Activists criticise UK's resumption of forced repatriation

Zimbabwean human rights activists have criticised the British government for its decision to end a two-year suspension of the forced repatriation of failed asylum seekers. Des Browne, the British minister for citizenship and immigration, announced on Tuesday that while "there has not been any improvement in conditions in Zimbabwe", he was removing the suspension put in place in January 2002, as it was being abused. "We can appreciate the fact that the suspension was perhaps being abused, but the timing of the announcement - ahead of the [Zimbabwe] general elections [in March 2005], when a number of opposition party supporters could possibly face persecution - is unfortunate," said Bidi Munyaradzi, director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association. "There are a number of Zimbabweans who have fled because of economic reasons, but there remains a substantial number who face pressure because of their political leanings," he told IRIN. Maeve Sherlock, the chief executive of the UK-based NGO, the Refugee Council, which works with asylum seekers, has called on the British government to monitor "what happens to those who are sent back. No one should be sent back to Zimbabwe before monitoring procedures are in place". Citing asylum statistics released this week, Browne pointed out that in the first nine months of 2004 the British government granted asylum to 195 Zimbabweans, and some form of protection to more than 25 others, out of a total of 2,025 applicants. With a 90 percent refusal rate and the dismissal of 82 percent of subsequent appeals to the independent adjudicator, "the clear message is that the majority of Zimbabwean asylum applicants are able safely to return to Zimbabwe," he added. However, Sherlock said, "Far too many valid applications are being turned down". Several million Zimbabweans are reported to have sought refuge outside their homeland as a result of the political and economic crisis in their country.