41 refugees flee Nam, cite insecurity

A GROUP of 41 refugees and asylum seekers fled Namibia last week, citing insecurity in the country following ‘death threats’ issued against them. They are now stranded in ‘No Man’s Land’ between the Namibia-Botswana border.

All 41 (including 23 children between the ages of 1 and 17), are from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and were staying at the Osire Refugee Camp 220km northeast of Windhoek before they left.According to a press release issued by the National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), the 41 had recently approached the Society with what they argued was evidence amounting to death threats. The NSHR stated that it was for this reason, that the refugees are ‘unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of the Government of the Republic of Namibia – owing to well-founded fears of being persecuted, inter alia, for reasons of nationality, of a particular social group or political opinion.’The NSHR says that many of the refugees or asylum seekers, most of whom had lived at Osire for over five years, are members of the Association of the Voiceless (AV) – a human rights organisation at Osire. It was established to advocate respect for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers at the camp, which is home to over 7 000 refugees and asylum seekers.In June, the Human Rights organisation reported that following a letter by the AV to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, in which the group detailed various ‘unacceptable conditions’ at Osire, the Ministry responded by stating that the group’s ‘writings constitute a threat to peace and security…’ and demanded that the AV ‘stop writing sensational articles.’ He also added that ‘anybody, as an individual, found continuing with that adversary type of behavior shall be requested to leave the Republic of Namibia within a specified period.’In addition to the response of the Ministry, the NSHR states that the group also expressed fear at sentiments reportedly made by Former President Sam Nujoma, where in addressing a rally at Helao Nafidi in May, he stated that ‘we will only work together and cooperate with those foreigners who are respecting us and those who do not, can pack up and go or they will face bullets in their heads.’’There is no other interpretation than that these Congolese nationals are in effect regarded as not respecting the Namibian people due to their writings,’ says the NSHR. The human rights group has since written letters of concern to the Ministry of Home Affairs, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Organisation for Migration, and in mid-June, sent an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, in which it ‘expressed concern that the refugees might face imminent danger of summary execution, enforced disappearance to their native DRC.’Contacted for comment, the UNHCR expressed regret at the refugees’ decision to flee the country, noting that the UN ‘appreciates the generosity shown to refugees and asylum-seekers by Namibia over the years and has no information which would validate the fears of this group.’The AV has criticised both the Government and the UNHCR for having ‘failed to grant them practical refugee protection as provided for in the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and other related international laws governing refugees, including those adopted by the African Union,’ to which Namibia is signatory.But the UNHCR says that fleeing the country doesn’t provide long-term solutions to the refugee plight. ‘We do understand that refugees, like all human beings, have aspirations for their lives and are seeking durable solutions. However, we do not believe that this action will lead to an improvement in their lives, nor to an effective durable solution,’ it said.The UNHCR recently visited the group between the Namibia-Botswana border and provided assistance, including food, through the Namibia Red Cross Society.’We are in discussion with the Government of Namibia and appreciate its preparedness to resolve this situation in the most appropriate way,’ says the UNHCR, adding that ‘we sincerely hope that this incident will not undermine the welcome traditionally afforded to asylum-seekers and refugees in Namibia and assure the Government of our continued support and cooperation with the provision of protection.’Efforts to reach the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration on Friday proved futile, and the NSHR has noted that no response has been forthcoming from the Ministry in this regard.-nangula@namibian.com.na