Statement
We have taken note of the recent political developments, expressed by the Norwegian Government’s statement of 19th June 2006, in which the Governement clearly confirms
- the right of all Afghan refugees in Norway to receive legal counselling in order to apply for reversal of their final rejections on their application for asylum.
and in which the Goverment states that this re-evaluation will follow
- the recommendations off the UNHCR regarding the return of refugees to Afghanistan, and
- that no one will be deported to Kabul inless the UNHCR clearly ensures their safety.
We take the Government’s commitment to the UNHCR guidelines to mean that re-evaluation of each case will be based on wheter it’s relevant and reasonable for the refugee to return to Kabul.
We also hold that this right to apply for reversal must include all the refugees that are about to be deported, and expect that they will not be deported until this process has taken place.
Tomorrow - -on the International day of the refugee - we foresee a further clarification on the practical consequences of yesterdays’s statement from the political authorities, and we will continue to claim our rights as refugees in relation to this.
Within 90 days we will call for a meeting with the political authorities, participants of the civil society and the Afghan refugees, for a critical review of the implementation of yesterdays political statement and of the condition Afghan refugees in Norway.
On this background we have decided to end the hunger strike immediatly and continue the struggle for our political rights with no other means.
Oslo, 20th of June 2006
Zahir Athari