April 14, 2007
India Takes Up Issue of Indian's Killing
with Uganda
New Delhi/Kampala
Two days after an Indian was stoned to death in Kampala by a mob
protesting against a plan to set up a sugar factory in a virgin
forest area, India Saturday took up the matter with Uganda and
expressed concern over the security of Indians living in the East
African country.
Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma took up the
issue with Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kuteesa, who assured him of
firm action against the perpetrators of the violence Thursday that
led to the killing of Devang Rawal.
Rawal, who is from Ahmedabad, was stoned to death by a mob that was
protesting the move by The Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL),
part of the Indian-owned Mehta group, to expand its sugar estates by
cutting the Mabira rain forest- one of Uganda's last remaining
patches of natural forest. It has been a nature reserve since 1932.
Troops had to be deployed to control the situation, after police
failed to stop rioters attacking Indian-owned businesses.
Rawal's body is likely to be flown to his hometown Ahmedabad later
Saturday. He was working as a sales representative with Translink
(U) Ltd, a company importing products of Johnson & Johnson and
Nestle products.
"The government (of Uganda) has given firm assurance that no harm
will be done to Indians," Sharma told reporters here.
The external affairs ministry was in constant touch with the
government of Uganda and the Indian High Commission, he said, adding
that India was keeping a close watch on the situation.
Sharma, however, said that the violence was not directed against
Indians, but had to be seen in its context. "It was a demonstration
on a different issue and some other elements joined them and
resorted to violence," he said.
Indian High Commissioner in Kampala S. Tripathi has been fully
assured by the Ugandan authorities about the steps taken in the
aftermath of the violence, he said.
Although many Indian-owned shops opened in Kampala Saturday,
Thursday's mob attack that included Indians being dragged off
motorbikes and beaten, their shops looted and a Hindu temple
attacked revived bitter memories of virulent anti-India bashing by
former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin who expelled nearly 75,000 Asians
in 1972.
Knowing the sensitivity of such attacks and its possible impact on
the Ugandan economy in which Indians, mostly traders, play a key
role, President Yoweri Museveni condemned the riots and assured
Indians of their safety in Uganda.
"To attack, insult or damage the property of any Ugandan or guests
of Uganda is something the government will not tolerate," Museveni
said in a statement Friday.
"I want to assure Ugandans that such hooliganism will not be allowed
to happen again, and to warn those that do not want to follow the
law they will pay heavily," Museveni added.
Meanwhile, the police swung into action and has identified those
responsible for rioting and looting that hit the city Thursday.
Two Ugandans were also killed in the violence, including one who was
shot dead by a security guard while he was trying to loot an Indian
shop.
Boloji.com is owned and managed by Boloji Media Inc Privacy Policy |
Disclaimer
No part of this Internet site may
be reproduced without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
