ABC AUSTRALIA, 12/11/2003 08:22:31
Turkish Kurds stand by refugee claim
One of 14 Turkish Kurds now being held at an immigration detention centre in the
Indonesian capital, Jakarta, has repeated a claim that the group told Australian
officials they were refugees after sailing to Melville Island.
Our Indonesia correspondent, Tim Palmer, reports the Australian government has
repeatedly said the men failed to seek asylum while in Australia, or while in contact
with Australian authorities.
However, as the men were led into Jakarta's Kalideres detention centre on Tuesday
night, a spokesman, Irfan, said the group told Australian military officials they were
refugees.
Australia's immigration minister, Amada Vanstone, on Tuesday questioned the
veracity of previous media reports attributing similar comments to the men.
But Senator Vanstone moved away from the government's earlier position that no
asylum claim had been made while the men were in contact with Australian
authorities, leaving open the possibility that the men had said something of that
nature after being moved into international waters.
Indonesian immigration officials say they will investigate the men, some of whom have
apparently spent some time in Indonesia.
The Indonesian government has suggested it might favour deportation to Turkey over
granting asylum.
UN complaint
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to send the Australian
government a letter of complaint over its decision to send the boatload of possible
asylum seekers back to Indonesia.
Our Europe correspondent, Geoff Hutchison, reports the UNHCR says Australia has
breached its obligations under international law by not processing possible asylum
claims on behalf of the 14 Turkish Kurds.
A UNHCR spokesman, Kris Janowski, says Australia's hardline approach has
undermined the whole system of asylum protection and an official letter of complaint
is now on its way to Canberra.
"We certain will send an official communication to the Australian government," Mr
Janowski said.
"We're quite disappointed because a country which has signed the 1951 convention
has effectively barred people from seeking asylum, and sent them back to a country
which has not signed the 1951 convention," he said.
The 14 men arrived at Melville Island near Darwin a week ago, only to be escorted by
the Australian navy to the edge of Indonesian waters.
The Australian government also moved to retrospectively excise Melville Island from
the Australian migration zone.
Australia is a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which means it is obliged
to hear requests for asylum and to resist sending anyone seeking help to a dangerous
location.
12/11/2003 08:22:31 | ABC Radio Australia News
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