M Zubair Afandi: Amnesty hails Aussie court decision as 'big win' for human rights

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Amnesty hails Aussie court decision as 'big win' for human rights

Harakahdaily

Sep 2: Amnesty International has welcomed as "a landmark victory for human rights" the High Court decision stopping the Malaysia refugee swap with Australia.

Malaysia's ill-treatment of refugees and migrants is world renowned

The organization has consistently warned the Australian Government that Malaysia is a dangerous destination for asylum seekers and that sending vulnerable people there would violate Australia's obligations under international law.

"Amnesty International is delighted that the High Court has prevented this outrageous, politically-motivated scheme from going ahead," said Amnesty International refugee spokesman Dr. Graham Thom.

"Malaysia is clearly not a safe destination for refugees and asylum seekers, said Thom. "The government should never even have contemplated outsourcing Australia's refugee protection obligations to a country which regularly canes, detains and abuses asylum seekers, and which refuses to sign the U.N. Refugee Convention."

The High Court decision also vindicates Amnesty International's grave concerns that unaccompanied children would be at particular risk if removed to Malaysia, he said.

"As the legal guardian of the unaccompanied minors, the Immigration Minister must act in the children's best interests," said Thom. "Sending them to Malaysia is in blatant breach of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child."

"Now that the High Court has put an end to this sorry saga, it's time for common sense to prevail," added Thom. "Australia should treat all asylum seekers equally, regardless of whether they come by boat or by plane. All asylum seekers should be processed on the mainland in accordance with our obligations under the U.N. Refugee Convention."