The Hindu : International / India & World : Indian-origin defence officer complains against racist slur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 16, 2004

International

International - India & World

Indian-origin defence officer complains against racist slur

DURBAN, AUG. 15. A South African defence force officer of Indian origin has asked the Human Rights Commission to investigate incidents where he and other Indian-origin soldiers have been allegedly referred to as `coolies'' and ``cane-cutters.''

Samuel Chengan, who is based in Durban, has drawn up a nine-page affidavit in which he claims that a white officer had used derogatory language when referring to people of Indian origin. Sergeant-Major Chengan has asked his union, the South African National Defence Union, and the state-funded Human Rights Commission to investigate the allegations. The term ``coolie'' was first used by the British to describe Indians brought from India to work on the sugar plantations of Natal. Later the white Afrikaners used the term when referring to Indians.

In his affidavit, Sergeant-Major Chengan said he and another Indian-origin officers had taken offence when the white officer once remarked that Indians had come to cut cane. ``This was not the first time the officer referred to Indians in a derogatory fashion,'' he said. ``He seems to have a perception of Indians being cane-cutters. The last straw was when the officer referred to us as coolies.''

Under investigation

Reacting to the allegations, Department of Defence said the matter was being ``thoroughly investigated.'' ``The department will not tolerate, condone, justify or conceal racist behaviour in any form whatsoever,'' said a spokesperson.

``Furthermore, the Minister of Defence has made it abundantly clear on numerous occasions that members guilty of such conduct will be dealt with severely,'' he said. — PTI

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