Human Rights Under Threat in New Zealand

Press Release – Refugee Council of New Zealand

Over the weekend an estimated 90 desperate asylum seekers whom the National Government would have labelled “queue jumpers” and placed in detention camps have tragically perished at sea off the coast of Australia. “Queue Jumpers” Perish Off Australia: Human Rights Under Threat in New Zealand

Over the weekend an estimated 90 desperate asylum seekers whom the National Government would have labelled “queue jumpers” and placed in detention camps have tragically perished at sea off the coast of Australia.

This terrible tragedy sadly highlights some undeniable points in relation to the highly controversial Mass Arrivals Amendment Bill recently introduced by the John Key Government.

The first is that neither draconian laws nor harsh treatment will ever for one minute deter desperate people seeking a place of safety for their families.

The second that this proposed bill is wholly unnecessary as asylum boats are unlikely to ever make the distance across the turbulent Tasman, and the present legislation is more than adequate for dealing with such a remote possibility.

“It’s alarming that many New Zealanders seem unaware of the serious issues surrounding this ill-conceived proposed law change and disappointing that the media has not yet picked up the threat it poses to human rights extending beyond asylum seekers,” says RCNZ spokesperson Debra Manning.

“If this Bill is passed, it would give the New Zealand government the power to place people in detention not for anything they have done, or even by name, but simply because they belong to a group. This is discriminatory and unprecedented, and seems to be coming in under the radar.”

The Parliamentary Select Committee has received overwhelming opposition in submissions to the proposal from many groups including the Law Society and the United Nations.

Despite this, the Government is barrelling ahead in trying to force this bill through Parliament with only one week notice given for oral submissions which will be heard on Thursday this week.

The Refugee Council of New Zealand is seeking to meet soon with the Maori Party and United Future to brief them on the implications of this bill and its impacts which have not been disclosed by its proponents.

“It was unwise to introduce surprise legislation and politicise this sensitive issue for no good reason,” says Deborah Manning.

There is a better way. The Refugee Council submitted a paper (enclosed) to the Immigration Minister and Cabinet last year which called for multi-party accord on a possible future boat arrival and gave detailed information on the mistakes made by the Australians which need not have been repeated.

“RCNZ is hoping to persuade the Government to withdraw these faulty amendments and move toward multi-party talks for a broad agreement to take the politics out and focus on humanitarian obligations and effective ways to deter people from risking their lives which will work.”

(2012-06-24/community.scoop)