http://cphpost.dk/news/eritrea-asylum-report-criticised-and-country-s-representative-warns-of-punishment.11857.html
Eritrea asylum report criticised and country's representative warns of
punishment
Despite immigration service's assessment of country's safety, expert speaks
out
There was a spike in asylum-seekers from the east African country (Photo:
Colourbox)
December 2, 2014
11:42
by Philip Tees
During the summer there was a spike in asylum-seekers from the east African
country of Eritrea. Karen Hækkerup, the then justice minister, announced
the matter would be investigated in order to assess how to deal with the
asylum applications.
Politiken now reports that, while the result of this investigation by the
immigration authority Udlændingestyrelsen concludes that it is not
dangerous for illegal immigrants or military deserters to return to the
country, experts disagree and the country’s Nordic representative also
warns that those returning will be punished.
Report author: I was misrepresented
Professor Gaim Kibreab, a professor of refugee studies at London’s South
Bank University, was involved in the producing of the report, but on Friday
withdrew his support for the outcome, claiming that Udlændingestyrelsen had
misrepresented his quotations to produce a rosier picture of conditions in
the country.
He told Politiken he was in no doubt that people who had illegally left
Eritrea would be treated as traitors, imprisoned and subjected to torture
on returning.
Country’s representative: They will stand accountable for crimes
Politiken asked the country’s representative in the Nordic countries, Yonas
Manna Bairu, about the likely fate of those returning. He explained that
Eritreans are only permitted to leave the country by official channels and
that “sneaking out” was a crime. “It’s not a grave offence to leave the
country illegally but it is a criminal offence,” he said.
Bairu said that those returning to Eritrea would be required to sign a
document stating they are responsible for all of the actions they have
undertaken and for leaving the country. “And later they will have to stand
before a judge or a military court,” he said.
“They will stand accountable for the crimes they have committed in Eritrea.”
He rejected however that illegal immigrants and deserters would be
automatically imprisoned or subjected to torture. “That’s nonsense,” he
said.
“Refugees say whatever gives them the best chance to be accepted in the
country. We don’t have the capacity. How many people can you throw in
prison?”
Received on Tue Dec 02 2014 - 21:57:21 EST