Refugee swap with Australia is people laundering

Human Rights Watch says the Australian government is absolving itself of its responsibilities to refugees by shipping them off to Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: This is laundering of a different kind. Refugee laundering that is. The Australian government is setting a bad precedent by washing their hands off refugees by not taking care of those who landed on their shores.

Malaysia and Australia signed a refugee swap deal today and an international human rights NGO says it would set a bad precedent .

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called upon the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees not to recognise the deal.

“Human Rights Watch has publicly called on UNHCR not to endorse this agreement because this is a deal that would allow Australia, a country that has signed the Refugee Convention, to devolve its obligations to another country that has not signed the refugee convention.

“This would set the worst type of precedent and we’re concerned it could start a wider erosion of protection for refugees throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

“The talk in the neighborhood will be “hey, if Australia can do it, why can’t we?” Nothing spreads as fast among Asian governments as a bad idea that they think can justify abusing human rights.

“Once again, Malaysia has proved that it is ‘truly Asia’ when it comes to sidelining human rights – and sadly, it now looks like Australia is intent on proving that too,” said HRW’s Asia division deputy director Phil Robertson.

Once signed, Malaysia will take in 800 asylum seekers arriving by boat, in return for Australia accepting 4,000 processed refugees from Malaysia.

HRW in its criticism alleged that both Australia and Malaysia had sinister gains to make via the deal.

“Australia is using Malaysia as a dumping ground for boat people it does not want and in the process walking away from its commitments to follow the 1951 Refugees Convention.

“For Malaysia, this is a money talks kind of deal, and for Australia, it’s a desperate move by a government with falling poll numbers seeking political traction on the backs of vulnerable people seeking refuge,” said Robertson.

Poor track record

Robertson is also unconvinced of Malaysia’s ability to protect the refugees.

“Malaysia’s poor track record in providing even basic protections for refugees means that the 800 asylum seekers who will be sent from Australia under the agreement face grave risks.

“Assurances so far by the Malaysian and Australian governments that the 800 migrants will be looked after with dignity are hardly convincing.”