Fed: Indonesian boatpeople to be sent back home

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2007
Fed: Indonesian boatpeople to be sent back home

CANBERRA, Dec 7 AAP - Sixteen Indonesians detained on Christmas Island are to be returned
to Indonesia after interviews and health checks, Immigration Minister Chris Evans said
today.

Their claim to be economic refugees has been rejected as a legitimate reason for refugee status.

The three men, three women and 10 children were rescued from a leaking fishing boat
in the Timor Sea on November 20 after their stricken vessel pulled up alongside the Jabiru
Venture oil ship, 600km west of Darwin.

The families, from the Indonesian island of Roti, said they had been suffering economic
losses from Australia's crackdown on illegal fishing in the region and had no choice but
to flee their homeland.

But Senator Evans said his department had carefully explored with the group their reasons
for travelling to Australia.

"On the information provided, my department is satisfied that they have not raised
issues which might engage Australia's protection obligations," he said in a statement.

"This represents a firm but fair approach to the orderly migration of people to Australia."

Senator Evans said the asylum seekers had been treated fairly and been dealt with appropriately.

"They simply have not engaged our protection obligations under the Refugees Convention," he said.

"My department is making arrangements to return the group in coordination with the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Indonesian government as soon as possible."

Senator Evans said he was a great supporter of the Refugees Convention and Australia
was among the top three resettlement countries in the world.

"However, people from other countries do not have a right to stay in Australia just
because they would be economically better off here," he said.

AAP dep/sb/lh/de

KEYWORD: DETENTION CHRISTMAS

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