Fed: Rescued Indonesians not granted refugee status and returned home

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2007
Fed: Rescued Indonesians not granted refugee status and returned home

CANBERRA, Dec 16 AAP - A group of Indonesians rescued off the coast of Darwin last
month has been returned home after being denied refugee status by the new government.

The three families had been detained on Christmas Island since they were rescued from
their sinking wooden boat by the Royal Australian Navy in the Timor Sea on November 20.

The group of men, women and children were suffering financial hardship from an ongoing
crackdown - involving joint Australian-Indonesian patrols - on illegal fishing in Australia's
northern waters.

Under a 1974 memorandum of understanding between Indonesia and Australia, Indonesian
subsistence fishermen are allowed to fish off Australia's northern islands and reefs within
the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), but not within territorial waters.

An increase in the number of Indonesian motorised fishing boats operating in the Australian
EEZ prompted a crackdown with boats routinely confiscated and crews prosecuted.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans said being poor was not grounds to be granted refugee
status and the group was returned to Jakarta last night.

"The group did not engage Australia's protection obligations under the Refugees Convention,"

he said.

"People from other countries do not have a right to stay here on the basis they would
be economically better off."

A spokesman for Senator Evans told AAP Labor would soon make announcements regarding
unauthorised boat arrivals to Australia.

AAP mj/jt/de

KEYWORD: BOAT

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