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Australia reviews visa system

Posted on: Friday, 7 April 2006, 01:52 CDT

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia will review how it grants visas to asylum seekers, Prime Minister John Howard said on Friday, after Indonesia complained it was not consulted over Canberra's decision to give 42 Papuans protection visas.

Australia's Immigration Department recognized the 42 boat people from Indonesia's troubled Papua province as refugees last month after they sailed from their homeland in a traditional outrigger with a banner accusing Indonesia of genocide.

Jakarta denies such charges and believes Canberra should have asked for verification of the asylum seekers' claims. It sees Australia's acceptance of the Papuans as giving credence to their claims of ill-treatment and as support for Papuan independence.

"Whatever comes out of that review you can be certain that we'll continue to meet our international obligations, but we'll also pay proper regard to the importance of the relationship between Australia and Indonesia," Howard told reporters.

Howard has been adamant that Australia views Papua as part of Indonesia.

"We're dealing here with the future of the largest Islamic country in the world and a moderate Islamic leadership," he said.

"One of the greatest anti-terrorist blows that can be struck is a successful, progressive, democratic Indonesia ... The best path forward for West Papua is to be part of a more prosperous, more democratic Indonesia."

The visa offer for the asylum seekers, who landed on Australia's remote northeastern tip in late January, has strained relations between the neighbors. There have been protests outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta and calls for a boycott of Australian products.

Papuan independence activists have campaigned for more than 30 years to split from Indonesia, while a low-level rebellion has also simmered. Some of the most prominent support for the separatists is from organizations in Australia.

A Papua-based priest said on Wednesday that a family of six seeking asylum had reached an Australian island in the Torres Strait, but a search by Australian Customs failed to find them.

However, any Papuans seeking refuge in Australia would need to reach the country's mainland as Canberra has excised thousands of islands in its northern waters from its migration zone, which prevents any claims for asylum being made.

Australian minority Greens party leader Bob Brown said the government would breach international law if it consulted with Indonesia on claims made by asylum seekers.

"West Papuans seeking refuge in Australia have a legal right to anonymity. The specter of terrorism is now being used by Prime Minister Howard to deprive West Papuans of their rights," Brown said in a statement.

Source: REUTERS

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