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A brilliant
victory for the movement of refugees
The
Netherlands:
30000 refugees will acquire permanent resident status!
On Friday June 8th,
2007, as an act of apology, the parliament of the Netherlands
approved with majority a bill concerning the issuance of permanent
resident status to the 25 to 30 thousand refugees who have entered
the Netherlands since April First 2001 have not received permanent
residence since. The Christian Democrat party which is a right wing
governmental party and is the largest party of the parliament
opposed this bill. But all other parties from left to middle, voted
for the bill of permanent residence status of refugees.
After this
approval, all the municipalities of the country were ordered to
start the process of enrollment and settlement of the refugees.
This brilliant
victory is only and only the result of an extensive social campaign
in defense of the rights of the refugee in the Netherlands. Once
again this victory exhibited the power and the immense potential of
the movement of defense of human rights. Four years ago, in a day
like today, the government and parliament of the Netherlands passed
a bill that was planning the deportation of 26000 refugees in a
matter of one year. We announced at that time that we will not let
this bill to move from the boundaries of the government’s paperwork.
Despite their effort to materialize their plan, despite dismissal of
refugees in groups from their camp and throwing them on the streets
on the Netherlands and despite their efforts to create detainment
and deportation centers in different cities of the country, through
4 years of constant and relentless combat of the movement of
refugees, this anti-humanitarian plan backfired and was converted to
a tool against the founders of the bill. Not only they were not able
to reach their goals, but they were obliged to grant permanent
residence to 30000 refugees, as an act of apology.
This victory was
not achieved easily. This victory was obtained through a constant
street fight and from one social rifle-pit to another. An
unprecedented fight with dimensions of a large movement to defend
human rights and values. A fight that engaged tens of thousands of
women, men, elder and young people across the country. People
opposed the formation of detainment centers in their cities. They
offered their houses to the refugees who were thrown on the streets
from their camps. Children organized extensive protests in defense
of the rights of the refugees. Humanists, artists, writers,
journalists and reporters and hundreds of human rights organizations
actively played important roles in extending and deepening the
dimensions of this huge social movement. A movement that grew day by
day despite the treats and eventually reversed parliament’s votes
and put smile on the face and hope in the heart of the refugee.
Our fight will
not end here. This is not the end of the mission of the movement to
defend the rights of the refugee. There are still thousands refugees
who do not qualify for the bill of permanent residence.
There are still
thousands of refugees who are waiting in worst conditions behind the
closed doors. This movement should use this victory as a step toward
more victories to extend the dimensions of this fight. This movement
should tell its lessons to the whole world. This movement should be
the mother of the most powerful movements in defense of human rights
in Europe and all around the world. The goal of the International
Federation of Iranian Refugees (IFIR) is to use this victory and
success, to achieve other dimensions in this battle.
IFIR while
congratulating all refugees and organizations in the Netherlands for
this victory, one more time, at peak of happiness and moments of
elation, invites the refugees to join the rows of the federation to
extend and deepen this victory
Long live
International solidarity in defense of Human Rights!
International Federation of Iranian
Refugees
June 8th, 2007
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