Please Share this
For joining India to International Refugee Convention
Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees says India has opened its doors for refugees and asylum seekers. While praising refugee policies of India, he believes that this country has set an example for other countries and invites them to emulate. The former Prime Minister of Portugal who was in India recently to attend the fourth round of open-ended bilateral consultations in New Delhi and deliberated on the current policies and activities of UNHCR in several regions of the world as well as on South Asia-specific situations, said in an interview with “Hindu” website: India with its history, culture, traditions, is today an example of generosity in the way it has opened its borders to all people who have come looking for safety and sanctuary. Without mentioning Iranian presence in India; Mr. Antonio Guterres speaks about Tibetans, Afghans and Myanmarese refugees in India and in praise of opening its borders policy for everyone he states: “India has a generous approach in relationship to all people and a proof of that is the granting of long term visas and work permits to refugees.” He states: “We consider India a more reliable partner in the world to guarantee that people who need help will find a place. And more importantly at a time when there are so many closed borders in the world, and many people have been refused protection, India has been generous.” Read the whole interview of Mr. Antonio Guterres here. In this regard, we the forgotten people in the biggest democracy of the world, informing the United Nations High Commissioner: Mr. President, Have you ever heard the name of Jahangir Eslah, Iranian refugee who passed away on World Refugee Day due to failure and indifference of UN? We are suggesting reading the tragic story of this Iranian refugee from here, Mr. President, This tragic story had happened on 2007 and you may say after that no such incidents ever happened. We, the Iranian refugee of India, are requesting you to investigate whether after that tragic date, refugees haven’t got any severe sickness or whether medical services of UN have got any better? Till date, after so many years, refugees of India have critical problems regarding their initial medical services. Mr. President, Do you know the country you are introduced as an example for refuge issues, has not signed the international refugee conventions till date and there is no united behavioral approach towards all refugees? India has not signed the 1951 and 1967 Refugee Convention; Government of India does not even legally recognize the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office as a non-governmental organization. In fact, this office does not officially exist in India. Refugees in India, under the India foreigners’ act 1946 are considered foreigners. In this Act, there is no clear prediction for the residence of refugees, or a distinction between a resident foreigner and a refugee. Consequently, refugees who do not have valid identification or residential document are subject to heavy penalties, including being returned to the country of origin. Therefore Iranian refugees, who are unable to renew their identification passport in Iranian consular office or embassy, are in a high-risk situation in terms of residential status. Recently, the Office of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that he is trying to obtain legal residence facilities for refugees in India, but these facilities will aim those who possess at least a valid identification or passport. In regards to Afghan refugees, due to the close relationship between their country and India, they get special means of support, the Afghanistan consular office in India, issues the passport for the Afghan refugee. This does not apply for the Iranian refugees who mostly possess an expired visa or passport and cannot reissue their passports at Iranian embassy; as a result they will be at risk of being returned to their home country. It seems that India has different approaches regarding its agreements with international organizations and does not include Iranian refugees in these facilities. Even this kind of behavior of India regarding inhabitancy facility giving to refugees has mentioned in lawyer’s Committee of Human Rights. Also, it has been so many years since UNHCR office in India claims that they are trying to get permanent legal residence for refugees in India but unfortunately, there is still no news. Wandering and loss of Identity of Iranian refugees in India Government of India has appointed some privileges for non-Iranian refugees like Burmese and Afghans and according to these privileges, they can work and apply for legal residency. Tibetan refugees also are supported by exiled government of Tibet. Other refugees left their own countries out of social and regional problems, so their embassies would support them legally by renew their visas and giving them identification papers, therefore they can submit their visas to Police of India to renew their visas and live in India with ease of mind. But the only refugees who had to leave their country because of political and social activities are Iranians. Iranian refugees unlike other refugees would not get the support of their embassies in India and are deprived of having valid passports. They are even in danger of getting attacked and harassed by Iran embassy in India and that is why they are the most vulnerable stratum of refugees in India. While, UNHCR, would not give any convincing answer on resettlement, having no passport would make these refugees to lose career opportunities in India and even abroad. Iranian refugees are the main victims of India’s non accession to convention 1951 and clear violation of article 27 in regard of right to have identity verifications and article 28 on have the right to travel and use of travel documents caused critical and deplorable problems for Iranian refugees and led to waste of good career opportunities for them in universal competitions. Moreover, heavy sanctions against Islamic Republic of Iran, banned any possible financial aids from refugees families or friends. Iranian refugees are extreme minorities. Government of India does not care much about them. Moreover, India has strong political affair with Iran. And Iran and Islamic extremists groups are having great and powerful influence in India. Government of Iran under the cover of humanity aids for Muslim refugees of other countries, tries to motive them to harden the situation even more for Iranian refugees. While, security and safety issues are the most concern of Iranian refugees in India, the only possibility of getting legal support in India would be by a center named SLIC which is working under the supervision of UN and help of Lawyers Committee of Human Rights. But since the UNHCR in India is not officially approved by Government of India, the legal maneuver of these lawyers would limit a lot usually to the title of translator. Several cases of assault and beat of Iranian refugees by anonymous people are still remained without any answer. Mr. President, We, the Iranian refugees in India, are gratitude to Government and people of India, but being in Democrat country of India, do not mean we are free. Not only, we, the Iranian refugees in India are not safe from suppression and terrorist acts of government of Iran in here but also we are deprived from basic amenities of life. Not only, we, the Iranian refugees in India have no financial support from government of India, but also, we are deprived from any work permit in this country, and this is makes us deprived from minimum living rights and led to violation of human dignity in our small community in India. We are requesting for once, you Sir and government of India listen to our problems and do something immediate regarding our small community’s’ suffers and problems. With respect, http://wp.me/p3jadq-2m
هیچ نظری موجود نیست:
ارسال یک نظر