SOS Norway, Kiss Goodbye to Geneva Convention 1951?

"The 1951 Convention protects refugees. It defines a refugee as a person who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail him or herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution (see Article 1A(2))."

In contravention to the 1951 Geneva Convention; Norway, one of the founding signatories of this convention; is preparing to deport forcibly over 400 Ethiopian Political asylum seekers and their children as of March 15, 2012, to Ethiopia where they would most probably prosecuted by the ruling junta for their opposition political activism at the leadership and grass roots levels in Norway.       

It's ironic and very sad that such violations against desperate, helpless and voiceless Ethiopian political asylum seekers who were supposed to be protected by International Conventions; came from the descendants of Fridtjof Nansen; who had been the League of Nations’ high commissioner for refugees from 1921 until his death in 1930 and whose priceless ideals and values to the causes of refugees brought the birth of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Nansen International Office for Refugees was awarded the 1938 Nobel Prize for Peace in recognition of its efforts and its display of worldwide humanitarianism.

Unlike in many countries in Europe and elsewhere in the world; this cruel and inhumane initiative was masterminded and executed by Labour-led coalition party which is supposed to be left leaning, empathizes with causes of refugees and other marginalized members of the society. 

Isn't also amazing that this hideous crime is being committed at one of the countries which prides itself as the champion of democracy, liberty, solidarity and freedom? How come, the seat of Nobel Peace Prize turns out to be a partner to one horn of Africa's ruthless, vicious and corrupt dictator?

It's beyond one's imagination to guess as to why the successors of  Fridtjof Nansen are abusing and mistreating refugees, especially Ethiopians. According to a statistics from Norwegian Directorate of Immigration  , 566 Ethiopians applied for asylum in Norway in 2010, of which 314 were rejected. Many of these rejected asylum seekers have lived for more than 10yrs, worked, paid tax and whose children know no "home" other than their country of birth-Norway.    

As a small token, to show our solidarity to our brothers and sisters in Norway; Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopians in Stockholm held a protest in front of Norwegian Embassy on March 09, 2012; to demand the Norwegian government to review its unjustified and inhumane agreement made with Meles Zenawi's dictatorial regime at the expense of Ethiopian political asylum seekers. 

Fridtjof Nansen is perhaps rolling in his grave, and would feel ashamed and may even cry if he were to see what he had fought over six decades ago, is being dismantled and zeroed today by his country men and women who are supposed to pass this great man's legacy to their children and grand children. 

Ha det