Third flight leaves Cocos Islands carrying Tamil asylum seekers to Curtin

The third flight carrying Tamil asylum seekers from Cocos Islands to Curtin detention left the Cocos Islands around 3.00pm Cocos time. It is expected to arrive at Curtin at 7.46 Western Australia time.

It is not known how many of the asylum seekers will remain overnight on the Cocos Islands.

It is expected that the asylum seekers from the three flights today will be housed in Echo Compound, separated from other detainees in Curtin.

“Finally the Tamil asylum seekers have been brought to the mainland, where they should have been brought a month ago,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coaltion.

“Minister Morrison has tried to cover the political blow that Operation Sovereign Borders has suffered by pretending there is a deal with India.

“But India wil not be processing any claims. All the asylum seekers will be able to make protection applications in Australia. Allowing Indian officials to interview any of the asylum seekers could provide the basis for asylum seekers to make further protection claims.

“The government could still try to use administrative screening out measures to prevent the asylum seekers from making protection applications – but this is considered unlikely now that the asylum seekers have legal representation.

“We urge the Minister not to detain them any longer and to immediately begin the protection determination process allow the asylum seekers free access to legal representation and to their communities. They should be released into the community while their claims are processed.”

The High Court is still to determine the legality of seizing the boat and holding the asylum seekers on the Customs boat for over a month, as well as whether the government has the power to return asylum seekers, seized in this way, to countries that do not uphold the non-refoulement articles of the Refugee Convention.

For more information contact Ian Rintoul mob 0417 275 713

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