20 June 2011 marks World Refugee Day, again. While the Palestinians’ struggle for liberation, a homeland and a dignified life certainly deserves all the international aid, support, solidarity and more – we must not however turn a blind eye to those with similar or even worse plight than the Palestinians when there are refugees right…
Debate continues on the Australia Malaysia asylum swap Updated June 17, 2011 12:52:52 Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is determined to push on with her plan to send 800 unprocessed asylum seekers to Malaysia, despite both houses of Australia’s Parliament condemning the policy. The details are still being hammered out, with reports of sticking points…
Malaysian human rights promises questioned By Kerri Worthington Listen Download Episode 00:03:31 3MB Detainees in Malaysian detention facility (AAP) A Malaysian refugee lawyer says she doubts Malaysia can maintain human rights standards it might promise in an asylum seeker swap deal with Australia. World News Australia Radio on Facebook World News Australia Radio on…
NEGOTIATIONS over the refugee swap with Malaysia are stuck on Australia’s insistence that asylum-seekers sent to Malaysia be given identity papers to ensure they are not harassed by police and that Kuala Lumpur give an explicit commitment not to send refugees back to the country they fled. As both houses of federal parliament yesterday passed…
ALTERNATE WMA VERSION | MP3 DOWNLOAD BRENDAN TREMBATH: The Australian Government is under renewed attack today over its plan to send 800 unprocessed asylum seekers to Malaysia. The Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has indicated today she’ll push to amend the Migration Act. If she succeeds the Federal Government will have to gain Parliament’s permission before sending asylum…
We, the undersigned Members of Parliament and Lawyers for Liberty, are seriously concerned over reports that the Malaysian government had invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to attend the Langkawi International Dialogue from 19 to 21 June. This invitation is certainly disgraceful and outrageous as President al-Bashir is a suspected war criminal and subjected to arrest warrants by the International…
Australian government to announce Malaysia refugee deal The Australian government is poised to announce the details of its controversial refugee swap deal with Malaysia. Critics are not satisfied by the government’s assurance that refugees’ human rights will be protected in Malaysia, which is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Refugees. Alison Carabine…
(New York, June 15, 2011) – Malaysia should withdraw its invitation to President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, an accused war criminal, to attend an international economic forum in Putrajaya from June 19 to 21, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today in letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohammed Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak. The Malaysian Cabinet plans to discuss the matter on June 17. It was reported…
KUALA LUMPUR: Seorang kartunis hari ini memfailkan saman terhadap dua anggota polis dan tiga yang lain kerana menahan serta merampas 66 buku dan sebuah lukisan kartun miliknya. Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque atau Zunar dan syarikat miliknya, Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd menamakan Asisten Superintendan (ASP) Arikrishna dan ASP Marina Hashim sebagai defendan pertama dan kedua manakala…
Zunar wants the court to declare that his arrest was done in bad faith, and order the return of his books which were seized. KUALA LUMPUR: Cartoonist Zulkiflee SM UlHaque, better known as Zunar, and his company, Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd today filed a civil suit here against the police and the government. The suit…
Suhakam says that it was misquoted as supporting the Australia-Malaysia refugee swap. KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has shot down an earlier report implicating its support of the Australia-Malaysia refugee swap. Last Monday, Suhakam commissioner, Dr Khaw Lake Tee, was quoted by the New Straits Times as saying, “Malaysia has given…
Introduction On 7 May 2011, the Australian and Malaysian governments announced a bilateral agreement which sought to transfer up to 800 asylum seekers who have arrived in Australia by sea to Malaysia while their asylum claims are being processed by the UNHCR. The announcement declared among others that the “transferees will not receive any preferential treatment over asylum seekers…
The counsel for late Kugan’s family questioned the impartiality of the MMC inquiry. KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyers representing the family of A Kugan who died in police custody were taken aback when an expert witness turned up to testify on behalf of a pathologist. They cast doubts on the independence of the expert, Dr Mohd…
Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohammed Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak Office of the Prime Minister Main Block, Perdana Putra Building Federal Government Administrative Centre 62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia Via facsimile, email Re: Refugee/Asylum Seeker Exchange Agreement with Australia Dear Mr. Prime Minister: We are writing to express our grave concerns about the planned agreement under which…