JP/19/LOSMN2

JP/19/LOSMN2

Australian government's hard line

The Australian government has taken a tough stance against people
smuggling from Indonesia with a "border protection" policy of
turning back boats and locking asylum seekers who make landfall
in offshore camps.

During the past 20 years the average number of asylum seekers
has been about 1,000 a year. At the height of the people-
smuggling controversy only 4,000 made it to Australia. Now few
boats attempt the journey.

The Australian government says genuine asylum seekers should
stay in the first safe camp after fleeing their homeland and
apply for refugee status via the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees. Australia currently accepts about 6,000 refugees a
year.

However a Human Rights Watch report claimed many asylum
seekers knew little or nothing about UNHCR offices in Malaysia
and Indonesia. The smugglers told them that applications in those
countries would fail and they would be arrested.

Despite their bravery, initiative and determination - all
qualities that would make them ideal citizens -- the boat people
have been dubbed "illegals" and "queue-jumpers" by a hostile
Australian public. The anger has grown since the advent of
Islamic terrorism.

Some fear fundamentalists may seek a sea entry to Australia,
bypassing checking procedures in the official refugee camps.
Others claim the asylum seekers are not victims of persecution
but "economic refugees" attracted by Australia's welfare system
and high wages.

Ronnie Bala, a spokesman for IOM in Jakarta said the UNHCR had
rejected all the Pasir Putih people's claims for refugee status
and resettlement in any country.

"Their status is now 'irregular migrants'," he said. "It's
better for them to go home, but we won't force them. It must be
voluntary and we'll give them up to US$1,500 as resettlement
money.

"In the past four years 877 people have left Indonesia for
Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. So far no problems have been
reported.

"I don't know how much longer the Indonesian government will
allow the situation (at Pasir Putih) to continue but we shall
feed them and counsel them to return.

"They should respect Indonesian rules and not take advantage
of Indonesian generosity."

-- Duncan Graham