For the first time ever a court has reversed a Justice Ministry decision on granting someone refugee status. A man from Bangladesh has won a lawsuit demanding a reversal of the justice minister's decision to deny his refugee status application. The Justice Ministry said he does not have basis to fear persecution if deported, but a court found that he does. It shows you how hard it is to qualify as a refugee under the Participatory Government, which is supposed to place the highest importance on civil rights.
The number of refugee applications has risen considerably as of late, and so considering the government's hard-to-meet requirements it is possible there is going to be a rise in the number of foreigners who suffer as a result. As a result of this court ruling the government needs to take a careful look at its standards and principles in the granting of refugee status, to see if it conflicts in any way with the universal value of promoting and protecting civil rights. It is of course not that we can't understand the government's situation; it is possible that people who have illegally overstayed their visas could try to take wrongful advantage of the refugee program so it can't just easing the regulations without other arrangements. But the obsession with the possibility the program could be abused must not leave "real refugees" without their civil rights protected.
Most of the time the government rejects applications for refugee status it is said to be because there is insufficient documentation of the applicant's work for democracy. Even if the person submits the right documentation, however, the Justice Minister has only one or two people responsible for reviewing applications and so it is hard for them to be adequately examined. When an applicant's case takes too much time for lack of staff responsible for the program he suffers twice what he should when his status is already insecure as it is. It is a shame that foreigners continue to suffer in such a way in a country that has a presidential National Human Rights Commission. It's time to have a fresh look at the refugee program.
The Hankyoreh, 22 August 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Take a Fresh Look at Refugee Program |
