Global Solidarity

Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 19:46:14 -0500
Bjoern Skolander 
Sender: GLBT* Community Press Releases and Announcements
<GLB-PRESS@LISTSERV.AOL.COM>
Subject: ILGA Email Action #97:12 - Belgium

Please support ILGA Email Action #97:12 - Immigration Rights in Belgium

SUBMITTED BY: Het Roze Aktiefront, Belgium

BACKGROUND AND RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Willy (37) lives together with his Filipino friend Arthur for 6,5 years. After years of struggle Arthur received an authorization to stay in Belgium (Antwerp). This authorisation would be yearly renewable. Last July this
authorization was terminated, since then Arthur is illegal. Attempts to renew this authorization had no result so far.

Eddy (40) and Jitti (32) met each other the first of July 1996 in Bangkok. There they lived together for several months. Jitti received a visa and quitted his job as receptionist of the Sheraton hotel in Bangkok so he could live together with Eddy here in Belgium.

After 3 months Jitti had to return to Bangkok! Not a single law gave them the opportunity to live a normal and legal relation. Only a relationship up and down Antwerp - Bangkok would be legal. So Jitti was forced to stay illegal in Antwerp.

To regularise Jitti's situation he has to go back to Thailand for several months this in contradistinction to the fact that all the decisions are made in Belgium.

On 30 September an circular letter from Minister Johan Van De Lanotte, minister of Internal Affairs, was published. In this letter he claimed that he would arrange the situation of couples living together "on a base of cohabitation and a lasting relation".

The minister explained to Willy that this new directives were based on his relationship with Arthur. Nevertheless Willy and Arthur are already waiting for 3 months on the extension of the allowance to stay in Belgium.

On 18 October Jitti received, after an identity control, the command to leave the Belgian territory. Jitti decided to follow up the command, so he has to return to Bangkok.

From there he wants to try to come back to Belgium in a legal way, leaned on the circular letter of the Minister of Internal Affairs.

The "Pink Action Front" (RAF: Roze Actiefront) supports the efforts of both homosexuals to live legal in Belgium. We ask the support of as many organisations and persons. We would be pleased if you would post, fax or mail this letter of protest to the Belgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Adress: Minestry of Internal Affairs
Johan Van De Lanotte
Koningsstraat 60/62
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Fax: 0032+(0)2/504.85.00

If you fax out of Belgium, you have to drop the (0).
Telphone: 0032+(0)2/504.85.11

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Dear Minister,

We heard about the situation of Jitti and Arthur, who both risk to loose their relation with their partner because they can't stay legally in Belgium.

We wish to support both homosexuals and the organisations who support them. We want to ask you:

- That Arthur can stay in Belgium.
- That Jitti can return and stay in Belgium.
- A clear legislation for all the partners living together with a foreign partner so that they can live their relation in a human manner.

Yours sincerely,

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