UNHCR, PNG, and Australia Criticized Over Papuan Refugee Treatment

By Sarah C. LaBelle
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Oceania

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea - West Papuan refugees are facing eviction from their homes outside of Port Moresby, where they had developed a settlement when they arrived from Indonesia twenty years ago.  PNG public interest lawyer Anne Kajir said that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees should have gotten more involved.  She told Radio New Zealand International, "I would believe that it is the responsibility of the UNHCR office here in Port Moresby to address West Papuan issues here in the country.  And I feel that they have an obligation to at least do something for the West Papuans living in PNG."

Police raids on the refugee settlement included hacking down their banana plants as a warning of impending eviction.  Frustrated with the fact that the UNHCR had simply turned the case over to the government, about 210 of the 400 refugees camped outside the UNHCR office with their belongings in protest.  The refugees have demanded to be sent to a third country despite governor Powes Parkop telling them to stay put until the court case is decided and a resettlement area is designated.  The refugees who did not camp outside the UNHCR office took Parkop's advice and stayed in their homes.

UNHCR PNG refused to comment and referred reporters to UNHCR Canberra for comments.

Australia, however, has also been accused of endangering Papuan refugees.  Almost a month ago, Australian authorities sent five Papuan asylum seekers back to PNG.  Refugee rights groups have expressed the concern that this recent incident is an attempt to avoid diplomatic strain between Australia and Indonesia, such as that which occurred last January when Australia granted 43 Papuans asylum.

The national coordinator for the rights group A Just Australia, Kate Gauthier told The Australian, "Without a doubt, the removal of these asylum seekers is a breach of international law, and puts Australia at the bottom of the class in human rights terms."

Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre spokesman David Manne agreed, calling the incident "profoundly concerning and scandalous," adding, "There are serious questions about whether Australia has acted in violation of our international obligations to protect refugees."

For more information, please see:

Radio New Zealand International -  UNHCR and PNG government accused of passing buck over Papuan refugees  - 24 September 2007

Radio New Zealand International - Evicted Papuans camp outside UNHCR office in PNG capital - 24 September 2007

The National - Papua families thrown out of 8Mile homes - 25 September 2007*

The Australian - Returning asylim seekers 'scandalous' - 27 September 2007

The Australian - Papuan five 'in danger' - 28 September 2006

* The article from The National is also available at Pacific Islands Report here.