The first planned transfer of asylum seekers on Nauru to Cambodia has been cancelled due to "logistical errors" Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said.
However, activists say the refugees refused to sign the transfer documents.
Under a $40mn deal, refugees rejected by Australia, who are being detained on the island of Nauru, are being offered between AU$10,000 to AU$15,000 to accept a transfer to Cambodia.
Only 5 refugees, three Tamils, one Rohingya and one Iranian, are said to have agreed to the transfer.
“My suspicion is that they’ll delay the flight long enough so that they can fast-track their determination process and they’ll be granted refugee status before the plane arrives,” Ian Rintoul, spokesman for the Australia-based advocacy group Refugee Action Coalition, said to AP.
“The government is desperate to save political face and there are serious questions about the bona fides of what they’re involved in.”
Human rights groups have condemned the deal and have called on the Australian government to fulfil its own obligations as a signatory to the United Nations Refugee Convention by resettling the refugees.
Report finds sexual abuse and rape in Australian detention centre in Nauru (21 March 2015)
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