Nauru, New Zealand don saviour role

By Amit Baruah

SINGAPORE, SEPT. 1. Putting Australia to shame, the tiny Pacific island of Nauru and New Zealand have agreed to accept the mostly- Afghan refugees who have been living in the Norwegian freighter, Tampa, for almost a week.

The refugees are to be split into two groups, with about 150 women, children and their family members being taken to New Zealand while the rest will go to Nauru. The Tampa currently remains in Australian waters, off Christmas Island. Making it clear that the Australian decision was all about winning votes and looking tough, the country's Prime Minister, Mr. John Howard, stressed that the refugees, said to number over 450, would not be landing on Australian territory.

``I should emphasise that this agreement and this potential solution to this very difficult issue does not involve the people being taken to Christmas Island or on to Australian territory or any part of the Australian mainland,'' Mr. Howard said. Yesterday, the Australians wanted to land the refugees on East Timor, one of the world's poorest countries and yet to attain full nationhood. The United Nations, which continues to govern the country, said no to the Australian offer.

There is little doubt that the New Zealand Prime Minister, Ms. Helen Clark, has displayed humanitarian concerns completely lacking in its bigger neighbour. Her actions, along with Nauru (which apparent will be paid by Australia to process the refugees before they are dispersed), have bailed out Mr. Howard and his Government, who after sending in the commandos, didn't know what to do next.

In Wellington, Ms. Clark was quoted as saying: ``Australia has said it will not accept them, Indonesia has said it will not have them back, the Norwegians will not have them for processing. Someone had to break the impasse. We've broken the impasse.

The refugees who go to Nauru will be dispersed eventually, but someone has to agree to take them,'' she said.

``We have offered to take the women and children....and the family groups who are suffering the most from the time on the Tampa,'' the New Zealand Prime Minister stated. ``The next step is for the Australians to arrange for their transfer from the Tampa perhaps on to Australian vessels and then through to a point where planes can be got to fly them to where they need to go....'' Ms. Clark added.

Responding to the agreement, hammered out under pressure from the United Nations, the Australian Greens Senator, Mr. Bob Brown, described it as a ``disastrous outcome''.

``Whatever be the reasons, Nauru is showing the humanity that the Australian Government and the Labour Opposition have failed to show,'' Mr. Brown said.

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