Norway has signed an agreement with Ethiopia enabling
nationals to return home, officials say.
“We will not be using the option of forcible returns before
the 15th March, meaning they have the opportunity to apply for a voluntary one
soreturn. So the can return to Ethiopia under general conditions,” he tells
NRK.
According to him, 15,000 kroner is “if they choose to
reintegrate themselves in Ethiopia”, the rest is financial support towards
measures after their arrival.
Approximately 100 Ethiopians went on hunger strike last
February, locking themselves inside Oslo Cathedral, in protest against their
treatment by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
Those demonstrating at the time felt their lives were in
danger because of Ethiopia’s political situation. The hunger strike lasted a
week and the protesters gathered support from people in Oslo and Stavanger.
Calling the new agreement following 20 years of negotiation
“good for Norway”, Deputy Minister Lønseth is now hoping deals can be made with
other countries, and that “police and immigration authorities use it
effectively.”
However, watchdog the Norwegian Organisation for Asylum
Seekers (NOAS) personnel express concern about how the government has handled
matter, particularly regarding children.
Secretary General Ann-Margrit Austenå says, “A number of
Ethiopian children have lived in Norway for quite some time, and we believe
their situation must be addressed. The government must postpone cases and make
a new assessment if it is serious about their best interests.”
“I fear we will see some incidents of imprisonments [when
Ethiopians have returned], and at the very worst torture, as well as
destruction of individuals and families. Ethiopia’s regime is extremely
authoritarian, with human rights violations having got worse over the past
year. Many of them have been engaged in political opposition whilst living in
Norway, and it will have consequences for some,” she concludes.
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