MONROVIA – The House of Representative Committee on Foreign Affairs has expressed concern over reports of alleged “harassment, and restrictions to the freedom of black residents, particularly Liberians, residing in some parts of the People’s Republic of China”.
The Committee is headed by Bomi County Representative Edwin Melvin Snowe.
Early this week, a video footage which went viral on the social media shows some Chinese nationals severely assaulting, harassing and intimidating persons of the black race in some parts of China for unknown reasons.
The situation which claimed the attention of the African Union (AU) and other international bodies comes at a time when the coronavirus is raging hell in several countries around the world.
There are reports that some Chinese nationals are allegedly blaming some Africans of being the mastermind behind the outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China.
But in a communication dated, April 17, and addressed to Foreign Affairs’ Minister Gbenzongar Milton Findley under the signature of the committee’s Chairman Representative Snowe, the committee noted that the alleged act being meted against Africans by the Chinese has the proclivity of undermining global efforts towards the fight against COVID-19.
“As you are aware, our country and the entire world is challenged with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and an attempt by any government to engage in such practices (harassment, intimidation and restrictions), runs contrary to the spirit and intent of our shared bilateral relation and could undermine the global efforts that are directed defeated our common enemy, the coronavirus”.
AU’s Interventions
Representative Snowe, who is also the Chairman of the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism of the ECOWAS Parliament further termed the reported situations in China as “unacceptable”.
He disclosed that the African Union (AU) has already held talks with Chinese Ambassador to the AU, H. E. Liu Yuxi on the matter.
According to him, these talks were also centered on how the matter would be resolved, looking at the closeness of the relations between China and Africa.
“I am also told that Amb. Yuxi reiterated the immense value China places on its relationship with Africa and China’s commitment to protecting and developing this relationship; registering the regret and embarrassment that the incidents have caused China and recounted steps the Chinese government has taken, and continues to take to restore calm and protect the safety, security and dignity of the African population in China”.
Quoting the AU further, the House’s Committee Chairman on Foreign Affairs added that the Chinese national who social media post caused the unfortunate incident has been arrested, and law enforcement officers exerting “excessive force” in China have been reprimanded and cautioned to exercise restraint while discharging their duties.
He also reported that “two hotels have been secured for the affected Africans at the expense of the Chinese government”.
Representative Snowe disclosed that “seized passports and personal belongings have been retrieved and handed over to the rightful owners” in China.
He urged authorities of the Liberian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to immediately follow-up on interventions reportedly made by the Chinese government to authenticate its factuality.
He, however, expressed the hope, on behalf of the committee, that the Chinese government still attaches importance to human rights and would end any “unjust actions against foreign nationals”, especially blacks, if any exists.