The man from Congo killed in Delhi.

Revenge attacks against Indians in Congo to protest Delhi murder

Envoys participate in Africa Day after assurances by India

Agency Report | New Delhi | 26 May, 2016 | 11:30 PM

The Indian embassy in Kinshasa, Congo, has urged all Indian nationals to "keep a low profile" for the next couple of days after some shops belonging to Indians were attacked and a few Indians injured, apparently in retaliation to the killing of a Congolese national in New Delhi last week.

The Indian embassy, in a statement, said Chief of police in Kinshasa, General Jean De Dieu Oleko, has assured the embassy that everything will be done to secure the life and property of all Indians residing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It said that police have already been deployed in the commercial area and that every effort is being made by local authorities to defuse the situation.

It requested all Indian nationals to “stay calm, avoid any confrontation or arguments and generally keep a low profile for the next couple of days”.

The embassy, while deeply regretting on behalf of the Indian government the killing of the Congolese national in New Delhi, said it had conveyed to the Congolese authorities about the steps being taken in India to arrest the culprits, one of whom has been arrested, and prosecute the perpetrators.

“The crime itself, it has been conveyed, was based on impulse without any planning or motive,” the statement said.

In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said some shops in Congo were attacked in retaliation to the killing of Masonda Ketada Olivier, 29, in Vasant Kunj area of south Delhi following an altercation with some men over the hiring of an autorickshaw

“Our embassy in Congo is in touch with local authorities and as of now things have calmed down,” he said, adding: “India’s relations with Congo go back many years. Thousands of African students continue to benefit from the Indian education system and we will ensure full safety to them.”

According to reports, hundreds of protesters allegedly forced Indian shopkeepers to keep their businesses shut and attacked their property demanding appropriate action in the case.

On Wednesday, India had assured the African envoys of the safety of their nationals.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh went into damage control mode after the African Heads of Mission (HoMs) voiced outrage over the killing and demanded steps against “racism and Afro-phobia”.
Even as African envoys in India on Thursday decided to participate in the Africa Day event, following a “constructive meeting” with top Indian officials, the Indian government said that a few isolated cases of violence against African nationals should not be generalised to portray a climate of insecurity for African students.

On Thursday, African envoys decided to review their decision of calling for postponement of the Africa Day event, which was being read as a boycott, following the killing of a Congolese national in New Delhi last week.

The review followed a meeting of the African Heads of Missions with Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh and with Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha.

The envoys, in a statement, said that the African Group reiterated its request to the government of India “to take concrete steps to address the plight of African students in India” and also ensuring prosecution of those involved in the murder of M.K. Olivier, a Congolese national, on May 20.

After noting that the government of India has “demonstrated a positive and warm disposition” in addressing their concerns, and also issued a “strong, public condemnation of the killing of Olivier” it decided that their decision to request a postponement of the Africa Day event “should not have been construed as a boycott” and that they will participate in the Indian Council for Cultural Relations-organised Africa Day event.

The Africa Group also underscored the importance they attach to ties with India. They also “took very seriously the firm assurances by the government of India in its determination to ensure that India continues to serve as a safe, secure and friendly destination for African students”, the statement said.

In his briefing, the ministry of external affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that “It would be unfortunate that a few isolated cases are generalized to portray a climate of insecurity for African students. It is also not right to characterize criminal acts as being racially motivated.”

He said the CCTV footage of the attack on Oliver by some goons shows that some Indian bystanders tried to protect the Congolese national, but they in turn were also thrashed by the same goons.

Swarup said that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is personally monitoring the matter.

“I would like to reiterate that India remains open to our brothers and sisters from Africa and there should be no cause for concern,” he stated. (IANS)