INTERVIEW - RADIO NATIONAL WITH ELEANOR HALL AND ALEXANDRA KIRK
26 October 2009
Subjects: Asylum seekers and the Oceanic Viking
Kirk reported this story on Monday, October 26, 2009 12:14:00
HALL: The Federal Government says that the Sri Lankan asylum seekers on board the Australian customs vessel, the Oceanic Viking, have ended their hunger strike, which was made public on the weekend.
The Australian ship is due to dock in northern Indonesia this afternoon and Australia's Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor is insisting that the 78 Sri Lankans will be well treated. But the detention centre where they will be housed has been the subject of allegations of detainee abuse and the local police chief hasn't ruled out using force if these asylum seekers refuse to disembark.
And still the boats keep coming - the Government revealed this morning that another boat has made its way to Australia. This one with just one asylum seeker on board.
The Minster spoke to Alexandra Kirk, firstly about the asylum seekers who have been refusing to eat.
O’CONNOR: We've been offering food at each meal occasion and of course we encourage them to eat. I believe that they wanted to make their point that they were concerned about the processing and they'd sort of made clear they were concerned about their future and they have made their point and they have resumed eating.
KIRK: What if they refused to leave the Oceanic Viking as the previous boatload of Sri Lankan asylum seekers did when they were taken to Indonesia? Will they be forced to disembark?
O’CONNOR: Well, of course we are talking advice on the best approach for these passengers. We have, of course, from the beginning been putting to the forefront their safety and that is reason why the Oceanic Viking in the first place responded to the distress signal and we will continue to do what we need to do to put their interests first but of course that has to be done in conjunction with the Indonesian authorities. The Indonesian authorities are the lead agency and we will work closely with them.
KIRK: Well, the local police chief hasn't ruled out using force. Is that part of the deal that Australia has done with Indonesia?
O’CONNOR: No, as I have made clear is our priority is to make sure that these passengers are dealt with properly. We want to make sure that the safety of these passengers is the priority and of course, therefore we want to make sure that they are dealt with in a manner that we would expect them to be dealt with and that is of course, properly with respect.
They have gone through a difficult time. Everything we have done to date has been responding to humanitarian concerns of these passengers and we want to make sure it is consistent with that approach.
KIRK: Does that include forcibly removing them from the boat?
O’CONNOR: Well, as I have indicated to you, we will have the conversations with the Indonesian authorities. I think it is important that…
KIRK: Have you had that discussion yet with them?
O’CONNOR: The agencies are dealing with those matters.
KIRK: The conditions in the detention centre where the asylum seekers will be sent - are you confident that they are up to standard?
O’CONNOR: The Australian Government in 2007 provided $7 million to fund the refurbishment and improvements of two detention centres in Indonesia. One of which is the one in Tanjung Pinang. The International Organisation for Migration supervise those detainees at that particularly centre and…
KIRK: And you happy with the way that the International Organisation for Migration does supervise them?
O’CONNOR: Firstly, they are a reputable organisation. They put the concerns and wellbeing of detainees as a priority and I think we can be assured that they will do everything they can to ensure that the facility is adequate.
There have been claims as I understand about the facility and about its capacity to properly house tem porarily these passengers and as I understand it the Indonesian authorities are indeed investigating those claims.
KIRK: Shouldn't it be investigated before you send some more asylum seekers there?
O’CONNOR: Well, can I say to you that we have just heard these claims. The Indonesian authorities have confirmed that they are going to investigate those claims and indeed the International Organisation for Migration, who supervise the centre and the UNHCR, who have access to the centre, will indeed, I'm sure, also consider the centre in light of those claims.
KIRK: The director-general of immigration in Jakarta has said that he doubts that the Afghan asylum seekers were beaten by staff because he says that the detention centre is understaffed. As well as that a couple of weeks ago some of the Afghans allegedly spent about $12,000 bribing their way out of the detention centre. No matter which way you look at it, the administration appears to be substandard.
O’CONNOR: Well, I think we have to consider the circumstances in which we have this vessel heading towards the Indonesian port.
KIRK: How is that relevant?
O’CONNOR: Well, it is relevant because we were responding to a distress signal a week ago, just over a week ago. That vessel itself was in an Indonesian search and rescue zone. The lead agency from the beginning in relation to this particular rescue was the Indonesian agency.
KIRK: And are you satisfied so far that the detention centre is being run properly?
O’CONNOR: On the advice we have received from the International Organisation for Migration and the fact that the UNHCR has access to the centre would certainly lead me to conclude that the facility is appropriate but these claims need to be, the claims that have been made in relation to the centre, need to be investigated and the Indonesian authorities have made clear they will do just that.
KIRK: I understand Australia has intercepted another boat on the way to Australia. How many people are on board?
O’CONNOR: There is one person in a very small vessel being found on Saibai Island in the north Torres Strait and that person will be processed properly as along with all people seeking to arrive irregularly in our waters.
KIRK: And do you know where this person came from?
O’CONNOR: No, that hasn't been confirmed as yet and that will be confirmed once he is spoken to on Christmas Island.
KIRK: It is unusual that one person would arrive on a boat?
O’CONNOR: That is quite unusual. Usually it is larger numbers but clearly in this case, I haven't got many details, but clearly he has found his way to this particular island.
KIRK: This person isn't an illegal fisherman in your view?
O’CONNOR: Look, I have been advised that he was seeking to come to Australia. That is all I have at this point and he is now being brought to Christmas Island for proper processing so we can assess his health situation and also look at the security and identity matters.
HALL: That is the Federal Home Affairs Minister, Brendan O'Connor speaking to Alexandra Kirk in Canberra.
