Asylum seekers sent to PNG to endure worse conditions:

No more Aussie asylum for boat people

By Manjula Fernando

“If you come here in a boat without a visa you won't be settled in Australia.” A big banner posted on Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship website warns.

The law, announced by Australia's new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd on Friday, July 19, will ensure that, boat people will not have entry to Australia even if their asylum pleas were successful. They will be confined to Papua New Guinea (PNG) where conditions are far worse than Sri Lanka.

The Australian PM made no bones about it that most of the boat people arriving on Australia's shores were not genuine refugees or asylum seekers. His comments sparked violent riots at the off shore processing centre at Nauru Island. How the message reached the detainees within minutes that the law has finally been announced is a matter to be investigated. Rudd avowed to combat the worldwide network of human smugglers and economic refugees who has no genuine claim for asylum while emphasizing that he was aware the law would be put to the test by human smugglers.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy rescued 73 Australia bound illegal immigrants stranded in the deep seas south east of Sri Lanka. Responding to distress calls a Singapore bound merchant vessel “Fairchem Sabre” was alerted by the Navy to rescue them from the over- crowded multi-day trawler which was idling due to engine trouble. The group which included 17 children were brought to the Galle Harbour early Friday by the Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel, Samudura. The Navy said the group from the North and Eastern parts of the country have been lured by 'people smugglers'.

Nauru riots: Buildings reduced to ashes. pix courtesy news.com.au

Capsized boat: A child being rescued

A news release posted on the DIC website states, “Australia's migration policy has changed. From 19 July 2013 if you travel to Australia by boat with no visas, you will not be settled here. You will be sent to Papua New Guinea for processing. If found to be a refugee, you'll be settled in Papua New Guinea, or another participating regional state, not Australia. This includes women and children. These changes have been introduced to stop people smugglers and stop further loss of life at sea.” When the announcement of the new policy was made in Australia the previous Friday as if by impulse (there was no time for the message to reach there officially) the detainees at the Nauru centre turned violent setting fire and destroying most of its structures including their accommodation compartments and a newly built recreation area. In anticipation of the new law, the detainees had been demonstrating for days. The Australian media reported that a large number of Sri Lankan Tamil refugee claimants were involved in the riot. The centre reportedly accommodates people from Sri Lanka, Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Over 140 detainees allegedly involved in the violent riots have been jailed in Nauru prison and charged by the Police. Immediately after the clashes some of the detainees escaped but they were traced and have now been returned to their countries of origin according to immigration officials on the island, the local media reported.

After the mayhem most parts of the island were locked. “The detainees were pelting the police and security guards with rocks and sticks. There were at least five explosions, reportedly from cars set on fire,” the Border Mail reported quoting a witness.

Although tough immigration laws have come under heavy criticism for not complying with UN refugee norms, the new Immigration Minister, Tony Burke said they will look into all the allegations on the conditions prevailing in offshore processing centres but did not express any inclination to prune the new laws. The local media reported that some of the detainees had allegedly been raped by other detainees in a male section and the facilities in the compound were inadequate.

The Australian government is under immense pressure to accept the ‘boat people'. Adding to this the UNHCR issued a statement on the same lines on Friday (26). The statement fell short of criticizing the human smugglers who put lives of people in grave danger by forcing them to take part in a perilous journey. Burdened by a unending stream of ‘boat people’, with a significant number including babies and young children dying in the sea on the way, the new government considered sealing the loopholes in their immigration law its first priority.

Former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard was criticised for her slack immigration laws and then later for trying to correct mistakes by adopting tougher measures until her resignation subsequently.

The laws of the new Regional Resettlement Arrangement between Australia and Papua New Guinea dictate that the ‘boat people’, even if successful in gaining Australian asylum, will be settled in Papua New Guinea for the rest of their lives. The others who ‘show up asking for jobs’ without any genuine reason will be sent home immediately. The Australian Prime Minister's office in a media release said this arrangement will be reviewed in 12 months.

After the announcement, the Australian PM said “..our Government's intend to make sure that the message is delivered loud and clear to people smuggling networks around the world, and those criminal elements within Australia who may be supporting them.” The UNHRC statememnt read,”With regard to the new measures, UNHCR is troubled by the current absence of adequate protection standards and safeguards for asylum seekers and refugees in Papua New Guinea. Australia’s Regional Resettlement Arrangement (RRA) with the Government of PNG raises serious, and so far unanswered, protection questions. “

The Nauru damage is estimated at more than $ 60 million and it was reported that officials were planning to set up temporary housing in tents to accommodate asylum seekers since most of the structures were reduced to ash during the over night riots on July 19. The latest tragedy to Australia's illegal immigrants issue was reported when a boat packed with illegal immigrants capsized between Indonesia and Christmas Island on Wednesday. Fifteen people including three children aged about 18 months, two and seven, (believed Sri Lankan) were confirmed dead by Friday. Many remained missing with 189 survivors rescued. This was the second such incident within two weeks. According to media reports there were 204 people on the capsized boat which could accommodate only 150 and the life jackets were not adequate for all. The boat had sunk hours after taking off from Indonesia. People on the boat had wanted to turn back when they realised their lives were in danger. They had been sending distress calls to the authorities in Indonesia and Australia for help. But help arrived too late, after the boat capsized. Despite tougher laws being in place, people smugglers reportedly force desperate boat people not to cancel their trips. The ABC News quoted Home Affairs Minister, Jason Clare that the smugglers were lying to the ‘boat people’ that the law is not going to last.

[Arrested Lankans will be settled elsewhere]

Minister-Counselor (Immigration) and Regional Director (South Asia) Jose Alvarez said he was aware that Sri Lankans were in fact involved in the riots at Nauru island detention centre but could not confirm the numbers.

In response to a query the Sunday Observer made at the conclusion of a press conference held in Colombo on Friday if these people will be deported without their asylum applications being processed as a result of the charges against them, he answered in the negative. He said their pleas will be processed and if asylum status is granted they will be settled somewhere else but not in Australia. The Nauru police has charged 140 in connection with the incident. He said the opening up of new detention centres in Papua New Guinea is also being considered.

The first boat of Sri Lankans after the new law came into effect, arrived in Australia on Thursday night carrying 68 people said Sue Knight who represented Australian Customs and Border Protection at the media briefing. Acting High Commissioner Sonya Koppe was also present.