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BY EMOKE BEBIAK
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Human rights groups are criticizing Australia after it announced unaccompanied child refugees will be deported to Malaysia as part of a refugee-swap program.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen tells ABC Australia the sanction is meant to set a precedent...
“Well, Tony, I’ve been really clear. We need to send a strong message. I don’t want any unaccompanied minors, I don’t want children getting on boats to come to Australia thinking or knowing that there is some sort of exemption in place.”
The question about the fate of unaccompanied children came up recently when Australia and Malaysia reached a refugee-swapping deal, also called the “Malaysian Solution.” The New York Times explains the details...
“Under the new agreement, Australia would send 800 migrants to Malaysia to have their asylum claims processed. In return, Australia says, over the next four years it would accept 4,000 people whom the United Nations has already certified as refugees in Malaysia.”
Part of the push for the program came after a boating accident near Christmas Island last year killed many refugees-- including children. Australia’s immigration minister says he wants the deter people-smugglers from putting refugees in dangerous situations. (Video: 7 News)
And deporting the children is meant to serve as a strong deterrent. But an Australian Senator reminds the minister-- he is the legal guardian of unaccompanied children seeking asylum. She tells BBC News...
“The minister, for the sake of a political quick-fix, is prepared to expend the rights and obligations he should be offering to these very, very vulnerable children.”
Sydney’s ABC radio station points out the problem of smuggling can’t be ignored in Australia, but the solution is hard to find...
“At one end there [are] claims of mistreatment at detention centres and at the other there is ongoing public criticism that not enough is being done to combat people smuggling.”
And a lawyer tells the station-- setting a precedent with children is just wrong.
“Well, what about if we just take a couple kids from a detention center and publicly torture them? Well, that will send a message and I can guarantee that no more asylum-seekers will come. Would anyone buy that? Of course not. Why? Because it’s just wrong... To mistreat innocent people in order to send a message to other people.”
The deal has endured harsh criticism-- even before the question of children came up-- because the documents are not specific about human rights protections. The Australian describes the circumstances refugees face in Malaysia saying,
“Malaysia's refugee environment is that it has no policy, laws or regulations that even admit the existence of refugees... Refugee children are not allowed to attend government schools, so NGOs teach the 13,000 of school age at learning centres. And refugees are charged 50 per cent higher fees for health services.”
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