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UN Rules on Nauru Boat-People
Tuesday, April 9, 2002
BBC News

Under the 1951 Geneva Convention, a refugee is a person who has fled their country because they have a "well-founded fear" of being persecuted if they remain there, or if they return there having fled.

Nearly 150 boat people rejected by Australia and shipped to the Pacific island of Nauru have been granted refugee status by the United Nations' refugee body.

The 150 were among a group of 529 people who were landed on Nauru after being picked up trying to reach Australia last August.

The incident, especially Australia's refusal to allow the asylum seekers to come ashore off the Norwegian freighter Tampa which had saved them, led to international criticism.

Australia has not yet said if it will give asylum to any of those granted refugee status. It has no obligation to do so under the law.

Of those given refugee status, 126 are from Iraq, seven from Afghanistan and 14 from other countries.

The vast majority of Afghan asylum seekers -- 285 out of 292 -- were not found to be refugees, principally because of the country's changed situation since the Taleban's ousting.

However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said they all had the right to appeal.

* Pacific 'solution'
(More: Human Rights in China News Source)
2002 © The British Broadcasting Corporation.

Related Story:
* Boat-People to be Sent Home
The Herald Sun
Tuesday, April 9, 2002

Dan