asylum seekers | Asia News – Politics, Media, Education

Archives

Detainees stage a protest on a rooftop of the Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney in March. (Photo: AP)

Australia: Boat people to experience homestay

By Rowena Dela Rosa Yoon Thu, May 03, 2012 5:39PM UTC View Comments

Following the launch of the Community Placement Network (CPN) today, about 5000 asylum seekers will be able to experience a decent life in a homestay program. The 6-week refugee homestay, an initial scheme to ease overcrowded detention centres, is expected to kick off two weeks from now. CPN is designed to accommodate asylum seekers released from...

Read Full Story ›

Australia Day focuses on Aborigines, refugees

By Rowena Dela Rosa Yoon Thu, Jan 26, 2012 12:05PM UTC View Comments

Prime Minister Julia Gillard poses with Geoffrey Rush

This year’s Australia Day has seen both old and new issues come under the spotlight, including indigenous culture, asylum-seekers, gay marriage, and climate change. These issues, however, cannot be solely discussed through political means but through the arts. Academy-award winning actor Geoffrey Rush was named the 2012 Australian of the Year in a ceremony at the...

Read Full Story ›

Bodies from sunken asylum seeker ship found off Bali

By AP News Thu, Dec 22, 2011 4:16PM UTC View Comments

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Search teams say bodies from an overcrowded ship that sank off Indonesia over the weekend have started to show up in waters off the popular resort island of Bali. The vessel — carrying 250 asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran — capsized after being slammed by a huge wave...

Read Full Story ›

Prosecute people smugglers, but how?

By Rowena Dela Rosa Yoon Tue, Dec 20, 2011 10:20AM UTC View Comments

A survivor wailed after rescue. (Photo by ABC)

Shipwrecks will not deter refugees or asylum seekers to take the boat to Australia. About 200 people are feared dead at sea 200km off Java Island of Indonesia when the overloaded boat they boarded sank on Saturday. Only three dozen survivors are so far accounted for, but do not rely on numbers which can be...

Read Full Story ›

Aussie PM committed to deterring asylum seekers

By AP News Thu, Nov 03, 2011 10:10AM UTC View Comments

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Pic: AP.

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Prime Minister Julia Gillard says her thwarted asylum policy would deter people from attempting to reach Australia by boat like those who made a fatal journey this week. Police in Indonesia say eight people drowned about 30 may be missing from a boat that capsized Tuesday. Gillard told reporters Thursday that...

Read Full Story ›