‘Government violating some war victims’ rights’

IMMIGRANT support group KISA yesterday accused certain government officials of violating the human rights of some Lebanese nationals either stranded on the island or not allowed to enter as temporary refugees of war.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, KISA Chairman Doros Polycarpou said they were getting reports of various incidents occurring around the island.

“We have had reports of some rights being abused by the government concerning Lebanese nationals and evacuees of the war in Lebanon. An incident occurred at one of the ports today in which government officials would not allow access into the island for two Lebanese men.”

According to Polycarpou, international law clearly states that evacuees who have been forced out of their homeland by war have the right to temporary refugee status until the problems in their homelands have been resolved.

It is this main issue that some government officials are clearly ignoring, claimed Polycarpou.

“In another case, three Lebanese musicians, visiting the island to take part in a musical event, were basically given no help from the Interior Ministry,” said Polycarpou.

“Not only did the Ministry not explain to them their rights – that they can claim temporary refugees of war – but also they would not refund them their ticket so they can at least have some little money so that they get about.”

In another incident, two Lebanese men were arrested for allegedly residing on the island and could face deportation.

“We know that at least one of the men has been in Cyprus for five years and has two children. As far as we know, so far one of the men has been released but the other is still in remand,” he added.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.