Malaysia asylum talks stall over identity papers

NEGOTIATIONS over the refugee swap with Malaysia are stuck on Australia’s insistence that asylum-seekers sent to Malaysia be given identity papers to ensure they are not harassed by police and that Kuala Lumpur give an explicit commitment not to send refugees back to the country they fled. As both houses of federal parliament yesterday passed…

ABC Radio speaks to Renuka Balasubramaniam of LFL re refugee swap deal

ALTERNATE WMA VERSION | MP3 DOWNLOAD BRENDAN TREMBATH: The Australian Government is under renewed attack today over its plan to send 800 unprocessed asylum seekers to Malaysia. The Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has indicated today she’ll push to amend the Migration Act. If she succeeds the Federal Government will have to gain Parliament’s permission before sending asylum…

Press Statement: The Malaysian government should rescind President al-Bashir’s invitation despite his cancelled visit

We, the undersigned Members of Parliament and Lawyers for Liberty, are seriously concerned over reports that the Malaysian government had invited Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to attend the Langkawi International Dialogue from 19 to 21 June. This invitation is certainly disgraceful and outrageous as President al-Bashir is a suspected war criminal and subjected to arrest warrants by the International…

ABC Radio speaks to Eric Paulsen of LFL re refugee swap deal

Australian government to announce Malaysia refugee deal The Australian government is poised to announce the details of its controversial refugee swap deal with Malaysia. Critics are not satisfied by the government’s assurance that refugees’ human rights will be protected in Malaysia, which is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Refugees. Alison Carabine…

HRW-Malaysia: Withdraw Invitation to Sudanese President, Al-Bashir Should Not be Welcome at Economic Forum

(New York, June 15, 2011) – Malaysia should withdraw its invitation to President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, an accused war criminal, to attend an international economic forum in Putrajaya from June 19 to 21, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today in letter to Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohammed Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak. The Malaysian Cabinet plans to discuss the matter on June 17. It was reported…