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In the last incident that led me to leave Zimbabwe and come here, we were taken to a farm. We were tortured to the extent that I was unconscious. I have scars and bruises all over my body. We were beaten with sticks. I believe that I was also sexually assaulted …I was unconscious, I don’t even know how I got home … I agreed with my mother that I should leave the country before they killed me. That’s the reason I came to Ireland.
Anna* has lived in a direct provision centre in Ireland since 2008. She fled from Zimbabwe after being arrested and beaten on several occasions.
Anna was actively involved in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) political group and said she was targeted by members of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF).
She left her three children behind. They are now being cared for by her elderly mother: “A 75-year-old controlling teenagers is not easy.”
For her own safety and that of her family, one of Anna’s relatives arranged for her to come to Ireland. They felt it was a safe destination as there is no direct flight from Zimbabwe to here.
“It’s not a choice [which country you go to], you just want somewhere where you’ll be safe.
It was very difficult leaving my family. I had a very good job. Leaving everything, it wasn’t easy for me. It was very, very difficult to make that decision but it was a matter of life or death. If I stayed they would have killed me.
She said that the ZANU party do not know where she is, but often assume that when people go abroad it is to campaign for funds for the MDC.
“It’s difficult to live without your family. As a parent it’s not easy – it’s very, very difficult. I don’t have anybody I can call family. My family all depended on me, I was the breadwinner. It’s just heartbreaking to be honest.”
Her mother and children have moved away from the village in which they grew up due to intimidation from the ZANU-PF. Anna said that none of her children want to get involved in politics after seeing how it affected her.
Despite how it has impacted on her life, she said that it was never an option to leave the MDC: “You’ve got to be committed.”
The ZANU-PF, headed by Robert Mugabe, has controlled Zimbabwe since it gained independence in 1980. In 2008 it brokered a fraught coalition deal with the MDC. However, in last year’s disputed election Mugabe’s party regained parliamentary control.
Anna has struggled to adjust to life without her children and is now seeing a psychologist.
“Living without a family, doing nothing – it’s so depressing.”
She is currently awaiting to hear the result of an appeal for her application for asylum.
Rwandan Genocide
Harry* has lived in Ireland since 2007.
I left Rwanda 20 years ago. I was a refugee in the Congo. I was not in a wheelchair in the Congo, I was shot and tortured there and became paralysed.
Since his arrival, Harry has completed a BA in Development Studies and an LLM in International Human Rights Law. The Christian Brothers helped fund the former, while a group of Irish friends raised money so that Harry could get his master’s degree.
His asylum application has been delayed for years in the High Court.
During the Rwandan Genocide, Harry was one of the many Hutu refugees who fled to the neighbouring Congo. It was there that he said he was tortured and shot by the Rwandan army.
The first incident was when I was shot in late 1996 – Rwandan refugees were fired on en masse in refugee camps. That time they were killing Hutu refugees. They shot me in the leg, luckily I was able to keep moving. Some people were shot dead.
Harry knows that if he ever returned to Rwanda he would be labelled a ‘genocide denier’. He is one of a growing number of people who have spoken out against the official version of what happened during the 100-day slaughter of close to one million people.
Such views were explored earlier this year in the BBC’s controversial documentary Rwanda’s Untold Story, which suggests that more Hutus than Tutsis were killed in 1994. It also questions the role Rwanda’s Tutsi president Paul Kagame played in the genocide.
The Rwanda Government has since accused the broadcaster of “genocide denial” and demanded an apology.
Harry told us:
In the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, both tribes were killed – the Hutus were killed, the Tutsis were killed. The current version is that the Hutus killed the Tutsis only. People should accept the truth of what happened – both sides killed each other and committed crimes.
“It’s very difficult to be away from my family – I have been away for 20 years now. When I left, the last born of my family was six years old, now she’s 26.”
Having completed his master’s degree, he now has little to do with his days.
“I have nothing much to do everyday. It’s so difficult. I try to make myself busy – I volunteer, I go swimming.”
Harry has been receiving therapy to deal with the psychological impact of the torture he experienced in the Congo. He hopes to one day work in advocacy.
He has been following the recent debate on reform of the Direct Provision system with great interest.
I know there is a debate about ending Direct Provision or changing it, I will talk about change because I don’t see it being stopped.
People should be allowed to work. They have strengths, they have a background or qualifications in an area. They are just kept here for years, depending on the taxpayers when they could be working or studying.
People should have access to adequate education which will allow them in the future to get involved in society. They want to work, they want to contribute. Doing nothing damages them psychologically.
Harry said that residents in DP centres are currently “imprisoned” and called on the Government to grant amnesty for those already in the system.
‘I want to contribute’
Thomas* fled from Burundi with his partner and two children after he was arrested and beaten up for switching allegiance from the CNDD ruling party to the Opposition party Front for Democracy in Burundi (FRODEBU).
When speaking to us, he repeatedly stressed how grateful he is to the Irish Government for providing his family with safety and shelter.
“I really appreciate what the State have done. They have provided me with what I wanted: security, shelter, everything. I’ve been here for almost seven years now. I really think that it’s time for me to pay them back.
For what the Government have done for me, I have nothing to show them how much I appreciate it. I want to pay them back, I want to contribute … I’m 36 years old with two legs, two arms, I really think that this is the right time for me to contribute to the community.I really appreciate [what Ireland has done for me] and I’ll always be appreciative. I want to work, that’s all I’m asking. Other than that? Nothing much.
*All of the interviewees’ names have been changed to protect their anonymity. They now live in various Direct Provision centres throughout Ireland.
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Publishing a story at 5 minutes past midnight is a great way to pay lip service to an issue without risking drawing too much attention to it.
@*The* Brendan Gordon: Doesn’t have anything to do with LTBG.
@*The* Brendan Gordon: sure it will still be there first thing in the morning for everyone to read..
@*The* Brendan Gordon: they usually publish something important this time every night for everyone to read in morning…
Yea, you can scroll down past this mornings useless poll or the inevitable “wrap up, it’s going to be cold sometime within the next week” stories.
@Yorkie1892: most casual readers don’t scroll down that far or do a comprehensive catch up. It’s the online equivalent of burying a story on page 12
It’s shocking but no surprise, gardai had to intervene when a group of u s soldiers where strolling around Shannon town in full uniform. Irish neutrality is as real as snow in the sahara
And there are still a ton of flights never allowed near our airspace. Bombers, fighters, attack choppers, gunships, tank busters etc (actual war planes) are NOT allowed. Refuellers very rarely get through Irish airspace and those that do need special clearance. The Americans are declaring when they have military weapons and ammo on board, so well done them!
Oh and we are not neutral, we have agreements in place with the RAF so that they can protect us in a 911 type situation and depend on them when the Russians start snooping along our western boundaries. We do not have the defence forces to protect our so called neutrality. Check out how the Swedish and Swiss are able to at least try and defend their neutrality.
Grow up moaners and get over it!
@Paul Furey: Exactly…we’re actually quite strategically important stuck as we are in the mid Atlantic…and the whole idiotic idea that we’re in anyway neutral actually prevents us from fully capitalising on something that’s happening anyway. Besides it’s impossible for us to be truly neutral the way the world is at the moment…even traditionally neutral Switzerland aren’t really neutral anymore because being neutral would mean allowing the Iranians, the Iraqis (Saddams lot), the Afghanis(The Taliban) and about a dozen other entities the same things we grant the Americans, British and Russians…and even Ming and Mick aren’t that bloody stupid…
Absolutely no problem with it. Maybe the J could also do a piece on who exactly the Shannonwatch group are – members, structure, spokespeople, funding etc.
@Matt Connolly: Nothing on their website except for a PO BOX number and Gmail address, nothing against ICANN WHOIS, but their Facebook page brings up 0878225087. And according to a Google search, this phone number is part of what’s known as “Euro-Asia Centre” and based in the University of Limerick. All available and online in the public domain. Maybe the number on the Facebook page is wrong!
https://www.bizireland.com/euro-asia-centre-087-822-5087
Google returned this also when searching on the mobile
If it was Ireland been attack you wouldn’t have a problem with American soldiers coming to Shannon airport .
@Paul Smith: Who would attack us? Nobody who hasn’t actively meddled in the middle East has been attacked. If anything getting involved makes us more likely to be attacked. Aside from that, most of their wars are unjustifiable and we shouldn’t support them for moral reasons.
@SC: most wars are unjust. Well that’s a matter of opinion . Many wars are justified and the right thing to do . The consequences of not going to war could result in a greater loss of life . Nobody is going to invade Ireland . That’s why you have the option of been Neutral . Many countries don’t have that option .
@Paul Smith: Says who? You? It must be correct with your generalising assumptions then Paul. Im not happy with them passing through. America being at war the past 222 out of 229 years says something to me and are people trying to invade them? Not in my lifetime but theyve sure as hell killed millions upon millions around the world in the name of ‘peace’…. Fighting terror they say-they are the terror in my opinion and Id prefer to call on anybody but the US if we’re attacked.
@Daimhín De Naois: tell that to the people of Rwanda where a million died . You probably think the right thing to do was not to intervene . Over 40 countries served in Afghanistan. They obviously don’t agree with ya either .
@Paul Smith: More assumptions. You shouldnt. Rwanda? The US knew it was coming, hailed Musevini as a hero and ramped up aid while selling more military equipment in the years of the genocide than they had in the past 40 and him the architect and they KNEW. Youre right, tell that to the people of Rwanda.
I used to have a lot of time for Shane Ross.
Any word of where these munitions were headed?
Patricia McKenna had all this layed out 20 years ago ffx!!
And wasn’t there a “UFO” spotted over Shannon airspace last week?!
Chances are, another “weapon of war”
Thank God we’ve learned from all those articles and comments over the last few days about how awful war is, especially imperialist war. Well done, Ireland! Lest we forget!
@Paul Devlin: I’d say nearly everyone old enough on the planet already knew how awful war is and didn’t really need to learn from all those articles and comments over the last few days. Strange you only found out now. Oh well!
Nothing about how much it cost them, as long as they keep paying €€€
There are the military arms and equipment that are bringing wars and famine in the Middle East. So the next time there is a commemoration for the Irish famine, just remember we are helping driving one in Yemen.
Keep telling yourself we are “Neural” clearly Ireland has chosen sides!
Keeps the tills in the duty free shop full
Purchases of anything Oirish by the troops is always good .
people still think we wont be a target for ISIS!!!!!!!!!
@Brian Kelleher: Lefties Love ISIS, it’s a weird world.
@Thomas Molloy: Stop being silly. Lefties like whom?
@Paul Furey: He’s talking about those snowflake liberal cucks. Apologies if I missed out on any other trendy buzzwords.
Must be a quite night, normally get messages landing at Shannon 4 times a year
Define munitions of war. The definition is so broad it could mean anything from a harmless smoke canister to a nuclear bomb.
Money talks
Neutral!????
We cannot be neutral against the Taliban or Al Qaeda. I suppose the looney left in this country have a history of supporting terrorists.
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