Hon. John Howard
Prime Minister
Suite MG8
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
30 August 2001
Dear Prime Minister,

We write to express our earnest concern on the refugees stranded off the Australian coast.

We learnt that the Australian authorities are refusing to accept a ship carrying 438 refugees, including children and pregnant women, and have sent troops on board to prevent it from docking. We concerned that those on board may be forcibly returned to countries where they would risk being tortured or killed.

According to the news, the Norwegian freighter Tampa rescued the refugees from a crippled Indonesian vessel on 26 August. Most are reportedly from Afghanistan, but some are from Iraq, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Many refugees have fled these countries to escape brutal regimes and serious human rights violations. We know that in the last few years the Australian authorities have recognised that many of those who flee Afghanistan are in genuine need of international protection, and have granted over 80% of Afghan asylum-seekers refugee status. We therefore urge your government to follow this policy as in the past.

In fact, under Article 33 of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (1951 Refugee Convention), Australia is obliged not to forcibly return any refugees to any country where their lives or freedom would be threatened. We worry that the legislation which currently going through parliament would allow the Australian government to ignore its responsibilities under the Refugee Convention. We thus urge your kind government to allow the refugees to disembark in Australia and allow them access to a fair and satisfactory asylum procedure.

Yours sincerely


Mary Mee-yin YUEN
Executive Secretary
Justice and Peace Commission of
the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese