Amnesty declaration awaited

Consulates are eagerly awaiting the official announcement of an amnesty for expatriates illegally residing in the UAE.

The missions have already put in place a system to tackle swarms of outpass seekers. The Interior Ministry disclosed last month that it has completed all preparations and procedures for a nationwide amnesty.

Lieutenant General Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Badi, Minister of Interior, in an interview with the ministry's monthly bulletin Al Shurta, said that the ministry is waiting for the right time to declare a pardon for the illegal immigrants.

Such a pardon would allow them to leave the country without paying fines or facing punishment.

The Indian Consulate has received more than 400 applications for an outpass.

K. Kumar, Convenor of the Indian Community Welfare Committee, told Gulf News: "Currently, we are in the process of computerising all the relevant data that we have received from the applicants. However, the consulate has stopped taking further applications until the amnesty is officially announced."

A senior official from the Sri Lankan consulate remarked: "We do not have a clear estimate as to when the official announcement will be made.

"Keeping in mind the small number of Sri Lankan expatriates residing in the UAE, we are expecting 5,000 to 6,000 Sri Lankans to seek amnesty. The consulate has chalked out all the necessary steps that would be needed in case the amnesty is declared."

He added: "The application forms, which are to be filled in by the amnesty seeker, are all in place. But then again these forms will be handed over only after the official declaration of the amnesty by the UAE."

An amnesty was last carried out by the UAE in July 1996.