Cambodians wary of Australia refugee deal

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Cambodians wary of Australia refugee deal

Published: 9:54 pm, Sunday, 25 May 2014

Cambodians are worried about an influx of immigrants as the government nears a deal with Australia to accept refugees in return for cash.

The two countries have been in discussion since February over plans to resettle an unspecified number of refugees in Cambodia.

'Our country's economy is weak, so there will be a lot of difficulties for us,' said Venerable Chheang Tola, a 23-year-old monk at the capital's Wat Lanka.

'When they come to live with us, we will be responsible for their health, clothes, and food while we are developing our country.'

Currently, refugees who attempt to reach Australia by boat are diverted to detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

The Canberra government has made it clear that even those granted asylum will not be resettled in Australia.

The latest plan, which Australia has staunchly defended since news leaked out, has come under criticism by international rights groups who point to Cambodia's weak infrastructure, insufficient social services and spotty human rights record.

'I think Cambodia doesn't have enough capacity, doesn't have enough knowledge about the international standard of refugees, doesn't have enough economic capacity,' said Ny Chakrya, a human rights monitoring officer at rights group Adhoc.

Capacity is among the topics being studied by a government working group, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said.

He insisted that refugees would not be accepted unless the government felt it could adequately provide for them.

Currently, Cambodia supports just 68 refugees, many of whom have struggled to integrate and find jobs.

'Our immigration management is not good,' said law student Meas Dara.

'Normally, we have to ensure their safety. But we are a poor country and don't have capacity to support those refugees.'

Sann Mun, a drinks vendor, said it seemed ludicrous that a wealthy country like Australia would turn to Cambodia to take its refugees.

'The country has only limited capacity to process asylum-seeker claims and is still struggling to respect and protect the rights of its own citizens,' Richard Bennett, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Director, said.

The country has been rocked by escalating protests since the national election of July 2013, the results of which have been disputed.

The government cracked down on political rallies and labour strikes in December and January.

At least five people were killed and scores were injured on January 3 after police opened fire at a strike site.

In subsequent days, a ban was placed on free assembly.

Australia defended the plan, saying it has value for both countries.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison downplayed concerns about human rights and corruption, and reiterated that refugees had no inherent right to a better economy.

'(Refugees will) access a place of safety where they will be free from persecution, which is the point of resettlement. Resettlement is not an economic migration program,' he said.

Details of the move have yet to be made public, but local media reported rumours that 1000 refugees will be resettled in Cambodia, which will receive $US40 million ($A43.28 million) in the deal.

Siphan downplayed criticism of the nation's rights record, saying it was superior to many.

'Cambodians never (discriminate) against any races, we never have a culture of discrimination, everyone can move easily ... my nation is open for everyone,' he said.

'I think it is a wrong judgment (regarding poor human rights), Cambodia is a peaceful place.'

But for others, the question of whether Cambodia is prepared to take on refugees comes down to simple economic realities.

'We can't feed those refugees because our standard of living is very limited,' said Huot Thol, a motorcycle taxi driver.

'We are still poor and need to ask for aid from other countries every year.'

- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/asiapacific/2014/05/25/cambodians-wary-of-australia-refugee-deal.html#sthash.pxModuum.dpuf

Cambodians wary of Australia refugee deal

Published: 9:54 pm, Sunday, 25 May 2014

Cambodians are worried about an influx of immigrants as the government nears a deal with Australia to accept refugees in return for cash.

The two countries have been in discussion since February over plans to resettle an unspecified number of refugees in Cambodia.

'Our country's economy is weak, so there will be a lot of difficulties for us,' said Venerable Chheang Tola, a 23-year-old monk at the capital's Wat Lanka.

'When they come to live with us, we will be responsible for their health, clothes, and food while we are developing our country.'

Currently, refugees who attempt to reach Australia by boat are diverted to detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

The Canberra government has made it clear that even those granted asylum will not be resettled in Australia.

The latest plan, which Australia has staunchly defended since news leaked out, has come under criticism by international rights groups who point to Cambodia's weak infrastructure, insufficient social services and spotty human rights record.

'I think Cambodia doesn't have enough capacity, doesn't have enough knowledge about the international standard of refugees, doesn't have enough economic capacity,' said Ny Chakrya, a human rights monitoring officer at rights group Adhoc.

Capacity is among the topics being studied by a government working group, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said.

He insisted that refugees would not be accepted unless the government felt it could adequately provide for them.

Currently, Cambodia supports just 68 refugees, many of whom have struggled to integrate and find jobs.

'Our immigration management is not good,' said law student Meas Dara.

'Normally, we have to ensure their safety. But we are a poor country and don't have capacity to support those refugees.'

Sann Mun, a drinks vendor, said it seemed ludicrous that a wealthy country like Australia would turn to Cambodia to take its refugees.

'The country has only limited capacity to process asylum-seeker claims and is still struggling to respect and protect the rights of its own citizens,' Richard Bennett, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Director, said.

The country has been rocked by escalating protests since the national election of July 2013, the results of which have been disputed.

The government cracked down on political rallies and labour strikes in December and January.

At least five people were killed and scores were injured on January 3 after police opened fire at a strike site.

In subsequent days, a ban was placed on free assembly.

Australia defended the plan, saying it has value for both countries.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison downplayed concerns about human rights and corruption, and reiterated that refugees had no inherent right to a better economy.

'(Refugees will) access a place of safety where they will be free from persecution, which is the point of resettlement. Resettlement is not an economic migration program,' he said.

Details of the move have yet to be made public, but local media reported rumours that 1000 refugees will be resettled in Cambodia, which will receive $US40 million ($A43.28 million) in the deal.

Siphan downplayed criticism of the nation's rights record, saying it was superior to many.

'Cambodians never (discriminate) against any races, we never have a culture of discrimination, everyone can move easily ... my nation is open for everyone,' he said.

'I think it is a wrong judgment (regarding poor human rights), Cambodia is a peaceful place.'

But for others, the question of whether Cambodia is prepared to take on refugees comes down to simple economic realities.

'We can't feed those refugees because our standard of living is very limited,' said Huot Thol, a motorcycle taxi driver.

'We are still poor and need to ask for aid from other countries every year.'

- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/asiapacific/2014/05/25/cambodians-wary-of-australia-refugee-deal.html#sthash.pxModuum.dpuf

Cambodians are worried about an influx of immigrants as the government nears a deal with Australia.
Cambodians are worried about an influx of immigrants as the government nears a deal with Australia to accept refugees in return for cash.
The two countries have been in discussion since February over plans to resettle an unspecified number of refugees in Cambodia.
'Our country's economy is weak, so there will be a lot of difficulties for us,' said Venerable Chheang Tola, a 23-year-old monk at the capital's Wat Lanka.
'When they come to live with us, we will be responsible for their health, clothes, and food while we are developing our country.'
Currently, refugees who attempt to reach Australia by boat are diverted to detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.
The Canberra government has made it clear that even those granted asylum will not be resettled in Australia.
The latest plan, which Australia has staunchly defended since news leaked out, has come under criticism by international rights groups who point to Cambodia's weak infrastructure, insufficient social services and spotty human rights record.
'I think Cambodia doesn't have enough capacity, doesn't have enough knowledge about the international standard of refugees, doesn't have enough economic capacity,' said Ny Chakrya, a human rights monitoring officer at rights group Adhoc.
Capacity is among the topics being studied by a government working group, Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said.
He insisted that refugees would not be accepted unless the government felt it could adequately provide for them.
Currently, Cambodia supports just 68 refugees, many of whom have struggled to integrate and find jobs.
'Our immigration management is not good,' said law student Meas Dara.
'Normally, we have to ensure their safety. But we are a poor country and don't have capacity to support those refugees.'
Sann Mun, a drinks vendor, said it seemed ludicrous that a wealthy country like Australia would turn to Cambodia to take its refugees.
'The country has only limited capacity to process asylum-seeker claims and is still struggling to respect and protect the rights of its own citizens,' Richard Bennett, Amnesty International's Asia-Pacific Director, said.
The country has been rocked by escalating protests since the national election of July 2013, the results of which have been disputed.
The government cracked down on political rallies and labour strikes in December and January.
At least five people were killed and scores were injured on January 3 after police opened fire at a strike site.
In subsequent days, a ban was placed on free assembly.
Australia defended the plan, saying it has value for both countries.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison downplayed concerns about human rights and corruption, and reiterated that refugees had no inherent right to a better economy.
'(Refugees will) access a place of safety where they will be free from persecution, which is the point of resettlement. Resettlement is not an economic migration program,' he said.
Details of the move have yet to be made public, but local media reported rumours that 1000 refugees will be resettled in Cambodia, which will receive $US40 million ($A43.28 million) in the deal.
Siphan downplayed criticism of the nation's rights record, saying it was superior to many.
'Cambodians never (discriminate) against any races, we never have a culture of discrimination, everyone can move easily ... my nation is open for everyone,' he said.
'I think it is a wrong judgment (regarding poor human rights), Cambodia is a peaceful place.'
But for others, the question of whether Cambodia is prepared to take on refugees comes down to simple economic realities.
'We can't feed those refugees because our standard of living is very limited,' said Huot Thol, a motorcycle taxi driver.
'We are still poor and need to ask for aid from other countries every year.'

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/asiapacific/2014/05/25/cambodians-wary-of-australia-refugee-deal.html