The Law Oceanic Viking Sri Lankans 'all refugees'

[Dont be a lemon]

Just thought you might be interested to know.

Oceanic Viking Sri Lankans 'all refugees'

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has determined that all 78 people involved in the stand-off on board the Oceanic Viking are refugees.

The Sri Lankan asylum seekers were rescued at sea by the Australian Customs ship before being taken to Indonesia's Bintan Island, where they refused to disembark for a month.

The Federal Government says it will now be up to the UN agency to determine where the refugees should be settled.

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says he thinks the deal which was struck to get the asylum seekers to leave the ship will ensure them of an automatic trip to Australia.

"Australia does its fair share in terms of taking refugees who've been determined as such by the UNHCR in Indonesia but there is no rule that says we always take every last one of them," he said.

"But what I suspect will happen here is that the special deal that the Prime Minister did with the Oceanic Viking will follow through and they will have got their quick run to Australia.

"That sends a very obvious message to people smugglers operating in the area."

The Greens' Sarah Hanson-Young has welcomed the UN's decision to declare the asylum seekers refugees.

"It's very sad however they had to go through such a traumatic experience to prove it," she said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/16/2773227.htm

 

[Blight von Torp]

Am I bad for thinking that refugees shouldn't be able to cherry pick where they want to go.

For example these guys could have sailed North to India in an hour or so, but instead chose try and make it all the way to Australia.

Further, as soon as they reached Indonesia they were out of harm's way. So it's a combination of being real refugees and economic refugees.

 

[medusala]

I am sure all those refugees in UN camps are thrilled to bits that the Australian quota has just been decreased by those who can afford to pay people smugglers.

 

[freo heave ho]

Am I bad for thinking that refugees shouldn't be able to cherry pick where they want to go.

For example these guys could have sailed North to India in an hour or so, but instead chose try and make it all the way to Australia.

Further, as soon as they reached Indonesia they were out of harm's way. So it's a combination of being real refugees and economic refugees.

They could've sailed north to India- if they could get past the Sri Lankan navy patrolling the strait and sinking ships. According to the World refugee survey they could join the 100 000 Sri lankan Tamils already there - who have no rights under Indian law as India is not a signatory to the Refugees Convention. With about half a million refugees from various neighbouring countries I think India is doing its fair share.

Here's a link:
http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/comments/22280/
Note the comment by Professor Chellaney that the journey to India is more dangerous than to South East Asia.

 

[Blight von Torp]

^^^
Fair enough, I stand corrected.

Is Indonesia a signatory to the Refugees Convention?

 

[Dont be a lemon]

It is not http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_Relating_to_the_Status_of_Refugees