Canada rethinks Czech visa law

An influx of Roma refugees has sparked a diplomatic row between the Czech Republic and Canada, with the Canadian government hinting at reinstituting visa requirements for Czechs, before back-peddling.

"We are obviously concerned about the number of false refugee claimants," said Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney.

Experts on both sides of the Atlantic dispute Kenney's claim, citing the high number of Roma that succeed in obtaining refugee status under Canadian law as proof they are a persecuted minority.

"[Kenney] is talking through his hat. Their applications are accepted," said Paul St. Clair, executive director of the Roma Community Centre in Toronto. "Are they consistently able to fool the entire refugee board?"

The Canadian threat to again require a visa for Czech citizens has precedence. In 1997, about 1,500 Czechs applied for asylum in Canada, which prompted the Canadians to reinstitute visa restrictions after lifting them for one year. Between 1996 and 2000, 1677 Czechs sought asylum in Canada with 962 approved.

It was not until October 2007 that Canada again removed visa obligations for Czech citizens. By July 2008, Canada was again threatening to require visas in response to increased refugee applications.

In 2008, Czech citizens ranked seventh on Canada's list of asylum seekers. Last year, 853 Czech nationals sought refugee status in Canada, compared with 8,069 from Mexico, 4,936 from Haiti, 3,132 from Colombia and 1,711 from China. On April 20, Canada approved 84 Czech asylum applications.

Contrary to other media reports, Canadian Immigration Ministry Spokesman Nicolas Fortier said, "As we do not collect data on specific groups, we are unable to determine how many claims might be made by Roma."

It is widely assumed that the bulk of applicants coming from the Czech Republic are Roma.

Kenney said profiteers may be to blame for the increase in asylum applications. "If indeed there are commercial operations, I would hope the Czech authorities are able to identify those and crack down on them," he told the Vancouver Sun.

Fortier declined to clarify that statement or cite evidence that prompted Kenney's speculation. "There is no evidence of [commercial influence]," said Petr Koubek, a spokesman for the Czech Human Rights and Minorities Ministry.

Prague-based Roma rights activist Gwendolyn Albert calls Kenney's statement "very strange."

"I don't know where that is coming from," she said. "Perhaps he got his wires crossed with reports about the Czech government program to send migrant workers back to their home countries."

Meanwhile, Czech daily Lidové noviny cited an anonymous study in an April 20 article, saying Roma based in Canada - specifically Paul St. Clair - are assisting others to attain refugee status for profit.

"It's just not true," St. Clair said, adding he would respond directly to the paper about the claim.

Albert gives a straightforward explanation for the increased applications: the "low-level, persistent, psychological warfare" Roma endure in the Czech Republic. She also cited increased activities by right-wing extremist groups.

"It is well documented what the Roma face, especially in the past two years or so," she said, speaking from the UN International Conference on Racism in Geneva.

St. Clair cited similar rationale for Czech asylum-seeking Roma. "A democracy is not always a democracy for everyone," he said. "This is a European problem that nobody wants to deal with."

Albert said the Roma are a "close-knit family community in which information travels. They get to Canada, and they tell their relatives about how they can walk down the street without being stared at."

Fortier said "each [asylum] case is assessed on its own merits." Asked to clarify what Kenney meant by "false refugee claimants," Fortier declined comment and pointed to the government Web site for clarification on refugee policy.

Koubek said a Canadian delegation came to Prague to discuss the asylum issue three times, most recently in March. Roma asylum seekers are expected to be a major topic of discussion when Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper visits Prague May 6 for the Canada-EU summit.

"What the Canadian government doesn't want to admit is that it has a problem with these people coming from the Czech Republic," said Albert. "Despite all of the evidence, they refuse to acknowledge the wave of violent attacks and the completely untenable living situation they have in this country."

Benjamin Cunningham can be reached at
bcunningham@praguepost.com