By Somalilandtimes network

Helsinki, Feb. 22, 2006 – Finland could soon begin repatriating Somali asylum seekers, as well as Somali residents who have committed crimes in Finland. According to the Helsinki Aliens' Police, the situation in Somalia has improved so much that it will be possible to send people to all parts of the country.

The information is contained in a statement sent to the Directorate of Immigration. Previously, the police would not send people to Southern and Central Somalia because of instability in the region.

So far, only one man convicted of a crime has been sent from Finland to Hargeysa, the capital of Somaliland, which lies in the north of the country. The move took place in March 2004. If Finland starts sending people back to central and southern parts of Somalia, it would do so against the recommendations of the UNHCR.

Until now, all Somali asylum-seekers have been granted at least a temporary residence permit, regardless of whether or not they need protection, because it has not been possible in practice to return them to their home country.

The new view of the police could mean that some asylum-seekers could be denied a residence permit, and might be returned to their home countries. The decision could also lead to the deportation of around a dozen young people of Somali background who have been convicted of muggings and other crimes in the Helsinki region.

The Directorate of Immigration granted temporary residence permits to 103 Somali asylum-seekers last year, even though they were not considered to be in need of protection. At that time, the Aliens' Police felt that conditions in central and southern parts of Somalia were so unsettled that the safety of the deportees and their escorts - Finnish police - could not be guaranteed.

Jaana Vuorio of the Directorate of Immigration does not yet know how the new policy line of the police will affect the processing of asylum applications and proposals for deportation.

"We are reading the statements given by the police with a magnifying glass, and we will update our policy concerning Somalia", she says.

Source: Helsingin Sanomat