Govt apologises to asylum seekers, warns ‘agitators’

GOVERNMENT has apologised to asylum seekers in Namibia for the delay in processing their applications for refugee status.

At the same time, however, it issued a stern warning to those who resorted to what it described as “unruly behaviour” to voice dissatisfaction about their treatment in their host country. In direct response to claims by the Association for the Defence of Refugee Rights (ADR) that Government was violating their rights by allegedly denying them refugee status, the Home Affairs Commissioner for Refugees Elizabeth Negumbo said on Monday that the group, consisting mainly of DRC nationals, were “misguided”.”These asylum seekers maintain that they are justified to call our Government all sorts of names and even went to the extent insulting our leadership, including the leadership of UNHCR, under the guise of demanding their basic human rights as asylum seekers,” Negumbo said at Osire on the occasion of World Refugee Day.Three placard-waving members of the ADR were arrested as they broke through the crowd as Negumbo began addressing refugees.Negumbo stood firm as the crowd surged forward, causing momentary mayhem as the Police moved swiftly to clamp down on the instigators of the protest.Later, nine others were also detained for alleged disturbance of the peace.”This is our day.If we don’t demonstrate today, then when?” ADR leader MacGoddins Lushimba told journalists.The Refugee Commissioner maintained that Government had remained steadfast in its commitment to giving the basic needs and rights of refugees all the attention it demanded.”It appears they only know their basic needs and rights, at the same time deliberately ignoring their obligations towards Namibia to respect the local laws of the host country and to refrain from unruly behaviour which might disturb peace and public order,” said Negumbo.She cited a lack of manpower and logistical pitfalls for having prolonged the process of awarding refugee status to asylum seekers and denied that Government had deliberately put the exercise on hold last year.”This group of asylum seekers are misguided asylum seekers who, out of ignorance and-or frustration, try to mislead the genuine asylum seekers and some refugees within the camp,” Negumbo said.She said the Namibia Refugee Committee would give serious attention to unprocessed applications when it next sits on July 8.In direct response to claims by the Association for the Defence of Refugee Rights (ADR) that Government was violating their rights by allegedly denying them refugee status, the Home Affairs Commissioner for Refugees Elizabeth Negumbo said on Monday that the group, consisting mainly of DRC nationals, were “misguided”.”These asylum seekers maintain that they are justified to call our Government all sorts of names and even went to the extent insulting our leadership, including the leadership of UNHCR, under the guise of demanding their basic human rights as asylum seekers,” Negumbo said at Osire on the occasion of World Refugee Day.Three placard-waving members of the ADR were arrested as they broke through the crowd as Negumbo began addressing refugees.Negumbo stood firm as the crowd surged forward, causing momentary mayhem as the Police moved swiftly to clamp down on the instigators of the protest.Later, nine others were also detained for alleged disturbance of the peace.”This is our day.If we don’t demonstrate today, then when?” ADR leader MacGoddins Lushimba told journalists.The Refugee Commissioner maintained that Government had remained steadfast in its commitment to giving the basic needs and rights of refugees all the attention it demanded.”It appears they only know their basic needs and rights, at the same time deliberately ignoring their obligations towards Namibia to respect the local laws of the host country and to refrain from unruly behaviour which might disturb peace and public order,” said Negumbo.She cited a lack of manpower and logistical pitfalls for having prolonged the process of awarding refugee status to asylum seekers and denied that Government had deliberately put the exercise on hold last year.”This group of asylum seekers are misguided asylum seekers who, out of ignorance and-or frustration, try to mislead the genuine asylum seekers and some refugees within the camp,” Negumbo said.She said the Namibia Refugee Committee would give serious attention to unprocessed applications when it next sits on July 8.