An asylum seeker in the center on the Glaubenberg. (Icon Dominik Wunderli (Sarnen, October 1, 2016))

The two rejected asylum seekers Samuel and Tesfaldet from Eritrea are not allowed to complete their apprenticeship. This is the answer of the government to a petition of the "Committee for Human Dignity in Asylum", which was submitted to a rally with around 70 people in Sarnen shortly before Christmas. The Federal Administrative Court had dismissed the asylum applications of 21-year-old Tesfaldet and 25-year-old Samuel in the last instance, their departure period expired on 3 January. This after three and a half years in Obwalden, in which the men had integrated well, learned German and started teaching as a metalworker.

Their fate encounters incomprehension in many places. This is shown not only by the numerous media reports, but also by an interpellation submitted to the Cantonal Council on Thursday. The CSP cantonal councils Leo Spichtig and Walter Wyrsch from Alpnach are asking what opportunities the government council sees for advocating for the two apprentices. But in his petition reply published on Friday, he clearly states: "The canton can not issue a new employment permit to the two persons who are now illegally staying in Switzerland without violating the law." For those who have been rejected by law must not work under the asylum law ,

Faster procedures should prevent such cases

Since there is no agreement for compulsory expropriations to Eritrea, Tesfaldet and Samuel live since January 4 in an emergency shelter, with 10 francs per day, for an indefinite period. The return to Eritrea is not an option for them, says Michèle Odermatt from the Asylum Committee on Human Dignity. "There they face years of military service, which, contrary to the practice tightened by the Federal Administrative Court in 2017, may be linked to forced labor, arbitrary detention and even torture."

Samuel and Tesfaldet had already heard about the petition response, Odermatt said. "We are not surprised, but still disappointed." Andreas Rohrer, teacher of Eritreans in his locksmith in Kägiswil, says he was aware of the risk of a negative asylum decision, as he gave the two a training contract. "But we hoped they could finish the lesson once they started. I am disappointed that the canton does not have the courage to come up with creative solutions. "

There is no room for that, says economics director Daniel Wyler. "We have no basis for doing anything here. A license to continue teaching would not only violate federal law, but also nullify a court ruling. "As economics director, he was not enthusiastic about the situation. "The two men are motivated, the employer is satisfied, and I have to say" well done ". That hurts me. "Wyler hopes that such cases can be prevented in future by the revision of the asylum system, which will come into force on 1 March. "With the planned massively faster treatment of applications, asylum seekers will be able to create clearer relationships more quickly. In today's system, they spend years trying to integrate and then have to go. »

Theme also comes in the Cantonal Council

Michèle Odermatt agrees: "The long wait for the decision was the worst for Samuel and Tesfaldet. They built something up and never knew if they could stay or not. "So all in vain? "We will not give up," she says. The lawyer of the two wanted to continue the case to the European Court of Human Rights. The next glimmer of hope is the interpellation. But Daniel Wyler waves off: "We will not be able to say anything else than the petition."

The interpellants still want to stick to their foray, says Leo Spichtig. "Constant dripping wears away the stone. This is obviously a malady. "With German courses, school and driving school, a lot of money has been invested in the Eritreans, they write in their initiative. After their rejection, they should not even do voluntary work for the community. This is "incomprehensible from an economic point of view and meaningless." Andreas Rohrer twice as follows: "It is difficult to find metal-working apprentices. We have a lot of work and could have used both of them. "

Both the interpellants and the teacher have their concerns deposited with the Obwalden federal politicians. National Councilor Karl Vogler says: "I talked to Secretary of State for Migration, Mario Gattiker. He wants to review the two cases in a timely manner. "He also considers an attempt in the spring session for a change in the law into consideration. "Such hardships as in Obwalden should be avoided without creating false incentives."