With a broken heart I am writing these lines. Thinking about
a person who has been declared as a bonafide refugee by the United Nations High
commission on refugees in Malaysia but this Muslim journalist of Pakistani
origin is still struggling to resettle. Losing nine precious years of his youth,
this journalist is in the hope of starting a fresh life. The case of this
journalist hailing from Peshawar Pakistan has been forwarded to Resettlement
Support Centre (RSC) by UNHCR Malaysia and was further sent to United States
Refugees Admission Program (USRAP) but even after a lapse of three and half year
this poor soul has yet to receive any tangible reply from these offices. In the
hope of a reply, this journalist has not even started his matrimonial life.
Interestingly hundreds of persons declared as refugees in Malaysia and Thailand
have been resettled in USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and other European
countries who were far junior to him by case but only this journalist has been
left at lurch at this critical juncture of his life. There seems a clear cut
violation of his rights by USRAP but whom to blame for it. This journalist has
now been faced with different psychological issues as despite sending many
reminders to UNHCR, USRAP, RSC, Department of Homeland security, International
Rescue Committee and different humanitarian and journalist bodies, he has not
received any positive response from any quarter. All have turned a deaf ear to
his appeal. The case of this refugee journalist has been highlighted by
Malaysian media on number of occasions but in vain. According to him not
deciding a settlement matter for over three years show some sort of vendetta
against him. He even sent many applications to US ambassador at Kuala Lumpur
Miss Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir but still he has to wait for their official
response. He has asked whether he is being punished for being a Muslim or
someone is enjoying the pleasure of my miserable condition. Are there any
complications in my case or some big UFO mystery which is not being solved by
the U.S authorities. According to him he has lost faith in all those countries
and organisations who always champion the cause of human rights. They are
limited to lip service instead of taking practical steps. There seems a bias in
my case. This journalist showed his dismay as he is not desirous of getting
resettlement in a foreign but going back to his native country is nothing less
than committing a suicide. He was compelled to flee as life was getting
miserable in his homeland. Getting resettled in a foreign country was the only
option left to him. Whenever he approaches UNHCR authorities they show him cases
older than his case but when asked about cases far junior to him then there is a
complete silence. All the so-called international organisations like Human
Rights Watch, Refugees Council, international refugees organisation, Help
Refugees, Asylum seekers resource Centre, Refugees Action, Committee to Protect
journalists, International federation for journalists and reporters without
Borders are active only on Twitter. These organisations hold seminars in five
star hotels where participants leave after having lavish meals with zero output.
They are happy by issuing press statements instead of some formidable action.
This journalist in utter despair said will I have to wait for death to end my
problems as my fingers are jammed due to excessive writing of appeals to these
world organisations. Is a homeless and helpless journalist has to offer his life
as a price of writing truth against the powerful cartels and mafia in his native
country. Will he never be allowed to lead a peaceful and respectable life. Its a
big question mark for USRAP, UNHCR, IRC, IOM and other International
organisations.