Court case could have effect on more than 1,300 East Timorese<\/p>\n
SYDNEY (AFP): A test case with implications for more than
\n1,300 East Timorese asylum seekers is due to begin in the Federal
\nCourt here today.<\/p>\n
An East Timorese man, Jong Kim Koe, 23, is challenging a
\nRefugee Review Tribunal (RRT) decision which found him to be a
\nrefugee from Indonesia but a citizen of Portugal.<\/p>\n
Under international law, Jong would be expected to go to
\nPortugal, losing his Indonesian nationality and his automatic
\nright to return to East Timor at a later date.<\/p>\n
If he refused to go to Portugal voluntarily, he would have to
\nbe deported to Indonesia where, the RRT found, there was a real
\nchance he would be persecuted.<\/p>\n
Jong's lawyers said it was not clear if Portugal would
\nrecognize their client as a citizen.<\/p>\n
Jong was two years old when Indonesia entered the mainly Roman
\nCatholic island in December 1975, several months after Portugal
\nwithdrew. The United Nations still recognizes Portugal as the
\nadministrator but Australia is one of only a few countries which
\nrecognizes Indonesian sovereignty in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Since arriving in Australia on an Indonesian passport, he has
\nbeen denied protection three times by the Portuguese consulate in
\nSydney.<\/p>\n
"The Ambassador of Portugal... has never made any statement
\nwhich indicates that any East Timorese person, including the
\napplicant, is a Portuguese national," documents lodged with the
\ncourt said.<\/p>\n
Australia had recognized Indonesian sovereignty over East
\nTimor since 1979 and that bound it to recognizing East Timorese
\nas Indonesians, the lawyers said.<\/p>\n
"The Australian government has stated that Portugal does not
\nhave the right to represent the interests of the East Timorese
\npeople. It cannot in good faith argue the contrary at some later
\npoint," they said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/court-case-could-have-effect-on-more-than-1300-east-timorese-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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