Tobias Sylvester
African Diplomats have threatened to retaliate the inhumane treatment being meted out on its people in different Chinese cities amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The diplomats also threatened to shut down their consulates after it was evident that China no longer welcomes Africans into its major cities such as Guangdong Province, Beijing and others.
In a protest letter to the Chinese Government, African Consuls-General warned that their home countries might retaliate against Chinese nationals if the stigmatisation of Africans was not speedily stopped.
The diplomats decried that Africans were being denied hotel accommodation upon arrival in Guangzhou, and also were subjected to an additional 14-day quarantine at various isolation centres after being cleared and issued an appropriate certificate of release by the Centralised Quarantine and Medical Observation.
The Consuls therefore demanded a prompt reversal of Guangdong’s policy on “the selective attack on Africans as well as unannounced visits to homes after the working hours.”
“In the consequence that the issues are not properly resolved promptly, the African Consulates-General will be left with no option but to communicate to our home country the racial bias and discrimination against Africans in China.
“We would also bring the same to the attention of the international community – United Nations, International Criminal Court, International Court of Arbitration, World Health Organisation, Amnesty International, African Union, among others.
“We would have no option but to retaliate the same ill-treatment meted out on our nationals to the Chinese nationals in our various countries; close all the African Consulates in Guangzhou until further notice and engage in general street protest by the African Consulates-General and nationals.”
The African diplomats also accused China of discriminating against their nationals, warning that the situation could degenerate if not properly handled.
They said in line with Article 5 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963, the Chinese Foreign Affairs Office should intervene and address the complaints.
KanyiDaily recalls that the leadership of Nigeria’s House of Representatives had summoned the Chinese ambassador and expressed displeasure over the alleged inhuman treatment meted out on some Nigerians by the Chinese authorities in Beijing.
The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila was quoted in a statement saying at the meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, that the inhuman treatment on Nigerians in China must be addressed forthwith.
