ABC reports the Howard government is at it again, wilfully endangering the lives of Chinese asylum seekers to shore up bilateral relations with China.
"The Immigration Department denies it is breaking international agreements by allowing Chinese security officials to interview Chinese asylum seekers requesting protection in Australia.
Immigration lawyer Michaela Byers says a number of her clients have told her they have been interviewed by Chinese officials while in detention.
She says it is inappropriate and endangers the lives of asylum seekers who are returned to China.
"It to me is a violation of international human rights that the department would allow officials that are alleged to be the persecutors of the Chinese people, that have made protection visas in, to interview them and to verify their identification," she said."
China is ruled by one of the most repressive, non-democratic regimes in our region, but our economic interests have held sway over human rights concerns.
Just as the Howard Government is colluding with the Indonesian Government to subvert the movement of 3rd country and West Papuan asylum seekers to Australia it is also colluding with the Chinese Government in the management of political dissidents seeking asylum here.
Not surprising really, when one considers the revelations of apparent collusion with corrupt dealings under the Iraq wheat for oil program.
Open collusion with strategies that lead to human rights violations has become a common currency of this government. Realpolitik and 'political pragmatism' and 'national interest' will be the 'spin' put on by the apologist class but it this kind of two-faced hyprocrisy that is losing Australia the respect it once held in international arenas. We are playing a mucky game and it will come home to roost at some point in the future.
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