U.N. Calls for Inspection of Australian Boatpeople Detention Center

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, February 05, 2002

U.N. Calls for Inspection of Australian Boatpeople Detention Center

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson met with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in Geneva earlier Tuesday and requested that Indian Supreme Court judge S.Rajendra Babu be allowed to inspect the center in South Australia state.

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The United Nations suggested Tuesday that a special envoy be sent to visit the Woomera detention center.

According to the Australian Associated Press, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson met with Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in Geneva earlier Tuesday and requested that Indian Supreme Court judge S.Rajendra Babu be allowed to inspect the center in South Australia state.

Robinson said the United Nations was concerned that human rights issues were not being addressed.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said the government will consider the request but there were safety, privacy and operational issues to be considered before the special envoy's visit was approved or declined.

The Woomera center is the most troubled one among six all over the country. Detained boat people launched uprisings, prison breaking, suicide and hunger strike to protest the detention system. In January, hundreds of detainees at the center launched a two-week hunger strikes and about 70 had their lips sewn together to protest an alleged delay in refugee process.

In Australia, all boat people detention centers are run by a private company. Detainees complained time and again that they were beaten by guards.

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