By Sarah E. Treptow
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
WELLINGTON, New Zealand– Terry Coe, a Niue MP, says his country will need to put human rights standards in place for all immigrants planning to live on the island nation. Twelve Indian men were taken to Niue over two years ago after they were promised jobs and possibly land. After reportedly paying a New Zealand Indian tens of thousands of dollars, the men were never given jobs and had to live in squalid conditions. The New Zealand government payed for the airfare of nine of the Punjabi men being flown back to India because the Niue government could not afford it.
The New Zealand High Commissioner to Niue, Bryan Smythe, said New Zealand had no option but to pay the fares, “These nine had been left here in most unfortunate circumstances. They had been misled when they were brought here and they were not facing good conditions at all in Niue, with an ongoing problem that needed to be resolved and this was the best way of sorting it out.” Niue has been in free association with the government of New Zealand in 1974, with their constitution providing that New Zealand will provide necessary economic and administrative assistance. The people of Niue are New Zealand citizens.
The Indian men had been denied transit through Auckland, which is the only airport with regular links with Niue. Mr. Smythe said three of the twelve men have remained on Niue.
Mr. Coe said that Niue signed the United Nations human rights convention and some areas need to be addressed, “We don’t have any legislation, but it’s probably necessary if you sign the UN document then you become part of that document. And that keeps one standard throughout the world on human rights, which we should abide by.”
Toke Talagi, the Niue Premier, has said there will be greater scrutiny of any similar groups coming to the island in the future.
For more information, please see:
Pacific Islands Report – Niue Lawmaker Wants Human Rights Law – 25 December 2008
Radio New Zealand International – Niue MP says country will need to implement human rights standards – 23 December 2008
Pacific Islands Report – Nine Indians Stranded on Niue for Two Years – 19 December 2008
