UNHCR clarifies

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Regional Office in Jakarta would like to clarify a number of inaccuracies published in The Jakarta Post on Jan. 29 and Jan. 31 on the role of UNHCR regarding Iraqi asylum seekers in Indonesia.

First, the banners held by the protesters stated that the group protesting are refugees. All the persons that are staging a protest at UNHCR Jakarta have all without exception had their claims rejected after two fair hearings under UNHCR procedures applicable world wide.

One misconception conveyed in these articles is that asylum seekers have a right to be resettled. In this regard, it should be noted that resettlement is not a right but a durable solution applicable only to recognized refugees. The notion that UNHCR can somehow automatically resettle all Iraqis or foreigners to third countries regardless of their status is fundamentally erroneous. UNHCR can submit cases of recognized refugees for resettlement but the ultimate decision rests with the resettlement country to accept or deny a refugee entry.

On refugee status the commitment made by the Deputy Regional Representative is that all closed Iraqi cases would be subject to review in three months time to see if any new elements warrant a reopening of their files.

These specific groups of asylum seekers are a minority of rejected cases who chose to come to Jakarta to apply pressure on UNHCR to reverse the decision made on their cases. The asylum seekers were offered food and housing in Situbondo by the International Organization of Migration (IOM). In coming to Jakarta they were fully aware that they would forfeit the assistance rendered to them by IOM. Hence, the predicament in which they find themselves is of their own making.

In 2002, UNHCR has recognized 781 Iraqi refugees, which constitutes a majority. In the same time frame 395 Iraqi refugees departed Indonesia for resettlement to various third countries. Therefore, to infer as these articles have, that UNHCR is insensitive to the plight of Iraqis in Indonesia is to draw a flawed conclusion.

The fact that the explanations given by UNHCR's Deputy Regional Representative during the interview were omitted altogether from the article and that the statements of the UNHCR staff member quoted were taken out of context is regrettable.

ROBERT ASHE, Regional Representative, UNHCR Regional Office, Jakarta

Note: Thank you for your clarification.

--Editor