SA: Australia's UN body fears forced repatriation of Afghans
ADELAIDE, Dec 13 AAP - The United Nations Association of Australia fears Afghan asylumseekers will be returned home over Christmas when refugee support networks are on leave.
Association president Margaret Reynolds said today refugee groups around Australiahad concerns about suspected Christmas deportations by the federal government.
"I have a concern that there may be a plan to systematically `round up' temporary protectionvisa (TPV) holders from Afghanistan over the Christmas-New Year period when support networksand legal advisers are on leave during the holiday period," Ms Reynolds said.
The federal government had offered Afghan asylum seekers a financial incentive to returnhome after the collapse of the Taliban regime.
Ms Reynolds said the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs was examiningAfghan asylum seekers for fraudulent visa claims in the belief many had formerly livedin Pakistan.
"I believe there is a need for an independent assessment of these claims of so-calledfraud," she said.
"First, the Australian government offered financial incentives for Afghan asylum seekersto return.
"And when some have not wanted to accept this offer for fear of persecution, then thereis an effort to discredit their claims as Afghans.
"Meanwhile, I am advised that a considerable number of Afghans have actually agreedto return to their homeland but are still languishing in detention centres.
"It appears there is an urgent need to focus on approximately 900 Afghanis on TPVswho are being accused of fraud because they may have lived in Pakistan at some stage.
"This ignores the reality of people movements between Afghanistan and Pakistan overa number of years during periods of war and persecution, yet people do retain their nationality.
"I believe we need to lobby to stop this campaign of what may amount to forced repatriation,especially over the next few weeks when so many support networks and advisers will beharder to contact."
AAP sl/apm/de
KEYWORD: DETENTION UN
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