Nikki Abela Mercieca
Congolese migrants’ applications may be reviewed
Some 40 Congolese migrants in Malta may have their asylum applications reviewed after a UN draft report concluded that crimes committed by Rwan-dan army and allied rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be classified as genocide.
“An ex-officio review may be carried out once the UNHCR guidelines are published,” Refugee Commissioner Mario Friggieri told The Sunday Times yesterday.
Although the Maltese authorities have not sent back any immigrants to Congo, the migrants’ status of protection may be reviewed once the UNHCR releases a set of guidelines, Mr Friggieri said.
Head of UNHCR office in Malta Jon Hoisaeter said no actual date had been set but the plan was to publish the report soon.
Mr Hoisaeter said the UN agency frequently released new updates and guidelines on countries of origin of asylum seekers, to aid the application process.
The area in Congo where the migrants are coming from will be taken into account when reviewing applications, Mr Friggieri said. The review will be carried out without migrants needing to reapply or appeal, Mr Friggieri said.
According to the refugee commissioner, ex-officio reviews have been carried out before for other countries of origin. In October 2007, the commission reviewed all Eritrean applications, after the situation at the frontier between Ethiopia and Eritrea worsened.
The draft report details the conflict in Congo from 1993 to 2003, and states that tens of thousands of Hutus, including women, children and the elderly, were killed by the Tutsi dominated Rwandan army. However, Rwanda’s justice minister has dismissed these claims as “rubbish”.
Although the conflict is officially over, eastern Congo, which is close to the Rwandan border, remains unstable. Last Thursday, the UN Security Council discussed allegations that at least 150 women and boys were gang raped by Rwandan Hutu armed rebels in the eastern Congolese town of Luvungi and surrounding villages earlier this year.
In eastern Congo, rape is so prevalent as a weapon of war that senior UN official Margot Wallstrom called it the “rape capital of the world”.
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Charles Sammut
Aug 29th 2010, 15:59
The Congo is the size of Western Europe! The population density is 29/sq km (Malta's is 1300). We shall never accept these ridiculous decisions. Never.
Sean Grima
Aug 30th 2010, 08:32
that is irrelevant.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 30th 2010, 09:16
I think its quite relevant.
One of the reasons why the Congo and for that matter Sudan are in such a mess is because they are by far too big to be effectively governed.
Break these countries into a more manageable size and then maybe some parts of them might have some peace and prosperity.
If the UN was so quick to and able to carve up Kosovo, I just do not see why the same cant be done in the Congo or Southern Sudan.
Sean Grima
Aug 30th 2010, 12:25
i was referring to his statement that 'we will never accept these decisions'. i say that it is irrelevant because it is the refugees commissioner which takes these decisions.
Joe Fenech
Aug 29th 2010, 13:24
Oh come on!! Problems in their country? Let them solve them THEMSELVES like any civilised country would do!
Sean Grima
Aug 30th 2010, 08:32
your comments are disgraceful in the face of the humanitarian plight of these people.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 29th 2010, 12:32
I might be wrong, but as far as I know in the 1993 genocide in Rwanda, it was the Hutus that went on a killing rampage against the Tutsis and not as stated in this report.
Secondly since the applications for asylums are being reviewed because of the rape situation on the Congolese women, would one assume that the 40 Congolese migrants in question are all women.
E Phillips
Aug 29th 2010, 20:18
"I might be wrong, but as far as I know in the 1993 genocide in Rwanda, it was the Hutus that went on a killing rampage against the Tutsis and not as stated in this report." The report is talking about the conflict in the Congo, not the genocide in Rwanda. "Secondly since the applications for asylums are being reviewed because of the rape situation on the Congolese women, would one assume that the 40 Congolese migrants in question are all women." Did you read the penultimate paragraph? Might be an idea to read the article in future before commenting.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 29th 2010, 22:49
Sorry mate, but I just don,t follow your drift on what you are trying to say.
From what I,m reading in the article ,is that the women are being raped. So my question would be how many of the 40 applicants that might be considered for asylum are in actual fact women.
Sean Grima
Aug 30th 2010, 08:33
women have families, who would also be in an unsafe situation.
E Phillips
Aug 30th 2010, 21:03
"................150 women and boys were gang raped"
That sentence, from the penultimate paragraph, would suggest that rape is not a female only ordeal.
Louise Vella
Aug 29th 2010, 11:50
If I understand this mumbo jumbo correctly, Malta, pressed by UNHCR, gave asylum to 40 Hutsis who are now suspected of having taken part in genocide against the Hutus. Unless, pressed by UNHCR, we gave refugee status to 40 Hutus, who are now suspected of having taken part in genocide against the Hutsis. In any case that does not say much for UNHCR's credibility. Indeed should we - and Mr Friggieri - not be more careful before believing UNHCR's guidelines, reports, updates and other statements?
Sean Grima
Aug 29th 2010, 13:11
no you do not understand anything at all...they are saying that since these people come from a country where genocide took place, they might now qualify as refugees.
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 29th 2010, 15:50
From the day Belgium in 1960 gave Congo its independence, the genocide started, so why after 50 years of it, all this fuss now.
Sean Grima
Aug 30th 2010, 08:31
genocide in lay terms does not necessarily amount to genocide in legal terms.
Louise Vella
Aug 29th 2010, 11:21
Whatever the situation in the Congo and in Ruanda may or may not be; whatever UNHCR (which has never wished Malta any good) says or does not say; whatever Mr Friggieri may or may not think, the important questions are:
Do the common people of Malta want to be embroiled in the politics of the Hutus and the Tutsis?
Have the Maltese ever voted to have the Hutus and the Tutsis in Malta?
If the Maltese were to vote in a referendum to see if they want the Hutus or the Tutsis to settle in Malta, don't you think it's likely that 99% per cent of us would reply "NEITHER"?
Why does Dr Gonzi not embark on a serious policy of repatriating all illegal immigrants, wherever they come from and whichever tribe they belong to?
Joe Bonnici
Aug 29th 2010, 12:02
They should be sent back to Libya and they can go to another African country to their African brothers and sisters. Does the UNHCR expect that we keep everyone that makes it to Malta because they have trouble in their own country? UNHCR take them to your headquarters and care for them yourselves.
Sean Grima
Aug 29th 2010, 13:13
the fact that refugees from these countries are in malta does not mean that we are involved in hutu/tutsi rivalry! this tribal hatred is incited by militia leaders, it does not mean that civilian and ordinary tutsi hate hutus and vice versa. in fact, many inter marry.
Sam Busuttil
Aug 30th 2010, 22:05
Sean Grima so they would have no problem going back to their own country since they are from the two tribes.
Sean Grima
Aug 31st 2010, 13:26
of course they will have no difficulty going back to a country where genocide is taking place!!