http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Idi-Amins-son-discusses-xenophobia/articleshow/30136382.cms
Just last week, a fascinating apology to Indians appeared in Uganda's 'The Independent' magazine. An article entitled 'Xenophobia against Ugandans in India' led with "Uganda has had a long undercurrent of strained relations with the Asian community", then Hussein Lumumba Amin<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Hussein-Lumumba-Amin> went on to write "I would like to hereby apologize on behalf of the Amin family for any undue suffering Asians have had to bear during the historic events of 1972 that saw thousands of Asians flee". The writer urged "Asian community leaders to publicly recognize...submerged causes of tension and also offer some apology to the millions of Ugandans who know there is a problem" regarding relations between the two peoples. Those statements are particularly interesting because Hussein Amin<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Hussein-Amin> is one of at least 40 (officially recognized) children of Idi Amin Dada, the third president of Uganda, a physically imposing soldier who rose through British colonial ranks before becoming commander of post-independence Ugandan troops and deposing Milton Obote<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Milton-Obote> to become 'President for Life' in 1971. In 1978, Idi Amin was himself forced to flee into exile in Saudi Arabia (where he eventually died in 2003). His regime was characterized by extreme violence and terror: hundreds of thousands of people were killed (estimates rage up to half a million) in waves of extra-judicial killings and ethnic cleansing. All this bloodshed occurred in plain sight of the rest of the world, as the Ugandan strongman deftly shifted allegiances, finding sponsorship and support successively from the UK and Israel, then Libya, the USSR and East Germany. In 1972, Idi Amin declared "economic war" against the Indians (and a handful of remaining colonials) who dominated Uganda's economy. Nearly overnight, 80,000 Indians had their businesses and property taken away, and almost all of them were ejected for good. In this painful exodus were thousands of Goans (including this writer's in-laws) who had lived in Africa for generations, and always thought of Uganda as their permanent home. In an exclusive email interview earlier this week, 45-year-old Hussein Amin admitted he is "not very much aware" of the Goan history in Uganda, which dates to the very first British intrusion, even before the territory became a Protectorate in 1894. But it is a proud episode in Goan history which deserves to be remembered. >From the 1880's, thousands of Goans streamed into the 'Pearl of Africa', to serve as tailors, musicians, bakers, teachers, railway employees and clerks. Interestingly, the Ugandan national dress remains the 'Gomesi', named after a Gomes from Goa who first dreamed it up as a school uniform. Even after decolonization, hundreds of Goans formed the backbone of Uganda's civil service. Many were sincere African nationalists. Even today, the pioneering Ugandan-Goan-American<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Ugandan-Goan-American>writer Peter Nazareth defines himself "an African writer" first of all. In almost every measurable way, 1972's convulsions were disastrous for Uganda. Industry went silent, commercial agriculture withered, the civil service went into paralysis, education standards plummeted and foreign investment disappeared overnight. But that is not how it is remembered now. Instead, Hussein Amin says, "Many Ugandans actually talk in support of the event, including the new generation of young Ugandans who weren't even born at the time. It is very easy for natives and Africans to see that the move was in the interest of Ugandans." He insists his father was not motivated by xenophobia, instead reacted to "immense public pressure". According to Hussein Amin, "Ugandans for the first time were able to take on the economy of the country after being despicably denied that inherent right throughout colonial times. In Uganda today, many of the older generation of successful native businessmen are those who struggled with what they had acquired through the Departed Asians Board." But Hussein Amin admits some things are different now. "Today the relations between the Asian communities and the native Ugandan are quite smooth, compared to the pressures my father had to bear back then." His late wife "was herself born to a Ugandan Asian father and a Rwandan mother". "We did have time to discuss issues pertaining to xenophobia and genocide, but I did learn to enjoy Amitabh Bachchan movies, the Asian culture and food. It was easy for me to have a good relationship based on love and mutual respect," says Hussein Amin. Still, adds this son of Idi Amin, "it doesn't mean everything is OK between the two communities" and "avoiding the discussion as if nothing is wrong is only putting others in future danger". Regarding the controversy about Ugandans and the new AAP government in New Delhi, he says, "I am glad that the Indian government, and particularly the police, refused to be part of the recent acts of xenophobia led by one of their ministers against Africans...Because one spark like what this Indian minister did is enough to initiate mayhem somewhere else." Hussein Amin speaks for many Africans when he says "xenophobia and racism are a problem that India should be aware of especially that they have a cultural background of extreme social segregation already". "So alertness to the seeds of xenophobia should have been an expertise of theirs by now," he says, further warning that "there is a constituency out there in the streets of Africa" ready to vent longstanding frustrations if the opportunity arises. Hussein Amin's frank comments are a stark reminder of the irrevocably interconnected world we live in the 21{+s}{+t} century, when Ugandans could retaliate in Kampala for events in New Delhi, and images from vigilante attacks on the Nigerian highway dharna in Goa in October 2013 were viewed in real time in Lagos. That ugly episode prompted official protest, and some concerns about imperilled safety of the huge Indian community in Nigeria. But next time could be much worse. Goa's leadership needs to be ultra-vigilant about immediately extinguishing similar sparks and flashpoints in the future, lest they erupt into unstoppable conflagration -- #2, Second Floor, Navelkar Trade Centre, Panjim, Goa Cellphone 9326140754 Office (0832) 242 0785