Support network for Afghan refugees

Earlier this week the government made promises to the Afghans. This have unfortunately proven empty words. Early Friday morning, activists went to Trandum and Oslo Airport Gardermoen, to hinder the police in the deportation of two Afghans. From what we have learned, the plan was that the deportation was due to 11 o’clock. The activist managed to delay this. At Trandum, activists blocked the area with vehicles, and inspected all the cars that entered and left the area.

At about a quarter to four yesterday, the activists at Trandum were arrested and brought to Lillestrøm police station. Zahir Athari, the Afghans’ spokesman, was also amongst the arrested persons.

At about five o’clock yesterday afternoon, there was a demonstration outside the cathedral of Oslo. During the demonstration, we learned that the activists were released, one by one. Zahir Athari was amonst the last who were released. One by one, the activists arrived at the demonstration, and Zahir arrived last, with a few other activists.

During the demonstration, we learned that the police had succeded in deporting the two Afghans.

The struggle continues!Â

During the weekend, we will try to put up an e-mail list for distribution of important updates and planned demonstrations arranged by the support network and other relevant information.

The hunger strike was ended Tuesday evening, after the goverment for one thing promised that all the Afghans should have a possibility to get their cases reevaluated, and that no Afghans without connections to Kabul, would be deported in 2006.
The National Police Immigration Service told the media that they had not gotten new instructions, and are therefore continuing the deportation of Afghans.

Tomorrow, Friday, the police is going to deport another two Afghans to Afghanistan.

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

The hunger striking ended their hunger strike tonight. More information will be posted tomorrow morning.

Earlier today the weather changed. The sunshine disappeared, it became cloudy and windy. Provisional plastic sheets was about to be blown away, and had to be reinforced with nails, adhesive tape and ropes.

But at about seven this evening, Red Cross said they would come with tents. At seven thirty personell from the Red Cross came, and the provisional plastic sheets was exchanged with proper white tents!

The hunger strike has now lasted for 24 days
There was a gathering with statements and information outside the cathedral at about 11:30 today. Poems was read, and author Erling Kittelsen had a statement. Mads Gilbert, a doctor from Tromsø, updated the people on the situation. He said that the municipal of Oslo is not fulfilling their commitments regarding the hunger striking, when it comes to tents, sanitary installations and water. Yesterday he had contact with the Red Cross, and they came with blankets. Further he said that it was unacceptable that the hunger striking no longer had a tent, and it was a shame for Norway and the government that they did not fulfill their commitments regarding refugees in distress.

Red Cross
At about twelve today, Red Cross came to the camp. They brought water tap equipment and installed three temporary taps. They also brought wash basins. There work with getting new tents is now in progress.

The author John Irving
Today the american author John Irving was at the camp and signed the support banner.

SVs proposition
At about a quarter to one today, Hernand Rojas from SV showed up and recited the proposition that SV has composed. SVs national congress will make a decision on this proposal later today.

Planned demonstrations
On Wednesday the 21th of June there will be a demonstration. People are invited to be at the Cathredral at 17:00, and from there we will go to the Parliament building with the parole “Stop the deportations”. There we will try to hand over the almost 40 meter long support banner with signatures, and we hope that someone from the government will be there to receive this.