By Our Correspondent, NAIROBI Kenya
Amnesty International
has raised alarm over possible attempt by Kenya government authorities to
forcibly return Tanzania opposition politician, Godbless Lema or his family to
political persecution and likely imprisonment in Tanzania.
Tanzania opposition politician, Godbless Lema
In its public statement on arrest
of Lema issued today, the amnesty called for the Kenya government to urgently
process asylum as per its obligation under the law for the politician and
family and not deport them back to Tanzania.
“Kenya must not violate the
internationally recognised principle of non-refoulement. The principal is
upheld by our own national laws. It prohibits kenya from turning away people at
the border or returning them to a country where they would be at risk of
persecution or danger.” Said Irungu Houghton, the Executive Director of Amnesty
international Kenya.
Lema very clearly fled to Kenya
with his wife and three children seeking asylum from the Kenyan government.
They crossed from Tanzania through
Namanga border post on November 8 this year and Amnesty believes that he is in
the custody of the National Police Service in Kajiado, kenya and that his
lawyer, Professor George Wajackoyah has also confirmed that he may be deported.
Houghton further said that “Transferring
the opposition politician back to Tanzania, a country where he risks facing
serious human rights violations, would itself amount to human rights violation.
The government of Kenya is obligated to protect and provide sanctuary to
honourable Lema and his family.”
He said the Amnesty International
call on the government of Kenya to process Godbless Lema and family’s quest for
asylum per its obligations to the Refugee Convention, O.A.U Convention on
Refugees and the Refugee Act 2006.
The statement said Kenya is a state
party to the 1951 Convention relating to the status of Refugees and the 1969
O.A.U Convention governing the specific aspects of refuigee problems in Africa.
As per Kenya’s international law
obligations, anyone seeking asylum must be allowed into Kenya, whether the
entry is by legal or illegal means. Further, Lema has the right to have his
application heard and considered for refugee status.
According to the Amnesty
International, the former Member of Parliament for Arusha Urban constituency has
the right to remain in Kenya until a final decision has been made on his case
and the procedural right to appeal as provided in the law.
Irungu Houghton,
the Executive Director of
Amnesty international Kenya
The outspoken politician and critic
of President John Magufuli, was arrested by Tanzania police and later released
on police bond without charge by Tanzania authorities in the aftermath of the
October 28 elections in which Magufuli was re-elected.
Opposition parties including
CHADEMA, ACT-Wazalendo and CUF rejected the results and called for fresh
elections. Since then, the opposition politicians and their supporters have
faced arbitrary arrests and violence. - Africa
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