Claims paidtrafficks

claims it paid traffickers
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CNN Newsource
 Updated 0814 GMT (1514 HKT) June 15, 2015
By Euan McKirdy , CNN
Story highlights
Australia says it will uphold its international obligations, but
migrant organization says payments to traffickers unethical
U.N. refugee agency says Australian government paid
human traffickers to turn a boat back
Australian PM has refused to give a straight answer on
allegations
(CNN)— The Australian government stands accused of
shirking its international obligations to migrants following
allegations it paid people smugglers to turn back a boat full
of people seeking asylum.
The country's immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said that
his government would honor its international commitments.
"We will act within the law; we will act within our
international obligations," he told reporters Sunday.
However, migrant advocates have said that, should the
allegations prove true, Australia is shirking its international
obligations.
"Clearly helping people smugglers is not something that is
supported by international conventions," Leonard Doyle,
spokesperson for the International Organization for
Migration (IOM), told CNN's John Vause.
"Indeed if they're traffickers by this point then that is
something that would not be supported by anybody but we
have to see what the facts are."
First-hand reports
The United Nations refugee agency's report cited firsthand
accounts of people on board a ship that was diverted to
Indonesia after coming in contact with Australian
authorities.
The boat -- carrying 65 migrants from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
and Myanmar -- was intercepted by the Indonesian navy
after turning back from Australia on May 31, the UNHCR
said.
The migrants were transferred to an Indonesian customs
vessel for four days before being sent on two boats to
Indonesia, the UNHCR added, after speaking to some of the
passengers.
Australia has refused to confirm or deny the payment, and
Prime Minister Tony Abbott went on the defensive Friday
when asked about the claim. Abbott refused to "comment on
operational matters," but said that the government would
stop the boats "by hook or by crook."
Answers sought
Along with Australian opposition politicians, Indonesia's
foreign minister, Retno Marsudi, has demanded a response
from the Abbott administration and said she had taken up
the issue with Australia's ambassador to Jakarta.
A ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir told Australia's ABC
News that Indonesia would investigate the UNHCR
allegations.
"Of course on Australia's push-back policy we have been
consistently saying they are on a slippery slope," ABC
reported him as saying.
"Should this situation (be) confirmed ... it would be a new
low."
Speaking with reporters Sunday, Abbott again avoided giving
a direct answer as to whether Australia had paid people
smugglers to turn boats around.
"There's really only one thing to say here... and that is we
have stopped the boats," CNN affiliate Sky News reported
Abbott as saying.
"That's good for Australia, it's good for Indonesia and it's
particularly good for all of those who want to see a better
world because if the boats start again, the deaths start
again. None of us should want to see deaths at sea and the
only way to ensure that the boats stay stopped. It's
important that the Indonesians know that the Australian
government is absolutely resolute in our determination
never to see this evil trade start up again."
Relations between Indonesia and Australia remain strained
following the execution of two Australian nationals, part of
the so-called Bali 9 group of drug smugglers, in April.
Australia recalled its ambassador from Jakarta following the
incident.
'Keep the door open'
There are concerns that the plight of genuine refugees is
being politicized by governments like Abbott's.
"At the end of the day migration is a complex issue. It's
often reduced to political slogans and it's certainly not
something to be managed through sloganeering. We can't
just lock the door on people," IOM's Doyle told CNN.
"Around the world it's a phenomenon that needs
collaboration and not simply c