immigration,  refugees

Remote Control Borders: Violating Freedom of Movement

June 26, 2010 /

Article 13(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights says that everyone has the right to leave any country.   Increasingly countries are cooperating to violate this human rights by preventing aslyum seekers and others from leaving a country to seek refuge in another country.  Some examples are:

Egypt:  which prevents Africans from leaving Egypt in attempting to enter Israel.  On 11 June Reuters reported the killing of migrants on the Egyptian border, who were attempting to leave Egypt.   18 people have been killed this year so far, as compared to 19 for the whole of last year.  http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE65A0CZ.htm

Indonesia:  which cooperates with Australia to prevent asylum seekers leaving Indonesia to seek refuge in Australia.  Channel News Asia reported that the are 600 refugees and 1800 asylum seekers seeking asylum, mainly in Australia.  http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southeastasia/view/1065165/1/.html

Libya:  which prevents refugees seeking to leave Libya to enter Europe.  The BBC reports that Libya is now regarded as a key ally 0f European states in preventing them reaching Europe.  Europeans have failed to criticize Libya for closing UNHCR offices there (indeed providing muted support)  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/10338790.stm

All these actions violate a long established human right.  During the cold war the world was horrified by the efforts of communist regimes to prevent people leaving their countries.  Today the world is increasingly reinforcing borders preventing both exit and entry.

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