UN says Asia needs to cooperate to help refugees
Updated
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is pleading for more cooperation in Asia on refugees and has cited the ongoing plight of the Rohingya people. Commissioner Antonio Gutteres is in Australia and, while thanking Canberra for providing extra funding, he's also noted how much money governments have found to salvage banks but not people.
Presenter: Linda Mottram, Canberra Correspondent
Speakers: Antonio Gutteres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees; Stephen Smith, Australian foreign minister; Dr Rais Yatim, Malaysian foreign minister
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MOTTRAM: A mega trend is how Antonio Gutteres describes global people movements. Multinational corporations of crime with the capacity to undermine governments is how he describes the people trafficking industry that gives rise to some of the worst human rights violations in the world.
But despite all that, and the horrors of life for those left languishing in squalid, fear filled camps, or those bought and sold into modern forms of slavery, Antonio Gutteres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, is left pleading for money.
GUTTERES: We are witnessing in many areas hundreds of billions being committed to rescue banks, and that is probably absolutely necessary for the survival of the world economy, but it's important that the same commitment is shown to rescue people.
MOTTRAM: The twin efforts, to find resettlement options for refugees and to stop abuses, including human trafficking, are also hampered by nations that can't, or won't, work within international norms. One example refugee groups say is Thailand, which has not signed the International Convention on Refugees, and which has been heavily criticised over the recent abuse and pushing back to sea of groups of Rohingya people. Mr Gutteres says the abuses are a major concern but he knows too that Thailand is under pressure.
GUTTERES: Thailand has been a very generous host country for refugees also. Let's also not lose perspective of things, but in the recent events with the boat people coming from, the Rohingya boat people, were very, very, very worrying for us and we hope that will not be repeated.
MOTTRAM: Indonesia now has some of those Rohingya on its shores and Australia and the UNHCR are working on how best to work with them.
At the same time, Australia is preparing to resettle one hundred Rohingya near the eastern city of Brisbane, with another one hundred due to be resettled next year.
Many more, though, remain in limbo particularly in camps in Bangladesh and Australia's foreign minister, Stephen Smith, has taken up the issue with his visiting Malaysian counterpart, Dr Rais Yatim.
Mr Smith says the Rohingya will be discussed as part of an April meeting of the Bali Process, a regular dialogue on dealing with people smuggling. He also discussed the issue with Indonesia's foreign minister, Hassan Wirajuda, in Sydney last week.
SMITH: We clearly see this matter as being a matter not just of interest to Autsralia and Malaysia but also a key regional interest.
MOTTRAM: Dr Rais said his country, another non signatory to the international convention, was committed to wiping out human trafficking, if indeed it existed in his country's borders. Refugee groups in Australia say it definitely does. Dr Rais pleaded his country's difficulties.
RAIS: We have had a long history of being visited by neighbours, by regional citizens and we have something like 3.5 million people who are in the country now. And we also have a very substantial share of housing the Rohingyas in Malaysia now. I cannot tell you the actual figure, but it's something in the region of 30,000.
MOTTRAM: Australia, as one of only ten countries in the world that provide resettlement services, and the UN High Commissioner are determined to try to build better cooperation on these issues. And, noting how important Asia is in his fight, Antonio Guterres is doubtless hoping to better harness Australia's relations in the region, when Australia soon takes up the vice chair, and possibly soon the chair, of the UNHCR's executive committee. It could be something of a front against efforts by less well meaning nations that have often sought to influence the UNHCR's policies.
There are also signs that within ASEAN pressure is building to act. Indonesia recently took the unusual step of publicly criticising Thailand and Burma over their treatment of the Rohingyas. Malaysia has also moved on the issue, says Dr Rais.
RAIS: We will be raising this question at the next ASEAN summit and we would like to direct some of the questions to Myanmar specifically, which country is identified with Rohingyas for the moment.
MOTTRAM: Still refugee agencies say that Asian nations could do more. While Antonio Guterres tries to coax and cajole, using a wealth of political and diplomatic skill, the mega trend he speaks of multiplies, thanks Mr Guterres says to the global economic meltdown.
