CONFUSION looms over the status of displaced
tenants of Muaniweni, who have been terrorised
following the events of May 19. The residents have
been at a camp in Lautoka. While the 251 displaced
tenants have been declared refugees locally,
international organisations fail to see them qualifying
for status of refugees.
The United Nations office in Suva yesterday said that
the term `refugee' is wrong to describe the status of
these 251 victims from Muaniweni. A UN
spokesperson said these victims can be better described
as Internally Displaced Persons and not refugees. The
UN spokesperson said that there is a difference
between the status of a refugee and an internally
displaced person. "A person must be outside their
country of origin before they can be considered for
refugee status," she said. "And an internally displaced
person may be forced to flee their homes for the same
reasons as refugees, but they have not crossed an
internationally recognised boarder."
When asked if the United Nations could provide
assistance to the 251 victims, she said the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
does not have a general mandate to provide protection
and assistance to internally displaced persons.
"UNHCR has increasingly assumed limited
responsibilities for certain groups of internally
displaced persons. The agency has undertaken such
special operations on the basis of its humanitarian
expertise - they have helped the internally displaced persons in Ethiopia, Iraq,
Rwanda and many
war-stricken countries." The UNHCR's stand on the status of refugees includes:
* It has no legal role VIS-A-VIS individuals applying for refugee status while
still in their home
country;
* Persons must be outside their country of origin before they can be considered
for refugee
status; and,
* Upon arrival in a neighbouring country individuals may express their desire
to seek asylum.
Normally such a statement is made to national immigration officials upon arrival.
The official said
authorities in the asylum state will determine the validity of the asylum-seeker's
claim of refugee
status. "National immigration officials would normally consider each application
individually.
UNHCR has an advisory rather than direct role in refugee status determination
in most countries
in the South Pacific like Australia, New Zealand and PNG."
Meanwhile, the group taking care of the residents from Muaniweni said the international
organisation has been keeping in close touch with the camp. Human Rights group
chairman Dr
Roe Krishna said the United Nations and Amnesty International have given moral
support to the
victims. "They are talking to us through the telephone and keeping a track
on how things are
going with the refugees."
Fiji's Daily Post
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