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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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 Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:54 am Post subject: SA man gets asylum in Canada for being white |
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A South African man has been granted refugee status by Canada's immigration and refugee board, which has found "clear and convincing proof" he was persecuted for being white.
Brandon Huntley, 31, "would stand out like a 'sore thumb' due to his colour in any part of the country", the board's panel chair, William Davis, said in his decision.
Huntley, who grew up in Mowbray, said he had been attacked seven times and stabbed four times "by African South Africans" between 1991 and 2003.
Davis found he "was a victim because of his race rather than a victim of criminality".
He said the evidence offered by Huntley, immigration lawyer Russell Kaplan and witness Lara Kaplan, who emigrated to Canada last year, "shows a picture of indifference and inability or unwillingness of the government and security forces to protect white South Africans from persecution by African South Africans".
Canadian High Commission spokeswoman Valery Yiptong said on Monday night that the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) functioned much like the South African Home Affairs' sub-directorate for refugee affairs.
Davis is a member of the board's refugee protection division.
Huntley first travelled to Canada on a six-month work permit in 2004 and worked as a carnival attendant. He went back to Canada in 2005 and, after his work permit expired, he stayed on illegally until making his refugee claim in April last year.
Huntley told the tribunal he had been called "a white dog" and "a settler" when attacked.
He had not reported any of the attacks to the police because "the majority of them are South Africans and he did not trust them".
Huntley also said he had been able to find employment only because of family connections. He was otherwise prohibited from finding work by the country's affirmative action policies.
"Upon his return to South Africa (at the end of 2004), he knew that he could not survive there any more. He was constantly afraid and he knew there was no future from a security (and financial) point of view because of his skin colour", the decision said, noting Huntley's allegations.
Testifying before the tribunal, Russell Kaplan's sister, Lara Kaplan, told how their brother Robert had been tortured and shot three times by a group of black South Africans who had broken into his home.
Davis said he found Huntley a credible witness as his story was consistent and "plausible". Lara Kaplan's testimony enhanced and supported his claims that "persecution of white South Africans by African South Africans (is) a common event today in South Africa".
Russell Kaplan, who moved from South Africa to Canada in 1989, called Davis's finding a "landmark case".
But SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) chief executive Tseliso Thipanyane said unless the decision was endorsed by Canada's supreme court, it would not be considered a reflection of that country's position.
"I find the finding rather odd, actually," he said last night. "The commission will not dispute the fact that there are white people who are attacked by black people on the basis of racism, but it also happens the other way round.
"And the majority of victims of crime in the country are not white people."
On the question of affirmative action, Thipanyane referred to a recent SAHRC survey that found that 61 percent of the top positions in companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange were occupied by white males.
Kaplan said he had considered the prospect of bringing such an application before the IRB before meeting Huntley, but this had not seemed possible.
"This was the case that I had been waiting for," he said. |
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20090901040349609C242817
If today were April first...
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/09/01/world/international-uk-safrica-canada-refugee.html?_r=1
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Canada's White Refugee Ruling Racist - South Africa
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Canada's decision to grant refugee status to a South African who said he was persecuted because he is white drew accusations of racism from the country's ruling ANC on Tuesday.
Race is a highly sensitive issue in South Africa, still scarred by decades of apartheid, which ended in 1994.
Whites still dominate Africa's biggest economy. But some say they face reverse discrimination, and are deprived of jobs by a black economic empowerment program.
A Canadian immigration board ruled that South African Brandon Huntley could stay in Canada.
Canada's Ottawa Sun newspaper quoted the panel's chairman, William Davis, as saying Huntley would stand out like a "sore thumb" due to his colour in any part of South Africa.
"The African National Congress (ANC) views the granting by Canada of a refugee status to South African citizen Brandon Huntley on the grounds that Africans would 'persecute' him, as racist," the party said in a statement.
"We find the claim by Huntley to have been attacked seven times by Africans due his skin colour without any police intervention sensational and alarming. Canada's reasoning for granting Huntley a refugee status can only serve to perpetuate racism."
A spokesman for the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada said he could not comment on individual cases.
"The IRB is an independent tribunal that operates at arms' length from the Canadian government. Its decision-makers are not subject to outside influence, and make decisions solely on the basis of evidence presented at the refugee hearing. Each case is decided on own merits," said IRB spokesman Stephane Malepart.
Huntley's story, carried in several local newspapers and on radio stations, could spark intense public debate on race in South Africa, where millions of poor blacks still live in grim townships, glaring reminders of institutionalized racism.
As part of a push to right the wrongs of apartheid and give blacks a stake of the economy, South Africa requires firms to meet quotas on black ownership, employment and procurement.
But critics say the empowerment drive has benefited only a few black millionaires with close ties to the ANC and creates a culture of cronyism and entitlement.
Home Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said it would have been "courteous" for Canadian authorities to get the South African government's side of the story before making its decision on Huntley.
"We should reject these ridiculous allegations that have been levelled against our people and the country," he said.
Last month, Julius Malema, the firebrand leader of the ANC's militant Youth League, drew criticism after complaining that whites did not attend the welcoming home ceremony for a world champion South African runner embroiled in a gender row.
The official unemployment rate for white South Africans is 4.6 percent, compared to 27.9 percent for blacks, despite the affirmative action drive.
Willie Spies, legal spokesman for civil rights initiative AfriForum, established by traditionally white trade union Solidarity, accused the government of indifference over the rights of minorities.
"The mere fact that the race card is so often played by people in positions of power and positions of authority, is definitely a red light as far as we are concerned," he said in response to Huntley's case.
(Additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa; editing by Peter Galloway) |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:11 am Post subject: |
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| Canada is making a mockery of the idea of a refugee. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 3:30 pm Post subject: Re: SA man gets asylum in Canada for being white |
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| mises wrote: |
"The African National Congress (ANC) views the granting by Canada of a refugee status to South African citizen Brandon Huntley on the grounds that Africans would 'persecute' him, as racist," the party said in a statement.
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How on Earth is that racist? If I'd been attacked as many times as this fellow had claimed to, I wouldn't want to keep living in the country that it happened in either, to be honest.
| mises wrote: |
| We find the claim by Huntley to have been attacked seven times by Africans due his skin colour without any police intervention sensational and alarming. Canada's reasoning for granting Huntley a refugee status can only serve to perpetuate racism." |
Sensationalist and alarming, perhaps, but is it true?
The moment they started screaming racism on this issue was the moment they lost 100% of their credibility. I don't know whether or not this man originally deserved refugee status (personally I'm inclined to think refugee status should be given too often rather than too rarely), but after their ludicrious response, maybe it's for the best. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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If this was any other minority, would it even be an issue?
The person would get in, and that'd be the end of it. |
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bacasper
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Captain Corea wrote: |
If this was any other minority, would it even be an issue?
The person would get in, and that'd be the end of it. |
That's right.
To not have granted refugee status would have been racist. |
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samcheokguy
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
Location: Samcheok G-do
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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| We don't know how white he is...maybe he isn't white enough. like Obama wasn't black enough for some people.. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Konglishman wrote: |
| Canada is making a mockery of the idea of a refugee. |
Obviously you have never been to South Africa.
Those people sleep clutching hold of revolvers, for pitys sakes. Thousands of whites have been killed there in the past few years based on their skin color. Its a very dangerous country in places. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Julius wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Canada is making a mockery of the idea of a refugee. |
Obviously you have never been to South Africa.
Those people sleep clutching hold of revolvers, for pitys sakes. Thousands of whites have been killed there in the past few years based on their skin color. Its a very dangerous country in places. |
Ten's of thousands of people are murdered every year in America due to gun violence. Perhaps, Canada should start granting asylum to Americans as well. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Konglishman wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Canada is making a mockery of the idea of a refugee. |
Obviously you have never been to South Africa.
Those people sleep clutching hold of revolvers, for pitys sakes. Thousands of whites have been killed there in the past few years based on their skin color. Its a very dangerous country in places. |
Ten's of thousands of people are murdered every year in America due to gun violence. Perhaps, Canada should start granting asylum to Americans as well. |
How many Americans apply each year for asylum in Canada due to American gun violence? |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Canada is making a mockery of the idea of a refugee. |
Obviously you have never been to South Africa.
Those people sleep clutching hold of revolvers, for pitys sakes. Thousands of whites have been killed there in the past few years based on their skin color. Its a very dangerous country in places. |
Ten's of thousands of people are murdered every year in America due to gun violence. Perhaps, Canada should start granting asylum to Americans as well. |
How many Americans apply each year for asylum in Canada due to American gun violence? |
You have missed my point. I think Canada is setting a bad precedent by setting the bar too low so to speak. Now, I am not suggesting the gentleman in the article has not had some difficulties, but it seems likely to me that he had other many other options which would have made him feel more secure. Refugee status should only be given to people who have no other options. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Konglishman wrote: |
| Fox wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Canada is making a mockery of the idea of a refugee. |
Obviously you have never been to South Africa.
Those people sleep clutching hold of revolvers, for pitys sakes. Thousands of whites have been killed there in the past few years based on their skin color. Its a very dangerous country in places. |
Ten's of thousands of people are murdered every year in America due to gun violence. Perhaps, Canada should start granting asylum to Americans as well. |
How many Americans apply each year for asylum in Canada due to American gun violence? |
You have missed my point. I think Canada is setting a bad precedent by setting the bar too low so to speak. |
Better set it too low than too high.
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Now, I am not suggesting the gentleman in the article has not had some difficulties, but it seems likely to me that he had other many other options which would have made him feel more secure. |
He clearly felt otherwise.
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Refugee status should only be given to people who have no other options. |
Until or unless refugees become such an immense problem that for the good of the nation you need to start denying them... why? |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Konglishman wrote: |
| it seems likely to me that he had other many other options which would have made him feel more secure.. |
Such as adding an extra electric fence to the two others already barricading his house, or affixing a bigger flame thrower to his car for when he gets hijacked at the traffic lights?
The commission's report stated that "there was a considerably higher risk of a white victim of farm attacks being killed or injured than a black victim." The report also found ..... that the murder rate for them ("ethno-European farmers" in their report) is four times that of the general South African population
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_farm_attacks
"Crime and lack of job opportunities if you're not the right color."
http://www.newsweek.com/id/184783
Seems a pretty clear case for refugee status if you ask me.
Don't lets forget that Canada is underpopulated. It needs more skilled people.
Canada was one of the countries that applied economic sanctions which brought down the relatively stable and prosperous south Africa. Now as a Canadian you owe it to take in the rrefugees running from the mess you created. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Fox wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Julius wrote: |
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Canada is making a mockery of the idea of a refugee. |
Obviously you have never been to South Africa.
Those people sleep clutching hold of revolvers, for pitys sakes. Thousands of whites have been killed there in the past few years based on their skin color. Its a very dangerous country in places. |
Ten's of thousands of people are murdered every year in America due to gun violence. Perhaps, Canada should start granting asylum to Americans as well. |
How many Americans apply each year for asylum in Canada due to American gun violence? |
You have missed my point. I think Canada is setting a bad precedent by setting the bar too low so to speak. |
Better set it too low than too high.
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Now, I am not suggesting the gentleman in the article has not had some difficulties, but it seems likely to me that he had other many other options which would have made him feel more secure. |
He clearly felt otherwise.
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Refugee status should only be given to people who have no other options. |
Until or unless refugees become such an immense problem that for the good of the nation you need to start denying them... why? |
No, I disagree. It is better to set the bar high, within reason, of course. If it is set too low, then I think there is higher probability of getting people who are going to bring social problems. For one thing, this gentleman has already disrespected Canada's immigration laws by overstaying his visa.
I also question his claim about not being able to easily get work in South Africa. According to the second quoted article, the unemployment rate for white South Africans is 4.6% far lower than the one for black South Africans. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Julius"]
| Konglishman wrote: |
| Now as a Canadian you owe it to take in the rrefugees running from the mess you created. |
I am not Canadian. I am simply expressing concern with regards to my northern neighbor.
If South Africa's former government had never engaged in apartheid policies in the first place, it would not be in the mess, it is in today. |
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Julius
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 3:12 am Post subject: |
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| Konglishman wrote: |
If South Africa's former government had never engaged in apartheid policies in the first place, it would not be in the mess, it is in today. |
That may be true, but last I heard America and US wiped out their native peoples wholesale, so nobody's hands are clean when it comes to colonial history. What I dislike is the modern phenomena of westerners trying to expunge some collective guilt by pointing the finger at white south africans. Fact is they're there because you and your kin sent them there 1, 200+ years ago.
Point is, why not give refuge to someone who clearly needs it, regardless of wether they are white or not? |
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