The immigration service at Lisbon Airport has kept the students retained, claiming that they lack documentation to be able to stay in the country. Have until Friday to present the in absence or will be repatriated. But the Guineans guarantee that this Documentation has never been requested throughout the process with the Portuguese consular service.
There are 41 Guinean students who arrived in Portugal with a student visa, but were prevented from entering the country. They are told that they have a missing documentation and that they have to present it until Friday, ifwill be repatriated.
After they landed in Portugal, from a night of last Thursdaythe students were prevented from entering the country by the immigration service at Lisbon airport. Em lack in the documentation presented by the students will be, according to the one term of liability (proving that someone is responsible for them during their stay in the country)besides other documents.
Os Students will be enrolled in Portuguese Higher Educationappearing in the lists of placed universities in which they would enter.
PSP speaks of 34 entry refusal processes
In a statement, the PSP says 34 entry refusal processes were instructed of these citizens. Adds that, however, a case was “revoked and reversed the decision”.
As for the reason for the refusal of the entry of these citizens in Portuguese territory, PSP says thatthey presented documents to prove the reason and the conditions for the stay in Portugal – “namely the conduct of higher studies in our country” – and that showed “insufficient subsistence means and/or lack of proof of accommodation compatible with the expected stay”.
Police ensure that it was guaranteed to all students “Legal Support”. And that to those who present the missing documents “the decision to refuse entry” will be revoked “.
Unacceptable speech conditions? Police say rights were guaranteed
Students complain about having been forced to remain at the airport in “unacceptable” conditions.
“It took some time to be given food ”denounces Elisha ConnúCoordinator of the Communication Department of the Guinea-Bissau Student Association in Lisbon.
It also states that room where students are being retained will not be “appropriate to receive people”.
“It is not a space that offers conditions to have A person all this time inside the airport, ”he stresses.
A PSP ensures, however, that “it continuously ensured meals, hygiene conditions and beds” to these citizens, “as well as the necessary health care. ” They will, however, according to the police, remained in the “international zone”, due to “the capacity of EECIT (space equated to the temporary installation center)”.
The “responsibility” of the Portuguese State and the “silence” of Guinea
A Guinea-Bissau Student Association in Lisbon attributes responsibility “to the Portuguese authoritiesin this specific case to the Portuguese consular service in Guinea-Bissau ”.
“Because, in the process of requesting visa of these students to come to study for Portugal, at no time was the presentation of a liability term,” he stresses.
Os students also criticize the Guinean authorities for the “silence” to which they have been referred to the situation.
“What steps are they taking? What steps are they doing to solve this situation?” Asks Elisha Cohabit.
He was scheduled for this afternoon, at Lisbon airport, a demonstration for the freedom of the 41 Guinean students retained.
