arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)
|
Stop the Deportation of Nepalese Asylum-seekers from Belgium by Nepalese People's Progressive Forum, Belgium Sunday August 18, 2002 at 02:08 PM |
The Belgian Government is deporting asylum-seekers from Nepal. The deportations are highly discriminatory. While many asylum-seekers from various countries are granted refugee status and residence permit in Belgium, those from Nepal are refused such status and are being deported in increasing numbers. Till now not a single Nepalese asylum-seekers has been recognized by the General Commission for the Refugees and Stateless of Belgium.
Nepal is in a state of deepening all-round crisis. Much of the country today is undergoing social convulsion, political ferment and insurgency. These have been caused by intense exploitation and ruthless oppression leading to untold misery of the people by both the local elite and foreign exploiters.
In the cities, as well as the countryside, the government's army and its armed police force have been carrying out, and continue to carry out brutal repression campaigns against, not only the rebellion, but also the populace at large. These campaigns are marked by massacres, rapes and mass-arrests of many people, most of whom are innocent civilians.
Since 26 November 2001, Nepal is experiencing extremely dark days. The government has imposed a State of Emergency, thereby openly ending any pretence of practising democracy. Not only are searches and arrests (without warrant) intensified, disappearances of persons taken into police custody have become common with each passing day. There is no legal due process in Nepal today.
Newspapers have been closed down, offices raided and journalists arrested, and at least one well-known journalist was recently tortured and murdered after his capture. There has also been severe curtailment of freedom of movement and assembly. Such are the harsh realities in Nepal today. These are all well-known facts.
No part of Nepal today is safe for the people. Yet the government of Belgium is continuing its practice of deportation. In deporting asylum-seekers from Nepal, the Belgian government is sending them to almost certain arrests, imprisonment and very possibly, torture and death. Hence, the Belgian government must bear full moral and legal responsibility for the arrests, detention, disappearance and death of each and every person returned to Nepal.
End the deportation of asylum-seekers!
End all discriminatory practices against Nepalese asylum-seekers!
Stop aiding repression in Nepal!
Support the people's just demand for ending the Emergency!
Krishna Khatiwada
President
Nepalese People's Progressive Forum, Belgium
12 August 2002
nppfbe@hotmail.com
Tabernakelstraat 15,2140 Borgerhout- Antwerpen,Belgium.Tel+32.497075575,Fax:+32.3.2724351,E-mail: nppfbe@hotmail.com