The sit-in and hunger strike of Afghan asylum seekers in St Patrick's Cathedral has ended peacefully and without loss of life, for which all concerned are to be congratulated. The gardaí in particular deserve credit for negotiating a successful end to the situation.
Throughout last week, the Department of Justice had refused to negotiate. It had little alternative, as to do so could have sparked a rash of such collective protests, thereby undermining the basis of the State's asylum process which is founded on an assessment of each claim individually. The ultimate losers would have been those asylum seekers who are not collectively organised, but who have valid claims for asylum.
The precise reasons for the men embarking on this drastic form of action remain unclear. They were not threatened with immediate deportation. Two of them had permission to stay. The others were at various stages in the asylum process. Yet, it would seem, they were willing to risk their lives in pursuit of speeded-up permission to remain in this State. According to the Dean of St Patrick's, Rev David Pierpoint, they felt desperate and isolated.
Afghanistan is a country where the rule of law is limited, to say the least. The writ of the present government does not run throughout the whole country. The Department of Foreign Affairs has warned Irish people travelling there. Many of the people who have fled the country could be in real danger if they returned.
The asylum process, while criticised in the past, is now well-resourced, the delays are much reduced, and asylum seekers are able to avail of good quality legal assistance. All this has been rightly praised by the UNHCR. But aspects of it have also been criticised. The Refugee Appeals Tribunal, in particular, has been criticised for lack of transparency in its decisions and a perception of inconsistency, fuelled by anecdotal accounts of individual hearings. Two of its most respected commissioners have resigned.
The Afghan protesters sought to circumvent the asylum process. They were living in B&Bs under the system of direct provision, isolated from the rest of the community, unable to work or engage in any useful activity. Such conditions could only intensify their feelings of isolation and desperation. Their protest has focused attention on our asylum process. More transparency should be introduced into how decisions are arrived at and consideration should be given to allowing the media report on hearings without identifying the applicants.
Steps also need to be taken to tackle the social isolation of asylum seekers. The system of direct provision needs to be looked at again. Organisations like churches, trade unions and educational bodies should take responsibility and help asylum seekers build a relationship with Irish society, so that they do not feel driven to the desperate actions seen in St Patrick's Cathedral.