Fed: Catholic church calls for boat people to be granted asylum

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2001
Fed: Catholic church calls for boat people to be granted asylum

MELBOURNE, Aug 29 AAP - A Catholic church group has accused the Australian government
of ignoring its human rights obligations by refusing to take in a shipload of asylum seekers
rescued off the coast of Indonesia.

The Melbourne-based Catholic Commission for Justice and Development today called for
the Norwegian ship to be allowed to unload the asylum seekers so their claims could be
processed.

"When asylum is refused, human life is jeopardised," Catholic commission director Mark
Purcell said.

"No amount of legal debate about the sovereignty of borders, or which state is obliged
to help in international and territorial waters, can hide the fact that morally Australia
is failing these asylum seekers."

The Norwegian container ship on Sunday rescued 438 people aboard a sinking ferry who
demanded the captain take them to Australia. The freighter, which has been refused entry
by both Australia and Indonesia, is standing off Christmas Island.

Mr Purcell said the federal government's need to deter illegal immigrants should not
override human rights.

Meanwhile, a rally will be held in Melbourne today to protest against the government's
decision not to allow the boat to unload.

Damien Lawson from the Melbourne-based group, No One is Illegal, said he expected more
than 100 people to attend the rally at the Commonwealth immigration offices.

He said the government's decision set a dangerous precedent where ship captains may
now refuse to rescue people for fear they will be stranded off Australia's coast, too.

AAP svm/gfr/vr

KEYWORD: BOAT CATHOLIC

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