Shame on Australia’s Refugee Resettlement Deal with Cambodia
Australia-Cambodia refugee resettlement deal
On Sep 26, Australian government signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Cambodian government in resettling refugees currently held in Australian detention centre in Nauru (an island country in the South Pacific) to Cambodia. In return, Cambodia will receive $35 million USD ($40 million AUD) over the next four years in development assistance, in addition to the $61 million USD ($70 million AUD) aid budget from Australia (2013 figure).
Protests were held by grassroots organizations and human rights groups both in front of the Australian embassy in Phnom Penh Cambodia, and outside the Sydney office of Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Cambodia is ill-equipped to insure the wellbeing of refugees
Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world. More than half of its population are currently living under $2 USD per day. According to Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, “Cambodia’s people still have some of the poorest indicators in the region for gender equality, access to clean water and sanitation, child and maternal health and poverty.” The entire country lacks access to some basic infrastructures, such as clean water, electricity and transportation. The capacity of public education cannot coop with Cambodians’ own demand.
Cambodia is the 17th most corrupt country in the world, according to the Transparency International corruption perceptions index. Half of the government budget comes from foreign aid. It is highly doubted that the aid funding will be properly allocated to the people in need.
Cambodia deal against UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (CRSR)
Cambodia has a poor record regarding its handling of refugees supposed to be in its care. In the past, Cambodia transferred asylum seekers to the original countries to executions. In fact, land grabbing due to sugar cane & rubber plantation, dam & railway building and so-called urban development, Cambodia is creating refugees in its own country. In January, five workers were killed by the police at garment unions’ general strike to increase the national minimum wage. There is no human rights at all in Cambodia.
Under the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (CRSR) which Australia is the acceded party, Australia has the humanitarian obligation to provide protections to refugees and should not shift its responsibilities elsewhere. The resettlement deal with Cambodia is violated the CRSR.
Money cannot buy morality
Refugees are persons who are fleeing persecution or the life-threatening effects of armed conflict. They are entitled to better treatment than being shipped from one country to the next. According to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, with 87% of refugees now being hosted in developing countries, developed countries should share more responsibilities. Since Australia is one of the richest countries in the world, it has a moral responsibility to provide protection and care to refugees.
It is immoral and injustice to pay/bribe other countries to fulfill the duty. It is just not right; morality is not tradable.
Call for the abolition of the deal
As the former Australian Chief Justice Alastair Nicholson said in an interview before the deal was signed, “This planned deal is inappropriate, immoral and likely illegal. It is inappropriate because Cambodia has no capacity within its social sector to take an influx of refugees. Immoral because these vulnerable people are Australia’s responsibility, and while we await the detail, it appears illegal in contravening Australia’s humanitarian and refugee obligations to vulnerable children and families.”
Australian people, especially those NGOs working in aids/development sector in Cambodia, should stand up and condemn Australian government refugee resettlement deal with Cambodia, to send out a strong message to the world, “This is not in our name!“.