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Boat-People to be Sent Home
Tuesday, April 9, 2002
The Herald Sun

Crowded: The Tampa off Christmas Island in August last year.
Image Credit: News Interactive.

"People who have close linkages with Australia and who are found to be refugees would be considered for resettlement in Australia."

Location -- Source
Just seven of the 292 Afghan refugees being detained by Australia on Nauru have been found to be genuine refugees.

It is expected the remainder will be returned to their homes from the island from July.

But there are no guarantees the seven assessed refugees will be allowed to settle in Australia unless they can prove they have relatives here.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said yesterday the seven would be re-settled overseas if they had no Australian links.

"If they don't have family links in Australia, they are not on the top of our list for resettlement," a spokesman said.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees handed down its decision yesterday on the refugee status of 529 asylum seekers on Nauru, 301 of whom were rescued at sea last year by the Norwegian container ship MV Tampa.
(More: The News Interactive News Source)
2002 © The Herald Sun.

Dan