Australia and Malaysia reject UN refugees criticism

The Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has defended his country's dispatch of asylum seekers to Malaysia.

Malaysia's Minister for Home Affairs, Hishammuddin Hussein, has said the flow of people risking their lives at sea to reach Australia has already slowed.

Their comments followed scathing criticism of the deal by the UN human rights commissioner, Navi Pillay.

Ahead of Australia's annual apology to its indigenous population, Ms Pillay also attacked Australian "racism".

Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Pillay questioned the legality of Australia's proposed deal with Malaysia to send 800 asylum seekers to the country, saying it potentially violates refugee law.

On Wednesday she told Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard that its policy of mandatory detention towards all asylum seekers was in breach of its international obligations, and for many years had cast a shadow over Australia's human rights record.

But Canberra and Kuala Lumpur appear unfazed.

'Already working' "The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has provided his support for this arrangement, the International Office of Migration has provided their support for this arrangement," Mr Rudd said.

"Those individuals are entirely literate concerning the provisions that should be applied to anyone who's being analysed for asylum purposes."

He says the key test is how people are treated and the Government takes its obligations seriously.

"The key thing is we're taking kids out of mandatory detention, we are making sure that processing times are accelerated so that once basic checks are undertaken there is a way through this," he said.

"We are also making sure there are proper and humane conditions."

Mr Hussein said people should reserve judgment on the plan until after it is put into action, adding its objectives were "noble".

But already the news of the impending change in policy had made a difference.

"It is already having an impact where there is a reduction in the flow of people," he claimed.

"People in crisis-ridden Middle East countries like Libya are now moving out to Europe. They have to face the same consequences and they will be trying to find solutions."

"This arrangement is another out of the box and innovative approach which is still being discussed and yet to be finalised.

"So, those who are objecting to this... how can they object to something that we have yet to finalise?" he said.

Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention.


(2011-5-26/BBC)