| Request AmEx to withdraw sponsorship of AAHOA convention |
Action Alert: Request AmEx to withdraw sponsorship of AAHOA Convention honoring Narendra Modi
March 10, 2005
Narendra Modi, the architect of the 2002 Gujarat pogroms in India has been invited by his
supporters to be honored at the convention of the Asian American Hotel Owners association
(AAHOA) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His arrival coincides with the third anniversary of the
Gujarat massacres in which more than 2,000 people (most of them Muslims) were brutally
killed, hundreds of women and girls were raped and sexually mutilated and over 150,000
were rendered refugees. The victims of the progrom continue to be persecuted in Gujarat.
Furthermore, Mr. Modi is a member of a violent and chauvinistic Hindu nationalist
organization called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS - National Volunteers Corps)
that has intimidated and persecuted Christians, Muslims and moderate Hindus and Mr. Modi
has publicly made comments against Christians and Muslims.
The Coalition Against Genocide (CAG) is campaigning against Narendra Modi's being
honored by the AAHOA in the US. Narendra Modi's crimes are being whitewashed by
honoring him in a convention attended and supported by US lawmakers and celebrities. A
major step in the campaign against Narendra Modi involves reminding the attendees and
sponsors of the aforementioned convention that he is accused of heinous crimes against
humanity.
Thanks to a concerted campaign by CAG, Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball who was
scheduled to give a keynote address at the convention has now withdrawn.
We are now asking YOU to contact American express, who is a sponsor of the AAHOA
convention to withdraw itÿs support. Please contact American Express and request the
company to withdraw its support from the AAHOA convention.
ACTIONS REQUESTED
Call and/or email American Express representatives at
1- Ms Judy Tenzer - Media Spokesperson, Overseas Sponsorship
judy.g.tenzer@aexp.com
Phone : 212-640-0555
Fax: 212-640-0332
2- Christine Brandt Jones - Vice President Global Media and Sponsorship
christine.brandtjones@aexp.com
Phone : 212-640-5235
Fax : 212 640-0317
3- Nancy Smith - Vice President Global Media and Sponsorship
nancy.smith@aexp.com Ms Astrid (Assistant)
Phone : 212-640-0549
Fax : 212 640-0319
4- Mike O'Neill - Senior Vice President Public Affairs and Communications
Mike.o'neill@aexp.com
Phone : 212-640-5951
Fax: 212-640-0332
Send copies of correspondence to info@coalitionagainstgenocide.org
TALKING POINTS
Narendra Modi is the Chief Executive of the Gujarat State Government that was complicit in
the massacres and rapes of thousands of people as documented by Amnesty International
and the Indian National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The Supreme Court of India's
bench statement has rebuked him calling him a "modern day Nero" for his actions during
the pogroms.
The 2002 Gujarat pogroms specifically targeted women and children and used sexual
mutilation as an ethnic cleansing tool.
State that we understand that American Express has been misled by AAHOA. And that
American Express should withdraw from the convention so as not to stand in support of
massacres and persecution of minorities and for the sake of his reputation and credibility.
Mr. Chris Matthews of MSNBC Hardball has already withdrawn from the convention.
If you are an American Express Card holder please do mention it when you call American
Express.
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