A magazine produced by asylum seekers and immigrants in Denmark > January 2012 > issue # 81
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Asylum changes page 4 | Arab Spring page 8 | Recycling page 10
NOTE TO SUBSCRIBERS – AND OTHER READERS! As you have noticed during all of 2011, not a single issue of the New Times magazine has been published. This was simply and sadly a matter of lack of funds: WE ARE BROKE. We want to avoid subscription fees, and commercial ads in our magazine, but are depending on support to even be able to print in the future. It is therefore crucial that you all help us find donors. For donations or further information, please contact the New Times office by phone or mail: New Times H.C. Ørstedsvej 47 1879 Frederiksberg C Denmark ebh@redcross.dk Tel. +45 23345887
Published by: The Danish Red Cross Asylum Department Editorial Office: New Times Røde Kors Huset H.C. Ørstedsvej 47 1879 Frederiksberg C Denmark Email: newtimesdk@gmail.com www.newtimes.dk Tel. +45 2334 5887
Editorial New Year is traditionally an opportunity for new beginnings and for making changes. Thus the theme of this issue of New Times is “New Times”. The year 2011 has been tough in many respects: financial crisis, unemployment, unrest and instability in the Middle East. Our main concern is of course the plight of asylum seekers in Denmark and refugees in general, and 2011 has been the culmination of ten years of tightening of the asylum policies, which has even inspired neighbouring and other European countries to do likewise. The election of a centre-left coa-
lition in September 2011, and their promise to change the policies at first gave hopes in the hearts of many – including the New Times staff – that the asylum seekers’ situation would improve. As time has lingered on and the promises have not translated into action, skepticism about the intentions of the new government have mounted. We have investigated and followed the negotiations closely and explored the real avenues of change. Meanwhile, 2011 has been a year where lack of funds has meant that New Times was not able to print any issues, and the future
of the project has been jeopardised. As the new editor, I hope to represent new times for the New Times magazine. We want to keep the format and keep it free of charge and widely distributed, but this will only possible with the support of donors. New Times is an important project. It provides a meaningful activity for those involved, and also represents a source of information for asylum seekers and people interested in human rights and migration issues in Denmark and beyond. The Red Cross Asylum Department is justifiably proud of New Times
New Times Journalists: Zach, Modar, Rohit, Hasi, Nathan, Mayele, Maryanne, Mame
Distributed free of charge to: Asylum centres, Ministries, Members of the Danish Parliament, public libraries, asylum and human rights organizations, NGOs, media and individuals in Denmark and abroad.
Support: We are supported by the Red Cross, the Danish Institute for Study Abroad and Amnesty International. We are cooperating with the Danish Refugee Council and The Copenhagen Post. We are in need of further support and assistance, so do not hesitate to contact us if you want to contribute.
New Times illustrators: Jimmy, Shoja New Times fotographer/cameraman: Saied Volunteers: Allie G, Allie O, Emily, Rosa
Coordinator: Patricia Brancer
Layout: Jens Burau, supergreen.dk
Editor: Elias Ben Hamadou
Printed by: OTM Avistryk
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Subscription: If you would like to subscribe to New Times and receive it by post, please send an email to newtimesdk@gmail.com. Subscriptions are free. ASIG: ASIG (Asylum Seekers Information Group) exists to answer questions about asylum and life as a refugee. Individuals, teachers, students, journalists – anyone who is interested in asylum matters is welcome to send an inquiry. To book the group for lectures, presentations and discussions contact newtimesdk@gmail.com
ISSN: 1397 687
and we have many fans and subscribers in other NGOs, as well as among professional journalists. It is important that New Times prevails! Happy New Year = Happy New Times Elias Ben-Hamadou Editor
NEW VS. OLD Denmark’s current Prime Minister is Helle Thoming Schmidt representing the Social Democratic party and head of the government of Social Democrats, Radical Left and Socialist People’s parties. Helle Thoming- Schmidt took office on October 3, 2011.
Denmark’s previous Prime Minister was Lars Løkke Rasmussen, a Danish politician who served from April 2009 to October 2011. He was the leader of the Liberal Party (Venstre) and the Danish People’s Party backed government with the Conservatives. He replaced Anders Fogh Rasmussen in office, completing ten years of right wing governments
NEW facts
OLD facts
The new government has promised to roll back the strict immigration rules introduced by the previous government, claiming to make the system more decent
There were strict rules for immigration or asylum seekers in the previous government, as a reaction to an increased wariness of immigrants in general
The new government promised that after six month staying in the centers, asylum seekers can live outside the centers, they can get education and work
The old government did not allow the asylum seekers to live outside the centers, to work outside the centres and get education
Those asylum seekers that the authorities cannot send back to their homeland will get a short term residence permit. Duration depends on the situation
Asylum seekers who could not be sent back to their homeland by the last government were confined to asylum centers, some for several years
In the new government children who were born in Denmark will have the possibility to get Danish citizenship after completing elementary school and/or when they reach 18 years of age
In the previous asylum system, children who were born in Denmark did not automatically have the privilege of Danish citizenship
With the new government the deposit of 100.000 DKK required for marriage with non-residents has been reduced to 50.000 DKK
With the last government it was difficult for asylum seekers and even citizens to get married to foreigners, because of the high amount of money required in deposit and other strict rules.
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ASYLUM CHANGES, BUT FOR WHOM? “Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution” Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ❚❚By Zach They dodge bullets, escape bombs and grenades. Some survive dehumanizing ordeals as rape and torture, sleeping in the jungle and walking miles in the wilderness. They watch in horror as their families are murdered in the most heinous manner – throats slit open or hacked to death by machetes. Some survive, some do not. Survivors spend sleepless nights in crowded makeshift tents, eating wild fruits and drinking dirty water. They cross borders to relatively safer countries after walking days on end. The lucky few who meet a sympathetic individual or organisation may get a chance to board a plane or a ship to Europe or America. Although not all asylum seekers experience such hell, many of them, out of instinct to survive, sneak out of their countries leaving everything behind in search of peace. And peace they hope to find in countries
such as Denmark, but some have a rude awakening once they set foot in the country they are hoping will host them. It is this instinct for survival and the realisation that the international community is committed to protecting individuals, as stated in article 14 of the Universal Declaration of human rights (UDHR) of 1948. ´´Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.´´ Unfortunately that protection is easier discussed that realised. In Denmark for instance, ten years of right wing government (2001-2011) has effectively ensured an asylum nightmare, even though the majority of Danes were opposed to the openly xenophobic and nationalistic Liberal-Conservative government (VK) supported by the Danish People Party (DF). It was therefore a relief, when now Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt campaigned on the platform of rolling back
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the tough immigration rules set up by the previous government. But three months after her instigation, her coalition government of Social Democrats, Social Peoples Party and Social Liberals with support from RedGreen Alliance (Enhedlisten), nothing much has changed.
What Asylum Seekers really want
In a New Times survey on asylum seekers’ priorities, most of the interviewees expressed concerns with the manner in which their cases are handled. They believe that their cases are taken too lightly. Maria a single mother of two says she is depressed after three years of living in the camp. She feels the Danish asylum policies are inhumane. “Look at me, languishing in this camp, no work,my case was rejected two years ago and I´m just waiting for when they will deport me, if it was not for these children I would have committed suicide
long time ago. This is no life!” “Everybody knows how Afghanistan is, how can we be refused asylum and then be deported to that country where people in their hundreds are still being tortured, persecuted and killed daily?”, says Hashidi from Afghanistan. Another respondent, Barushima from Congo, expresses shock and amazement at how his case was treated: “I was running for my dear life. i left Congo to escape massacres that were going on in Eastern Congo perpetrated by rebels and the government army. All I had was the clothes on my body, but at the interview, I was asked to produce proof that I was indeed threatened and that I risk persecution or death if deported.” Barushima was refused asylum after two attempts, he believes it is because he could not document the alleged threats: “Was I supposed to stop and take pictures of my attackers or what?”, he asks.
Some asylum seekers like Youssouf from Libya arrived in Denmark through dangerous paths. They had to pay huge bribes to be transported across the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean on ships and land in European Island, as Lampedusa in Italy or the Canary Islands in Spain. From there, they move inland to try and find refuge in countries like Denmark. But like Youssouf, some find themselves arrested and detained for months at a detention centre before being allowed to apply for asylum. While this may be a policy issue, asylum seekers and support organisations like Bedsteforældre for Asyl (Grandparents for Asylum) believe that at least the government should provide asylum seekers with better living conditions while their cases are being handled. As a priority, the survey reveals that asylum seekers want to be able to live outside the camps and be allowed to work and get
Quotes by politicians:
Opinions collected from Danish NGO’s:
“The asylum system should build people and give them more strengh and more power, but instead the Danish system is trying to break people down when they are in the camps, and of course people should have the right to education no matter if they are going to stay or to go back”, Johanne Schmidt Nielsen,Enhedlisten (Speaking to New Times, 2 Dec 2011)
When the United Nations commissioned Universal Periodic Review of Denmark was released in May 2011, the results were not promising for asylum seekers situation in Denmark, several organisations put their recommendations forward:
“I believe every asylum seeker should be allowed to get out of the camp, even the one who is not granted asylum but cannot be sent back. We are going to negotiate about who should be allowed to move out of the camps and how much should they cooperate with the police. And I think that is going to be a really tough negotiation”, Johanne Schmidt Nielsen, flagship of Enhedslisten (Speaking to NT 2 Dec 2011) “It is for people who cooperate, that means that people who did not get asylum and we have an agreement with the country they come from to send them back. Well, we havent really negotiated the details in this part of the agreement so we don’t know how many will be able to live outside the centres yet”, Zenia Stampe, Radikale Venstre spokesperson for immigration (Speaking to NT 8 Nov 2011) “We want it to be considered whether they(Asylum seekers) should get temporary residence after a certain period, so there is a limit to how long they spend in asylum centres without either being allowed to stay in Denmark or being sent home”, Stine Brix, MP for Enhedslisten (to DR 24 Oct 2011)
education. Physical and mental health service are also among the highest priorities, asylum seekers hope to see improved.
Blah Blah Blah! Act Now
On its part, the government is still on a honeymoon after what seems to be election hangovers. The campaign promises were too good to be effectively implemented, or perhaps party politics are extending their tentacles into the debate, making it difficult for the coalition to agree and act. Prime Minister Helle for instance promised to let asylum seekers work and live outside the centres after six months in the system. This is endorsed by Zenia Stampe of Radikale Venstre (Liberals) and Johanne Schmidt Nielsen of Enhedslisten (Red-Green Alliance). Even though they all agree that asylum seekers should live outside the camps and get jobs, they seem to read from different scripts. The governments now proposes that only asylum seekers who have been interviewed and have not been granted asylum but are cooperating with the police to be deported, should be allowed to live outside the centres and work. This view, according to Johanne, is ridiculous: “if people come to Denmark for asylum, it is because they believe their life is in danger...so how can you force such people to sign a paper stating that they are willing to go back from the same places they are running from?” , she asks in an interview granted to New Times.
“The atmosphere in asylum centres is often plagued by frustration and conflict between residents and between residents and staff. Living quarters are cramped and there is a general lack of privacy, especially for single people”, The Danish Institute for Human Rights “Asylum seekers should not be kept for too long in asylum centres and detention as this causes serious physical and mental damages to both adults and children, it is against Article 5 of the Declaration of Human Rights” (stating that nobody should be subjected to inhumane treatment), Grandparents for Asylum “Everybody has the right to an independent and impartial court of law. The Refugee Board is not impartial as a representative of the Ministry of Integration takes seat on the board”, Grandparents for asylum. “Article 23 and 26 of Declaration of Human rights...states that everybody has a right to work and education,it is incomprehensible how it is possible for the Danish authorities to deprive asylum seekers of this fundamental right for years”, Grandparents for Asylum “Amnesty International is concerned that Denmark continues to forcibly return individuals to Iraq,including to Central and Southern Iraq contrary to advice of the UNHCR”, Amnesty International “Under Danish law, irregular immigrants can be detained..The Aliens Act does not set a maximum length of detention.. in his 2009 report on Denmark, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture..emphasised that ´deprivation of liberty for administrative reasons for a prolonged period without knowing the length of detention may amount to inhuman and degrading treatment”, Amnesty International
In the finance bill 2011-2012, the budget allocates 200million Kroner for asylum seekers. Zenia and Johanne hope that the asylum seekers can move out by summer 2012 when the law is ready. While Zenia in her interview promises that all should be accomplished in one year, Johanne refrains from giving any promises, arguing that the 6,7% vote in the parliament cannot change much. All fingers point to the summer of 2012, as the time for the changes to take effect. In the meantime, The Social Democrats seem to have their hands tied and have to play to the tune of the coalition. Change may indeed be coming, but only time will tell which change and for whom it will apply.
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THE ARAB SPRING The Egyptian Revolution ❚❚By Modar On Tuesday 25th of January 2011, on Tahrir Square in Cairo, people started protesting against the socio-economic conditions under the rule of President Hosni Mubarak. An uprising had begun. A few days before, Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali had been overthrown, and it is believed that the uprising in Egypt was ignited by the Tunisian revolution. This trend has since spread to several other Arab countries with very different outcomes. To begin with, I want to look at the reasons for the revolt:
Emergency law
Since 1967 an emergency law has been upheld, giving the government the right to detain anyone for an indefinite period
without charges. A person can not defend himself and the government can keep him in jail without trial. Under this law more than 17,000 people were detained, and the number of political prisoners is estimated to 30,000 prisoners. Under this emergency law, Egyptian citizens have suffered from injustice and violation of their rights, e.g. imprisonment and murder. The most famous victim was the young Alexandrian Khalid Mohammed Said, who died on the sixth of June 2010, after he was dragged and beaten to death by police officers, in front of eyewitnesses. Another young man called Bilal was killed during his detention in Alexandria, after being tortured in the aftermath of the bombing of the Saints Church in Alexandria. The total victims of
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violence amounts to about 350, in the last three years, according to estimates by human rights organizations.
81,713,517 according to the latest estimates, mostly living in the narrow strip on the banks of the Nile, about 40,000 km2.
Corruption
The bombing of The Saints Church in Alexandria
Transparency International’s 2010 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is the world’s most credible measure of of domestic, public sector corruption, scoring countries on a scale of zero to 10, zero indicating high levels of corruption. Egypt was assessed with 3.1, and thus occupies the 98th place of the countries included in the report. By the end of 2010 Egypt’s total population living below the poverty line reached 40%, defined by a total income of less than 2 dollars a day, while the rich are getting richer. Also the population has dramatically increased – to more than
On New Year’s eve 2011, a terrorist attack occurred in Alexandria, which is the center of Christmas celebrations for the Coptic Orthodox Church. 25 people (including Muslims) were killed and 97 injured. Documents which have recently appeared refer to the involvement of the government and specifically the Minister of Interior Habib El-Adli in this case. This contributed to the events which finally toppled the Mubarak government. A Facebook group called “We are all Khaled Said” has called for demonstrations against
the government and President Mubarak on the 25th of January 2011. These demonstrations turned into a revolution involving all the sects of the Egyptian people, and resulting in violent clashes with the police and the army. Finally, Mubarak resigned on Friday 11th of February 2011, and now the supreme council of the armed forces rule the country. Meanwhile, the ongoing elections are going in favor of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists, but the future of Egypt is still uncertain.
VOX POP – A hot potato! We asked people ABOUT THE ARAB SPRING: Why did it happen now? Why did it happen in the same area? How do you see the future of these countries after the revolutions? These are the responses:
Anas, Egypt, 19 years I think it will be better because people will choose for themselves. People were oppresed in countries like Libya for over 40 years and I think it was time for the countries in Africa to stop the oppression by themselves.
Bjarke B.Søndergaard it was an impulse from Mother Earth, because that was the area that it was meant to happen next. People were ready for it, there was a mutual energy in that direction and the spark was ignited in Tunisia and it just rolled over. I think it is a major problem that the West is trying to get involved to get a piece of oil, I think that the future holds a lot of pain if the West continues to interfere, and I think there is a humane way if the west stops interfere.
Anonymous I The revolution was facilitated by the media and Internet (facebook, twitter and youtube) which have succeeded in discovering all the corrupt Arab systems. The same services led to the revolution in Tunisia, it led to the revolution in Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria, where these countries are interrelated in ethnic, customs and traditions, and most importantly, the bond of the religion and tongue. The future for these countries is freedom, democracy and social justice, and definitely there will be no more time for darkness and injustice.
Anonymous II I think it happened because the rulers were not in their force like before, and the popular pressure was on the increase, and they cannot rule the countries under this huge pressure. It happened in the same area, because all these countries fell under dictators’ rule, and the people they can give others their own way of how can they resolved their problem. For the people of these countries hope is not enough. They have to act to get better life conditions and to see their country under real democracy. But in this case they will not get it soon and in an easy way. It will take a long time and hard work to see their homes as they hope.
Ibrahim 22 YEARS, STUDENT,TEACHER EDUCATION The people wanted a change in the society. The system in those countries is not stabilised like the system in the west, they have many problems that they fight with everyday. That is why the first man burnt himself in Tunisia. All the governments around that area is the same and the system and the leaders do not care about the public, all the money is going to black market, that is a big problem. This is a big change in the world, and considering that the Middle East is an important big area and the transactions in the world is through the Middle East and it is important in the political world right now and it will make a change, Middle East will be bigger and more influential in the modern society.
Sonia Singh International Sales and Marketing Management People wanted freedom to control their own destiny. Some European countries went into countries like Libya, because people like Gaddaffi were killing people and I think in that situation it was good that these countries went in there. I think these countries will remain the same, as they were used to not having democracy and I think it will be very hard for them to go from no democracy to complete freedom.
Anonymous III The corruption and injustice and nepotism, and the spreading of the free modern media and social networks on the internet, all of these helped and accelerated the revolutions. And why the revolution happened in one area, in Arab countries? I believe that all the governments of oppression and bullying are one system (they are all alike), and the change will cover the rest of the countries. And the remaining tyrants didn’t feel they were close to the fires of the revolutions. I think the future will be better – no doubt – and that the youth who made this revolutions will be guards and protectors of the gains.
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Recycling – Challenges and Benefits The Copenhagen Museum is a good place to update ones knowledge and to see things from a different perspective. ❚❚By Rohit Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new products. Recycling is potentially significant to prevent waste of useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce the overuse of energy, and pollution. Various kinds of recyclable materials include glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and electronics. Recycling process includes four basic steps - collecting the recyclable material, sorting the different kind of materials, cleaning, and reprocessing into new material ready for manufacturing. It is worth to know that recycled products are as good as products manufactured by fresh raw material for instance, used office paper would be converted into new office paper. In Denmark, recycling is widely adopted, and it is worth to add that Denmark generates electricity by using garbage, it is a potentially good example of handling and utilizing the waste materials. But we still need to launch a campaign to make more and more people aware of recycling. In this context, I attended the inauguration of the Copenhagen Museum Trash exhibition, which runs until 31. July 2012.It is quite informative about how
people use or misuse various products and dispose of them as rubbish. ”This exhibition is all about rubbish. We are showing here how people dispose used and unused material as rubbish in Copenhagen, we also want to convey the message that our natural resources are running out so that we should prefer the recycled or secondhand products. Using secondhand products we prevent wastage and save our natural resources as well“, according to representative official of Copenhagen museum. According to a survey, a large number of Denmark’s households still do not recycle enough and throw everything that they consider rubbish. Much of this waste can be recycled. Just check out your ordinary bin how much of the contents can be recycled 35%organic, 30% paper, 12% construction, 9% plastic, 6% metal, 5% others, 3% glass. Apart for general rubbish, there are no bins for sorting waste in asylum centers, shopping centers, train stations, bus stops, and other public places. May be it is owing to languid awareness of communes towards recycling and climate change? But still it is up to the people and their mentality towards recycling, climate change, saving the natural resources and saving our planet. There are a number of recy-
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cling centers in and around cities and towns all over the Denmark, where people can go and dump or dispose the recyclable used materials as often as they want. I think people should raise their awareness about recycling. In Denmark there are many opportunities for finding second hand goods, in flee markets such as “Det Blå Marked”, so it is merely a question of mentality.
Interesting facts about recycling ❚❚ 1 recycled tin can would save enough to power a television for three hours. ❚❚ 1 recycled glass bottle would save enough energy to power a computer for 25 minutes. ❚❚ 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw material. ❚❚ The unreleased energy contained in the average dustbin each year could power a television for 5,000 hours. ❚❚ On average, 16% of money you spend on a product pays for packaging, which ultimately ends up as ‘rubbish’. www.recycling-guide.org.uk
“Refugees Welcome”/“The Commitee for Underground”, is a small legal humanitarian organization in Denmark, which depends on private donations. It was formed by some Danes who wanted to help their Iranian friend who had been refused asylum. For 25 years, they have helped refugees who have been turned down in the asylum system to go underground. They also assist asylum seekers during the asylum process by offering guidance and counseling. Furthermore, they do advocacy and lobbying for the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. In case you need to get touch with them, you can call: Telephone no.: 50 55 80 11 Wednesday from 15:00 to 19:00, you can visit them: Address: Dronningensgade 14, 1420 København K Directions: you take the Metro to “Christianshavn”, or bus 2A to “Christianshavns Torv” and from the square, with the back to the metro exit you walk ahead and turn left into Dronningensgade.
Registration and interview with the police
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E OM
REF U
YOUR WAY THROUGH W S ELC E E G THE ASYLUM SYSTEM:
br
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yo u r f a
ie l i m
s
DUBLIN PROCEDURE: The police check t he travel route
The asylum seeker is sent back to the first safe country either in or outside the EU
Formfilling and interview with Immigration Service
Manifestly Unfounded (Åbenbart Grundløs)
www.flygtningeunderjorden.dk
If you need help with e.g. writing a letter og getting advice, you can get free help from the NGO Danish Refugee Council, Borgergade 10, Copenhagen, every Wednesday 13-15 AM. You can also call every day 9-15 AM: 33735000 or send an e-mail to: advice@drc.dk (English or Danish)
Immigration Service rejects asylum: negative
NORMAL PROCEDURE:
APPEAL CASE: Automatically processed by the Refugee Board
Immigration Service grants asylum: positive
Refugee status INTEGRATION: 3 years integration programme in a kommune
HUMANITARIAN CASE: Processed by the Ministry of Integration REJECTION You must leave the country
New times | JANUARY 2012 | issue # 81 | page 11
Morten Olsen, the Danish National Football team’s head coach, looking to the south-east, where the Euro 2012 is held jointly in Poland and Ukraine. Denmark drew Germany, Portugal and Netherlands in Group B, and are facing strong opposition. They really need to kick the ball in – and stop kicking out.
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