Is it right that Yemeni law doesn’t protect refugees? [Archives:2002/14/Focus]

BY TESHOME ANGESA
AN ETHIOPIAN REFUGEE IN YEMEN
I just want to ask, is it true that soldiers can crack refugees skulls without being questioned? Is it true that Yemen is without a law protecting refugees? Can refugees be treated as animals here and no body would care?
In March 6, 2002 I was in front of the UNHCR office hoping to meet Mr. Frank the acing commissioner of this UN agency, I was brutally beaten up by the guards protecting the office. The four Yemeni soldiers surrounded me and hit me in the head leading to major injuries in my skull.
I was then hospitalized to al-Mutawakel Hospital near to the scene of the accident, however, the hospital refused to treat me but with a police report. A soldier took me to Baghdad St. Police Station, where, he told them that he is a Secret Police agent and that I was only a refugee and they need not to worry about me.
Mr. Frank reported the case to the Political Security. The Political Security only questioned the soldiers about the incident. The soldiers, upon my return after few days asked me whether I complained to the Political Security and threatened me, saying, “You are only a refugee and that Yemeni law doesn’t protect refugees, adding it’s better to keep my mouth shut.


——
[archive-e:14-v:2002-y:2002-d:2002-04-01-p:./2002/iss14/focus.htm]