The African community in India declared support for an independent investigation into the recent attacks on the community, after envoys from Africa sought a U.N.-level investigation.
The support from the African students and professionals came amid allegations that not all envoys of the continent were consulted for the statement even as the United Nations called for justice to the victims of the attacks.
‘No support’
“Association of African students in India is completely in support of the moves by the Dean of Head of African Missions in India. We are totally in support in calling for an independent investigation, and also to take India to the U.N. Human Rights Council. In addition, we also call for a complete withdrawal of support from India by all the African countries in all international platforms,” said Samuel T. Jack, president of the Association of African Students in India.
Opinion divided
The support from the community members, however, was shadowed by official remarks pointing out that certain African envoys were not in favour of calling for global intervention into the attacks on African nationals.
“It is understood that a very small number of African Heads of Missions may have been consulted in the issuance of the press release by the African Head of Missions Dean,” said an official source.
The Hindu had earlier reported that the statement was indicative of the collective sentiment of the African envoys posted in India. African envoys were not available for comment.
However, on Tuesday, the United Nations stated that it hoped that the perpetrators of the recent attacks would be brought to justice. Speaking to the media in New York, a spokesperson of the global body said that the U.N. has not responded to the request for its involvement as urged by the African envoys on Monday but supported the quest for justice in the issue.
“We do very much hope that people who are responsible for the attacks are brought to justice,” spokesman for the U.N. Secretary-General Stane Dujarric told the media on Monday. The statement is the first time that the United Nations has addressed the issue since a mob attack in Greater Noida targeted Nigerian nationals on March 27, after a young man of the area died of suspected drug use.
Mr. Dujarric, however, said there was no involvement of the U.N. in the issue as of now. The statement of the African Group Head of Missions in India had asked for investigation by the Human Rights Council of the U.N. while terming the attacks as “racial in nature.”
