UNHCR ‘targets’ Pakistani Christian asylum seekers through 'disturbing' policy change

UNHCR ‘targets’ Pakistani Christian asylum seekers through 'disturbing' policy change

By Michael Ireland, Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)

BANGKOK, THAILAND (ANS, Sept.14, 2016) -- A process change by the UNHCR based in Bangkok, that seems to deliberately target Pakistani Christians who make up the largest body of asylum seekers in Thailand, has caused alarm and consternation amongst the advocacy and humanitarian groups providing aid to them, according to the British Pakistani Christian Association (http://www.britishpakistanichristians.org).

According to the BPCA, the policy has been described as ‘disturbing’ by an on-the-ground campaigner who has also stated that the change in policy “disproportionately affects Pakistani Christians, since they are the largest refugee population here in Bangkok, and are more likely than most refugees to have their application for refugee status rejected.”

The BPCA says the new policy has drastically reduced the time that refugees have to file a notice of appeal. The deadline for filing appeal documents has been reduced from 90 to 30 days.

“To make matters worse the UNHCR has also determined that they will no longer communicate any reasons for refusal in their own language. Previously, the asylum seekers' refusal was read to them in their own language. From now on, asylum seekers will only receive their refusal letter in English,” said Wilson Chowdhry, Chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association, in an update monitored by ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net) .

“Together, these new policies place a devastating burden on refugees already dealing with the emotional trauma of a rejection,” Chowdhry told ANS.

The re-persecution of Pak-Christians is no new phenomena, he said. “On their arrival at Thailand they soon discover they are unwanted when their travel visa expires and they apply for asylum at the UNHCR. Here they are advised that despite having an official UN asylum registration, Thailand's refusal to sign UN conventions on asylum means that their status is illegal. The 1,000 or more Pak-Christians in Thailand are being arrested and detained in the brutal Immigration Detention Centers of Bangkok. Here food paucity, cell cramming, and the spread of infection is debilitating the Christian community.”

Watch the BBC Documentary on Pak Christian asylum seekers in Thailand (click here http://tinyurl.com/gvluk8d )

Chowdhry said the Pakistani Embassy is not willing to help it's Christian citizens despite acknowledging their failures.

He continued: “With morale and confidence at their lowest ebb, many Pakistani Christians are seeking a return home. The obvious rejection has forced them to accept a lifetime of fear, abuse and persecution.”

To help ease the suffering of those who want to return, Chowdhry met with the Third Secretary at the Pakistani Embassy in Thailand.

In it’s update of the situation, BPCA reports that during discussions, Mr Kamran Dhangal accepted that Pakistan as a nation had failed it's Christian minority.

“He expressed in no uncertain terms that all citizens of Pakistan in Thailand would be treated equally and fairly,” said Chowdhry.

“He described an international fund provided by the Pakistani Foreign Office to care for and support their international communities. Funds were available for serious medical conditions that could be proven by a visit to the hospital and invoices from the hospital, he also advised that in special circumstances of financial deprivation repatriation fees for dead bodies and the cost of the flight for return of the dead body could be provided,” he added.

BPCA said it was able to test out the offer of the free repatriation and cost of flight for a dead body when an asylum seeker named Cyril Kamran died on Sunday, August 21, 2016. “When we approached the Pakistani Embassy for help and support for the family they refused without explanation,” said Chowdhry.

Continuing, Chowdhry added: “Kamran Dhungal explained to us how he visited the Immigration Detention Center (IDC) every week, trying to persuade Pakistani Christians that they should return home. He yielded little success and we explained this was due to a mistrust in promises made by the Government. We offered to assist, and approached families both inside and outside the IDC. We encouraged those with family members in the IDC to return home for the health of the victims in the IDC, we were surprised at the take up.

“Quite clearly the attrition of the triumvirate of UNHCR, Royal Thai Government and Pakistani Government has withered away the Pak-Christian resolve. Caught in a quandary they simply want to return home to the 'devil they know.’ We provided a list of around 20 victims and asked for help towards financing the fare of their return to Pakistan. Sadly the Pakistani Embassy and the Royal Thai Government refused. This was painful, as in our discussions an offer for flights for those asylum seekers detained in the IDC was guaranteed. Moreover, the Pakistani Government had given us a name for a Royal Thai Government (RTG) official who had previously stated that such fares would be covered by RTG, for asylum seekers outside the IDC.

“Our disappointment was compounded when Puchphop Mongkolaalvin, a Minister at the Thai Embassy in London, who has been exchanging regular emails with us, also did not respond. So it is quite obvious here that despite citizenship for Pakistan, which is not revoked during the asylum process, the Government of Pakistan will not assist their Christian community. They pay lip service and offer the world, but the reality is something else.”

BPCA says Wilson Chowdhry has asked for a freedom of Information request on a comparison of the number of Pakistani Muslims that have received grants from the Pakistani Embassy in Thailand towards medical costs, repatriations costs and return flights, against similar recipients from the Christian and other minorities. The Embassy has failed to respond.

“We have written a complaint to the 108 emails registered on the Overseas Pakistani officers and partners directory, (and) so far one diplomat from Saudi Arabia has responded and suggested we contact others on that list. It seems even this new government department is tired of the Christian issue.”

The BPCA says Chowdhry has been a long-term campaigner for better UNHCR modus operandi for the suffering Pak-Christian asylum seekers, who continue to face a previously inconceivable rejection by the international community.

The group stated: “Western nations ignore their plight due to a belief that the laws and practices in Pakistan, are equal, fair, and practicable. Yet in the last four years Christians in Pakistan have been targeted in four bomb attacks by Islamic militant groups, a fact that has yet to register with the UN.

“They continue to delay Pak-Christian refugee determination for periods of up to 7 years, despite having received a 300 euro grant, that has resulted in the hiring of additional assessors.”

The BPCA has no idea who is being expedited through the deployment of additional officers.

“We can say with some certainty however that it is not Pakistani Christians,” said Chowdhry.

British Pakistani Christian Association is assisting stranded Pak-Christian asylum seekers in Thailand. “We provide advocacy, aid and assistance including medical care, housing and food, business workshops and a school for asylum children. If you would like to support our work with a donation please click here https://britishpakistanichristians.worldsecuresystems.com/donate .

BPCA explained that the shocking revelation in 2014 that an estimated 700 Christian girls were being kidnapped, raped and forced into Islamic marriage, has done little to dent the American or British Government mindset, “but then again, all three nations are fighting a war against terror -- against the 'real extremists' together -- so perhaps the US and UK vision has been clouded by the ally status held by Pakistan. Even though the commitment by Pakistan is so often questioned, no more so then when Bin Ladin was killed outside of Pakistan's knowledge.”

Chowdhry stated: “Sadly Christian NGO's believe the figures provided for the abduction and forced marriage of Christian girls is at least double the 700 quoted, by Muslim NGO 'Movement of Solidarity and Peace.' Moreover, the marriage laws that are meant to protect innocent Christian girls, are actually being used to retain them in forced marriages -- contravening the belief that the legal system of Pakistan is fair and proving it is more equal if you are a Muslim.”

BPCA says the plight of Christians from across the globe is being ignored by western nations, despite clear evidence that they are the most persecuted of all communities.

“Britain's own Home Office policy was questioned after it came to light that refusals were based on much ridiculed mechanisms for assessing an asylum applicants Christianity,” said Chowdhry.

“This latest move by the UNHCR in Thailand evidences that Christians simply are no longer welcome anywhere. BPCA is calling for western nations to review this treatment of Christians and create a sanctuary for them.”

Chowdhry concluded: "Pakistani Christians find themselves in a nadir, they are not wanted by their home nation because their faith makes them ritually impure, the equivalent of a demon. They cannot seek asylum in the west as Christians are not welcome there anymore, and they face definite re-persecution in Buddhist, Hindu and other Muslim nations -- if they can even get there.

“The international community needs to think long and hard on this issue, persecution for Christians across the globe is increasing rapidly. To stem the tide a sanctuary has to be declared for them."

The British Pakistani Christian Association is asking concerned individuals to help asylum seekers in Pakistan.

** Sign this petition for the UNHCR -BPCA will email this to Peter Trotter Senior Protection Officer (click here http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/unhcr-p)

** Sign this petition for the Pakistan Embassy in Thailand - to be sent to all contacts on Overseas Pakistani Commission database (click here http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/overseas-pakistani-commission-please-help-pak-christian-citi)

BPCA encourages concerned individuals to contact both UNHCR Geneva, and UNHCR Bangkok. The best way to address mail to Bangkok is:

UNHCR Regional Representative in Thailand

ATTN: Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela

P.O. Box 2-121, 10200 Bangkok, Thailand

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Rue de Montbrillant 94, 1201 Genève, Switzerland

Please also email your concerns to:

Mr François Crépeau,

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants (migrant@obchr.org )

Photo Captions: 1) Women and children are among the asylum seekers (BPCA photo). 2) Wilson Chowdhry (via The Guardian). 3) Michael Ireland.

About the Writer: Michael Ireland is a volunteer internet journalist serving as Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, as well as an Ordained Minister who has served with ASSIST Ministries and written for ASSIST News Service since its beginning in 1989. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China, and Russia. Please consider helping Michael cover his expenses in bringing news of the Persecuted Church, by logging-on to: https://actintl.givingfuel.com/ireland-michael

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