ABC AUSTRALIA, 17/11/2003 19:00:17
Calls for investigation into treatment of Acehnese asylum seekers
Amnesty International has called for an investigation into reports that camp guards at
a Malaysian detention centre beat up seven Acehnese asylum-seekers for refusing to
be repatriated.
It says the seven are "at risk of being forcibly returned" to the troubled Indonesian
province where they may face serious human rights violations.
The detainees are believed to be among a group of more than 200 Acehnese asylum
seekers arrested outside the UN High Commissioner for Refugees office in Kuala
Lumpur in August.
Amnesty says the declaration of martial law in Aceh in May had led to renewed
military operations against separatist rebels and alleged cases of extrajudicial
executions, "disappearances" and torture.
Malaysia argues the Acehnese entered the country illegally to seek employment.
It says allowing them in could spark a flood of illegal immigrants.
17/11/2003 19:00:17 | ABC Radio Australia News
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