IMMIGRANTS from conflict-ridden DR Congo are among those being refused permission to stay in Ireland under a last-gasp immigration measure.
Subsidiary protection, a watered-down version of refugee status, is granted to people who face “a real risk of suffering serious harm” if returned to their native country. Ireland introduced the measure in October 2006 in accordance with EU regulations, but has so far granted just nine of 3,000 applicants with the status.
Moreover, only 600 of the total 3,000 applications have been decided upon, said a department spokesperson, who added that applicants would already have had asylum applications refused by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal or both.
Most applicants have been Nigerians, followed by Georgians. The third highest contingent of those seeking subsidiary protection are from DR Congo, which has seen sporadic violence since the end of its civil war in 2003, and a recent escalation in the latter half of 2008.
Last year, negative decisions on subsidiary protection applications were made “in respect of a number of persons whose claims were based on a fear of ‘serious harm’ in the DR Congo”, confirmed the Department of Justice. The number of people refused was not disclosed but is believed to be fewer than 10. A department spokesperson insisted that all claims are “measured against up-to-date, reliable, objective country of origin information.”
Justin Pambi, head of the Congolese Community in Ireland, told Metro Éireann that as things worsen in his homeland, Congolese in Ireland are growing increasingly worried about negative decisions on asylum, leave to remain and subsidiary protection applications.
“The violence never ends,” he said. “People are treated badly not only because of war but because of the style of the regime. People may think there is democracy going on but there are underground forces and people are killing all the time.”
He cited Human Rights Watch’s monitoring of the situation, with the organisation having produced a report last November referencing “brutal repression” against perceived opponents of President Joseph Kabila since the 2006 elections.
“People don’t have freedom of speech, freedom to do business,” continued Pambi. “Things haven’t changed since Mutobu up till now, and things are very, very worsened,” he said.
Pambi said that negative decisions on refugee, leave to remain and subsidiary protection applications are devastating Ireland’s Congolese community, which numbers around 3,000 in total.
“We are thinking about trying to meet the Minister for Integration and the Minister of Immigration about the situation. I’m really, really disappointed and people are stressed. This is a huge, huge issue and all the people are complaining.”
