Dokument #1189808
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Autor)
No reports of individuals being targeted for criminal activity because family members resided in affluent countries could be found among the documentary sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, during a 1 November 1999 telephone interview, a vice-president of the Canadian Polish Congress stated that she did not believe that individuals would be perceived as wealthy simply because family members were known to reside in an affluent country. The vice-president further stated that she did not know of any reports of individuals being targeted by criminals for this reason (ibid.).
This information was corroborated during a 3 November 1999 interview with the national executive director of the Polish American Congress, who stated that individuals with relatives in affluent countries might have been perceived as wealthy in the early 1980s, during the period of martial law, but this was no longer the case in the 1990s. The executive director also indicated that he was not aware of any reports of individuals being targeted because family members were known to reside in a rich country (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Canadian Polish Congress, Toronto. 1
November 1999. Interview with Vice-President.
Polish American Congress, Chicago,
Illinois. 3 November 1999. Interview with National Executive
Director.
Additional Sources Consulted
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)
[Prague]. Newsline. Jan. 1996-Oct. 1999.
Transitions [Prague]. Jan.
1996-Mar. 1999.
The Warsaw Voice. Jan.
1999-Oct. 1999.
Attempts to contact two oral
sources.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases,
LEXIS/NEXIS, WNC.
Internet sites including:
Central Europe Online Website.
International Helsinki Federation for
Human Rights.
Open Society Institute Website.