NAURU: NEWLY-DOCKED AYSLUM SEEKERS REMAIN UNAWARE OF POSSIBLE U.S. ATTACK ON AFGHANISTAN/ LATEST.

Record ID: 208427

  • Title: NAURU: NEWLY-DOCKED AYSLUM SEEKERS REMAIN UNAWARE OF POSSIBLE U.S. ATTACK ON AFGHANISTAN/ LATEST.
  • Date: 12th September 2001
  • Summary: AIWO, NAURU (SEPTEMBER 20, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/GV: WIDE OF CAMP/ CAMP FROM DISTANCE (2 SHOTS) 0.13 2. GV: SHOT THROUGH FENCE - REFUGEES WASHING/ STANDING AROUND/ REFUGEES HANGING UP WASHING (2 SHOTS) 0.24 3. LV/GV: REFUGEES IN DISTANCE PLAYING SOCCER (2 SHOTS) 0.35 4. GV/GV/PAN: REFUGEES WASHING/ WOMAN AND CHILD WALKING BEHIND FENCE/ REFUGEES HELP MOVING CAMP BEDS (3 SHOTS) 0.51 5. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED AFGHAN REFUGEE SAYING: "Of course, of course we are leaving because of the Taliban. It;'s really dangerous in Afghan istan. They don't want us Hazahari people living in Afghanistan." 1.03 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED AFGHAN REFUGEE SAYING: "We are so unhappy about the Australian decision..." 1.20 7. GV/MCU: IRAQI FAMILY SITTING UNDER A TREE/ IRAQI GIRLS WITH MOTHER (2 SHOTS) 1.31 8. CU: M(SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED AFGHAN REFUGEE SAYING: "We are imprisoned on the ship..." 1.54 9. CU: SMALL BOY CLINGING ON TO WIRE FENCE 1.58 10. LAS: PEOPLE LOOKING THROUGH WIRE FENCE 2.02 11. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED IRAQI REFUGEE SAYING: "I want to stay in Australia... I have no country... I want to see my father in Australia." 2.48 12. LV/GV: HMAS MANOORA OFFSHORE/ NEW BATCH REFUGEES CROSSING ON TO LANDING BARGE (2 SHOTS) 3.04 13. MCU: SMALL CHILD WATCHING 3.08 14. LV/GV: VARIOUS OF REFUGEES GOING FROM MANOORA TO LANDING BARGE/ VARIOUS LANDING BARGE - TOWARDS SHORE/ LANDING BARGE LANDING/ ONLOOKERS (VARIOUS) (10 SHOTS) 4.24 15. LV/GV: REFUGEES WALKING ON TO SHORE CARRYING CAMP BEDS/ POLICEMAN WATCHING REFUGEES GETTING ON TO BUSES/ SITTING DOWN ON BUSES (4 SHOTS) 4.48 16. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) AFGHAN SPEAKING THROUGH BUS WINDOW: "We came from Afghanistan because of the ruling by the Taliban. So they (Australia) didnt accept us as humans. We had some hope for some otehr countgyiersd, Asutralia... but they didnt accept us as refugees." 5.16 17. MCU: REFUGEE LOOKING OUT WINDOW 5.19 18. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) AFGHAN SPEAKING THROUGH BUS WINDOW: "The smugglers are bad people. They don't think about our lives. They just think about money." 5.28 19. MV/GV: PEOPLE WATCHING/ BUS PULLING AWAY (2 SHOTS) 5.47 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 27th September 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: AIWO, NAURU
  • Country: Nauru
  • Reuters ID: LVA6JR1SHKC4UM1TDFUFJGQU1VHK
  • Story Text: About 100 mostly Afghan asylum seekers on the tiny
    Pacific island of Nauru have been playing soccer and hanging
    out their washing, ignorant of a possible U.S. -led attack on
    their homeland.



    The Afghans, who landed on Nauru on Wednesday (Sepember
    19), are among hundreds of unwanted Middle East asylum seekers
    who have been at sea for about a month after Australia refused
    to accept them.

    When asked through a wire fence whether they knew about
    the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the
    Pentagon in Washington or the pending retaliation by
    Washington, one Afghani man said he knew nothing.

    "I can't comment, I don't know anything," he said.

    The Afghans' search for asylum began long before the
    hijacker attacks on September 11 which left more than 5,000
    dead or missing.

    They were rescued from a sinking ferry in the Indian Ocean
    on August 26 and after a stand-off at Australia's remote
    Christmas Island were transfered to an Australian navy ship
    for a week-long voyage to Nauru in the Pacific between
    Australia and Hawaii.

    While on board the navy ship they received no news from
    the outside world and once on Nauru have been placed
    off-limits.

    On Thursday, as some hung out their wet washing and others
    played soccer on a hot, barren refugee camp, a few managed to
    speak briefly to reporters near perimeter fences.

    "Of course, of course we are leaving (Afghanistan) because
    of the Taliban. The Taliban forces are a danger in
    Afghanistan," one man told Reuters.

    Another 100 asylum seekers are expected ashore on
    Thursday. Under a US$10 million deal with Australia, Nauru
    will process the bulk of the boat people and New Zealand will
    take 150.

    Immigration officials said the first group had settled
    into their makeshift camp well, with some offering to cook.

    More than 9,000 boat people have arrived in Australia
    illegally in the past two years. Last month Australia, which
    detains illegal arrivals in outback camps, toughened its
    stance and refused to left the boats touch Australian soil.



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