ID :
180696
Sun, 05/08/2011 - 14:41
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/180696
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Refugee deal a strong message: Malaysia PM
Malaysia says the yet-to-be-finalised refugee transfer deal with Australia will send a strong signal to people smugglers.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Jakarta, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Bin Tun Razak said the deal would be mutually beneficial to both countries.
"It's a big issue in Australia (and) it's also useful for us because we will send a strong signal that Malaysia should not be used as a transit point and that human trafficking, it is something that we do not condone," he said.
"It's not a problem that we can solve unilaterally. It has to be (done) bilaterally, as well as, with the help of multilateral associations."
Under the arrangement, announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Canberra on Saturday, up to 800 people who trying to make their way to Australia by boat seeking asylum will instead be sent to Malaysia, and to the back of the queue in terms of having their claims processed.
In return, Australia will resettle 4000 people from Malaysia who have already received refugee status.
However, the details of the proposal are also yet to be finalised, suggesting it could be some time before there is a dent in the traffic of asylum seeker boats heading for Australia.
"This is an agreement in principle," Mr Najib said.
"The details, the movement, the timing is being worked out now."
Human rights groups have criticised the plan, complaining that Malaysia is not a signatory to the United Nations refugees convention, and that it has a poor record in terms of human rights, including in detention centres where refugees live in squalid and overcrowded conditions.
"If you're looking for a country in the region that has some of the harshest policies towards refugees and asylum seekers, then you couldn't really go past Malaysia," Amnesty International refugee coordinator Graham Thom told AAP.
"We're going to be wilfully sending them back to a place where they can't access legal rights, they can't access food, they can't access basic housing. These are serious concerns."
But, Mr Najib, said the asylum seekers sent to Malaysia from Australia would be treated humanely.
"What is important is the entire operation will be conducted under the auspices of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and the IOM (International Organisation for Migration) as well," he said.
"The international bodies will be involved to make sure we adhere to international laws and human rights and certain practices."
The proposed transfer deal comes after Australia last October provided Malaysia with $1 million worth of equipment, including boats, to help combat people smuggling.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Jakarta, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Bin Tun Razak said the deal would be mutually beneficial to both countries.
"It's a big issue in Australia (and) it's also useful for us because we will send a strong signal that Malaysia should not be used as a transit point and that human trafficking, it is something that we do not condone," he said.
"It's not a problem that we can solve unilaterally. It has to be (done) bilaterally, as well as, with the help of multilateral associations."
Under the arrangement, announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard in Canberra on Saturday, up to 800 people who trying to make their way to Australia by boat seeking asylum will instead be sent to Malaysia, and to the back of the queue in terms of having their claims processed.
In return, Australia will resettle 4000 people from Malaysia who have already received refugee status.
However, the details of the proposal are also yet to be finalised, suggesting it could be some time before there is a dent in the traffic of asylum seeker boats heading for Australia.
"This is an agreement in principle," Mr Najib said.
"The details, the movement, the timing is being worked out now."
Human rights groups have criticised the plan, complaining that Malaysia is not a signatory to the United Nations refugees convention, and that it has a poor record in terms of human rights, including in detention centres where refugees live in squalid and overcrowded conditions.
"If you're looking for a country in the region that has some of the harshest policies towards refugees and asylum seekers, then you couldn't really go past Malaysia," Amnesty International refugee coordinator Graham Thom told AAP.
"We're going to be wilfully sending them back to a place where they can't access legal rights, they can't access food, they can't access basic housing. These are serious concerns."
But, Mr Najib, said the asylum seekers sent to Malaysia from Australia would be treated humanely.
"What is important is the entire operation will be conducted under the auspices of UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and the IOM (International Organisation for Migration) as well," he said.
"The international bodies will be involved to make sure we adhere to international laws and human rights and certain practices."
The proposed transfer deal comes after Australia last October provided Malaysia with $1 million worth of equipment, including boats, to help combat people smuggling.
