Fed: Australia did not tell Indonesia Papuans were coming

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2006
Fed: Australia did not tell Indonesia Papuans were coming

Australian authorities knew 43 Papuan asylum-seekers were on their way to Australia
five days before they landed at Cape York .. but failed to tell their Indonesian counterparts.

Immigration Department spokesman DAVID SEALE says the federal government first heard
the Papuans planned to come to Australia on January 13 .. the night they left Merauke
in Papua.

Fairfax newspapers report today because they were still in Indonesian waters .. Australia's
obligations under the refugee convention to protect them were not triggered.

The papers say it was January 18 when the 43 were found on Cape York .. but Indonesia
says it only heard of their impending arrival through the Australian media.



The decision to grant 42 of the group temporary protection visas has caused a meltdown
in relations between Australia and Indonesia.

AAP RTV lb/psm/

KEYWORD: PAPUA INDON (SYDNEY)

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