Summary:

"Against my will I have become a symbol for all young, unaccompanied asylum seekers in the Netherlands. I would much rather be a symbol of integration in Dutch society," Mauro Manuel said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/01/angola-teenager-netherlands-asylum?newsfeed=true

[1 November 2011] - An Angolan teenager who arrived in the Netherlands aged 10 has lost his fight to stay in the country despite a heartfelt plea to the Dutch parliament and a wave of protest at his treatment. 

Mauro Manuel, now 18, has been living in the Dutch province of Limburg with a foster family since he arrived in the Netherlands as an unaccompanied asylum seeker in 2003. He is facing deportation because he is an adult. Dutch MPs voted down two motions on Tuesday that would have allowed him to stay in the country permanently. They are expected to vote next week on a compromise motion that would allow him to stay to hear whether or not an application for a temporary four-year student visa has been successful.

On Monday, Manuel made an emotional statement to MPs. "Against my will I have become a symbol for all young, unaccompanied asylum seekers in the Netherlands. I would much rather be a symbol of integration in Dutch society," he said. "I was put on a plane completely by myself when I was nine years old. I was very sad and frightened … Happily I came to live with good people who are now my mother and father.

"I want to celebrate Queen's Day every year and, as a footballer myself, I want the Dutch team to be champions."

The Christian Democratic party initially supported Manuel's cause but bowed to pressure from its coalition partners, setting the deportation process in motion. There are about 75 children fighting similar battles to be allowed to stay in the country.

Further Information:

• NETHERLANDS: Renewed call for humane asylum policy towards unaccompanied child asylum seekers (1 November 2011) 
• AUSTRALIA: High Court halts plans to send asylum-seeking children to Malaysia (8 August 2011) 
• AUSTRALIA: Afghan asylum seekers sent back home (22 February 2011) 
• UNITED KINGDOM: Landmark human rights ruling allows asylum mother to remain in the UK (2 February 2011) 
• More on children's rights in the Netherlands  

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• 01/11/2011: NETHERLANDS: Renewed call for humane asylum policy towards unaccompanied child asylum seekers
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Organisation Contact Details:

The Guardian
Website: www.guardian.co.uk

Last updated 02/11/2011 04:38:59

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