Category: Other refugees

Phoenix, AZ: Bhutanese refugee commits suicide

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

From Nepal News:

A resettled Bhutanese refugee committed suicide in Phoenix of Arizona state of America Wednesday.

Doctors attending 20-year-old Menuka Poudel at St Joseph Hospital formally declared her dead at 6:30 pm local time, Wednesday, a refugee-run news agency, Bhutan News Service (BNS) reported today.

According to the report, she was rescued from her apartment when she was found hanging on a scarf to commit suicide on Tuesday afternoon.

[….]

The cause behind the suicide is not yet known, BNS said.

For new readers: We are admitting 60,000 Bhutanese refugees over a 5 year period (see Bush Asst. Secretary of State, Ellen Sauerbrey’s announcement here in 2007).  In FY2008 we admitted 5,320, FY2009 – 13,452, and in FY2010 which ended on September 3oth we admitted 12,363—two more years and 28,865 to go.  More numbers may be found here.

Unrelated, but this story reminded me of the Bhutanese refugee who was murdered in Florida in 2009.  I wonder whatever happened with that case, does anyone know?

Canada: Judge throws out earlier decision in refugee case of white S.African

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

We’ve told you about this case previously here and here.  

Brandon Huntley asked for asylum in Canada claiming he was persecuted because of his white skin color in majority black S. Africa.  Initially he was granted refugee status but now a judge has overturned the earlier decision.

From the Globe and Mail:

The Federal Court has quashed an immigration tribunal decision to grant refugee status to a white South African who claimed he feared racial persecution in his homeland.

Brandon Carl Huntley told the refugee protection panel that he feared he might be killed by black South Africans, and that neither the government nor the police would protect him because of his race.

The tribunal found Mr. Huntley’s fears justified and gave him refugee status in August, 2009.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney asked for a Federal Court review of the finding.

Mr. Justice James Russell released a scathing ruling on the case Wednesday, saying the decision was badly flawed.

The judge claims there was no international pressure to reverse the ruling, but you know there was because the message being sent was the politically incorrect one.  We all know whites discriminate because of color, but it NEVER goes the other direction, right!

When the refugee decision came down, the South African government expressed outrage and the case raised a furor in that country’s media. The authorities called the decision itself “racist” and “ridiculous” and made diplomatic complaints.

Heaven forbid the“Rainbow Nation” would be the source for a horde of white refugees looking for new homes!

Human Rights First urges greater protection for LGBTI refugees

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

According to this press release yesterday from Human Rights First the United Nations isn’t doing enough to protect refugees who are escaping persecution because of their sexual orientation.

Washington, DC– As a group of representatives from governments, civil society and academia meet in Geneva today to participate in a Roundtable discussion on how to better protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) refugees, Human Rights First urges the UN refugee agency – UNHCR – to continue to undertake concrete steps to ensure LGBTI refugees and asylum seekers are protected on the basis of equality and dignity.

“Every day, refugees from all corners of the world are forced to flee their homes on account of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Human Rights First’s Jesse Bernstein, author of Persistent Needs and Gaps: the Protection of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Refugees, a report that will be presented today at UNHCR’s Roundtable in Geneva. “By definition, all refugees are vulnerable,” said Bernstein. “Yet LGBTI refugees often face particular challenges in accessing protection and assistance resulting in needs which frequently go unaddressed.”

Chickens all! Bok! Bok! Bok!

This issue raises lots of questions.  However, the point I want to make and that really ticks me off is the way groups like Human Rights First and the United Nations refuse to say where the persecution is primarily coming from.   Like most Leftists they are afraid to point a finger at the real problem—gays, lesbians etc. are permitted and even encouraged to be persecuted by Islamic extremists because Allah said it was O.K. to do so.

Just check out the report, and I challenge you to find the word ‘Islam,’ ‘Muslim,’ or even ‘religious’ in the text.   The closest they come is in footnote 6 where five countries and portions of two others are listed which have the death penalty for such sexual behaviors.  They are Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen and parts of Somalia and Nigeria.  What do they all have in common?  Islamic governments and/or fundamentalist Islamic control!

I would have so much more respect for the Left, especially Leftist women, if they had the nerve to speak out about human rights abuses by Islamic fundamentalists without dancing around the subject.

Here we go again! This time it’s Ansonia, CT

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

I had completely missed this story back in March and only learned about the problems developing in Ansonia, CT while reading Friends of Refugees blog yesterday.

I’m incensed for two reasons.  First, this Connecticut town was obviously not told in advance that the International Institute of Connecticut was bringing Bhutanese (not that it matters that they are Bhutanese) refugees to their town (see also my post yesterday about the tens of thousands of Bhutanese brought to the US this year already).  And, secondly, I’m livid because there is no mention in these stories that the International Institute in Waterbury, CT was closed by the US State Department  a couple of years ago for leaving mostly Burmese refugees living in squalor and their needs not attended to until church people in Waterbury stepped in to rescue the refugees.

I’ll get to the latest story from Ansonia shortly, but here is the first story I missed in March.  I have been ranting for years that towns need to be included in the planning process BEFORE refugees arrive.  This obviously did not happen in Ansonia.

Why was Ansonia picked?

One political leader in Ansonia is concerned that having the families relocated here will mean more strain on already tight resources in town.

“Why was Ansonia, when we need so much help here ourselves, why was this picked as a place to bring other people who need help?” said Republican Town Committee Chairwoman Joan Radin. “I don’t understand how you can bring people into an area where people are already depressed.”

Radin said she isn’t against helping people, but she’s concerned that valuable job training programs would be directed toward the refugees instead of Valley residents.

Radin is also concerned that the children in the families will put a strain on the school system, which is already struggling to meet state demands for student achievement levels.

“I think it’s wonderful to help people — don’t get me wrong,” Radin said. “But when you’re already in a position when you can’t help anymore, what do you do?”

Dear Ms. Radin, your town was picked in a secret process just outside of Washington, DC where these government contractors like the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (the parent organization of IIC) sit around a table and literally put pins in a map.

There is no apparent rhyme or reason for their choices of resettlement cities (except that some are working directly with employers to bring them cheap labor, others want to add to the Democratic voter roles).  They just obviously hope to slip in the refugees before anyone gets wind of it, then they will call you and your town “unwelcoming” for saying just what you have said.  They are required by law to consult with your town (see Manchester, NH post) and maybe in Ansonia they found a couple of  social justice churches and a few Far Left political leaders with whom to “consult.”  But consultation is a sham!

And, then this is really disturbing!   They wanted a small town feel!

IIC has resettled refugees in Connecticut before, Mackwell said. Through experience, the organization has determined that a big city like Waterbury or Bridgeport is not always the best place for resettlement.

They were just not good places for refugees,” Mackwell said. “We were looking for a small town feel.”

THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CONNECTICUT WAS CLOSED BY THE US STATE DEPARTMENT IN WATERBURY FOR NOT CARING FOR REFUGEES  IN THE MANNER REQUIRED BY THEIR STATE DEPARTMENT CONTRACT (yes, that is me shouting!). Thanks to a sympathetic church community, a dogged willingness to investigate by the Waterbury paper, The Republican-American, and one tough brave reporter, the scandal was exposed.  See my post on the closure here two years ago in May 2008.   We had learned by experience we needed a small town feel—what a bunch of bunk!  They were shut down in Waterbury!

You know what else is stunning?  Ansonia and Waterbury are 16 miles apart and the scandal in Waterbury is only two years old but it seems that the people of Ansonia don’t know what happened in Waterbury with refugees and you can bet the IIC isn’t going to inform them!

Now to the May 7th Valley Independent Sentinel report from Ansonia.  We have no room in our schools and our community cannot afford it!

Ansonia —School officials are worried they won’t be able to adequately educate a group of refugees that have arrived in Ansonia from Nepal.

This week the city’s tax board recommended a zero-percent increase for the school district.

At a school board meeting Wednesday, school Superintendent Carol Merlone worried about the combination of low funding and refugee students in the district.

School officials said the school district only has one English as a Second Language teacher per school. They’re worried about the ESL teachers being overwhelmed due to the arrival of the refugee students who do not speak English.

While the new students have been welcomed with open arms into the district, “We don’t want to overburden the school system,” the superintendent said. “I’m worried about children getting gypped.”

Refugee families have been arriving in the lower Valley since March. In all, about 10 families are expected to arrive by June.

Why aren’t refugees going to nearby larger and richer towns? Because the political powers-that-be will make sure they aren’t in their back yards.   Ted Kennedy created this program in 1980 and none have been resettled in Hyannis Port in the three decades since!

School officials wanted to know why it seems all the families are arriving in Ansonia, where the school district already faces a number of challenges, including large class sizes.

To date, no refugee students have been placed in the neighboring Derby school district.

Marshall (IIC spokesperson) said there is an oversight committee has strict criteria in deciding where to place refugees.* Number one on the list — “Housing rates have to be low,” he said.

Representatives from Marshall’s organization told the Valley Indy in March that they were looking to place people outside major cities. The refugees assimilate better in smaller communities that have accessible public transportation.

“There is an overflow of refugees already set up in Waterbury and Bridgeport,” Marshall told the school board.

While there is another refugee family due to arrive in Ansonia next week, Marshall said it is unclear whether more families will be coming to Ansonia.

About four members of the public spoke on the refugee issue. Most of the speakers expressed concerns about the situation.

* This oversight committee is just a bunch of non-profit types setting the agenda for your town.  There is NO FEDERAL REQUIREMENT for a town to take refugees.  This is just a lie that they try to sell to unsuspecting communities where people want to be kind and welcoming, but question the logic behind placing refugees in their financially overburdened towns.   The federal government could be slowing the flow of refugees right now as our economy struggles, but the Obama Administration is aiming for the highest number of refugees this federal year since 9/11.  Does that make any sense to any thinking person?

Ansonia, you can say NO! You should be aware that other towns have done so already.  For more on overloaded cities saying NO, contact me, Ann@vigilantfreedom.com

Fort Wayne, IN update: store owner punished in sign controversy

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

Regular readers may recall that we reported back in early March that a laundromat employee apparently disgusted by some unhygienic behavior (that has not been entirely spelled out) had posted a sign saying no Burmese were permitted in the store.  You can imagine the ruckus that caused!   I believe the sign wasn’t even up for a day but it has produced enormous controversy in the city with the highest Burmese population in the US.

By the way, readers should know that there are many ethnic groups of Burmese admitted to the US through the refugee program.  Some are Christian, a few are Buddhists and a growing number are Muslims, including the most recent controversial group the Rohingya.  To learn more about the Rohingya, visit our category on the subject of their resettlement here.

Back to the latest from Ft. Wayne.   When you read this story you can’t help but think that the offending business, Ricker’s Oil, was blackmailed into making a payment to the Burmese Advocacy Center that was larger than the fine it would have paid otherwise. 

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Ricker’s Oil donated $2,500 to Fort Wayne’s Burmese Advocacy Center (BAC), publicly apologized a second time, and promised to provide diversity training to all of its Fort Wayne employees, after an employee posted a ‘No Burmese Allowed’ sign outside its Calhoun Street laundromat.

The donation and training is part of a settlement announced in a press conference, Thursday afternoon.

The controversial sign was posted in March. The company’s president removed it immediately after it finding out and made a public apology via youtube.

Fort Wayne’s Metro Human Relations department filed a human rights complaint against the company, while dozens from the Fort Wayne Burmese community demanded more action from the City.

According to Metro Executive Director Gerald Foday, the $2,500 donation is in lieu of a $500 fine the company would’ve paid to the City for each day the violation occured.

As far as I know there was no apology from the leaders of the Burmese “community” or their ambulance chasing lawyer for the behavior of the few who did (spit, urinate, or whatever) in the laundromat.  It’s always the complaining racists who are at fault according to lawyer Proctor.

“You cannot say just because one or a handful of people did some conduct that that is what the Burmese do,” added Patrick Proctor, a board member at the BAC.

I told you everything you need to know about  Union lawyer Patrick Proctor, here.  He wasn’t even on the board of the BAC when the incident first occurred.

So what do you think, do you think Proctor helped calm the situation in Ft. Wayne or inflame it?   This is a prime example of the Alinsky-create-crisis-over-race stategy we have reported on many occasions.  It is more evidence that the Far Left uses refugees and immigrants to advance their political agenda.  Right now that agenda is to paint Americans as a bunch of redneck racists.  Will the Ricker’s “fine” produce better feelings in the community toward the refugees—NO! Just see the comments, a few of which are posted below, to see the fallout. 

How about if this issue had been dealt with in a less inflammatory way?  How about if the “leaders” of the Burmese community (without Proctor!) had mediated with Ricker’s and the Burmese had met the Ft. Wayne citizenry half way with a quiet apology that went something like this:  ‘We want to learn American ways because we want to live here peacefully, so we will work really hard to teach new immigrants and refugees American customs and laws.’  And, Ricker’s had said they would be sure their employees understood and had some initial patience (and were assured that they could call the police if disorderly behavior continues to occur).   How about if the political leaders in the city allowed for a public meeting to discuss the whole refugee program so the community understood the facts? Much of the problem with the program in most US cities is the secrecy that surrounds it.   Oh no, that won’t happen because that doesn’t fit the political agenda of people like Proctor.

So, here are some comments, you tell me if the episode and the “fine” (extortion!) and the lack of apology from the Burmese helped the situation in Ft. Wayne.

Diana said:

This is sad. Although the sign should not have been posted, it is the Burmese who do not learn and change when they come to our city. Hopefully, this whole experience is for the better and they learn hygiene and respect the law in our country. Seems like we have to take the burden and compromise but there is no change from these refugees. Ridiculous. If you do not like rules, cleanliness and the law we will pay you to get the heck out and go back to Burma any day.

Meaty:

what a crock…these people come into our country do not respect our values and yet we owe them!!!!

Sad Hoosier:

So no one has to answer questions about the “inappropriate behaviour” of the Burmese people? Give me a break. When will the City start supporting local businesses rather than throwing them under the bus as a scapegoat? Metro is a complete joke – Its so easy to throw the race card, completely impossible to defend against and absolutely destroys meaningful dialogue. And people wonder why others come across as xenophobic? Who stands up to support the working individual and business taxpayers?

Tom:

Now I hate the Burmese even more!

Good job Proctor, are you proud of your accomplishment?  Wow!  A whole $2500 and diversity training and more bad feelings toward the Burmese.