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Govt seeking new site for refugees: UNHCR
By HARLYNE JOKU
THE UNHCR Representative in PNG Wallaya
Pura said yesterday the commission is liaising with other humanitarian
organisation to stand ready to help the West Papuans with logistics and
transport support if eviction was required.
Ms Pura said UNHCR had received assurances that the PNG Government was
exploring alternative relocation area for the group and was in
discussion with them.
She said she understood that the group was considering a return to 8
Mile settlement as an interim measure pending a resolution to the longer
term residence issue.
Ms Pura made the comments after meeting with a delegation of West Papuan
protesters who had camped outside the UNHCR office last Wednesday.
The group was asking for a resettlement in a third country.
Ms Pura told the group that UNHCR was not considering resettlement to a
third country.
She said they had already been given asylum by the PNG Government and
had the option of residing in the country with formal legal status.
She explained to the group that resettlement to third countries was
reserved for those refugees around the world who had no option such as
integrating locally in their countries of first asylum or who faced
serious protection or security issues.
She explained that out of almost 10 million refugees around the world
today, less than 1% will receive resettlement in third countries like
Canada, New Zealand or Australia due to limited number of places
available.
“That is why resettlement needs to be reserved for those refugees who
have no other option,” she said.
Ms Pura further explained that the need for the group to be relocated
was not related with their refugee status or right to reside in PNG.
Meanwhile, acting Foreign Affairs Minister and Minister for Transport
and Works Don Polye said the Government was doing everything possible to
deal with plight of the West Papuans facing eviction at Eight Mile.
“The people are our Melanesian brothers and sisters and therefore, the
PNG Government has to deal with this matter in a satisfactory and
acceptable manner,” Mr Polye said.
He added that Government was considering various options to deal with
the issue in close consultation with all stakeholders including the
landlord, UNHCR, the West Papuans concerned and the Indonesian
government.
 
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