Australia eyes Kyrgyzstan as new refugee destination: Report
Australia is reportedly considering sending the refugees who are kept in the country’s notorious offshore detention facilities to Kyrgyzstan.
The Weekend Australian newspaper reported on Saturday that Kyrgyzstan was seen by authorities as a potential option for resettling refugees, particularly those from Afghanistan’s Shia Hazara community, who are currently kept in the Pacific island countries of Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
The paper said that other former Soviet Union states along with some African and South American countries were also included in the list of Canberra’s options for resettling refugees.
Commenting on the report, Australian Finance Minister Mathias Cormann only said that Canberra was “having conversations with other countries to support our offshore processing arrangements, and when we’re in a position to make relevant announcements, the minister for immigration will do so.”
‘Ridiculous’ plan
Richard Di Natale, the leader of Australia’s opposition Greens Party, criticized the government’s asylum seeker policy, saying refugees must be handled within the country.
“This is ridiculous that we would look for any option other than the most logical, humane and economically responsible option which is to ensure we process people here in Australia, and if they are found to be genuine refugees, that they are settled here,” he said.
In September 2014, Australia signed an agreement with Cambodia to resettle refugees there in exchange for millions of dollars in aid. However, the deal, which has drawn criticism from human rights groups, has reportedly resulted in the resettlement of only a few people in Cambodia.
The Australian administration has been under fire in recent years both at home and abroad for its strict immigration policies and treatment of refugees, among them the keeping of asylum seekers in offshore centers in inhumane conditions.
Australia stops asylum seeker boats from reaching its shores and denies resettlement to those arriving by sea even if they are found to be genuine refugees. It turns back refugees to their country of departure or sends them to Nauru or Papua New Guinea.
Earlier this week, Amnesty International said it had evidence indicating that Australia paid human smugglers to turn back boats carrying asylum seekers. Canberra denied the accusation.
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