Posted on 08/01/2002 5:16:41 AM PDT by blam
UN report leaves bitter taste in Oz mouths
July 31 2002 at 07:19PM
Sydney - Australia has rejected a new United Nations report denouncing its policy of detaining asylum seekers in remote outposts, saying the criticism is biased and unfounded.
The government said on Wednesday that the report by the UN high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson "lacks objectivity and misrepresents important aspects of Australia's management of immigration detention".
The report by Prafullachandra Bhagwati, adviser to Robinson, said "the human rights situation of persons in immigration detention in Australia is a matter of serious concern".
Bhagwati singled out the remote Woomera detention centre in the South Australia desert as a site that could fall foul of international anti-torture rules.
But Australia insisted that detention of illegal entrants would continue and denied this practice violated human rights.
"Justice Bhagwati has clearly strayed from the mandate to consider whether Australia's system of immigration detention is consistent with Australia's human rights obligations," said Australia's foreign and immigration ministers.
"His report contains emotive descriptions and assertions that have no foundation in the human rights instruments to which Australia is party." - Sapa-AFP
I'm sure they'd be far more comfy on a boat heading back to whence they came.
Maybe the UN would be willing to rent a couple of run-down steamers and send them off on a cruise?
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