Afghan Translators - Asylum In The Uk Or Not

[jake-the-peg]

Not a political point here

I'm genuinely interested to know what those on the right of our little group think

Should those who have been helping our forces get asylum in the UK after we withdraw or be left to lookafter themselves?

Immigration or support those who helped our forces?

We seem to be the only country not giving automatic asylum to translators

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20778751

[sandyRoe]

I think those among us who are in danger of falling off the right end of the left-right political continuum can do no other than say they must be allowed to settle here.
They helped us, at no small risk to themselves and their families, and deserve our gratitude and help.

[pdq1]

I assume these interpreters have been there for the majority of the conflict going back 10 years. If their families were in danger how was it possible they were not attacked and only now at the latter part of the conflict do they want to flee? If the interpreters acted under a cloak of secrecy by coming out now into the world's media are they not shooting themselves in the foot if their claim is rejected? Shouldn't the interpreters have entered a contract with the UK government at the beginning? Is there no safe country other than Britain where they could go...ie Jordan? Are they really just aiming to get to the UK or just after compensation.? Leigh Day are well known for getting financial compensation for its clients.

[andy-hughes]

Those that wish it should be offered automatic assylum for themselves and any family they feel to be at risk.

To act in any other way would be a disgrace.

[Zeuhl]

After all, their translation skills will be very useful over here :-)

[emmie]

no.

[EcclesCake]

Without a doubt translators and a number of others should be made the offer of asylum.

[anotheoldgit]

One has to ask why Eddie and the rest are in this country in the first place?

He and those others knew the risk they were taking when they signed on, if we let one in they will all want to come and that means those in the Afghan Army and those in the Afghan Police, all who have helped the NATO forces, except of course those who killed our forces.

[jake-the-peg]

I don't know for sure but I rather assume that the interpreters operate attached to groups of soldiers and are based with them and travel and live with them and are under their protection.

It won't be obvious who their famillies are or they would be vulnerable now.

When the troops leave they will personally be vulnerable and if they visit their relatives they'll transfer risk to them.

No safe country other than Britain? - I'm sure there are but they have after all been working for British forces it's natural for us to be their first port of call isn't it? - you'd think it odd if an interpreter for Canadian troops applied for Asylum in the UK.

But thanks OK sounds like one "Not"

[anotheoldgit]

Excuse me but didn't Jake ask,

"I'm genuinely interested to know what those on the right of our little group think"

Seems to me that a few Left thinking infiltrators have crept in.

[EcclesCake]

The ANA and Afghan police are serving Afghanistan and are assisted by ISAF.

Translators were employed UK Govt to assist in their activities.

You are not comparing like with like.

[jake-the-peg]

I know - I'm kind of ignoring them

I'm actually kind of surprised as I actually thought more of you right wingers would see them as an extenstion of the UK forces and would think that abandoning them after they'd worked for us would be dishonourable in some way.

But that was the purpose of the question - not to make a point but to understand someone elses point of view

[emmie]

once all troops leave Afghanistan, do you think it will revert to it's old ways, will the Afghan trained soldiers, policemen have the wit and wherewithal to control the taliban. Or will they go back to all the places they held sway before, and that the local population will some how deal with this in pretty much the same they did before any foreign troops landed there.

[Zeuhl]

/that means those in the Afghan Army and those in the Afghan Police/

No it doesn't

Joining the AFGHAN army and the AFGHAN police is obviously not a popular move from a Taliban perspective but it is not dishonourable and tribal affiliations will allow most of those that joined to adapt and survive.

The translators were embedded into British units and enabled our forces to fulfil missions and liaise with Locals that otherwise would have been impossible.

As such they are seen as traitors and collaborators of the worst kind.

We couldn't have done without them and most of them have lived and worked and sweated alongside our troops.

Giving them refuge is the decent thing to do.

Hanging them out to dry is the act of people with no honour or understanding of ethics, morality or loyalty.

Please line up and identify yourselves accordingly.

[emmie]

what makes you assume that is what would happen?

[Zeuhl]

Well we can't control Afghanistan

Why would anyone imagine the current regime can do so without our troops on the ground or aircraft in support?

They've never been able to before.

[anotheoldgit]

/// KABUL — Of the more than 5,700 Afghans who have applied for U.S. visas under a special program tailored for those who have supported the American war effort, just 32 have been approved, the State Department says, leaving the rest in limbo as foreign forces begin their withdrawal. ///

32 out of 5,700, seems like the US are not actually falling over themselves to allow them into the USA.

[Zeuhl]

Remember the fiasco of the Saigon withdrawl

Thousands of Vietnamese 'collaborators' dropped in it - the yanks even left their files on local agents behind - after talking up how they would 'look after everyone who'd helped them'

Let's not use American notions of the correct way to behave

I'd hope that our standards of ethics and behaviour would be somewhat higher as well as our commitment to actually carrying it through rather than just talking about it

[emmie]

but all foreign troops are leaving, so doesn't that mean that the Afghan people get to live their lives the way they want? after all we appear to have interfered long enough, no one wanted us there, and so once the troops pull out, will it convert back to the old ways.

[EcclesCake]

There are many Afghans who are grateful of the ISAF input and do not consider it to be interference.

[emmie]

perhaps you are right, but many do, and we have seen much opposition to coalition forces and not just in Afghanistan.