ID :
22393
Fri, 10/03/2008 - 09:31
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22393
The shortlink copeid
'Boat people' taken to Christmas Island
An Australian customs vessel has offloaded 14 people on Christmas Island after intercepting a boat off Australia's north-west coast last week.
The group of 13 males and one woman, who are suspected of being from the Middle East
but whose nationalities are still to be confirmed, were picked up by naval patrol
boat near the Ashmore Islands, 320 kilometres off the West Australian coast, on
Monday.
The boat is the first carrying unauthorised arrivals to be intercepted off the coast
of Australia this year.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the 12 passengers and two crew members were
transferred from an Australian customs vessel on Thursday and taken into immigration
detention.
He said it could be "a number of weeks" before background checks are carried out.
"All members of the group appeared to be in good health on arrival to Christmas
Island," Senator Evans said in a statement.
"They will be held in the secure, supervised Phosphate Hill detention facility while
they undergo health, security, identity and other checks to establish their identity
and reasons for travelling to Australia."
He said three of the overall group - two males and a male crew member - claim to be
juveniles aged 16 or 17.
Senator Evans said the group would be accommodated in supervised arrangements and
not in a detention centre, in line with the Rudd government's detention policy.
He said it was yet to be determined whether any of the group are asylum seekers.
But it was suspected the arrival of any boat people would be "a result of
significant long-term pressures driving the international movement of displaced
people from the Middle East and Asia caused by conflict and natural disasters",
Senator Evans said.
"The government has renewed efforts to work closely with regional countries
including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to prevent and deter people from
attempting dangerous sea journeys to Australia," he said.
Amnesty International says it is deeply concerned with the government's policy of
taking boat people to Christmas Island.
"The detrimental impact of detaining individuals in isolated centres has been well
documented and Amnesty International remains concerned for the physical and mental
health of any asylum seeker taken to Christmas Island," refugee spokesman Graham
Thom said earlier this week.
"It is completely inappropriate to treat this group differently from other asylum
seekers and it is certainly not in keeping with our international obligations to
protect people who are fleeing persecution."
The group of 13 males and one woman, who are suspected of being from the Middle East
but whose nationalities are still to be confirmed, were picked up by naval patrol
boat near the Ashmore Islands, 320 kilometres off the West Australian coast, on
Monday.
The boat is the first carrying unauthorised arrivals to be intercepted off the coast
of Australia this year.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said the 12 passengers and two crew members were
transferred from an Australian customs vessel on Thursday and taken into immigration
detention.
He said it could be "a number of weeks" before background checks are carried out.
"All members of the group appeared to be in good health on arrival to Christmas
Island," Senator Evans said in a statement.
"They will be held in the secure, supervised Phosphate Hill detention facility while
they undergo health, security, identity and other checks to establish their identity
and reasons for travelling to Australia."
He said three of the overall group - two males and a male crew member - claim to be
juveniles aged 16 or 17.
Senator Evans said the group would be accommodated in supervised arrangements and
not in a detention centre, in line with the Rudd government's detention policy.
He said it was yet to be determined whether any of the group are asylum seekers.
But it was suspected the arrival of any boat people would be "a result of
significant long-term pressures driving the international movement of displaced
people from the Middle East and Asia caused by conflict and natural disasters",
Senator Evans said.
"The government has renewed efforts to work closely with regional countries
including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to prevent and deter people from
attempting dangerous sea journeys to Australia," he said.
Amnesty International says it is deeply concerned with the government's policy of
taking boat people to Christmas Island.
"The detrimental impact of detaining individuals in isolated centres has been well
documented and Amnesty International remains concerned for the physical and mental
health of any asylum seeker taken to Christmas Island," refugee spokesman Graham
Thom said earlier this week.
"It is completely inappropriate to treat this group differently from other asylum
seekers and it is certainly not in keeping with our international obligations to
protect people who are fleeing persecution."
