THOUSANDS of West Papuan refugees could seek asylum in Australia, an expert has warned. Indonesian expert Scott Burchill said the temporary protection visas could open the door for more boats and potentially thousands of asylum-seekers to follow. "It will certainly encourage further attempts by Papuans to reach Australia and make similar claims," said Dr Burchill, senior lecturer in international affairs at Deakin University. "It would be very hard for (Australian) authorities to deny the claims." He said the only thing holding back the flood was a lack of boats. "You can bet your life Indonesian authorities have increased surveillance of local ports and where people might leave from," he said.
| They haven't met the Marielitos; a lack of boats didn't stop them. I think a few of them converted a 1959 Dodge pick-up truck into a boat and set out for the Florida Keys. |
Lawyer David Manne, acting for the 42 refugees in Melbourne, said several spoke by phone yesterday to relatives, who said they had been harassed. He congratulated the Immigration Department for a non-political decision and "playing a straight bat" in accepting the 42, who had a well-founded fear of persecution if returned to West Papua.
Human rights groups estimate up to 300,000 people have been killed since Indonesia assumed sovereignty in 1969.
| Sort of like East Timor, with more blood. |