NAURU: GOVERNMENT STRIKES DEAL TO TAKE 237 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OFF THE HANDS OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

Record ID: 342219

  • Title: NAURU: GOVERNMENT STRIKES DEAL TO TAKE 237 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OFF THE HANDS OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT
  • Date: 11th September 2001
  • Summary: AIWO, NAURU (SEPTEMBER 10, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV PAN FROM BEACH TO HOUSES WHICH WILL BE USED BY REFUGEES / DETAIL OF HOUSES SHOWING AIR CONDITIONERS / EQUIPPED KITCHENS ETC (6 SHOTS) 0.29 2. MV AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MINISTER PETER REITH, WITH OTHER AUSTRALIAN AND NAURU OFFICIALS, INSPECTING THE FACILITY (6 SHOTS) 1.04 3. MV RED CARPET BEING ROLLED OUT AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE; MV MEDIA (2 SHOTS) 1.11 4. MV/SCU REITH AND NAURU PRESIDENT RENE HARRIS SIGNING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING; PRESS CONFERENCE (4 SHOTS) 1.29 5. (SOUNDBITE)(English) REITH SAYING "I believe this is an important agreement in dealing with what I think is a significant regional issue. We have been able to secure a statement of principles which will provide the overarching arrangements for the receiving of, and the accomodating of, the asylum-seekers from HMAS Manoora." 1.56 6. (SOUNDBITE)(English) NAURU PRESIDENT RENE HARRIS SAYING: "A friend asked us. We decided to help a friend". 2.00 7. LV ISLAND BEACH; SLV ISLAND WHARF; SLV ROCKY ISLAND TERRAIN (4 SHOTS) 2.15 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: AIWAO, NAURU
  • Country: Nauru
  • Reuters ID: LVAEZI50TOQMM5ZVX13YYW0SZA1C
  • Story Text: The tiny Pacific island of Nauru has struck a deal to
    take an additional 237 illegal immigrants off Australia's
    hands in exchange for fuel, medical expenses and power
    generators.

    The agreement reached on Monday (September 10) bought
    Australia a way out of its latest asylum seeker dilemma after
    the Navy boarded an Indonesian ship over the weekend and
    transferred its passengers to a troop carrier already laden
    with boat people being sent to Nauru and New Zealand.

    Australian Defence Minister Peter Reith told journalists
    in the balmy heat of the South Pacific nation that Australia
    would give Nauru fuel, write off outstanding medical bills for
    its citizens in Australia and provide power generators.

    Reith said Australia was pleased to find such a solution:
    "I believe this is an important agreement in dealing with what
    I think is a significant regional issue. We have been able to
    secure a statement of principles which will provide the
    overarching arrangements for the receiving of, and the
    accomodating of, the asylum-seekers from HMAS Manoora."
    Asked why his country had made the offer, Nauru President
    Rene Harris said "A friend asked us. We decided to help a
    friend".

    Nauru, the world's smallest republic with 12,000 people on
    21 square km (eight square miles), has emerged as Australia's
    saviour in a diplomatic problem which began when Canberra
    refused to allow a Norwegian cargo ship to land 433 mainly
    Afghan asylum seekers it rescued at sea.

    The container ship, the Tampa, was stuck off the
    Australian territory of Christmas Island for eight days while
    Prime Minister John Howard withstood world outrage and sent
    troops aboard to make sure none of the boat people tried to
    swim ashore.

    In contrast to the criticism abroad, Howard won widespread
    applause in Australia where anti-immigrant sentiment appears
    to be running high ahead of a general election due by year's end.

    The Christmas Island saga came to an end when Nauru and
    New Zealand stepped in and agreed to take the Tampa boat
    people while the United Nations processes their applications
    for asylum.

    Of those 433, New Zealand accepted 150 and Nauru the rest.

    They were on their way to Papua New Guinea on the
    Australian troop carrier HMAS Manoora when the navy on
    Saturday intercepted and boarded another Indonesian ship
    carrying the 237 additional asylum seekers.

    Whether the boat people are actually sent to New Zealand
    and Nauru from Papua New Guinea still depends on a court
    ruling.

    The court in the southern city of Melbourne had been
    expected to rule on Monday whether Australia was in breach of
    its international obligations in refusing to allow the boat
    people to lodge asylum claims.

    But court officials said there would be no decision on Monday.


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