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One year in limbo for asylum seekers

15 October 2007, 02:10PM

October 15 marks one year since seven asylum seekers from Myanmar applied to the Australian Government for refugee status, and there is still no indication as to when a decision will be made

This situation is unacceptable. We urge the Australian Government to promptly finalise the asylum seekers' applications, and if any are found to be refugees they should be allowed to resettle in Australia.

The group, from Myanmar's Rohingya minority, fled to Australia in August 2006 after living illegally in Malaysia for a number of years. We have received reports that they suffered persecution and abuse in both Myanmar and Malaysia. The men have now spent more than 12 months in detention on Nauru. The physical and psychological damage suffered by detainees in lengthy and remote detention is well documented.

The present situation in Myanmar is obviously increasingly unstable which only adds to the anxiety of the asylum seekers who fear deportation.

Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews has said if any of the Rohingyas are deemed to be refugees they will not be allowed into Australia and the government will look for another country to resettle them.

We believe that if this happens the government will not be meeting its obligations under the Refugee Convention.

Minister Andrews has also suggested the asylum seekers return to Malaysia and await processing there. Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees and the safety of these men cannot be guaranteed there.

Background

The Rohingyan minority are not among the 135 "national races" identified by Myanmar's Government. The country's 1982 Citizenship Law leaves them stateless, effectively making them illegal immigrants in their own country. Freedom of religion and movement is restricted, they must apply for permission to marry, their land is confiscated and they suffer severe economic constraints.

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