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  WebPosted Jun 21 2000 1:30 PM EDT




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Refugee women speak out

VANCOUVER - For the first time, some of the Chinese migrants who've been accepted as refugees are speaking out about their experience with Canada's immigration system.

Only 14 of the 600 who arrived in B.C. last summer have been allowed to remain in the country. Now two of the women say despite their success, they don't believe they were treated fairly.

One of the women told the Immigration and Refugee Board she would be fined and jailed in China for the crime of having more than one child. The second woman was allowed to stay because of what Canadian officials term "appalling treatment" by Chinese authorities, which included forced sterilization.

While they're grateful they were believed, they say it was was unfair to keep them in jail for 10 months. They're also concerned about hundreds of other migrants who are still in detention.

So far, 100 migrants have been denied refugee status, and sent back to China.

Many critics say Canada needs a cheaper, less elaborate system for dealing with refugee claims. But advocates say the experiences of these two women show why a full hearing is more important than a speedy hearing.

M O R E : REGIONAL

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