Ethiopians living in Norway as a whole express their disapproval and opposition to this repatriation agreement because there is enough and convincing evidence to show that Ethiopia is not a safe country to seekers who have fled the country for fear of persecution. Moreover, the overall humanitarian situation in the country does not justify or speaks against the repatriation of these asylum seekers. Moreover, many of them have lived, worked in Norway for many years and integrated themselves into the Norwegian society, which we mean needs humanitarian consideration. We are also deeply concerned about the lack of proper consideration of the rights and wellbeing of children in the processing and reviewing of asylum applications.
The grave human rights violations and ever deteriorating socio-economic condition in Ethiopia is well known to Norway and the rest of the International community. International Human Rights Organizations such as Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch (HRW) and the United States (US) State Department have documented and reported the widespread and serious human rights abuse the dictatorial regime of Meles Zenawi is committing against citizens. As of late the regime has been escalating its repression and closed the political space even to the legal opposition operating in the country. It has enacted laws such as its anti-terrorism law to prohibit freedom of expression and penalize dissent.
It has imprisoned and sentenced journalists, opposition figures and human rights activists as part of its intensifying crackdown on dissent and opposition. As a consequence, a potentially explosive situation of desperation, fear and resignation has prevailed in the country in the past few years. We have also known through the Norwegian media that the Norwegian Embassy in Ethiopia has communicated to the Norwegian government the ever deteriorating political situation and mounting repression in Ethiopia.
Against this backdrop of a dire situation in Ethiopia, we call on the Norwegian government to reassess and reconsider its decision to repatriate the rejected Ethiopian Asylum seekers and allow for the review of their applications on both political and humanitarian grounds.
The task force against forced repatriation to Ethiopia
