Aussie deal, Refugee group shrinks by two

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Cheang Sokha

Despite a recent government announcement that four more refugees on the Pacific island of Nauru had agreed to move to Cambodia, Interior Minister Sar Kheng yesterday revised that number downward, saying two who had reportedly shown interest had backed out after meeting with Cambodian officials.

In an interview with PNN TV, Kheng said that officials from the General Department of Immigration had visited Nauru after receiving word of the refugees’ interest from the Australian government. The move falls under a highly controversial agreement struck between the two governments last year in which the Kingdom promised to accept refugees being held by Australia on Nauru in exchange for A$40 million (US$28.3 million) in aid.

“We have sent officials for interviews, but the result I have received is that only two among the four volunteered to come; the other two did not wish to come to live in Cambodia,” Kheng said.

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/refugee-group-shrinks-two