UK to continue Zimbabwe returns (of asylum-seekers) (BBC)

[mom cat]

UK to continue Zimbabwe returns

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4625073.stm

Protesters in London were voicing their opposition to Mr Mugabe
Charles Clarke has rejected calls to stop sending back to Zimbabwe people whose UK asylum claims have failed.
The home secretary said successful applicants could stay - but argued that a blanket suspension of all removals would lead to asylum abuses.

Dozens of Zimbabweans in detention centres across the UK have gone on hunger strike, while the Lib Dems urged a review of 116 people's cases.

Tory spokesman David Davis called UK Zimbabwe policy a "miserable failure".

He said Robert Mugabe's regime was guilty of "crimes against humanity on a massive scale".

[PeaceProgProsp]

1. The implication of this is that the UK doesn't believe Zimbabwe is so

screwed up that anyone who escapes from it shouldn't be required to return.

I believe that during Kosovo's worst moments, for example, the UK gave asylum to just about anyone from Kosovo who made it to the UK.

Obviously, this is a pretty high standard to meet, but, if the rhetoric is that Zimbabwe is worse then hell, the legal reality of the asylum process isn't matching the rhetoric.

[geek tragedy]

2. Or one could by cynical and point out that Kosovars are white Europeans

and the folks trying to immigrate from Zim are black.

But race NEVER plays a role in immigration policy.

[mom cat]

3. Premature welcome to the 1000 club!

:applause:

and thanks for your insight. Check out my other Zimbabwe post.
10:49pm (UK)
Home Office 'Freezing Zimbabwe Removals in Summit Ploy'

By Vivienne Morgan and Joe Churcher, PA Political Staff

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4750446

A Labour former minister tonight accused the Home Office of ordering a temporary freeze on deportations to Zimbabwe to avoid embarrassment at the G8 summit.

Kate Hoey said immigration officials had been ordered to suspend the removals until after next week’s gathering at Gleneagles of the leaders of the major industrialised nations.


Ms Hoey, who has long been an outspoken critic of President Mugabe’s regime, also warned that the Government risked losing all credibility over Africa if it forcibly returned failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe.

She appealed to Live 8 organisers to demand G8 leaders “get their head out of the sand” and put Zimbabwe at the top of the agenda.