The 157 Tamil asylum seekers, who had been detained in Western Australia following over a month at sea, were transferred to Nauru in secret overnight.
According to the Guardian newspaper, eyewitnesses in Nauru said "many of the Tamil men had rips in their shirts after they were forcibly put on the plane", describing the asylum seekers, who arrived at noon on Saturday, as "traumatised".
See here for report by the Guardian.
Late on Friday night, Australia's immigration minister, Scott Morrison, told journalists at News Corp that a "secret overnight operation" was taking place to transfer the asylum seekers.
"At the end of the day people [that arrive by boats] don't end up in Australia. The government has a strong will on these issues and that will continue," Morrison was quoted by SBS as saying.
Condemning the stealthy overnight transfer, lawyers for the asylum seekers accused the Australian government of deliberately attempting to prevent international scrutiny.
“The secret overnight transfer is a deliberate move to prevent legal scrutiny. It highlights the Government’s deception, secrecy and willingness to undermine the rule of law in Australia,” said the Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre, Hugh de Kretser.
“This isn’t about politics or refugee policy. It’s about basic decency and respect for the law in Australia," he added.
See full statement by Human Rights Law Centre, including a letter sent by the lawyers to the Australian government on July 28, here.
The Australian government had earlier sought Indian assistance in deporting asylum seekers found to be Indian nationals.
However according to the Australian government all eligible asylum seekers refused to speak to the Indian consular officials.
"It is very disappointing that after having had access to their legal representatives on July 29, all 157 IMAs coincidentally chose not to talk to Indian consular officials," , Morrison said in a statement, reports The Age.
"When no-one took up the opportunity [to speak to Indian consular officials] then their reason for being at Curtin [detention centre] no longer existed," he added, accusing lawyers assisting the asylum seekers of advising them against speaking to the Indian officials.
Rejecting this, the lawyer George Newhouse said the allegation was a lie.
"Any suggestion that we advised our client not to talk to anyone is false," Newhouse told SBS.
"We have not had a proper opportunity to inform our clients of their rights and their options because of the secrecy surrounding them," he added.
See related articles:
Asylum seekers transferred to Australian detention centre (27 July 2014)
157 Tamil asylum seekers to be transferred to Australia mainland (25 Jul 2014)
India agrees to investigate asylum seekers detained in Australian waters (23 Jul 2014)
Amnesty condemns detainment of Tamil asylum seekers on Australian patrol boat (23 July 2014)
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According to the Guardian newspaper, eyewitnesses in Nauru said "many of the Tamil men had rips in their shirts after they were forcibly put on the plane", describing the asylum seekers, who arrived at noon on Saturday, as "traumatised".
See here for report by the Guardian.
Late on Friday night, Australia's immigration minister, Scott Morrison, told journalists at News Corp that a "secret overnight operation" was taking place to transfer the asylum seekers.
"At the end of the day people [that arrive by boats] don't end up in Australia. The government has a strong will on these issues and that will continue," Morrison was quoted by SBS as saying.
Condemning the stealthy overnight transfer, lawyers for the asylum seekers accused the Australian government of deliberately attempting to prevent international scrutiny.
“The secret overnight transfer is a deliberate move to prevent legal scrutiny. It highlights the Government’s deception, secrecy and willingness to undermine the rule of law in Australia,” said the Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre, Hugh de Kretser.
“This isn’t about politics or refugee policy. It’s about basic decency and respect for the law in Australia," he added.
See full statement by Human Rights Law Centre, including a letter sent by the lawyers to the Australian government on July 28, here.
The Australian government had earlier sought Indian assistance in deporting asylum seekers found to be Indian nationals.
However according to the Australian government all eligible asylum seekers refused to speak to the Indian consular officials.
"It is very disappointing that after having had access to their legal representatives on July 29, all 157 IMAs coincidentally chose not to talk to Indian consular officials," , Morrison said in a statement, reports The Age.
"When no-one took up the opportunity [to speak to Indian consular officials] then their reason for being at Curtin [detention centre] no longer existed," he added, accusing lawyers assisting the asylum seekers of advising them against speaking to the Indian officials.
Rejecting this, the lawyer George Newhouse said the allegation was a lie.
"Any suggestion that we advised our client not to talk to anyone is false," Newhouse told SBS.
"We have not had a proper opportunity to inform our clients of their rights and their options because of the secrecy surrounding them," he added.
See related articles:
Asylum seekers transferred to Australian detention centre (27 July 2014)
157 Tamil asylum seekers to be transferred to Australia mainland (25 Jul 2014)
India agrees to investigate asylum seekers detained in Australian waters (23 Jul 2014)
Amnesty condemns detainment of Tamil asylum seekers on Australian patrol boat (23 July 2014)
Australia may have breached refugee convention by returning asylum seekers to Sri Lanka - UNHCR (16 July 2014)
Global body of academics condemn Australia's treatment of asylum seekers (14 Jul 2014)
Australia confirms intercepting second boat of asylum seekers, looks to make deportation decision on Friday (08 Jul 2014)
Asylum seekers deported by Australia face high risk of torture in Sri Lanka - Amnesty International (08 July 2014)
Australian High Court blocks return of asylum seekers (07 Jul 2014)
Australia confirms handing over first boat to SL authorities, second boat remains unaccounted for (07 Jul 2014)
Concern grows for 153 Tamil asylum seekers at sea (29 Jun 2014)
Tamil asylum seekers stranded in Australian waters, Abbott deflects questions (27 Jun 2014)