Until last week, the interpreters' prospect in an Afghanistan that is being left behind by most Western forces was dire to say the least.
Most if not all of any personnel that is engaged with western forces is considered an enemy of the Taliban and the fundamentalists, even if it is just employed as a guide or interpreter.
But any collaboration, even in the form of simply translating the language is considered a vital collaboration against the 'enemy', punishable by death.
Until last week, most of the people who were lucky enough to have found employment as guides or interpreters stood to die or at least being persecuted by the Taliban. They had asked very insistently that they be protected and be granted asylum.
But the UK had so far refused to do so, leaving all of these people in the lurch.
Now however, Britain has finally acquiesced to their wishes, saying it will grant visas to those who are in danger of finance continued education for better employment in their own country of Afghanistan.
About 600 translators and interpreters who were employed by the UK military will now be enabled to stay in the UK indefinitely.
A campaign had been undertaken by people who demanded that the Afghans be afforded the same rights as Iraqi interpreters had benefited from earlier on and for the same reasons.
Prime Minister Cameron finally relented and yesterday announced the change in policy.
Source : BBC 5.22.13
No comments:
Post a Comment