Bambi Eloriaga-Amago
The government of Australia is reportedly entering into final negotiations with the Philippine government in a deal that will cost around $150 million. The deal, which will allow Australia to send refugees from the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre, is part of a Strategic Partnership Agreement that will cover trade issues and security alliances.
The deal is seen as a move to finally address the controversies surrounding the Manus and Nauru Islands Detention Centres.
The Manus Processing Centre, located in Papua New Guinea, is an immigration detention and offshore asylum processing center operated by the Australian government. The center, along with the one located in Nauru Island, was established in 2001 as part of the “Pacific Solution.” Boatloads of undocumented refugees that arrived in Australian territories were transferred and made to stay at the centers while their claims of asylum were being processed.
Both centers, however, are embroiled in a controversy of illegal detention and various other human rights abuses. Human rights groups claim the islands to be more like detention centers rather than processing centers. Amnesty International even reports that out of the 2,000 asylum seekers, only one person has been processed since 2012.
The camps are also notorious for their horrific living conditions.”If we had died in the ocean that would have been better,” claims a 43-year-old Iraqi refugee. Amnesty International states that the refugees bear with long hours in line for food, subsisting on just 500 ml of water a day, and are made to live in sheds that house 112 people each. There are even allegations of rape and child abuse happening in the islands.
Last year, things came to a distressing head. As detainees staged protests, things quickly turned violent. The protest actions resulted in the death of 23-year-old Iranian Reza Berati.
Given such controversies and outrage, news outlet The Australian sees the deal with the Philippines as a desperate move on the Australian government’s part.
The deal reportedly happened at the same time as the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was allegedly given verbal assurance by Albert Del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, that the refugee deal between the two countries was a go.
The deal is also supposedly backed by an inter-agency group on refugees consisting of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and Secretary Del Rosario. The deal is now in its final stages and is only awaiting the signature of President Benigno Aquino, III. On September 8, PNoy issued a statement that the Philippines is open to taking in refugees, but with some reservations.
The deal, however, is not without opposition. It has raised concerns about the Philippines helping Australia avoid its obligations and opening up gateways for human trafficking.
The Philippines has enough terrorist problems, why are you guys sending those garbages in the Philippines? Who’s responsible in closing these deals in Australia and in the Philippine? They need to be persecuted.
Your comment..For 150-M dollar? We could even give an assistance of $1B to EU and where are we to camp the refugees – in the west phil sea at the disputed islands – Spratley.