Australia's
High Court Monday halted the controversial transfer of asylum seekers to
Malaysia, preventing the government from sending its first group as planned.
The decision puts Canberra's proposals to send up to 800
boatpeople to Malaysia on hold for at least two weeks until a further hearing
by the full court can be held later this month.
"This case is about our clients arguing that their
claims for refugee protection should be considered in Australia instead of
being expelled to Malaysia," the lawyer leading the case, David Manne,
told reporters.
Manne said the court had found there was a "serious
question" over whether the government had the power to expel those seeking
safe haven in Australia, including children, to Malaysia.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said he had expected the
so-called "Malaysia Solution" to be challenged, but was determined to
implement the plan to stem the flow of boatpeople making the perilous sea
journey to Australia.
"The Australian government's commitment to implementing
this arrangement remains rock solid," he told a press conference in
Canberra, adding that the government could ask for the hearing to be held
before August 22.
"I'm confident that when the full bench considers the
case, the injunction will be lifted, the transfer will occur, and the
arrangement will be implemented."
Canberra unveiled the new pact in May, promising that all new
arrivals would be processed in another regional centre with the first 800 to go
to Malaysia, despite its not being a signatory to the UN convention on
refugees.
In exchange, Australia would resettle 4,000 of the more than 90,000
registered refugees already processed by Kuala Lumpur, many of whom are from
Myanmar, with the first of this group expected to arrive this week.
But rights groups have criticised the deal from the start,
accusing Australia of not meeting its legal obligations to refugees and risking
the health and safety of vulnerable people, including children.
Amnesty International immediately welcomed the delay of the
deportations, saying it was "horrified" the government was attempting
to make an example of desperate people, including unaccompanied minors.
"Today's High Court decision vindicates Amnesty
International's stance that the Malaysia deal is inhumane, inappropriate and
potentially illegal under Australian and international law," spokesman
Graham Thom said.
Two boats carrying a total of more than 100 asylum seekers,
including children, have arrived in Australia since the deal came into effect
and some of these have been on a hunger strike in protest since Friday.
Australian governments have long grappled with how to handle
boatpeople, detaining them in outback centres, on the tiny Pacific island
nation of Nauru and on the remote Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island.
In 2010, arrivals peaked at close to 7,000, and while less
than 2,000 have arrived so far this year, detention centres have been hit by
violent unrest and arson while questions have been raised about the mental
health of detainees.
The conservative opposition seized on the High Court
decision, saying it would lead to continued "chaos" in dealing with
the problem.
"We will see our asylum policy go into a complete state
of limbo, and I can only understand that the people smugglers will be the big
winners as a result of the government's handling of this matter yet
again," Scott Morrison said.
Source : AFP
Online Booking Hotel
EmpireMoney
No comments:
Post a Comment