Odias harassed in Angola

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged External Affairs Minister S M Krishna to take up with the Angolan Government the issue of the 130 Odia workers who have been framed and are being harassed.After reports appeared that the Odia workers, out of 1,100 Indians stranded in Angola, were held after demanding their dues, Naveen wrote a letter to Krishna seeking his intervention.“Some of these workers have been demanding their lawful wages and other benefits. The company, instead of resolving the issue, has resorted to making false allegations against them for which the workers are getting harassed,” Naveen said.He impressed upon Krishna to take up the issue with the Angolan Government to ensure that the workers get their lawful wages and workmen benefits. Those who want to return to India should be allowed free passage without any harassment, Naveen said.Senior BJD leader and Kendrapara MP B J Panda also condemned the harassment the Indian workers have been subjected to. The 130 Odias, some of whom belonged to Kendrapara, were working in a cement factory in Angola. The workers, who were engaged on a contractual basis, were harassed by the factory owner after they went on a strike demanding wages.The workers, who had not been paid remuneration for overtime since February, were on strike for over 24 days since April. Instead of paying them, the company called in the police which teargassed them and even opened fire on the protesting workers to disperse them. Many of the workers sustained bullet injuries in the firing and around 59 Indians were arrested while many fled to nearby forests living without food or water for days.Panda also wrote to Krishna drawing his attention to the disturbing fact about the Indian workers. "It is extremely shocking that despite media pressure from over 15 days, the Government of India has treated this matter lightly,’’ he alleged. The Ministry of External Affairs had summoned the Ambassador of Angola on Thursday and asked him to address the issue at the earliest.