Selasa, 29 April 2014

Cambodia open *in principle* to Australia refugee deal (AFP)

View Comments Cambodia open in principle to Australia refugee dealAFP Cambodia open 'in principle' to Australia refugee deal

Phnom Penh (AFP) - Cambodia has agreed "in principle" to accept asylum-seekers bound for Australia, an official said Tuesday, despite controversy at the prospect of refugees being "dumped" in one of Asia's poorest nations.

A senior Cambodian foreign ministry official said that no firm deal had been reached but that the kingdom was open to taking in migrants intercepted en route to Australia.

"In general, the government has agreed in principle," Ouch Borith told reporters, adding that the Cambodian authorities were still studying the proposal.

"Agreeing in principle means that we are considering it and we will do it in accordance with international standards," he said.

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison made an unannounced visit to Cambodia earlier this month, raising speculation that Phnom Penh would join Papua New Guinea and Nauru in helping resettle asylum-seekers.

Australia has adopted a hardline policy against asylum-seekers arriving on unauthorised boats as it seeks to control its maritime borders and prevent would-be refugees from drowning at sea.

Under the policy, boat-people have been sent to camps on remote Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island in the Pacific for processing and denied resettlement in Australia.

"We're very pleased to have been getting the support from PNG and from Nauru that we've had and we look forward to further support from other countries in our region, including from Cambodia," Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said earlier this month.

He described people-smuggling as "a regional problem".

Refugee advocates and the Australian Greens have criticised the government's policy, which includes turning back boats.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young this month accused the government of "looking for the next poor country to dump" refugees.

Visiting UN rights envoy Flavia Pansieri declined to comment on the tentative agreement after talks with Ouch Borith because the details were still unclear, but she offered a general pledge of assistance if needed.

"What we think is important is to note that Cambodia is well aware of its international commitment to human rights standards, keen to abide by them and to the extent there is any need for cooperation, we stand ready to provide support to ensure that standards are met," she added.

Cambodia's strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen is regularly accused of ignoring human rights and suppressing political dissent.


http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/23077254/cambodia-open-in-principle-to-australia-refugee-deal/

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