By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – New Zealand rejected the Rudd Government’s plea to resettle some of the 78 asylum seekers refusing to leave an Australian customs boat, the Oceanic Viking, just off the coast of Indonesia. New Zealand’s refusal to help the asylum seekers has increased pressure on the Rudd Government as it tries to resolve the stand-off over the Oceanic Viking.

The Oceanic Viking consists of a group of Tamil men, women, and children. This group has been on board the Oceanic Viking since their boat was intercepted off Christmas Island over 3 weeks ago.

New Zealand’s Immigration Minister, Jonathan Coleman, announced that New Zealand will not grant the Rudd Government’s plea to resettle some of the asylum seekers.

Coleman further stated: “The New Zealand Government does not believe that an ad hoc approach to dealing with individual cases like the Oceanic Viking will send the right message…The broader issues aren’t going to go away. There are literally thousands of displaced people across the Asia-Pacific region.”

Further opponents argue that agreeing to resettle the asylum seekers would “set an unwanted precedent for New Zealand’s conservative Government.”

Coleman expressed his fear and wary for rewarding actions that seek to “jump the queue for entry to New Zealand.” He concluded that it is unlikely that New Zealand will offer settlement to asylum seekers on board the Oceanic Viking.

Coleman’s Australian counterpart, Chris Evans, also agrees that it is unlikely that New Zealand will offer settlement to asylum seekers on board the Oceanic Viking, but is hopeful to an ongoing co-operation with New Zealand regarding this matter.

Conflict between Indonesia and Australia continues. The chief military spokesman from Indonesia, Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen, called the Oceanic Viking an “uninvited guest” and contends that its presence has undermined Indonesian sovereignty.

Tamboen expressed frustration with the inability of Australian officials to persuade the 78 asylum seekers to disembark. Angry with the presence of the Oceanic Viking, he stated: “It creates so much harm to us because we must do work that is not on our planned agenda, namely guarding an uninvited guest. It is harming our sovereignty. It has only brought troubles into our waters.”

Tamboen attacked Australia’s reluctance to solve the problem and questioned why such a wealthy country like Australia did not simply accept the asylum seekers on its own shores.

The Oceanic Viking security clearance to remain in Indonesian territory runs out on Friday, November 13. Indonesia announced that it is not inclined to extend that security clearance.

Australian immigration officials went on board the Oceanic Viking to negotiate with the asylum seekers, but they expressed that no deal had been reached. The asylum seekers would be happy with an offer of settlement on Australian soil, but if they were to be settled on Indonesian soil, they want to stay in regular housing. Many of the asylum seekers contended that when they stayed at an Australian-funded detention center in Indonesia they suffered physical and emotional trauma as a result.

The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, plan to attend the APEC conference in Singapore where they will seek progress on regional co-operation on people smuggling.

For more information, please see:
The Age – NZ rejects Rudd Government plea on refugees – 11 November 2009

Islands Business – NZ rejects Rudd Government plea on refugees – 11 November 2009

MyBIZ – NZ rejects Rudd Government plea on refugees – 11 November 2009

WAtoday – NZ snubs Rudd on asylum seekers – 11 November 2009