Decide Asylum

'Humanity' Will Decide Asylum Applications

From an AAP-Reuter Correspondent in Port Moresby The Australian Government would be influenced by “factors of common humanity” in con

sidering requests by Indonesian

West New Guinea natives for

asylum in Papua-New Guinea,

the Minister for Territories, Mr.

Charles Bames, said here on October 24.

HE said there had been suggestions that the Australian authorities were forcing back across the border people from West New Guinea “who might suffer difficulties if they go back”.

“These are not true,” Mr. Barnes told a Press conference. “Each case is examined on its merits.”

Mr. Barnes declined to comment on three cases where people from West New Guinea had sought per mission to stay in P-NG.

These were: • An Indonesian and his family who crossed the border more than a year ago seeking asylum in Holland or P-NG. (They are at present in Vanimo, New Guinea, awaiting a decision on their application.) © A West New Guinea school teacher and his wife and child who crossed the border last August after being previously turned back. (They are also at Vanimo). • A West New Guinean who re cently fled across the border, claiming he was a policeman who had escaped from gaol at Merauke after being imprisoned for shooting at the Indo nesian flag. (He is at present under observation in Port Moresby hospital.) “Factors of common humanity will influence our decision in these cases,”

Mr. Barnes said.

He said Australia had international obligations over the border and the refugee question.

“Actually we are not absolutely sure where the border is,” he said.

Replying to questions, Mr. Barnes said the establishment of an Indo nesian liaison office in Port Moresby and an Australian office in the West New Guinea capital, Sukarnapura,

were maters for the Australian E? ternal Affairs Department.

He declined to say whether h thought liaison offices should b established in the two capitals. (The Dutch formerly had a liaiso office in Port Moresby and Australi had a liaison office in Hollands Sukarnapura, but these were close after the Dutch left West Ne’

Guinea.) Speaking on Papua-New Guinea political future, Mr. Barnes said th« the Australian Government’s objectiv was self government and then inde pendence “if the people of the Terr tory want it”.

“We have a long way to go befoi this is achieved,” he said.

The Minister said the Territorie Department was conducting a driv through Australian universities an technical colleges to recruit office! for the public service.

“We are meeting with very goo success,” he said.

“Of course we are getting resij nations here but I hope that who details of the Government’s compel sation scheme for overseas officer are worked out it will lower the rat of resignations from the Territon Public Service.”