The Kathmandu Post of Nepal reported today, under the caption “Asylum Plea, No Nepal Room for fled Fonseka Men” said that a group of Sri Lankan nationals who worked closely with Mr. Sarath Fonseka during Sri Lanka’s 2010 presidential and general elections have been seeking asylum in Nepal for the last few months. The government, however, has denied the request.
According to Kathmandu Post originally, 14 people had entered Nepal via India in the second half of last year and stayed there under unofficial protection of UNHCR. The report said that one of them died of heart attack, another managed to fly to Canada and five others have disappeared.
The paper said that Santha Karunaratne, claiming as Coordinator of the “Politically Affected Families of Gen. Fonseka in Nepal.” informed that following the elections, many people had to flee the country and were seeking the status of political refugees in Nepal, which however, has been denied by the government. Government officials have informed Kathmandu Post that they “could be arrested anytime”.
Kathmandu Post said this group has entered Nepal via India thinking that Nepal was the ‘easiest’ place for asylum seekers. Meanwhile the UN sources have confirmed that the asylum seekers have received unofficial protection but because of their illegal status they would not be called refugees unless Nepal approves so
0 comments:
Post a Comment