REFUGEES: ASYLUM SEEKERS WAITING IN THE PACIFIC

How long will 1500 asylum seekers have to wait in detention in Nauru and Papua New Guinea? The Australian government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)has announced that more than 300 asylum seekers held in Pacific island detention centers have been found to be genuine refugees.

KATHY LEVERETT of Asia Pacific in Focus reports

HOW LONG will 1500 asylum seekers have to wait in detention in Nauru and Papua New Guinea?

The Australian government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) announced this week that more than 300 asylum seekers held in Pacific island detention centers have been found to be genuine refugees.

But at the same time, it has warned that most of the 1,511 people on Nauru and Manus Island face a wait of weeks or months for their claims to be assessed or for permanent resettlement options to be finalized.

The Australian government has paid for construction of two detention camps in Nauru and one on Manus Island as "offshore processing centers" under the so-called "Pacific Solution." Asylum seekers from the Aceng, Tampa and other boats were relocated to New Zealand, Nauru and Papua New Guinea in late 2001.

Australia's initial agreement with the government of Nauru is due to expire at the end of May, posing dilemmas for those already determined to be refugees, and those still awaiting a decision -- and for the host country. On April 9 some refugees scuffled with staff as they tried to break out of the low-security detention centre at Topside in Nauru, protesting delays in processing their applications.

This week, the UNHCR and Australia’s Immigration Department announced that 311 people processed in Nauru and Manus have been determined as refugees.

However, most of those found to be refugees originally came from Iraq and Iran. Only seven of 292 Afghans processed so far in Nauru and Manus have currently been accepted as refugees (In contrast, 131 Afghans sent to New Zealand were granted refugee status.). Because of the change of regime in Afghanistan, the remaining Afghans in the Pacific camps -- who fled Afghanistan under the Taliban -- are being given the opportunity to resubmit information before their cases are finally determined.

Australia’s Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock has suggested that he may visit Afghanistan to determine if it is safe for people to return to the country after the fall of the Taliban regime. The government is also considering incentive payments to encourage Afghans to return voluntarily, though some ethnic Hazaras fear persecution on returning even though the Taliban have gone.

For the "Pacific Solution" applications processed so far in New Zealand, Nauru and Papua New Guinea, 442 out of 569 have been accepted as refugees -- over 77 percent. A further 1,073 people in Nauru and Manus are still awaiting initial processing of their applications, and the 127 whose applications have been rejected have the right to appeal. Final rejection would mean repatriation to their home country, though this is unlikely for people from Iraq.

Nauru's Reaction

Pacific Beat’s Kathy Leverett spoke to Matthew Batsiua, former Chief Secretary of the Nauru government, asking how the people of Nauru would accept an extension of the presence of asylum seekers in their country.

BATSIUA: I think the arrangement is clearly understood by all Nauruans and that is that all the asylum-seekers currently in Nauru will be here for a certain period, as agreed to under the M.O.U. between the two countries. I think the first lot that came on the Manoora, and then later on the Tobruk, they're to be here until May. Then the later group, which arrived around Christmas time, are to be here six months from their arrival. Those are clearly agreed to, and clearly specified in the agreement between the two countries. I think Nauruans will expect those kind of conditions to prevail at the end of the day.

LEVERETT: If the Australian government were to ask for an extension of time, do you think that would be fairly acceptable, generally speaking, to ordinary people? Or do you think they're looking forward to a time when all this is over?

BATSIUA: I think most people have indicated that they would like to see a clear definite period where these people eventually depart Nauru. Nauru is not a big country. I think most people would be nervous if a large influx of people are to remain here indefinitely because we've seen that prolonged stay in those kind of asylum camps can lead to some sort of unrest and Nauru would certainly hate to see those kind of things happen in Nauru if, indeed, their stay is prolonged.

LEVERETT: You don't foresee any situation such as we've seen here in Australia at the Woomera Detention Center and in other detention centers, with protests and some escapes?

BATSIUA: Well, like I said, I think that Nauruans generally would like to see a definite period where these people will eventually depart our shores. Because we've seen, as in the instances you've mentioned, that prolonged stays in detention centres, or asylum seeker camps, can lead to some sort of frustration and eventually lead to some sort of action, which might be disruptive. Nauruans in general don't want to see that happen here in Nauru.

LEVERETT: Has the arrival of the asylum seekers caused any difficulties logistically for Nauruans? Is there any interruption or re-routing of supplies generally? Has it made life tougher at all, or, for the average person, has there been little change?

BATSIUA: There's been little change, I think. If anything there's been more benefit than disruption. Benefit in terms of boosting of infrastructure, and power and water and so forth, and also general benefits in the areas of education and health, general employment and boosting the local economy. I think those kinds of things are the overriding things. There are certainly some disruptions, but I think they're minor compared to the benefits.

LEVERETT: So if the Australian government were to request an extension of time for this agreement, do you think that would be fairly acceptable to the majority of people on Nauru?

BATSIUA: Again, I think they would, but then what's more forefront in the minds of Nauruans is that they'd like to see a definite timetable when these people will eventually leave. I think Nauru should be proud of what it's done and also be proud that it has actively cooperated in the international and regional effort to combat this insidious problem of people smuggling. I think that's a good thing.