Aussie gov't treats refugees like a football, say NGOs
Some 20 people from political parties and NGOs protested outside Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur today, as a refugee exchange deal between Malaysia and Australia was being signed.
Some 20 people from political parties and NGOs protested outside Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur today, as a refugee exchange deal between Malaysia and Australia was being signed.
The plan, first announced on May 7 by the leaders of the two countries, will see Australia accepting 4,000 registered refugees from Malaysia in exchange for 800 asylum seekers.
"Australia treats refugees like a football, sending them to Papua New Guinea and Christmas Island (and now to Malaysia)," said Eric Paulsen of Lawyers for Liberty.
The agreement has come under intense criticism from rights activists in both countries as Malaysia is not a signatory of the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which defines and sets out the rights guaranteed to refugees.
Among those present were Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez (right) , Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) executive director Cynthia Gabriel and officials from several other NGOs.
Also present were PKR vice-presidents N Surendran and Tian Chua and PKR legal bureau chief Latheefa Koya.
Public not consulted
Earlier, protestors held up pickets and chanted “Shame, shame, shame on you” and “Stop the deal” at the hotel entrance for about 30 minutes under the watchful eyes of police.
The pickets read: “Asylum seekers! Welcome to Malaysia - truly Asia! We arrest, we detain, we whip, we deport!” and another read: “Minister Hishammuddin! How can you treat refugees better when you’d tear-gassed your own people for wearing yellow!”
Tian Chua (
left in photo
), who is also Batu MP, criticised the Malaysian government for its lack of tranparency in the deal.
“The members of the public and even MPs have no had the chance to participate in this agreement,” he said.
The group obediently dispersed after being asked to do so by hotel security.
Later, human rights lawyer Latheefa said that the deal is an “insult to humanity” as the country’s laws do not differentiate asylum seekers from illegal immigrants.
“Malaysia is not a signatory of the Refugee Convention therefore the UNCHR card refugees carry is discretionary to the police, they are still vulnerable to arrest.”
“Therere are no guarantees for the locals so how can the rights of these refugees be guaranteed when they arrive here,” she added.
Demonstrations in Australia
Similar demonstrations took place in Australia yesterday, as some 200 people marched on an immigration detention centre in Sydney to protest the deal.
Every year, people from impoverished countries in the region pay smugglers to make treacherous boat trips to Australia in the hope of seeking asylum there.
The Australian government hopes that inking this deal will deter the people smuggling syndicates as the prospect of being shipped off to Malaysia looms.
According to the Australian Parliamentary Library website , 6,879 boat people arrived in the country last year.
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