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Australia: UN chief Navi Pillay attacks asylum policy | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
By Nick Bryant BBC News, Sydney | By Nick Bryant BBC News, Sydney |
The UN human rights commissioner has launched a scathing attack on Australia's policy towards "boat people" and its indigenous population. | The UN human rights commissioner has launched a scathing attack on Australia's policy towards "boat people" and its indigenous population. |
Navi Pillay said Australia's policy of mandatory detention towards asylum seekers had cast a shadow over its human rights record. | Navi Pillay said Australia's policy of mandatory detention towards asylum seekers had cast a shadow over its human rights record. |
She said that aboriginal people suffered deep hurt and pain because of the government's policies towards them. | She said that aboriginal people suffered deep hurt and pain because of the government's policies towards them. |
So far the Australian government has given no response. | So far the Australian government has given no response. |
This is the second time in as many days that Ms Pillay has publicly attacked Australia's policy towards asylum seekers. | This is the second time in as many days that Ms Pillay has publicly attacked Australia's policy towards asylum seekers. |
And now she has widened her criticism to its treatment of indigenous people, the first Australians. | And now she has widened her criticism to its treatment of indigenous people, the first Australians. |
She told Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard that its policy of mandatory detention towards all asylum seekers was in breach of its international obligations, and for many years had cast a shadow over Australia's human rights record. | She told Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard that its policy of mandatory detention towards all asylum seekers was in breach of its international obligations, and for many years had cast a shadow over Australia's human rights record. |
She said that men, women, and most disturbingly of all, children, had been held in detention, even though they had not committed a crime. | She said that men, women, and most disturbingly of all, children, had been held in detention, even though they had not committed a crime. |
She also slammed the nature of the asylum seeker debate, and what she called the constant political refrain that the country was being flooded by queue-jumpers. | She also slammed the nature of the asylum seeker debate, and what she called the constant political refrain that the country was being flooded by queue-jumpers. |
On the question of aboriginal rights she was just as scathing. She criticised what she called inappropriate and inflexible policies that had caused deep hurt and pain. | On the question of aboriginal rights she was just as scathing. She criticised what she called inappropriate and inflexible policies that had caused deep hurt and pain. |
Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Pillay questioned the legality of Australia's latest plan to deal with the problem of boat people trying to reach its shore. | Speaking on Tuesday, Ms Pillay questioned the legality of Australia's latest plan to deal with the problem of boat people trying to reach its shore. |
She said that a proposed deal with Malaysia to send 800 asylum seekers to the country potentially violates refugee law. | She said that a proposed deal with Malaysia to send 800 asylum seekers to the country potentially violates refugee law. |
Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention. | Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention. |
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