Australia says rights key to Malaysia refugee deal

SYDNEY — Australia said human rights would be a key element in its deal with
Kuala Lumpur to send 800 asylum seekers to Malaysia, as the UN welcomed its
move to treat minors on a case-by-case basis.
Australia is in advanced discussions with Malaysia on a plan to send 800
asylum seekers to the Southeast Asian nation in exchange for accepting some
4,000 of its registered refugees.
Cabinet minister Jenny Macklin on Sunday said a human rights reference was
included in Australia's original in-principle agreement between Prime
Minister Julia Gillard and her Malaysian counterpart and the issue was key
to the government.
"That is very important to us and something that we know is critical to
achieve in the final agreement," Families Minister Macklin told ABC
television.
Canberra has come under fire in recent days for proposing there be no
blanket exceptions to its plan to send asylum seekers to Malaysia, even for
minors, despite the country not be a signatory to the UN refugees
convention.
Refugee advocates have suggested that asylum seekers could be mistreated in
Malaysia, arguing that unaccompanied children were particularly vulnerable.
Immigration Minister Chris Bowen indicated Saturday that unaccompanied
minors would be managed on a "case by case basis", with anyone considered
vulnerable afforded "particular care".
"We will consider, in those cases, if it is appropriate to transfer those
people to Malaysia or to make other arrangements, and if they are
transferred to Malaysia, what care and support needs to be put in place,"
Bowen said.
The UNHCR, which had said it was unable to lend its support to a plan that
did not protect vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied children, welcomed
Bowen's comments and said it remained committed to negotiations on the
scheme.
Refugees are a sensitive issue in Australia, where a record 6,900 illegal
immigrants arrived by boat in 2010, mostly on rickety vessels from Indonesia
and usually hailing from strife-torn Iraq, Afghanistan or Sri Lanka.