Question : SECURITY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY TO INDIANS IN SIERRA LEONE

(a) whether the Government are aware of the reports about the threat to life and property of Indians in Sierra Leone;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) the number of Indians in Sierra Leone and the number out of them which fled to India;

(d) the steps taken to ensure due security of life and property to Indians over there;

(e) whether the Government had not cleared its dues to the post and telegraph department of Ghana resulting in denial of post services to Indian soldiers; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

THE MNISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)

(a) & (b) In the continuing stand off between the government and rebel forces, there is a general threat to the life and property of all foreigners including Indian and Sierra Leoneans alike.

(c) Presently there are approximately 190 Indians in Sierra Leone. Though it is learnt that some Indians, especially women and children have left the country, so far there is no record of any of them coming to India.

(d) The overall responsibility to ensure security of life and property of foreigners in Sierra Leone lies with the host government. Our Mission in Abidjan which is concurrently accredited to Sierra Leone is constantly monitoring the situation in that country through our Honorary Consul there and will do everything possible to ensure the safety of Indians in Sierra Leone.

(e) & (f) No postal bags meant for Indian Army in Sierra Leone were held up in Ghana because of non-payment of dues to the Ghanaian post and telegraph department by the Government of India.