Punish those behind attacks on Africans in India: UN

The United Nations has expressed hope that those behind attacks on African nationals in India would be brought to justice.

“We do very much hope that people who are responsible for the attacks are brought to justice,” spokesman for the UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York on Monday. Dujarric was asked about the incidents of attacks on African nationals in India and whether there was any UN response or intervention to prevent these attacks. Dujarric said that there was no UN involvement that he was aware of.

Four Nigerian students were attacked by a group of Greater Noida residents, who took out a candle light march on March 26 after a 17-year-old Indian boy died due to suspected drug overdose. More attacks had followed.

The Indian government had condemned the attacks as “unacceptable” and said investigations by local authorities into the death of the teenager and the subsequent incident are ongoing.

However, Heads of African missions in India on Monday denounced the attacks on African nationals as “xenophobic and racial” in nature, accusing the government of taking no “known, sufficient and visible” deterrent action. They expected strong condemnation from the “highest political level” of the Indian Government, and also called for an “independent probe” by the “(UN) Human Rights Council” and other human rights bodies.

Meanwhile, the Association of African Students in India came in support of the African envoys’ statement. In fact, AASI President Samuel T Jack, in a statement, even called “for a complete withdrawer (sic) of support from India by all the African countries in all international forums”.

African media less scathing, more nuanced

However, African news organisations seem to be taking a more nuanced approach to the matter. An editorial in Nigeria's Daily Trust, an English language daily with over four lakh followers on Twitter, published on Monday traced the history of India-Nigeria economic relations as it urged both the sides to make amends. “We condemn mob action and jungle justice as unwarranted and deplorable. We also urge Nigerians and all other Africans living or studying in India to respect the laws of their host country and should steer clear of drugs and crime, if indeed they engage in such. The very cordial relationship that has existed between Nigeria and India since independence should be maintained and deepened to the benefit of both countries,” read the editorial.

A Kenyan newspaper, Daily Nation, was less unsparing of the attacks which it linked to the rise of nationalism in India in recent years. “The attacks in Greater Noida and Kansas may have been racially motivated, but they are occurring at a time when ultra-nationalism and hatred of the other are being associated with patriotism in both India and the US,” the Daily Nation opinion read. The tone of the Daily Nation article, titled ‘Racist Attacks Belie Presence of Africans in India for Centuries’, however, seemed friendly in general as it traced the history of Africans in India.

International media was scathing in its criticism of the attacks, though. An article in Germany's Deutsche Welle's English website quoted a human rights activist blaming the “prejudice against Africans” on India's caste-based system.

“Let us admit that we are a racist country. The government is doing nothing to provide a sense of security not only to Africans but to all foreigners. The country immediately needs an anti-racism law,” the Director at Asian Center for Human Rights, Suhas Chakma, was quoted as saying.

With PTI inputs.