SYDNEY: Rights teams on Monday (Feb 17) denounced an Australian plan to ship three violent overseas criminals – together with a assassin – to reside on the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru.
Canberra mentioned on Sunday it had paid an undisclosed sum to Nauru – inhabitants about 13,000 – in return for it issuing 30-year visas to the trio, who misplaced their Australian visas as a result of legal exercise.
“There must be consideration of the lawfulness of banishing folks offshore after they’ve been residing as a part of our neighborhood,” mentioned Jane Favero, deputy chief govt of the Asylum Seeker Useful resource Centre.
“It is a full disregard of individuals’s human rights.”
Residence Affairs Minister Tony Burke mentioned the three could be held in immigration detention till they’re placed on a flight to Nauru or a authorized problem is lodged.
“When any individual has come and handled Australia in a means that has proven appalling character their visas do get cancelled, and when their visas are cancelled they need to depart,” Burke instructed reporters.
“All three, although, are violent offenders. One is a assassin,” he mentioned.
As soon as in Nauru, they might reside in particular person dwellings with a shared kitchen area and be allowed to work and transfer freely, Burke added.
Authorities haven’t disclosed the identities, gender or nationalities of the trio, or mentioned whether or not they had served sentences for his or her crimes.
Nauru is without doubt one of the world’s smallest international locations with a mainland measuring simply 20 sq km.
Phosphate mining as soon as made Nauru one of many world’s richest international locations per capita, however that boon has lengthy dried up, leaving a lot of the mainland a barren moonscape and its folks dealing with excessive unemployment and well being points.
Australia’s authorities has been looking for a method to take care of migrants who haven’t any different nation to go to when their visas are cancelled.
