Czech Interior Ministry considering repatriation of Chechen refugees who came from Poland(Prague Watchdog) - The Czech Interior Ministry is deliberating a repatriation plan for Chechen refugees who, en masse, recently arrived from Poland. The ministry claims that the assisted repatriation will be strictly on a voluntary basis.
According to the plan (still being drafted and anticipates NGOs participation), an information campaign and counselling service will be provided to the refugees in Czech camps during the next two months. Those who accept the Ministry's offer will then receive travel assistance and subsidies.
Ministry officials deny the country is trying to get rid of these displaced people; or that once back home, they’ll be in danger. They bring up the results of the March 23 constitutional referendum in Chechnya, stating that the Czech Republic now considers Chechnya to be a safe territory.
Although the Ministry has officially stressed that the planned repatriation would be voluntary, two independent sources who participated in drafting the plan told Prague Watchdog that Chechen asylum seekers would actually be given two options: They can either accept the Ministry's offer and receive a subsidy, or ignore it and later on see their asylum application rejected and face the obligation to leave the Czech Republic without any subsidy.
Since the beginning of the year, nearly 900 Chechen refugees have applied for asylum in the Czech Republic. An overwhelming majority came from Poland in April, blaming their decision to leave on the conditions existing in Polish refugee camps. According to Polish officials, Chechens had given up trying to get refugee status in Poland; both Czech and Polish officials said these people believed it would be easier for them to get refugee status in the Czech Republic. (T/E) |
