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Monday, November 9, 2020

Amnesty International intervenes 'forcible deportation' of Tanzania politician by Kenyan authorities

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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