Refugees and Asylum Seekers - Rifuġjati u Applikanti għall-Ażil

Refugees and Asylum Seekers

This topic is frequently in the media, and often comes up in heated discussions in the community. What I'd like to do here is take a step back, look at the principles and attempt a fresh look at Australia's policy and approach.

Article 1 of the 1951 UN Convention on the Status of Refugees defines a refugee as a person who fears being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, is outside the country of nationality, and is unable or unwilling to return to that country due to that fear. It is interesting that on becoming a signatory to the Convention, Australia notably filed reservations on Article 32 (which prohibits signatory states from expelling refugees save on grounds of national security or public order) and part of Article 28 (which obliges a state to issue refugees with travel documents for travel outside its territory).¹

Malta signed the Refugee Convention in 1971.

Until a refugee is recognised as such, a person outside his/her country claiming to be fleeing persecution is deemed to be an asylum seeker. A person claiming persecution but still within his/her country is termed an Internally Displaced Person (IDP).

A person can also be stateless, which is defined by the 1954 UN Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons as one not considered to be a national by any State under operation of its law.²

To give you an idea of the scale of the problem, I've selected a small snapshot from the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) statistics as at 2013³:

	refugees	asylum seekers	IDPs	Stateless	notes
all countries of residence	11,699,638	1,168,273	23,925,555	3,469,235
Pakistan	1,616,495 (9.0 per 1000 pop.)	5,384 (0.03 per 1000 pop.)	747,498 (4.1 per 1000 pop.)	0	2013 Population 180.44 million4 Refugees mainly from Afghanistan
Australia	34,405 (1.5 per 1000 pop.)	13,473 (0.6 per 1000 pop.)	0	0	2013 Population 23.319 million5
Malta	9,875 (23.2 per 1000 pop.)	875 (2 per 1000 pop.)	0	0	2013 Population 425,3846

From the table, one can see that the quantity of refugees in Australia is actually quite low in absolute and also relative terms. Compared to Australia, Malta provides refuge to an order of magnitude higher number of refugees per head of population, and hosts four times as many asylum seekers per head of population, notwithstanding its miniscule size and lack of natural resources.

While political leaders insist on using the word 'illegal' with respect to asylum seekers arriving without a visa, actually arriving in Australia without a visa is not a criminal offence.⁷ Article 31 of the Refugee Convention specifically states that signatories shall not impose penalties on account of illegal entry or presence, provided that the asylum seekers present themselves without delay and show good cause for such entry or presence. Also the Australian Commonwealth Migration Act 1958 replaced the term 'illegal entrant' with 'unlawful non-citizen', and the Department of Immigration refers to those arriving by sea as Irregular Maritime Arrivals.

The Australian Refugee and Humanitarian Program in 2013-4 allocated 13,750 places for refugees⁸, down from 20,000 places in 2012-3⁹, divided as follows:

• 2750 for the onshore program. This is intended to meet Australia's obligations under the UN Refugee Convention. These asylum seekers usually arrive through authorised channels, e.g. visitors or students. Successful applicants are granted Protection visas.
• 11,000 for the offshore program. This is a voluntary commitment for asylum seekers outside Australia. Refugee visas are for applicants mainly referred by the UNHCR, and Special Humanitarian Program (SHP) visas are for applicants supported by a proposer in Australia.

Current Liberal government policy under Scott Morrison, our hard line Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, seems to be for asylum seekers travelling by boats to be turned/towed back, not allowing asylum seekers to reach Australia. It is hard to assess what is really going on due to the secrecy involved around so-called 'on water operations', ostensibly not to provide information to people smugglers.

Apart from this, asylum seekers arriving by boat will be processed while in detention offshore (in Nauru or Manus Island in PNG), with no chance of resettlement in Australia. This policy introduced by the previous Labour government.

I have to admit to my own biases here. My natural tendency, as an immigrant myself, and as a Christian, is to be empathetic and generous with those who cry out in their hour of need. Having said that, I also have to acknowledge the very real problem of people coming to Australia by unseaworthy boats over long distances to claim asylum. This is a very risky trip and unfortunately hundreds of asylum seekers have lost their lives in this way.¹⁰ You cannot claim asylum if you're dead!

In my view, the ideal scenario for people intending to apply for asylum in Australia, is to do so in a country closer to home containing an Australian consulate or embassy, without risking the journey to Australia. There is another alternative for people who have travel documents, i.e. to come by plane, which is safe enough. The exorbitant fee charged by people smugglers for a boat crossing is comparable to the price for a plane trip¹¹.

I would advocate for a carrot and stick approach with the following modifications to Australia's current policy:

• Maintain the policy of applicants coming by boat not being allowed to resettle in Australia. In my view there just has to be a deterrent to coming by boat, turning it into a non-starter. It's far too risky;
• I don't have a problem with offshore processing for boat arrivals, as long as it takes place in a country which is a signatory to the Refugee Convention. Both Nauru and PNG are signatories.
• Drop the policy of turning back boats at sea. This is just heartless and dangerous. Asylum seekers can be escorted to a destination on seaworthy vessels with proper facilities befitting an advanced economy;
• I do have a problem with mandatory indefinite detention of asylum seekers who arrive without valid visas. I just don't understand the necessity of anything more than a temporary detention for an initial identity and security check. Seeking asylum is not a crime.
• Finally, but not least, increase the yearly offshore intake to the levels applicable in 2012-3 or above. This would be the carrot for going to a country closer to home to applying for asylum.

Now how can I quickly get a copy of this edition of 'The Voice' to Minister Morrison?....

1http://www.refworld.org/docid/3be01b964.html, retrieved 15/7/2014

2http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3840.html, retrieved 15/7/2014

3Statistical Online Population Database, UNHCR, available at http://popstats.unhcr.org/PSQ_POC.aspx, retrieved 15/7/2014

4http://www.worldpopulationstatistics.com/pakistan-population-2013/, retrieved 15/7/2014

5Australian Demographic Statistics 2013, Australian Bureau of Statistics

6News Release 131/2014, National Statistics Office - Malta

7http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-06/morrison-correct-illegal-entry-people/4935372

8Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) Appendix A, Policy Decisions Taken Since the 2013-14 Budget

9Australia's Offshore Humanitarian Program 2012-13, Department of Immigration and Border Protection

10http://theconversation.com/factcheck-have-more-than-1000-asylum-seekers-died-at-sea-under-labor-16221, retrieved 15/7/2014

11http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-24/people-smugglers-adapting-methods-to-combat-australian-policies/5342276, retrieved 16/7/2014

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Rifuġjati u Applikanti għall-Ażil

Dan is-suġġett spiss jissemma fil-midja u f'diskussjonijiet sħan fil-komunità. Li nixtieq nagħmel hawnhekk hu li nieħu pass lura, inħares lejn il-prinċipji u nipprova nagħti ħarsa ġdida lejn il-politika Awstraljana f'dan ir-rigward.

L-ewwel artiklu tal-Konvenzjoni tal-1951 tal-Ġnus Magħquda (ĠM) fuq l-istatus tar-Rifuġjati tfisser rifuġjat bħala dak li jibża mill-persekuzzjoni abbażi ta' razza, reliġjon, nazzjonalità, opinjoni politika jew li jkun membru ta' xi grupp soċjali, li jkun barra minn pajjiżu u li ma jistax jew ma jridx jirritorna lejn pajjiżu minħabba dik il-biża'. Huwa interessanti li meta ffirmat il-Konvenzjoni, l-Awstralja irreġistrat riżervi għall-Artiklu nru. 32 (li ma jippermettix lil stati firmatarji milli jkeċċu rifuġjati ħlief għal raġunijiet ta' sigurtà jew l-ordni pubblika) u parti mill-Artiklu nru. 28 (li jobbliga stat li jagħtu dokumenti tal-ivvjaġġar lil rifuġjati sabiex ikun jistgħu jivvjaġġaw barra mit-territorju tiegħu).¹

Sakemm rifuġjat jiġi rikonoxxut bħala tali, persuna barra minn pajjiżha li tgħid li qed taħrab persekuzzjoni hija meqjusa bħala persuna li qed tfittex ażil. Persuna li qed tallega l-persekuzzjoni filwaqt li tibqa' f'pajjiżha tissejjaħ Internally Displaced Person (IDP).

Persuna tista' ukoll tkun bla stat, li tiġi definita mill-Konvenzjoni tal-ĠM fuq l-Istatus ta' Persuni Bla Stat tal-1954 bħala waħda li mhix meqjusa ċittadina tal-ebda pajjiż fil-liġi tiegħu.²

Biex intikom idea tal-iskala tal-problema, għażilt parti żgħira mill-istatistika tal-UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) għall-2013³:

	Rifuġjati	Ifittxu Ażilu	IDPs	Mingħajr Stat	noti
pajjiżi kollha ta' residenza	11,699,638	1,168,273	23,925,555	3,469,235
Pakistan	1,616,495 (9.0 kull 1000 pop.)	5,384 (0.03 kull 1000 pop.)	747,498 (4.1 kull 1000 pop.)	0	Popolazzjoni fl-2013: 180.44 miljun4. Rifuġjati l-iktar mill-Afganistan.
l-Awstralja	34,405 (1.5 kull 1000 pop.)	13,473 (0.6 kull 1000 pop.)	0	0	Popolazzjoni fl-2013: 23.319 miljun5
Malta	9,875 (23.2 kull 1000 pop.)	875 (2 kull 1000 pop.)	0	0	Popolazzjoni fl-2013: 425,3846

Mit-tabella, wieħed jista' jara li l-kwantita' ta' rifuġjati fl-Awstralja hi pjuttost baxxa f'termini assoluti u relattivi. Ipparagunat mal-Awstralja, Malta tipprovdi rifuġju għal rifuġjati għaxar darbiet iktar għal kull ras tal-popolazzjoni, u erba' darbiet iktar nies ifittxu ażilu għal kull ras tal-popolazzjoni, minkejja ċ-ċokon tagħha u n-nuqqas ta' riżorsi naturali.

Filwaqt li l-mexxejja politiċi jinsistu li jużaw il-kelma 'illegali' fir-rigward ta' nies ifittxu ażil li jaslu mingħajr viża, li tasal fl-Awstralja mingħajr viża mhijiex offiża kriminali.⁷ L-Artiklu nru. 31 tal-Konvenzjoni fuq ir-Rifuġjati tgħid speċifikament li firmatarji m'għandhomx jimponu kastigi minħabba dħul jew preżenza illegali. Apparti hekk l-Att tal-1958 dwar il-Migrazzjoni tal-Commonwealth Awstraljan bidel il-kliem 'dak li daħal illegalment' (illegal entrant) għal 'non-ċittadin mhux legali (unlawful non-citizen), u d-Dipartiment tal-Immigrazzjoni jirreferi għal dawk li jaslu bil-baħar bħala 'Wasliet Marittimi Irregolari' (Irregular Maritime Arrivals).

Il-Programm Awstraljan Umanitarju u għar-Rifuġjati fis-sena 2013-4 allokat 13,750 post għar-rifuġjati⁸, traqqis mill-20,000 post tas-sena 2012-3⁹, imqassmin kif ġej:

• 2750 għall-programm fuq l-art. Dan hu maħsub sabiex iwettaq l-obbligi Awstraljani taħt il-Konvenzjoni fuq ir-Rifuġjati tal-ĠM. Dawk li jfittxu l-ażil ikunu waslu b'mezzi awtorizzati, bħal viżitaturi jew studenti. L-applikazzjonijiet milqugħa jingħataw viża ta' Protezzjoni.
• 11,000 għall programm barra mill-art. Dan hu impenn volontarju għal dawk li japplikaw għal ażil meta jkunu barra l-Awstralja. Viża ta' Rifuġjat huwa għall-applikanti normalment irriferuti mill-UNHCR, u viża tal-Programm Speċjali Umanitarju huwa għal applikanti li huma pproponuti minn persuna mill-Awstralja.

Il-politika iebsa tal-gvern Liberali preżenti taħt Scott Morrion, il-Ministru għall-Immigrazzjoni u l-Ħarsien tal-Fruntiera, jidher li hi li dawk ġejjin b'xi bastiment li jridu jfittxu l-ażil jiġu mdawwra jew miġbuda lura, sabiex ma jħalluhomx jaslu l-Awstralja. Hu diffiċli li wieħed jiġġudika dak li verament qed jiġri minħabba s-segretezza madwar dawk l-hekk imsejħa 'operazzjonijiet fuq il-baħar', apparentement biex ma tingħatax informazzjoni lill-kuntrabandisti tan-nies.

Apparti minn hekk, dawk li jfittxu l-ażil u jiġu bil-bastiment jiġu pproċessati waqt li jkunu f'detenzjoni barra mill-pajjiż (f'Nawru jew il-Gżira Manus fil-PNG), bl-ebda ċans li jiġu miġjuba l-Awstralja. Din il-politika bdiet taħt il-gvern Laburista ta' qabel.

Hawnhekk irrid nammetti l-preġudizzji tiegħi. It-tendenza naturali tiegħi, bħala immigrant u bħala nisrani, huwa li jkolli empatija u li nkun ġeneruż ma' dawk li jibku għall-għajnuna fis-siegħa tal-bżonn tagħhom. Madankollu, irrid ukoll nirrikonixxi l-problema vera ta' nies ġejjin l-Awstralja fuq bastiment qed jaqa' biċċiet fuq distanzi twal sabiex jitolbu ażilu. Dan huwa vjaġġ perikoluż ħafna u sfortunatament mijiet ta' dawn in-nies tilfu ħajjithom hekk¹⁰. Ma tistax titlob ażil jekk int mejjet!

Fil-fehma tiegħi, ix-xenarju ideali għal min irid japplika għal ażil fl-Awstralja, hi li jagħmel dan f'pajjiż iktar qrib tiegħu, li jkollu konsulat jew ambaxxata Awstraljana. Hemm alternattiva oħra għal min għandu dokumenti tal-ivvjaġġar, i.e. li jiġi bl-ajruplan, li mhux perikoluż. Il-prezz eżorbitanti mitlub mill-kuntrabandisti tal-persuni għal vjaġġ bil-bastiment huwa komparabbli ma' prezz għal vjaġġ bl-ajruplan¹¹.

Jien favur politika li fiha kemm karrotta u kemm kastig, b'xi tibdil fil-politika kurrenti Awstraljana:

• tinżamm il-politika li dawk li jaslu bil-bastiment ma jitħallewx jiġu l-Awstralja. Fil-fehma tiegħi jrid ikun hemm deterrent għal min jitħajjar jiġi bil-baħar, biex jerġa jibdielu. Ir-riskji għall-ħajja huma kbar wisq;
• Ma nsib l-ebda problema bl-ipproċessar barra mill-pajjiż għal min jiġi bil-baħar, sakemm isir f'pajjiż firmatarju tal-Konvenzjoni fuq ir-Rifuġjati tal-ĠM. Kemm Nawru u PNG huma firmatarji;
• Titwaqqaf il-prattika li bastimenti jiġu mdawwra lura. Dan huwa bla qalb u perikoluż. Min qed ifittex ażil jista' jiġi eskortat lejn destinazzjoni fuq bastiment sod b'faċilitajiet jixirqu lil ekonomija avvanzata;
• Noġġezzjona għas-sistema ta' detenzjoni indefinita tabilfors għal dawk li jaslu mingħajr viża. Ma nifhimx il-bżonn ta' iktar minn perjodu temporanju ta' detenzjoni sakemm isir iċċekkjar tas-sigurtà u tal-identità. Li tfittex ażilu mhux att kriminali;
• Fl-aħħar, imma mhux l-inqas, tiżdied l-allokazzjoni ta' kull sena ta' postijiet għar-rifuġjati minn barra l-pajjiż sal-livelli li rajna fl-2012-3 jew iktar. Din tkun il-karrotta biex wieħed imur f'pajjiż iktar qrib tad-dar sabiex issir l-applikazzjoni għall-ażil.

Issa kif se nwassal kopja ta' The Voice lill-Ministru Morrison?...

1http://www.refworld.org/docid/3be01b964.html, retrieved 15/7/2014

2http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b3840.html, retrieved 15/7/2014

3Statistical Online Population Database, UNHCR, available at http://popstats.unhcr.org/PSQ_POC.aspx, retrieved 15/7/2014

4http://www.worldpopulationstatistics.com/pakistan-population-2013/, retrieved 15/7/2014

5Australian Demographic Statistics 2013, Australian Bureau of Statistics

6News Release 131/2014, National Statistics Office - Malta

7http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-06/morrison-correct-illegal-entry-people/4935372

8Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) Appendix A, Policy Decisions Taken Since the 2013-14 Budget

9Australia's Offshore Humanitarian Program 2012-13, Department of Immigration and Border Protection

10http://theconversation.com/factcheck-have-more-than-1000-asylum-seekers-died-at-sea-under-labor-16221, retrieved 15/7/2014

11http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-24/people-smugglers-adapting-methods-to-combat-australian-policies/5342276, retrieved 16/7/2014