thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of India. These coordinated attacks on innocent civilians demonstrate the grave and urgent threat of terrorism. The United States must continue to strengthen our partnerships with India and nations around the world to root out and destroy terrorist networks. We stand with the people of India, whose democracy will prove far more resilient than the hateful ideology that led to these attacks," said Brooke Anderson, Chief National Security Spokesperson. [link]
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Statement by President Bush's press secretary
President Bush offers his condolences to the Indian people and the families of the innocent civilians killed and injured in the attacks in Mumbai, India. The United States condemns this terrorist attack and we will continue to stand with the people of India in this time of tragedy.
This afternoon, the White House National Security Council convened officials from counterterrorism and intelligence agencies as well as the State and Defense Departments. The U.S. government continues to monitor the situation, including the safety and security of our citizens, and stands ready to assist and support the Indian government.
President Bush has been updated regularly. [link]
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Background: President-elect Obama spoke with Secretary Rice and Ambassador Sen about the situation in Mumbai This evening, President-elect Obama called Secretary of State Rice to get an update and status report on the situation in Mumbai. President-elect Obama then called Indian Ambassador Sen and conveyed that his thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragic situation. He said that there is just one president at a time. He also told him that he is monitoring the situation and has been in communication with Secretary Rice. [link]
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STATEMENT BY MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG ON ATTACKS IN MUMBAI
"Today a horrific series of attacks in Mumbai, India reminded us that there remain dark forces in the world that think killing innocents is a way to advance an agenda. New Yorkers, including the hundreds of thousands that trace their roots to that part of the world, stand together and reject the depraved methods of the terrorists. New York is in many ways similar to Mumbai: it is a wonderfully diverse city that is a leading center for business, education, science and the arts. I extend my deep sympathies to the families of those killed and to those wounded in today's attacks. Tomorrow, I will join members of New York's Indian community at the Ganesha Temple in Queens for a prayer service.
"We live in a world that is knit closer together than ever, and the threat of terrorism reverberates around the globe. Just today, we dealt with an unsubstantiated report of potential terrorism here in New York. This report led the NYPD to take precautionary steps to protect our transit system, and we will always do whatever is necessary to keep our City safe. I encourage New Yorkers to leave the security to the professionals and fully enjoy their Thanksgiving holidays. And please keep those affected by these attacks in your prayers."
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November 26, 2008
sen.satveer.chaudhary@senate.mn or satveerc@aol.com or senatorchaudhary@aol.com
State Senator Satveer Chaudhary, Minnesota, strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, calling for the United States to do everything possible to protect U.S. citizens in that area and assist India where appropriate in normalizing the current situation. He offered deep condolences to the families of those lost. "The U.S. Department of State has information on how to locate friends and family there, including a hotline at 1-888-407-4747. The wait is long, so please be patient or use the Department's website."
He also called for calm amongst the India diaspora worldwide. "Use our wits as much as strength to bring these people justice, exchange all relevant information with authorities and the media, and resist in no uncertain terms any backlash against innocents."
Chaudhary noted that the U.S. and India are natural allies against terrorism, and are now growing economic partners. Consequently, the strike against India's finance center and film industry may impact the American economy. "Mumbai, formerly called Bombay, is like New York and Los Angeles combined," Chaudhary said, with a major stock exchange, global finance institutions, and film industry (called "Bollywood"). With global interconnectedness and a vulnerable U.S. financial sytem, these attacks are clearly aimed at furthering international destabilization." Chaudhary also cited the presence of many European Union officials at the major hotels hit.
Chaudhary noted ironically that Minnesota trade representatives were scheduled this week to arrive back in Mumbai and elsewhere in India to follow up trade talks from its 2007 trade mission. Chaudhary also attended the trade mission and brokered India's first sister-state relationship.
Chaudhary stated that he remains a resource should anyone need assistance or information during this time, including U.S. and Indian officials. "I'm not in the thick of it, but I can find people who are." Satveer Chaudhary is a native Minnesotan who is the only Senator of Indian descent in history. He has studied and written extensively on international affairs, U.S.-India relations, global trade, and the Indian diaspora. For more information see www.chaudhary.org
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Statement by Hindu American Foundation
Press Inquiries
Managing Director: Suhag Shukla, Esq., cell 651-248-3883 - suhag[at]hafsite.org
President: Mihir Meghani, M.D., cell 510-396-2745 - mihir[at]hafsite.org
Fremont, California, USA (November 26, 2008. 1530 hours): The Hindu
American Foundation (HAF) expresses outrage over the savage terror attacks
ongoing inMumbai , India today and offers its condolences to the victims
and their families. The Foundation calls for calm and restraint while
demanding that the Maharashtra state government and India's central
governments take emergency measures to halt further attacks and bring the
terrorists to justice. "Like 911, this attack was on India's financial
capital. It is our hope that the international community and the Indian
government will wake-up to the reality of terrorists in their midst and
take immediate steps to ensure security for its people" saidSuhag Shukla,
Esq, the Foundation's Managing Director and Legal Counsel.
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) is an advocacy group providing a
progressive voice for over two million Hindu Americans. The Foundation
interacts with and educates leaders in public policy, academia, media and
the public at large about Hinduism and global issues concerning Hindus,
such as religious liberty, the portrayal of Hinduism, hate speech, hate
crimes and human rights. By promoting the Hindu and American ideals of
understanding, tolerance and pluralism, HAF stands firmly against hate,
discrimination, defamation and terror. The Hindu American Foundation is
not affiliated with any religious or political organizations or entities.
HAF seeks to serve Hindu Americans across all sampradayas (Hindu religious
traditions)
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Statement from Muslim Consultative Network in NYC
Executive Director
Muslim Consultative Network (MCN)
www.mcnny.org [www.mcnny.org]
646 251 0402
Iamourhajat]aol.com
Understood correctly, Islam teaches that the use of terrorism is unacceptable for any purpose. Therefore we at MCN wish to extend heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the peoples of India at this tragic time. Peace and Justice will never be implemented through such cowardly actions against civilians. Regardless of background or affiliation, those truly responsible for brutal and immoral attacks should be brought to justice through swift application of the law.
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CAIR Condemns Mumbai Attacks
Muslim civil rights group demands that hostages be ‘released immediately and unconditionally’
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/27/08) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned attacks on a number of sites in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai that left at least 100 people dead and many more injured.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages taken during the attacks. Witnesses say the attackers sought out American and British citizens.
In a statement, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“We condemn these cowardly attacks and demand that all hostages taken by the attackers be released immediately and unconditionally. We offer sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed or injured in these senseless and inexcusable acts of violence against innocent civilians. American Muslims stand with our fellow citizens of all faiths in repudiating acts of terror wherever they take place and whomever they target.”
The Washington-based group also asked the Indian government to
protect all its citizens from the type of retaliatory attacks that have
taken place following similar incidents in the recent past.
KNOW OF OTHER STATEMENTS? POST 'EM BELOW.
ha!! US is biggest sponsor of Islamism,, Christianism and "Marxism" in India. These will always be against the "unbelievers, idol-worshippers, and reactionaries" as a matter of principle. But it's good to see continuing lickspittle work for Gora.
Posted by: Bharatiya | November 27, 2008 at 06:57 AM
PRESS RELEASE
Contact person: Shaik Ubaid
Tel:516-567-0783 E-Mail:su204@aol.com
New York - November 26, 2008 - Prominent Indian-American leaders
condemn the coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India.
We, the undersigned Indian American activists and representatives,
condemn the cowardly attacks uequivocally as crimes against humanity.
According to media reports gunmen have carried out a series of
coordinated attacks across the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay), killing
more than 100 people and injuring around 300 more. At least seven
high-profile locations were hit in India's financial capital, including
two luxury hotels where dozens of hostages are being held. A previously
unknown group calling itself Deccan Mujahideen has claimed the
responsibility for the attack.
We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of
these heinous attacks. Our thoughts and prayers are with the hostages
especially those who were guests of India and were visiting from the US
and UK. We stand in solidarity with the family of Anti Terrorism Squad
Chief Hemant Karkare who was courageously heading the inquiry against
the recent Malegaon bomb blasts in which Hindu supremacists including
military officers and some religious leaders were implicated.
We appeal to all Indians to stay united and foil the evil designs of
the terrorists whose main objective is to fan the flames of discord and
hatred. We urge the political parties not to exploit these terrorist
acts for political purposes.
We are alarmed over the sophistication and military level planning seen
in these coordinated attacks and on the failure of the intelligence
agencies in preventing such a huge and widespread attack. We demand
that the federal and state governments bring the perpetrators of these
actions to justice swiftly.
Dr. Shahid Ali Khan
Indian Minorities Advocacy Network
Manzoor Ghori
Indian Muslim Relief and Charities
Dr. Khursheed Mallick
American Muslim Physicians of Indian Origin (AMPI)
Dr. Shaik Ubaid
New York
Saeed Patel
New Jersey
Dr. Syed S. Ahmed
Chicago, IL
Dr. Shaik O. Saeed
Milwaukee, WI
Syed Azmatullah Quadri
Chicago, IL
Habeeb Ahmed
Long Island, NY
Posted by: statement | November 27, 2008 at 08:51 AM
This is NOT a press release from Indian-American leaders. Its from Pakistan-American leaders. Do not hide behind Indian label dear "friends." Do not cheat gullible people.
Please add one more suggestion:
India should invade Pakistan and destroy terrorist camps along the border. (I wish President Bush is Indian Prime Minister now and not spineless Singh)
Posted by: Concerned patriotic Indian | November 28, 2008 at 11:51 PM
That was no 'patriotic Indian'. Just another terrorist in patriotic Indian clothing.
I am an Indian and I believe that we have to find a way to work with Pakistan on the terror front. They have made overtures of wanting to work with us on this and we have to first assume their overtures are genuine. We don't have to be naive. Just intelligent and humane.
If we continue to taunt and spew animosity at them, we are not going to get anywhere.
And President Bush didn't solve any problems by attacking countries. So I think I much prefer Manmohan Singh to Bush. We might be slow to get there (peace with Pakistan) but we surely will.
Posted by: SavAnn | November 29, 2008 at 05:30 PM
Please see below the PR from CAG. If you need local contacts in your area please contact us.
Dr. Shaik Ubaid
516-567-0783
su204@aol.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIAN-AMERICANS CONDEMN THE MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS AND SEEK EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT ACTION TO STOP TERRORISM
New York - November 28, 2008 - As a broad-based coalition committed to promoting justice, peace and human rights, we denounce in strongest possible terms the dastardly terror attacks in Mumbai and demand that the highest echelons of political decision makers be held accountable for what seems to be widespread and escalating trend of abject failures in protecting precious lives of ordinary citizens and preserving the pluralistic fabric of India.
We express our deepest gratitude to the thousands of security personnel for their courageous and selfless service in fighting these well-planned and coordinated attacks. We are deeply moved by still-emerging stories of the heroism and professionalism of the hotel staff. Our heart goes out to the families of fallen heroes and the civilian victims. We also note with a sense of great pride and satisfaction, that Indian citizens have by and large maintained harmony, understanding and resolve in the face of successive acts of terrorism, thereby foiling the perpetrators' principal objective. We have no doubt that it is this unique strength of ordinary people which keeps India resilient, vibrant and united in the face of mounting internal and external challenges. We call upon all political forces in India to build upon this unique character rather than fomenting divisive agenda for short term gains.
We are alarmed by the reports of foreign groups being involved in the attacks. We urge the government of India to identify these foreign groups and to reassure the nation that such threats are being dealt in an effective manner.
Recent years have witnessed an alarming growth in the number of groups committing highly orchestrated acts of violence against innocent civilians. As evident from this still unfolding tragedy, a coordinated and open attack on this scale by a relatively handful of people completely paralyzing a city like Mumbai points to major and multiple break downs across the internal and external intelligence agencies, center-state coordination on law and order as well as political-bureaucratic-civil society continuum.
As non resident Indians, we note how India has come to be recognized as a rising power as a result of successive recent governments assiduously pursuing and successfully accomplishing projects to advance the country's profile on the international stage. However, we also note with dismay and frustration that similar single minded focus and resolve seems to be lacking in successive governments, when it comes to ensuring the life, liberty and livelihood of ordinary citizens. We therefore call upon leaders across political spectrum towards a renewed sense of single minded focus on this very fundamental and basic purpose of government.
While acknowledging the complexity of the situation and concerned about frequent terrorist attacks in recent months, we feel nevertheless compelled to request Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh to make much needed changes in the senior ranks of the government officials and the government apparatus to ensure that the citizens and institutions of India are fully protected from acts of terrorism.
COALITION AGAINST GENOCIDE- A Coalition of Concerned Indian-Americans
http://www.coalitionagainstgenocide.org/
Points of Contact:
Gautam Desai [urvigautam@hotmail.com]
George Abraham [georgeabraham2003@yahoo.com]
Kaleem Kawaja [kaleemkawaja@hotmail.com]
Endorsing Organizations:
Aligarh Alumni Association, Washington, DC
American Muslim Physicians of Indian Origin (AMPI)
Association of Indian Muslims in America (AIM), Washington DC
Campaign to Stop Funding Hate (CSFH) --www.stopfundinghate.org
Friends of South Asia (FOSA), San Jose, California (www.friendsofsoutha sia.org)
Gujarati Muslim Association of America (GMAA), Chicago, IL
India Foundation, Michigan
Indian Minorities Advocacy Network (ImanNet), New York
Indian Muslim Council (IMC), Morton Grove, Illinois (www.imc-usa. org)
Indian Muslim Education Foundation (IMEFNA), North America
International Service Society, Michigan
Muslim Youth Awareness Alliance (MYAA), Michigan
Non-Resident Indians for a Secular and Harmonious India (NRI-SAHI), Michigan
Sikh American Heritage Organization, Wayne, Illinois
South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD), Greater Vancouver, Canada (sansad.org)
Supporters of Human Rights in India (SHRI)
The Coalition for a Secular Democratic India (CSDI), Chicago. Illinois
Vaishnava Center for Enlightenment, Michigan
Personal Endorsements:
George Abraham
Habeb Ahmed
Dr. Syed S. Ahmed
Dr. Waheeduddin Ahmed
Girish Agrawal
Rasheed Ahmed
Shahid Ali, M.D.
Khalid Azam
Dr. Chinmoy Banerjee
Dr. Angana Chatterji
Nasir Chippa
Gautam Desai
Shalini Gera
Sapna Gupta
Imtiazuddin
Kaleem Kawaja
Attaulla Khan
Dr. Fazal Khan
Dr. Hyder Khan
Dr. Shahid Ali Khan
Wasim Khan, MD, MPH
Alex V. Koshy
Dr. Kursheed A. Mallick
Ghulam Mansuri
Biju Mathew
Saeed Patel
Shrikumar Poddar
Syed Azmatullah Quadri
Raju Rajagopal
Ravi Ravishankar
Dr. Shaik Sayeed
Dr. Hari Sharma
Ramkumar Sridharan
Raja Swamy
Dr. Shaik Ubaid
Firoz Vohra
Posted by: statement | November 30, 2008 at 01:22 AM
There are historical precedence:
1026 AD: Md of Gazni attacked the costal town of Somnath (now gujarat, india) slaughter everyone in the temple. He had a small army of 100 men.
1526 AD: Akbar's "The Mughal troops slaughtered another 20-25,000 ordinary persons, inhabitants of the town and peasants from the surrounding area on the grounds that they had actively helped in the resistance." page 26, Prof John F. Richards’s The Mughal Empire.
Sounds familiar ?
2001 AD: Kandahar (now afghanistan) Taleban regime has asked all Hindus to wear yellow clothes so that they are clearly distinct from the rest. Moreover, Hindu homes must display a yellow cloth so that they stand out. http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/may/29akd.htm
Now 2008 AD:
there are may in between.
Posted by: A banerjee | November 30, 2008 at 06:32 AM
Statement from members of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations
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December 1, 2008 - Members of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO) offer our deepest condolences to those who have lost family and friends in the recent acts of violence in Mumbai, India that left an estimated 180 individuals dead and communities around the world in shock and grief.
We encourage individuals of all faiths and nationalities to unite in addressing the impact of incidents such as the tragedy in Mumbai and those occurring in other parts of the world with compassion and a commitment to non-violence, tolerance, and respect.
Our message is informed by the experiences of communities in the United States and abroad who have endured the impact of backlash, intolerance and suspension of civil liberties in the wake of September 11th. In these challenging times, it is important to remember that the values of democracy, openness, dialogue, and respect of diversity can pave the way to peace and stability.
For additional information or assistance, please contact members of the NCSO; the Indian Embassy; and the South Asian Journalists Association.
Adhikaar
Chaya
Chhaya CDC
Coney Island Avenue Project
Council of Peoples Organization
Counselors Helping (South) Asian/Indians
Daya
Desis Rising Up and Moving
Hamdard Center
Indo-American Center
Maitri
Manavi
Michigan Asian Indian Family Services
Narika
Raksha
Satrang
South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
South Asian American Policy and Research Institute
South Asian Americans Leading Together
South Asian Youth Action
South Asians for Progressive Action
Trikone NW
Turning Point for Women and Families
Posted by: Aparna Kothary | December 01, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Dr. Zulfiqar A.Kazmi, Executive Director, the Commongrounds. Org strongly denounce coward terrorist attack on innocent people of India in Mumbai. We sincerely offer condolence to the Indian people and the families of the innocent civilians killed and injured in the attacks in Mumbai, India.
Posted by: Dr. Zulfiqar A. Kazmi | December 17, 2008 at 07:24 PM