African evictions: We would not want to reciprocate, be warned - NPP Japan branch to China

The members of the NPP branch in Japan have expressed utmost displeasure at the horrible treatment meted out to African nationals in China in the wake of the deadly coronavirus.

According to reports, African nationals were evicted from their apartments and hotels to live in the streets even though they have no history of travelling outside the country or being in contact with any infected persons.

In a press statement issued by Kwaku Adu, the Acting Communications Director of the NPP Japan branch, they urged the Chinese community to refrain from their actions to avoid any counter actions from their camp.

Read the full statement below:

Widespread accounts shared by most Africans on social media in the wake of the anti-African sentiments in Guangzhou province of China has raised concerns both in the print and electronic media.

Africans have been evicted from their homes by landlords and turned away from hotels, despite many claiming to have no recent travel history or known to have contact with COVID-19 patients.

There are other reported incidences where Africans sleep on the streets of Guangzhou beside their luggages.

Aggravating the situation is a clear violation of human rights by the state police in videos circulating as police continues to harass Africans on the streets and forced them to test for COVID-19 even if they do not have any travel history.

Through this medium we are registering our displeasure as Ghanaians and other African nationals have become targets of suspicion and subjected to forced evictions, arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus testing as China steps up its fight against imported infections.

Following the series of attacks and inhumane treatment on Africans, most of them have turned to begging and sleeping in streets and under bridges.

We cannot sit aloof whiles the dignity of our fellow brethren are not respected and have been thrown into the dustbins.

Prior to these happenings, many Africans in China have long complained of targeted racism, in the form of Chinese holding their noses as they walk past them, racially offensive adverts on their national television and other social media platforms and Chinese actors performing blackface in a nationwide gala.

As Africans, we are more than the word “brave” and can instigate violence in equal measure the actions and deeds of Chinese to Africans in the Guangzhou province if these inhumane and demeaning behaviour does not stop immediately.

We fully back the summoning of the Chinese Ambassadors by the Ghanaian foreign minister and urge other African countries to do same.

In the wake this, we call on the African Union, African embassies in China and other countries, the United Union as well as international organizations to condemn these acts of injustices and call the Chinese authorities to order.

Issued by:
Kwaku Adu
(Acting Communications Director, NPP Japan branch)