Request for a meeting with chief of mission

| Tuesday November 23, 2010 00:00

 

We came to seek asylum in Botswana due to the persecution that we were facing in our countries.  For all these years, the government of Botswana has rejected us, this has happened more than three times.  We have been trying our level best to get a resting solution to our cases to all the previous Chiefs of Mission, but there has been no will, whatsoever, from this office.  Surprisingly, most Chiefs of Mission were willing, but the moment they stayed in the office for more than six months their attitude changed, and this could be probably because of the wrong advice they get in the offices from the long serving officers in this office.  And we are worried of you too, we have a fear that the moment you are in the office for more than six months, you might also start tales.  The situation is too frustrating and as a result some of our colleagues have lost their lives.

For God's sake we are human beings, like any other.  Who knows, maybe one day the sons/daughters of the same people who are making our lives miserable might be in our situation.  God is mighty and pays justly.  These officers might be paid here or on the day of judgment for their part in persecuting us.

For these 12 years if we had no fear of losing our lives, we would have gone back to our home countries, but the fact that we are still in this country is a very clear signal that we are scared of going back and we will never go back to our home countries, however much frustration we will get from your office.

This is simply due to the fact that, according to our judgment, our lives are more important than anything else on this planet and thus we will never give up our lives by losing hope in your respectable office and go back.

We have had very bad experiences in this country, different Chiefs of Mission have come and gone without any help to us, different officers have served and some are still serving in that office, but no one seems to care about our lives.  This is in clear contradiction to the main objective of the existence of the Organisation, which is to protect people who are in our category. The former Chiefs' of Mission and the former and current officers in this office have been and are still uttering different confusing statements to our group.  Among the common statements we get are:

* We are illegal immigrants who came to look for green pastures in this country and thus we are not a concern to the organisation.

* We came to search for transportation to Europe and the other Western world.

* Our cases were and are to be resubmitted to the government.  This is a daily statement.

* Countries are not there to resettle us.

* Our cases are submitted to the regional offices for assessment.

* The Gaborone offices are waiting for the mandates from the regional offices.

* The government of Botswana is refusing to clear us thus refusing us to go to a third country.  At times we are told that the Gaborone office has applied to a third country for us and that the office is waiting for the response. 

Now there is a new statement 'we are waiting for the new Minister of Defence' to be appointed.  These and many more have been the tales of the officers in the office.  We have been frustrated to the last, we now wonder where our future lies.

Due to the abovementioned facts, we the community of the rejected refugees in Botswana are requesting your office for four things as stated below:

* We are requesting for a meeting with the Chief of Mission and other officers in this office under the condition that the media will be present.

* We are requesting for a written uniform statement from the organisation as to the organisation's position on our cases.

* We are requesting the organisation to give us a written document stating in whose umbrella do our lives lie.  We want to know whether we are under the umbrella of the government or UNCHR.  We are requesting your office to give us a written document stating all of the objectives of the organisation.

* It will be of very great importance to the organisation, we the rejected, the members of the public and the international community at large, if these pleas from the voiceless are looked into and given consideration.

We are wishing to hear from you as soon as possible.  To us doing so, will make us be among those who will be joyous in the celebration of 2010 Christmas.  Please Madam have mercy on us.  We have had many Chiefs of Mission, but you are the first woman - it is said that women have a mother's heart.  Find this letter touching as a mother.  We are not bad as labelled by the officers you found in the office.  The only fact is that they have dark hearts and have no parental feelings.

We would not be suffering the way we are if they had parental feelings in their hearts.  Money obtained at the expense of suffering people like us has no blessing,  however much it will be, such money is blood money.

Yours faithfully,

The community of the long neglected rejected asylum seekers.

N.B: All communication to us should be done through our secretary Samuel Nondo on: (71781571/72723826)