GOVERNMENT ADVISES REFUGEES TO GO BACK HOME The government has advised Namibians living in Botswana as refugees to consider going back to their country of origin. This is because the reasons that compelled government to grant them refuge in the country no longer existed. Because of this, the government intends invoking the cessation clause on the more than 977 Namibian refugees currently residing at the Dukwi Refugee Camp by the end of the year. Cessation means that refugees can no longer refuse to avail themselves of the protection of their country because the circumstances in connection with which they were recognised as refugees have ceased to exist. The circumstances include, but are not limited to, security, economic and political stability in the country of origin. When the cessation clause is invoked as per the 1951 convention for a particular refugee population, it means that those refugees are no longer considered refugees based on the reasons under which they were recognised. The Minister of Defence Justice and Security, Mr Dikgakgamatso Seretse announced on Monday April 7 during an address to Namibian refugees at the Dukwi Refugee Camp. The minister was accompanied by the Namibian Home Affairs and Immigration minister, Ms Pendukeni Livula-Ithana and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) deputy regional representative, Ms Veronica Modey-Ebi. Minister Seretse explained that the tripartite counterparts of the government of Botswana, the Namibian government and the UNHCR were working round the clock to invoke the clause and reach a conclusion before the end of year. However, he informed the refugees who had come in large numbers that Botswana would follow all the refugee conventions throughout the process. He urged the Namibian refugees to prepare themselves because after the invocation the country would no longer recognise them. “It is embarrassing for our free, peaceful and democratic countries to be hosting refugees from each other. I am here to encourage you to voluntarily go back home or at least let me know the factors that make it difficult for you to go back,” he said unequivocally. Minister Seretse also condemned those who threatened others who wanted to voluntarily go back to Namibia saying that each individual must make their own choices without being coerced. “Botswana treats you as individuals and not as a movement because this is how you were assessed and recognised as refugees; hence we want you to make individual choices concerning your future,” he added. The minister encouraged the refugees to contact relevant officials to facilitate voluntary repatriation so they may come to Botswana only as visitors or tourists. The UNHCR, he noted, also desired to see the refugees return back to Namibia. Namibian home affairs and Immigration minister, Ms livula-Ithana said her country had always wanted to see their fellow countrymen back home to live peacefully in a united country. Ms livula-Ithana said not only did they want refugees in Botswana to return, but all their citizens who are in exile all over the world to stop living as refugees. “The Namibian government will facilitate this process by giving you the necessary documents to allow you to be integrated back into society. No one will deprive you of your right to reclaim your citizenship,” she added. Meanwhile, the UNHCR deputy regional representative based in Pretoria, Ms Modey-Ebi said Botswana, Namibia and the UNHCR, had reached a consensus that it would be best for them to be encouraged to voluntarily return home. “It’s time to think about going home as refugee status is never permanent. We want to work with your government to definitively conclude your refugee status and the most feasible method is voluntary repatriation,” Ms Modey-Ebi emphasised. She also informed them that the UNHCR would financially assist them with the US$ 200 voluntary repatriation grant and transportation. Also, she highlighted that UNHCR would look for money to support projects that will sustain the returnees during the reintegration period. The Namibian government, she highlighted, had promised to avail packages to assist the refugees who voluntarily returned home. Furthermore, she told them that the process would start as soon as this week. She said that many regional groupings in Africa, such as ECOWAS no longer wanted to see Africans living as refugees in neighbouring states. “This has happened with Angolan refugees and it will happen to you too,” she quipped. However, a representative of the Namibian refugees, Mr Felix Kakula encouraged the Namibian government to initiate dialogue with their leaders, currently living in exile. BOPA
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 09:46:30 +0000
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