This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/refugee-crisis-after-accepting-11-asylum-seekers-in-2014-japan-could-restrict-system-even-more-10493130.html
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Refugee crisis: After accepting 11 asylum seekers in 2014 Japan could restrict system even more | Refugee crisis: After accepting 11 asylum seekers in 2014 Japan could restrict system even more |
(4 months later) | |
As hundreds of thousands of refugees continue to pour into Europe in the worst crisis since the Second World War, the fourth-richest country in the world could be restricting its asylum system even more. | As hundreds of thousands of refugees continue to pour into Europe in the worst crisis since the Second World War, the fourth-richest country in the world could be restricting its asylum system even more. |
Japan accepted just 11 refugee applications last year, despite more than 5,000 people applying for protection after fleeing war and persecution. | Japan accepted just 11 refugee applications last year, despite more than 5,000 people applying for protection after fleeing war and persecution. |
The process could be made even more difficult by new measures being considered by the government. | |
They include bringing in new rules to deport failed applicants, curb repeat applications and pre-screen new asylum seekers. | They include bringing in new rules to deport failed applicants, curb repeat applications and pre-screen new asylum seekers. |
Hiroaki Sato, a Ministry of Justice official overseeing the proposals, could not say when the changes would be finalised. | Hiroaki Sato, a Ministry of Justice official overseeing the proposals, could not say when the changes would be finalised. |
“We're not looking to increase or decrease the number of refugees coming to Japan, but to ensure real refugees are assessed quickly,” he added. | “We're not looking to increase or decrease the number of refugees coming to Japan, but to ensure real refugees are assessed quickly,” he added. |
Around 100 protesters marched through the streets of Tokyo’s government district on Wednesday demanding refugee visas. | |
Many of those joining the demonstration were asylum seekers on “provisional release” from immigration detention centres. | Many of those joining the demonstration were asylum seekers on “provisional release” from immigration detention centres. |
“The system is so difficult already - to make it tighter is just cruel.” Ali Jafari, an 54-year-old Iranian who said he came to Japan as a political refugee, told Reuters. | “The system is so difficult already - to make it tighter is just cruel.” Ali Jafari, an 54-year-old Iranian who said he came to Japan as a political refugee, told Reuters. |
Japan is a signatory of the UN’s 1951 Refugees Convention, which is intended to guarantee protection for anyone who has fled their homeland because of a “well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion” and is unable to return. | Japan is a signatory of the UN’s 1951 Refugees Convention, which is intended to guarantee protection for anyone who has fled their homeland because of a “well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion” and is unable to return. |
But the government does not class escaping war as a legitimate reason for claiming asylum, and has no plans to widen its criteria to include flight from conflict, Mr Sato said. | But the government does not class escaping war as a legitimate reason for claiming asylum, and has no plans to widen its criteria to include flight from conflict, Mr Sato said. |
That distinction would exclude the bulk of men, women and children currently fleeing to Europe, mainly to escape brutal conflicts in Syria, Iraq and several other nations. | That distinction would exclude the bulk of men, women and children currently fleeing to Europe, mainly to escape brutal conflicts in Syria, Iraq and several other nations. |
Although the distance from the Middle East makes Japan an unlikely destination for Syrians, a group of asylum seekers from the country were reportedly attempting to sue the government earlier this year after their applications were refused. | Although the distance from the Middle East makes Japan an unlikely destination for Syrians, a group of asylum seekers from the country were reportedly attempting to sue the government earlier this year after their applications were refused. |
They were granted temporary residence permits to stay on humanitarian grounds. | They were granted temporary residence permits to stay on humanitarian grounds. |
Only 63 Syrian nationals have applied for asylum in Japan since 2011, according to government data. | Only 63 Syrian nationals have applied for asylum in Japan since 2011, according to government data. |
Politicians emphasised the millions of pounds it donates to the UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR), including $167 million (£110 million) in the first half of this year, making Japan the world’s second largest government donor. | |
But humanitarian groups and activists say that leaving the responsibility of re-homing refugees to other countries is unacceptable. | But humanitarian groups and activists say that leaving the responsibility of re-homing refugees to other countries is unacceptable. |
“As a developed country, there's a responsibility to protect these people,” Mitsuru Miyasako, head of rights group Provisional Release Association in Japan, said at the demonstration in Tokyo. | “As a developed country, there's a responsibility to protect these people,” Mitsuru Miyasako, head of rights group Provisional Release Association in Japan, said at the demonstration in Tokyo. |
Many of the asylum seekers applying for refuge in Japan last year were from Nepal, Vietnam and Thailand. | Many of the asylum seekers applying for refuge in Japan last year were from Nepal, Vietnam and Thailand. |
Brian Barbour, from the Japan Association for Refugees, said earlier this year that “no other developed refugee jurisdiction has such as consistently low rate” of acceptances. | Brian Barbour, from the Japan Association for Refugees, said earlier this year that “no other developed refugee jurisdiction has such as consistently low rate” of acceptances. |
Mieko Ishikawa, director of Forum for Refugees Japan, claimed a lack of planning for the protection and resettlement of refugees, as well as dysfunction in the processing system, was to blame for the low intake. | Mieko Ishikawa, director of Forum for Refugees Japan, claimed a lack of planning for the protection and resettlement of refugees, as well as dysfunction in the processing system, was to blame for the low intake. |
“There's no comprehensive policy on the part of the government, and there are gaps in the system's transparency, efficiency and independence,” she added. | “There's no comprehensive policy on the part of the government, and there are gaps in the system's transparency, efficiency and independence,” she added. |
Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |
Previous version
1
Next version