Kiwi's Cool To Admitting Nauru Refugees
from The Dominion Post (Wellington, New Zealand)

HUNGER-STRIKING Afghan asylum seekers detained on Nauru should not be brought to New Zealand, the National Party says.

Immigration spokesman Wayne Mapp said yesterday the Government must not succumb to pressure and intervene.

Calls have been growing for New Zealand to step into the row between the asylum seekers and Australian authorities who have refused them permission to enter Australia, saying it is now safe for them to go back to Afghanistan.

Three hunger-strikers were reported yesterday to have withdrawn from the protest but 42 of the 284 detainees continued to refuse food and water as the hunger strike entered its 20th day. Several have reportedly sewn their lips together.

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Copyright 2003 Wellington Newspapers Limited
The Dominion Post (Wellington, New Zealand)

December 31, 2003, Wednesday

SECTION: NEWS Pg. 3

LENGTH: 326 words

HEADLINE: Nats say no to hunger strikers

BODY:

HUNGER-STRIKING Afghan asylum seekers detained on Nauru should not be brought
to New Zealand, the National Party says.

Immigration spokesman Wayne Mapp said yesterday the Government must not
succumb to pressure and intervene.

Calls have been growing for New Zealand to step into the row between the
asylum seekers and Australian authorities who have refused them permission to
enter Australia, saying it is now safe for them to go back to Afghanistan.

Three hunger-strikers were reported yesterday to have withdrawn from the
protest but 42 of the 284 detainees continued to refuse food and water as the
hunger strike entered its 20th day. Several have reportedly sewn their lips
together.

Dr Mapp said political conditions in Afghanistan were a far cry from what
they were when the asylum seekers left their country more than two years ago.
"In those circumstances, the asylum seekers should be returned to their country
of origin."

The Afghan Government this week provided proof of the location of all 20
asylum seekers returned to Kabul on December 3, disproving claims that up to 10
had been killed.

"We should have faith in the international effort to rebuild Afghanistan and
the climate that New Zealand is helping to create there," Mr Mapp said.

"In these matters we must balance our duty as a responsible member of the
international community, with a policy that makes sure New Zealand isn't seen as
a soft touch for anyone who doesn't like where they live."

Australia's Immigration Department said three men withdrew from the hunger
strike after receiving advice that the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees had agreed to review details of their refugee claims.

The UNHCR will not review the cases of people staging hunger strikes.

However, refugee groups in Australia were sceptical of the claim, saying they
had been unable to confirm it and there were rumours the three were being
treated at a Nauru clinic.

posted by prof_booty | 10:47 AM