Nauru detention centre
Encyclopedia
The detention center on the South Pacific island nation of Nauru
was based on a Statement of Principles, signed on 10 September 2001 by the President of Nauru, René Harris
, and Australia's then Minister for Defence, Peter Reith
. The statement opened the way to establish a detention center for up to 800 people and was accompanied by a pledge of $
20 million in development activities. The initial intake was to be people rescued by the MV Tampa
(see Tampa affair
), with the understanding that they would leave Nauru by May 2002. Subsequently a Memorandum of Understanding
was signed on 11 December boosting refugee numbers to 1200 and the promised development activity by an additional $
10 million.
Initial plans were for asylum seekers to be housed in modern air-conditioned housing which had been built for the games of the International Weightlifting Federation
. This plan was changed after landowners' requests for extra compensation were rejected.
Two camps were then built. The first camp, called "Topside", was at an old sports ground and oval in the Meneng
District (0.540564°S 166.929703°E). The second camp, called "State House" was on the site of the old Presidential quarters also in the Meneng District (0.547597°S 166.939697°E).
By July 2005, 32 people were detained in asylum seeker detention in Nauru, consisting of 16 Iraqis, 11 Afghans, 2 Iranians, 2 Bangladeshis and 1 Pakistani. All but two Iraqis were released to Australia, the last group of 25 leaving on 1 November 2005. The remaining two Iraqis stayed in custody for over a year. The last one was finally accepted by an unnamed Scandinavian country after five years in detention, in January 2007. The other was in an Australian hospital at the time, and was later given permission to remain in Australia while his asylum case was being decided.
In September 2006, a group of eight Burmese Rohingya men were transferred there from Christmas Island.
On 15 March 2007, the Australian Government announced that 83 Sri Lankan Tamil people would be transferred from Christmas Island
to the Nauru detention center. They arrived in Nauru by the end of the month.
In April 2007, proposals were discussed whereby detainees in Guantánamo, Cuba
, would be transferred to Australia
, and detainees in Nauru
would be processed for possible settlement in the United States
.
In December 2007, newly elected Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
announced that his country would no longer make use of the Nauru detention center, and would put an immediate end to the "Pacific Solution
". The last remaining Burmese and Sri Lankan detainees were granted residency rights in Australia.
Nauru reacted with concern at the prospect of potentially losing much-needed aid from Australia.
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
was based on a Statement of Principles, signed on 10 September 2001 by the President of Nauru, René Harris
René Harris
René Reynaldo Harris was President of the Republic of Nauru four times between 1999 and 2004. He was a Member of Parliament from 1977 to 2008.-Background and early career:...
, and Australia's then Minister for Defence, Peter Reith
Peter Reith
Peter Keaston Reith, , former Australian politician, was a Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and then a senior Cabinet minister in the first two terms of the Howard Government.-Early life:...
. The statement opened the way to establish a detention center for up to 800 people and was accompanied by a pledge of $
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
20 million in development activities. The initial intake was to be people rescued by the MV Tampa
MV Tampa
MV Tampa is a roll-on/roll-off container ship completed in 1984 by Hyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. in South Korea for the Norway based firm, Wilhelmsen Lines Shipowning.-Tampa affair:...
(see Tampa affair
Tampa affair
In August 2001, the Howard Government of Australia refused permission for the Norwegian freighter MV Tampa, carrying 438 rescued Afghans from a distressed fishing vessel in international waters, to enter Australian waters...
), with the understanding that they would leave Nauru by May 2002. Subsequently a Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
was signed on 11 December boosting refugee numbers to 1200 and the promised development activity by an additional $
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
10 million.
Initial plans were for asylum seekers to be housed in modern air-conditioned housing which had been built for the games of the International Weightlifting Federation
International Weightlifting Federation
The International Weightlifting Federation , headquartered in Budapest, is the international governing body for the sport of Olympic weightlifting.The IWF was founded in 1905, and has 187 member nations. The IWF president is Dr...
. This plan was changed after landowners' requests for extra compensation were rejected.
Two camps were then built. The first camp, called "Topside", was at an old sports ground and oval in the Meneng
Meneng
Meneng is a district located in the Meneng Constituency in the country Nauru.The constituency returns 2 members to the Parliament of Nauru in Yaren.-Noted Features:...
District (0.540564°S 166.929703°E). The second camp, called "State House" was on the site of the old Presidential quarters also in the Meneng District (0.547597°S 166.939697°E).
By July 2005, 32 people were detained in asylum seeker detention in Nauru, consisting of 16 Iraqis, 11 Afghans, 2 Iranians, 2 Bangladeshis and 1 Pakistani. All but two Iraqis were released to Australia, the last group of 25 leaving on 1 November 2005. The remaining two Iraqis stayed in custody for over a year. The last one was finally accepted by an unnamed Scandinavian country after five years in detention, in January 2007. The other was in an Australian hospital at the time, and was later given permission to remain in Australia while his asylum case was being decided.
In September 2006, a group of eight Burmese Rohingya men were transferred there from Christmas Island.
On 15 March 2007, the Australian Government announced that 83 Sri Lankan Tamil people would be transferred from Christmas Island
Christmas Island
The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It is located northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth, south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, and ENE of the Cocos Islands....
to the Nauru detention center. They arrived in Nauru by the end of the month.
In April 2007, proposals were discussed whereby detainees in Guantánamo, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, would be transferred to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and detainees in Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
would be processed for possible settlement in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In December 2007, newly elected Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
announced that his country would no longer make use of the Nauru detention center, and would put an immediate end to the "Pacific Solution
Pacific Solution
The Pacific Solution was the name given to the Australian government policy of transporting asylum seekers to detention camps on small island nations in the Pacific Ocean, rather than allowing them to land on the Australian mainland...
". The last remaining Burmese and Sri Lankan detainees were granted residency rights in Australia.
Nauru reacted with concern at the prospect of potentially losing much-needed aid from Australia.
See also
- Pacific SolutionPacific SolutionThe Pacific Solution was the name given to the Australian government policy of transporting asylum seekers to detention camps on small island nations in the Pacific Ocean, rather than allowing them to land on the Australian mainland...
- Australian immigration detention facilitiesAustralian immigration detention facilitiesAustralian immigration detention facilities comprise a number of different facilities throughout Australia and one on the Australian territory of Christmas Island. They are used to house people who are detained under Australia’s policy of mandatory detention and previously under the now defunct...
- Mandatory detention in AustraliaMandatory detention in AustraliaMandatory detention in Australia concerns the Australian federal government's policy and system of mandatory immigration detention active from 1992 to date, pursuant to which all persons entering the country without a valid visa are compulsorily detained and sometimes subject to deportation.In the...
- List of Australian immigration detention facilities
External links
- Department of Foreign Affairs and trade - MOU on Asylum Seekers Signed with Nauru
- Pictures inside the detention center in the submission by Ms Elaine Smith to the Inquiry into the provisions of the Migration Amendment (Designated Unauthorised Arrivals) Bill 2006
- http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=28&ContentID=26322