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Policy of
return for failed asylum seekers in the Netherlands
plenary
session 26 January 2006 The
policy of the Dutch right-wing government of return for failed asylumseekers was
a headline in the international
media, two years ago. The image of the Netherlands as a tolerant country was
widespread and wellknown, but was damaged seriously by this policy. Through the
ages Holland was a safe place for refugees of all kinds, colours and nations. In
a few years this Dutch government succeeded in closing down the curtain. The
number of asylum-seekers as well as the number of the ones who were recognized
dropped dramatically. This
saddest thing of this policy is that it is a token. This government wants
to prove that it’s tough on the integration-issue. That they think to
have an answer to that xenofoob part of the Dutch population who think that
there are to much foreigners – mostly with a dark skin- in the Netherland. And
the saddest thing is that the targets of this policy are the most weak and
deseprate people in this world: asylumseekers.
I
make my compliments to mrs. Zapfl-Helbling, who wrote a balanced, but also
critical report about the asylum policy of this Dutch government. When
the Dutch government takes this report and the resolution seriously, things can
go better. Then
there are no longer asylumseekers send away when they live for years in the
Netherlands. Then
there are no longer asylumseekers send away who have children who were born in
the Netherlands. Then
there are no longer asylumseekers send away who are ill. Then
there are no longer asylumseekers send away to their country of origin where the
situation is dangerous. Then
it’s not longer necessary what the last weeks happened in the Netherlands.
That a leader of student-protest from Iran should be send back, because Iran was
a safe place in the eyes of the Dutch government. Iran where since the new
president is in power more than 120 people are executed. The asylumseeker from
Iran went on a hungerstrike for 56 days. His action was supported by many civil
groups. And at last, at last , just 5 days ago, there seems to be a change by
the Dutch authorities and it seems in his case that justice will be done. Let’s
hope that in the future, as a result of this report, hungerstrikes are not
longer necessary to convince the Dutch government that a human approach is
desirable. |