ASIANS IN UK. Amin complains of treatment

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33096, 11 December 1972, Page 17

ASIANS IN UK. Amin complains of treatment

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter —Copyright;

KAMPALA, December 10.

President Idi Amin has said that he has received “hundreds of letters” from Asians who had settled in Britain, complaining that they were being ill-treated there.

According to Radio Uganda, the letters said that Asians were living in conditions “like those in a prison.” They added that there was unemployment and job discrimination in Britain, and that “very many Asians” in Britain were dying of the cold. As a result of all these difficulties, Asians living in Britain frequently went on strike, but such strikes were never publicised in the British press. The radio said that the letters urged General Amin to take the case of Asians in Britain to the United Nations.

Despite these hardships, the radio said that the Asians expressed understanding for President Amin’s decision to expel them. It said: “They thank General Amin for returning them to England, because if he had not been tough with Britain it would not be possible for them to get there . . .”

Meanwhile, a Government spokesman said that Ugandan security forces along the country’s borders had been ordered to carry' out thorough checks on all Britons leaving Uganda. He said: “It has been reported from the border that very many British nationals are running away from Uganda taking with them some of the property that belongs to Uganda. “As a result the security forces at the border have been instructed to check everyone thoroughly, before allowing them to cross the border, to ensure that properties belonging to Uganda are not taken away.”

The spokesman emphasised that only such property and money as was permitted by law could be taken out by those “fleeing British.” The limit is usually 50.000 shillings (about SNZ6OQO) He added that President

Amin had appointed a committee, of which the chairman was the Minister of Defence (Mr Charles ObothOfumbi), "to deal with the affairs of the British.” Commenting on the reports of the exodus of Britons, General Amin said it was “very good, because these people are running away on their own. No-one has chased them away, and no-one has molested them.

“This means that the British have a guilty conscience. Otherwise why should they run away . . . this is another achievement of the Second Republic of Uganda, because imperialists are again leaving the country.”

There are 3500 Britons in Uganda, and there had previously been no suggestions that they were leaving in large numbers. Although General Amin has said that he will announce a “drastic decision” when he meets British community representatives in eight days, most Britons were inclined to await the announcement before packing their bags.