Australia’s Delicate Diplomacy with Papua New Guinea over Rwandan Refugees
Photo: AFP
Australia is faced with a challenging diplomatic and humanitarian situation. Unknowingly, five Rwandan men who are fleeing persecution have come to the centre of a complex negotiation between Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG), its neighbour. These guys were discovered on Saibai Island, an Australian possession located just a few kilometres from the coast of Papua New Guinea, after they had fled their home country and travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Indonesia. The Australian government, bound by both its international obligations and a strict immigration policy, is treading carefully. The situation demands a solution that respects the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning asylum seekers to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom. At the same time, the government wishes to avoid triggering its controversial ‘Pacific Solution,’ which would entail sending these men to Nauru, an island nation where Australia has previously offshored asylum seekers. The five Rwandans, whose arrival has been labeled “unauthorized maritime arrivals,” present Australia with a diplomatic tightrope to walk. The government’s plan to persuade PNG to accept the return of these individuals is fraught with complexity. While this move could keep the asylum seekers closer to the region from which they sought refuge, Australia must ensure robust safeguards are in place. The pivotal concern is that these men are not coerced or indirectly forced back into the dangerous circumstances they fled.
