*Ø* Blogmanac | Australia lashed over boat people

"The UN refugee agency has accused Australia of violating its obligation to refugees by turning away 14 asylum-seekers before they could be assessed.

"The group of Turkish Kurds is now in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, after Australia's navy towed their fishing-boat away from its coast last week.

"'Denial of access... is a breach of... obligations under international law,' said a UN spokesman in Geneva.

"He also urged Indonesia not to deport the Kurds, who say they are refugees ...

"Australia's policies towards asylum-seekers who arrive illegally have become among the toughest in the developed world ..."
Source: BBC News

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We claimed asylum in Australia: Turkish Kurds
"DAVID HARDAKER: The 14 Turkish Kurds who appeared last week on Melville Island now seem likely to have their immediate future determined by Indonesian authorities.

"But on their arrival in Indonesia the men have contradicted Australian Government claims that they at no stage made a claim for asylum in Australia.

"The 14 men have told the ABC that they made it clear to Australian authorities on Melville Island last week that they were refugees and wanted to stay ..."
Source: ABC (Australia)