FED:Swap deal refugees arrive on Xmas Island

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2011
FED:Swap deal refugees arrive on Xmas Island

CANBERRA, Aug 4 AAP - The first boatload of asylum seekers earmarked for Malaysia under
a refugee swap deal is expected to reach Christmas Island on Thursday.

Authorities will break the news to the 54 asylum seekers that they won't have their
claims for refugee status processed in Australia.

Instead they will be sent to Malaysia to join 90,000 others seeking refugee resettlement.

Customs and immigration officials would not reveal what time the boat was expected to arrive.

Security has been beefed up on Christmas Island in preparation for the arrival.

Riot police have been conducting training exercises this week and extra security fencing
has been put up at the Phosphate Hill detention centre.

A delegation of Royal Malaysian Police is due to arrive on Christmas Island for briefings
on Thursday, Fairfax reports.

It's believed a group of 10 to 20 asylum seekers could be transferred to Kuala Lumpur
as soon as Sunday.

There are reports a young boy is among the asylum seekers on board the boat.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has said there will be no blanket exemptions for children
or unaccompanied minors, however individuals will be assessed case-by-case.

Under the Gillard government's people swap deal, Australia will send 800 asylum seekers
to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 processed refugees.

AAP lpm/rl/jsh

KEYWORD: BOAT

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