Afghan Citizens Beaten in Detention at Ukraine Airport

Thu, Mar 17, 2011 at 12:13 AM

Afghan Citizens Beaten in Detention at Ukraine Airport, Says Amnesty International 

Washington, D.C.: Wednesday, March 16, 2011: Amnesty International has condemned the mistreatment of eight Afghan citizens awaiting deportation from Ukraine, who are being beaten by border guards and denied adequate food, water and medical treatment.

The eight men have been in detention at Boryspil Airport in Kyiv for three days and sources have told Amnesty International that, as a result of the ill-treatment, some of them are so severely injured that they are unable to lie down.  

“The Ukrainian authorities must stop these deportations,” said Andrea Huber, Amnesty International’s deputy director for Europe and Central Asia. “They also need to rein in their border guards, and provide adequate medical treatment, food and water to these men as required by international law. The appalling reports of detainee abuse must be investigated immediately.”

Some of the detained group applied for asylum in Ukraine, but their claims were rejected and they have not been able to appeal, contravening Ukraine’s obligations under refugee law.   The Afghans claim that they were not provided with interpreters while claiming asylum, or during the deportation procedure.   They also allege that they were required to sign documents in a language they do not understand, and that some were not present during the hearings on their cases.

“These people should not be deported until they have been given the right to appeal their asylum decision and effectively challenge their deportation, in line with Ukraine’s domestic and international obligations,” said Andrea Huber.    

Amnesty International is also asking the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the detained men are given access to lawyers and the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR.

Six other Afghans who were originally detained with the group have already been deported to Afghanistan in the last two days, including an unaccompanied minor.   Also, allegedly subjected to abuses by guards, some of these detainees self-harmed in protest, but were deported anyway. 

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Musical Show by CMC for Poor from 22 to 24 March

Ludhiana: “This hospital was founded as a means of providing quality healthcare to the poor and needy... and under the patronage of our director, Dr Abraham G Thomas; we are setting up this musical to raise funds for our poor patients. The proceeds from this year’s musical will be used for treating patients in the Intensive Care Unit. We are inviting sponsors and donations for this worthy cause” said Dr Simi Samuel, a medical intern.

Since the past 2 months, about 150 students from Christian Medical College and Hospital are practising rigorously for a musical show “The Wicked”. And as in the previous years, the proceeds will go to the financial aid of poor patients.

The musical is exclusively directed by students and doctors from the college.  With Felix Manoharan as the acting director and Jerin Kuruvila as the music director, the production is managed by Dr Sajin G Joseph. There are about 32 students in the show’s cast and the rest are involved in its production, designing, sounds, finance and publicity.

‘The Wicked’ is based on a novel by Gregory Maguire and is a prequel to the popular book ‘The Wizard of Oz’. It is the story of the witches of Oz- Elphaba and Glinda and it conveys the message that good always wins over evil.

“With a demanding script, dazzling stage settings, enchanting melodies and special effects, this highly innovative production is a must see for all” said Dr Albert, an intern with Christian Medical College while talking about the play.

The show will be staged for three evenings at Guru Nanak Dev Bhavan; 22^nd, 23^rd and 24^th March.---Shalu Arora & Rector Kathuria