Spotlight on Legal Action: The Saga of a Refugee (Continued)

WCN continues this refugee's story with a reply from the Philippines, good news from the individual, and WSA's latest letter to him.)

Philippines' Reply

Dear Mr. Gallup:

I wish to refer to your letter of 20 April 1995 addressed to President Fidel V. Ramos requesting the Philippine Government to assist Mr. (name withheld), a refugee from the former Yugoslavia who is now staying in the Philippines.

I would like to assure you that all possible assistance will be extended to Mr. (name withheld) by the Philippine Government.

Very truly yours,

Rodolfo C. Severino
Undersecretary
Department of Foreign Affairs
Republic of Philippines

Good News

To: WSA Legal Dept.
Attn: Shannon W. Kirkpatrick

Dear Mr. Kirkpatrick,

I'm sending you this letter to inform you about good news. The U.N. High Commissioner here in Manila, Philippines, has accepted my application to be resettled as a refugee in New Zealand, and a community group in New Zealand has submitted a guarantee as a sponsor for me to come in New Zealand as a refugee.

The process began in mid-October. It takes about three months before I can resettle in New Zealand.

If all is OK, I will inform you and your office when I'm going to leave for New Zealand.

Thank you very much,
(name withheld)

Still Ready to Help

Dear Mr. (name withheld):

Congratulations on the good news from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees regarding the possibility of moving to New Zealand. Please let us know how the World Service Authority can be of assistance in this matter.

To aid you further, we have reissued your WSA passport and have issued you an international exit visa. In regard to your application for the world media card, we are keeping it on file for now, until we hear further of your situation regarding your move to New Zealand.

Again, congratulations on behalf of the World Service Authority. We await your response and are willing to help you however is needed.

For the World Service Authority,
Shannon Kirkpatrick
WSA Legal Department