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Weekly refugee post
Sep. 20th, 2013 11:45 amThe main news continues to be the tension between incoming PM Tony Abbott's plans to counter people smuggling from Indonesia, including the "turn back the boats" policy, and the Indonesian government's consistently unimpressed response:
Coalition won't be asking for Indonesia's permission on asylum seeker policies: Bishop
Pakistani ambassador to Indonesia voices concern about Coalition's asylum seeker policies
Tony Abbott's asylum seeker policies 'offensive', says senior Indonesian politician
Indonesian MP Tantowi Yahya says Coalition's asylum seeker policy threatens to damage relations
Retired admiral Chris Barrie says that the "turn back the boats" policy will endanger Australian navy personnel sent to enforce it, as people smugglers scuttle their own boats.
Why is Indonesia so significant in all of this? I'm glad you asked. Australia is one of the few countries in quite a large region which, albeit grudgingly, accepts refugees. Asylum seekers trying to reach us travel overland but become "stuck" in neighbouring countries separated from Australia by ocean. This map, originally from Wikipedia, gives you some idea of the situation:
Countries in dark green accept refugees; countries in grey don't; and I've highlighted in pink three of the main source countries for asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat, Afghanistan, Iran, and Sri Lanka. As you can see, far from "forum shopping" for the most comfortable haven, asylum seekers have severely constrained choices.
Abbott has also announced the immediate re-introduction of Temporary Protection Visas for asylum seekers who reach Australia by boat (including thousands who have already arrived). This is intended as a deterrent to asylum seekers, which violates the Refugee Convention, and makes our inclusion amongst the proud dark green countries on that map less than accurate.
Coalition won't be asking for Indonesia's permission on asylum seeker policies: Bishop
Pakistani ambassador to Indonesia voices concern about Coalition's asylum seeker policies
Tony Abbott's asylum seeker policies 'offensive', says senior Indonesian politician
Indonesian MP Tantowi Yahya says Coalition's asylum seeker policy threatens to damage relations
Retired admiral Chris Barrie says that the "turn back the boats" policy will endanger Australian navy personnel sent to enforce it, as people smugglers scuttle their own boats.
Why is Indonesia so significant in all of this? I'm glad you asked. Australia is one of the few countries in quite a large region which, albeit grudgingly, accepts refugees. Asylum seekers trying to reach us travel overland but become "stuck" in neighbouring countries separated from Australia by ocean. This map, originally from Wikipedia, gives you some idea of the situation:
Countries in dark green accept refugees; countries in grey don't; and I've highlighted in pink three of the main source countries for asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat, Afghanistan, Iran, and Sri Lanka. As you can see, far from "forum shopping" for the most comfortable haven, asylum seekers have severely constrained choices.
Abbott has also announced the immediate re-introduction of Temporary Protection Visas for asylum seekers who reach Australia by boat (including thousands who have already arrived). This is intended as a deterrent to asylum seekers, which violates the Refugee Convention, and makes our inclusion amongst the proud dark green countries on that map less than accurate.
