Re: Dunn Bosangs
To: UNHCR South Africa
From: Cara E.I. Gibbons
Date: 2007-10-12
LRWC is gravely concerned for the safety of Mr. Dunn Bosangs. Mr. Dunn is a political activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo who arrived in South Africa for a conference in 2002. Upon receiving word that a warrant had been issued for his arrest in the DRC, Mr. Dunn remained in South Africa. He applied for refugee status in 2003, which has yet to be determined. Since 2003, Mr. Dunn has been involved with refugee workers organization operating in Johannesburg. He has received numerous death threats, and in 2004 his colleague Patty Kazadi Mukume was murdered. Since then, a number of events have taken place that indicate that Mr. Dunn and his family are not safe in Johannesburg. The safety of both Mr. Dunn and his family has been directly threatened and Mr. Dunn has been physically attacked on two separate occasions. It appears that these threats are a result of his political activities and that the family’s security situation has worsened markedly in recent months.
Our assessment is that Mr. Dunn suffers from a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of political opinion and his wife and daughter suffer from a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of membership in a particular social group. As you know, this is the definition of refugee in the 1951 Geneva Convention, to which the Republic of South Africa is a party.
LRWC understands that the South African Home Office adjudicates refugee claims and that there is currently a significant backlog. We also understand, however, that UNHCR South Africa has opened a resettlement file for Mr. Dunn. In light of the grave threats faced by Mr. Dunn and his family, LRWC requests that UNCHR’s consideration of his file be expedited and that UNHCR assist Mr. Dunn in obtaining protection from the South African state on an urgent basis. LRWC respectfully requests your early response by mail, e-mail or fax to advise of your actions on the above mentioned matters. Thank you for your attention to our concerns.
