광동성 거주 아프리카인들,중국정부당국의 외국인 혐오증확산으로 졸지에 집잃고 거리에서 헤매는데, 중국은 큰집이라는 문통.

중국정부가 제2의 Coronavirus Pandemic확산을 막는다는 이유를들어, Guangzhou에 오랫동안 거주해 오던 African들에게, 해서는 안될 "외국인혐오증"이 확산되여 졸지에 살던집에 들어가지 못하고 거리를 헤매면서, 거리에서 노숙하는 신세가 되고있다는 충격적인 뉴스다.

 Guangzhou에 거주하는 수십명의 아프리카 출신들을 만나 요즘의 상황을 물었더니, 대부분의 대답이, 집없이 쫒겨났고, Covid-19 Pandemic검사를 예고없이 당했으며, 아무런 확진 증상도 없거나, 다른사람들과의 접촉도 없었는데 설명도없이 14일간 집안에 격리 시키는 외국인 혐오현상이 두드러지고 있다고한다. 이러한 인권횡포를 확인하기위해 CNN은 Guangzhou당국자들과 접촉시도했으나 실패했다고 한탄이다.

Guangzhou는 중국내에서 아프리카인들이 가장 많이 거주하는 곳이다. 왜냐면 이도시의 아프리카인들은 Short-term 비즈니스 비자를 받아 일년에 여러번씩 중국과 자기네 나라를 여행할수있기에 편리하기때문이다. 2017년도에만 대략 320,000 아프리카인들이 중국을 들락날락 했다고 Xinhua통신은 전했다. 그래서 중국당국은 아프리카인들의 거주인원을 확실히 파악하는데 어려움을 겪고 있다는 것이다.  이들에 대한 중국당국과 중국인들의 횡포는 어제 오늘일이 아니며, 최근에는 Coronavirus Pandemic으로 긴장감은 무서울 정도로 확산되고 있다고 한다.

광동지역의 관계자들은 지난 화요일 보고하기를, Covid-19 전염병환자 111명이 광동에서 새로 발생했는데, 그중 28명은 영국인, 그리고 18명은 미국인들이었었다. 이들 확진자들은 광동성의 정부로 부터, 집퇴거명령이나, 별도의 격리수용조치를 했다는 소식을 들은적 없다고 했다. 바로 인종차별의 증거라는 뜻이다.

지난 토요일 광동주재 미국 총영사관은 광동거주 African-American들에게 여행자제를 통고했었다.
영사관의 설명에 따르면, 광동시에서는 외국인들에 대한 검색이 강화되고있으며, 이조치의 일환으로 술집이나 음식점에 아프리카출신으로 보이는 사람들에게 영업을 하지 말라는 지침을 내렸다는 것이다.

더욱 놀랄일은 이곳지방 관리들은 아프리카출신들과 접촉한적이 있는 주민들은 무조건 확진여부 검사를 받고, 뒤이어 격리수용을 시키도록, 최근에 여행한적이 없거나 격리수용기간을 완수했는데도, 명령을 내려 실시하고 있다고 한다.  아프리칸-아메리칸출신들은 영업이나 호텔출입도 거절당하고 있다는 보고가 있었다.

무역업자, Chuk씨는 비즈니스 특성상, 중국을 들락날락 하면서, 호텔에 묵는게 일상화 된 사람이다. 다른 15명의 아프리칸 출신들과 함께 건강이상무 판정을 받고 격리생활에서 풀려 났는데, 갈곳이 없는 홈레스 신세가 되고 말았다.
"우리는 건강증명서를 들고 호텔로 갔지만 거절당했었다." 이들은 경찰서로 가서 경과를 얘기했지만, 그들은 우리와 대화자체를 거절하고 말았다.  경찰병력을 감독하는 광동의 보안청과 CNN은 접촉 시도를 했으나 답장은 없었다고 한다.

Chuk은 별다른 방법이 없어, 2일밤을 길거리에서 지내야 했다. "공교롭게도 이틀간 밤에 비가내려 우리는 비맞은 생쥐가 됐으며, 내가 갖고있던 모든 소지품은 빨래처럼 젖고 말았다."고 설명한다. 그의 얘기는 전세계 사람들을 화나게 하고있다. 이번주초에 이들이 비맞으면서 노숙자신세로 고생했던 내용이 Online에서 돌고 있다. 또다른 동영상은  경찰이 길거리에서 아프리칸출신들에게 욕설하고 인격모독하는 광경을 보여 주었다.

 이런 무자비한 중국에 대해, 한국의 문재인 정부는 매일같이 읍소하고, 하늘문을 활짝 열어주고 있다는 표현도 모자자, 중국은 큰집, 대한민국은 작은집, 그래서 큰집의 보살핌이 필요하다고 역설과 아부를 국민들에게 강요하고 있다.

더웃기는것은 이들을 격리수용해야 할경우, 그비용을 국민들 세금으로 100%충당하고 있는 이현실을 보면서도, 많은 좌파 찌라시들과 일부 국민들은 4.15총선에서 그들에게 투표하겠다고, 그래서 사회주의 공산주의 정책을 무자비하게 집행하고 있는 중국식 정부를 만들겠다고 야단들이다.


대한민국은 어디로 가야 하는지? 방향을 잃은, 일엽편주가 되여 떠내려가고있는 형국이다.

Africans in Guangzhou are on edge, after many are left homeless amid rising xenophobia as China fights a second wave of coronavirus

Hong Kong (CNN)The African community in Guangzhou is on edge after widespread accounts were shared on social media of people being left homeless this week, as China's warnings against imported coronavirus cases stoke anti-foreigner sentiment.

In the southern Chinese city, 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 contact with Covid-19 patients.

CNN interviewed more than two dozen Africans living in Guangzhou many of whom told of the same experiences: being left without a home, being subject to random testing for Covid-19, and being quarantined for 14 days in their homes, despite having no symptoms or contact with known patients.

Health authorities in Guangdong ​province and the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau did not respond to CNN's request for comment. 

The move comes amid heightened media coverage of the so-called second wave of coronavirus cases, emanating from infections outside of China. Earlier this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged authorities to carefully watch for imported cases from ​other countries, state news agency Xinhua reported.

But one aspect of the data has received relatively less public attention: on March 26, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Luo Zhaohui said 90% of China's imported cases held Chinese passports.

On Thursday afternoon, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said: "Since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, China and African countries have always supported each other and have always fought against the virus jointly.

"I would like to emphasize that the Chinese government treats all foreigners in China equally, opposes any differentiated practices targeted at specific groups of people, and has zero tolerance for discriminatory words and actions." 

Cases spark a backlash

Guangzhou has long had the largest African community in China. Because many Africans in the city have short-term business visas, they travel into China several times a year, making it difficult to calculate the size of the African population the city. But in 2017, approximately 320,000 Africans entered or left China through Guangzhou, according to Xinhua.

African residents say local hostility to their presence is nothing new. But when coronavirus cases emerged in the African community this month it served to amplify existing tensions. 

A report on April 4 alleged that a Nigerian national with Covid-19 had attacked a Chinese nurse who tried to stop him leaving an isolation ward at a Guangzhou hospital​. The report was shared widely on social media, and local Africans CNN spoke to say a racist backlash against the African community ​followed.

Then on April 7, Guangzhou authorities said five Nigerians had tested positive for Covid-19.

Fearing a cluster among the African community, Guangzhou authorities upgraded the risk level of Yuexiu and Baiyun, the areas home to the city's two African enclaves, from low to medium, state-owned Global Times reported.

​The local government Tuesday reported 111 imported cases of Covid-19 in Guangzhou, with 28 patients from the UK and 18 from the US. In interviews with CNN, Americans and British nationals in Guangzhou said they had not heard reports of forced testing, home evictions and additional quarantine measures being imposed on members of their communities.

On Saturday, however, the US Consulate in Guangzhou warned African-Americans to avoid travel to the city.

"In response to an increase in Covid-19 infections, officials in the Guangzhou metropolitan area escalated scrutiny of foreign nationals," the consulate said in a statement. "As part of this campaign, police ordered bars and restaurants not to serve clients who appear to be of African origin. Moreover, local officials launched a round of mandatory tests for Covid-19, followed by mandatory self-quarantine, for anyone with 'African contacts,' regardless of recent travel history or previous quarantine completion.

"African-Americans have also reported that some businesses and hotels refuse to do business with them."

Homeless in Guangzhou

On March 21, Nigerian goods trader Chuk, who did not want to use his full name for fear of government reprisals, flew back to Guangzhou, his home since 2009. With China's coronavirus cases seemingly under control, he wanted to resume his trading business, which had been stymied by the pandemic.

The area around Guangzhou is a manufacturing heartland, where many Africans buy cheap goods to sell back home.

Chuk returned seven days before China closed its borders to most foreign nationals, but upon arrival, he says he was told that he needed to enter government quarantine at a hotel for two weeks.

As a trader, Chuk travels frequently, and is accustomed to staying in hotels during his time in China.

But on Tuesday, Chuk says that when he was released, along with about 15 other Africans, with a clean bill of health, they effectively became homeless. 

"We went to the hotel with the certificate, but we were rejected," he said. The group went to the police station to report that hotels were refusing to let Africans stay, but "they refused to talk to us."

The Guangzhou Public Security Bureau, which oversees the police, did not respond to CNN's request for comment about events described by anyone CNN interviewed.

Chuk says he had no choice but to sleep rough for two nights, before finding a friend's couch to crash on. "Rain fell that day and the next and we were all drenched and our belongings soaked," he said.

His story was echoed by others who spoke to CNN.

Earlier this week, images began circulating online of rows of Africans sleeping on the streets of Guangzhou, beside their luggage, having either been evicted from their apartments or been turned away from hotels. Other videos showed police harassing Africans on the street. 

On Thursday, CNN called 12 hotels in Guangzhou, wanting to book a room for an African guest, and was informed by 10 that they would not be "accepting foreign guests anymore."

Meanwhile, multiple Africans CNN spoke to reported being abruptly evicted from their homes.

No one had evidence of a government directive asking landlords or hotels to turn away or reject foreigners. Rather, they say, these appeared to be decisions made by private individuals and business owners.

On Wednesday, Nigerian trader Nonso, whose name has been changed to protect his identity due to fear of government reprisals, says he and his girlfriend received a message from their landlord at 7 p.m. on WeChat, a Chinese messaging app, saying they needed to vacate their flat by 8 p.m.. "I told him I can't vacate in one hour," said Nonso, who pays 1,500 yuan ($212) a month for his apartment in the Nanhai, on the outskirts of Guangzhou, and has lived in China for three years.

At 10 p.m. he says his landlord came to the flat and cut off the electricity and water supply.

"I asked them, what did I do? I've paid rent until September with two months' deposit. They didn't give me any reason," he said.

Nonso called the police, who let them ​remain in the apartment for the night. But in the morning, ​Nonso says the landlord returned with a different officer, who said he had to leave. ​Nonso says he has struggled to find a new apartment to rent. "We have contacted a lot of agents none of them are leasing to black foreigners," he said. 

Chris Leslie, also from Nigeria, said he was abruptly evicted from his Guangzhou apartment on Thursday, despite not defaulting on his rent and having a valid contract. He had nowhere to sleep that night. "I will just hang out outside," he said. "It is so pathetic. In a country where people don't accept you and they criticize, this is just a bitter humiliation. The most important thing is having somewhere to sleep."

On Thursday, several volunteer groups emerged on WeChat, mostly populated by scores of other foreigners, rallying around the displaced Africans, organizing food, masks and sanitation products for those left wandering the streets of Guangzhou without a bed.

Katie Smith, an American living in Guangzhou with her Moroccan boyfriend, made two deliveries to newly homeless Africans on Thursday. Her name has been changed to protect her identity, as she, too, fears reprisal from local authorities.

"As we drove down the street we saw a lot of Africans walking around," said Smith. "The police came and said they couldn't stay there. They're not letting them gather in groups. So they're just walking up and down the streets with nowhere to go."

Videos filmed by a member of one of the WeChat volunteer groups, seen by CNN, shows police trying to prevent volunteers from helping the Africans.

"As a black person living in China right now it's pretty scary," said one volunteer who didn't want their name to be reported for similar reasons, said via WeChat. "Don't use the African/black community as a scapegoat for the virus." 

Imported cases discrimination

The five Nigerians confirmed to have Covid-19 had been to eight restaurants, nine hotels and 12 public places before testing positive, according to the state-run Global Times.

Since then, Africans across Guangdong province have reported being tested in their homes, despite having no recent travel history or contact with a Covid-19 patient.

Maano Gaasite, an international student from Botswana at a Guangzhou university, said that at 3 p.m. on Sunday she received a WeChat message from her course administrator saying she needed to be tested, despite having not left China for over six months. 

Africans on lockdown

Smith, the American expat who helped coordinate the food drop, lives in Guangzhou with her Moroccan boyfriend.

In late February, the couple went on holiday to Malaysia. She returned on March 17, and says she was was asked to self-isolate at home for 14 days. He returned on March 25, and says he went into a government quarantine facility, paying 400 yuan ($56) a night at a designated hotel, and emerged on Wednesday after testing negative twice.

On Thursday, health authorities came to the couple's flat and said that Smith's partner, who did not want to be identified in this piece, would have to quarantine at home for 14 days because all Africans in the city were being put on lockdown, Smith says.

Smith says her employer, an international school in Guangzhou, was informed on Thursday that all Africans needed to go into lockdown, as it has several South African employees. CNN has spoken to several other Africans who were visited by authorities on Thursday and told they needed to quarantine at home for 14 days. They say police put alarms on their front doors, which will alert officials if they leave home.

There have been no public statements confirming or refuting the existence of an official policy about these measures.

Smith was told if she chose not to live in the apartment she shares with her African boyfriend, who has twice tested negative for the virus, she would not have to quarantine. "There's resentment in Guangzhou that a lot of Africans are perceived to be here illegally and that they overstay," said Smith. "There's been a push in Guangzhou to get them out. This has been an easy excuse to push this community out." 

When the authorities came to Peter Busari's Guangzhou apartment on Wednesday to test him, he filmed the exchange and went live on Facebook. That footage shows officials also asking to see his passport and checking his visa.

Wang Wei, a PhD candidate at the University of Hong Kong, who has been studying the African community in Guangzhou for several years, said testing Africans gave the government a chance to conduct a mass checking of passports, too.

"It threatens the undocumented Africans," he said. "Officially, African foreigners (in Guangzhou) decrease every year but we all know that undocumented Africans still live in this circle doing business underground or through brokers. But because of the pandemic they will become exposed."

Those caught overstaying their visas will be taken into police custody, asked to pay a 10,000 yuan ($1,421) fine and often charged for their airfare back to their home country, said Wang.

Roberto Castillo, an assistant professor at Lingnan University, who has researched the African community in Guangzhou for nearly a decade, says the Yuexiu district where the Nigerian Covid-19 cases were found has "historically been a place where the African community is in more tension with the authorities," and was a troubled site during the Ebola crisis of 2014, when Africans of all nationalities were stopped and checked, regardless of whether they were from affected nations.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/10/china/africans-guangzhou-china-coronavirus-hnk-intl/index.html