JRS-Timor Leste: Government Strategy for Return and Reintegration of IDPs
8 Jul 2009

JRS-Timor Leste: Government Strategy for Return and Reintegration of IDPs

by | posted in: Migration, Social Justice | 0

Walking around Dili city, one can no longer see the IDP camps. But for those who lost their homes during the crises of 2006 and 2007, their wait for “safe return and reintegration” is far from over.

Though reintegration of the IDPs into their communities started since 2008, there are still around three thousand people living in transitional houses. They are not able to return to their original homes for several reasons: concerns regarding their security, ongoing land disputes over ownership, illegal occupation of their houses, and some don’t have any place to stay.

Narratives: Ando Isamu SJ, Jesuit Social Center, Tokyo, Japan
8 Jul 2009

Narratives: Ando Isamu SJ, Jesuit Social Center, Tokyo, Japan

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

During the time I was working with displaced persons in Japan we would come up against a number of unforeseen legal obstacles and long trials. Our success, such as it was, in drawing the attention of the National Diet and the mass media seemed inadequate. Supporters would get tired of confronting immigration violations “case by case” and would drop out. Why did I continue with this work despite my tiredness and frustration? Despondent, I prayed often to God, and miracles happened. One such miracle was obtaining refugee status for five Vietnamese brothers.

The new Jesuit Social Apostolate database is now online
12 Jun 2009

The new Jesuit Social Apostolate database is now online

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

All Jesuits and partners in mission are welcome to utilize this new site, www.jesuitsocialapostolate.org, which seeks to profile the breadth and range of Jesuit social action, analysis and advocacy across the world. Using data from the Universal Catalogue of the Social Apostolate (2008) as a primary source, the website arranges centres by their thematic focus. You may select from among 35 languages and then navigate the data by interactive mapping, keyword search or alphabetical/thematic listing.

Mr Cheng Guan is now JRS-Singapore Director
21 Apr 2009

Mr Cheng Guan is now JRS-Singapore Director

by | posted in: Migration, Social Justice | 0

Mr Cheong Cheng Guan assumed the post of Country Coordinator of the Jesuit Refugee Service Singapore last February 21. He brings in his skills and experiences in management and finances having been in the Banking and Finance Industry for 25 years. His first encounter with ]RS was during a mission trip to a refugee camp in Thailand. Since then he has been involved in various activities of ES Singapore including Information and Advocacy sub- committees, the subcommittees in support of IRS Thailand and Cambodia projects and organizing the World Refugee Day Masses.

Sri Lanka: Doing all they can to prevent further bloodshed
21 Apr 2009

Sri Lanka: Doing all they can to prevent further bloodshed

by | posted in: Migration, Social Justice | 0

The Jesuits first went to Sri Lanka hundreds of years ago, not long after the time of Francis Xavier in the 16th Century. Many Sri Lankans became Catholics. The Jesuits opened parishes, schools and colleges, especially for Tamil migrants from India, who worked as labourers in the tea and coffee plantations. After independence, the previous balance between the two ethnicities of Sri Lanka, Tamils (of Sri Lankan origin) and Sinhalese, became more and more distorted.

Eviction of Dey Krohom Residents: A Setback for the Rule of the Law
11 Feb 2009

Eviction of Dey Krohom Residents: A Setback for the Rule of the Law

by | posted in: Social Justice | 0

Statement by the Cambodia Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

"We have watched with consternation the sudden and violent eviction of what remained of the Dey Krohom community over the Chinese New Year weekend. After nearly a month of protracted negotiations between the residents, the 7NG Construction company and the Municipality, aimed at finding a mutually agreeable settlement of compensation claims, the company unilaterally withdrew from the discussion and the suspended eviction order was implemented by law-enforcement agencies."