BANGKOK: The United Nations has no plans to boost its presence in Cambodia despite the Australian government's claim it is working ''closely'' with the agency in a controversial plan to resettle refugees there.
''There are no plans to expand our two-person office in Phnom Penh at this point,'' said Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for the agency in Bangkok.
The UN's refusal to react immediately to the plan, which it has described as a deeply concerning precedent, comes as Cambodian officials play down the possibility of any refugees being sent by Australia within months, possibly years, despite Australia having already committed $40 million in additional aid to the country.
Cambodia's Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said his country wants to take far fewer refugees than expected after an initial pilot program that could involve only a handful of people.
''It would be 20 or 10 or 50 or 100 or something like this. Not 1000 as people have said,'' Mr Khieu Sopheak told the 'Phnom Penh Post.'
After Australia's Immigration Minister Scott Morrison sipped champagne to celebrate the agreement in Phnom Penh last weekend, Cambodian officials have detailed a long process before any refugees are resettled in villages and communes outside the capital Phnom Penh.
Long Visalo, secretary of state at Cambodia's foreign ministry, told journalists that before refugees slated for resettlement on the Pacific island of Nauru are selected, Cambodian officials will go there to brief them on the country's difficulties and traditions.
Cambodia is one of the world's poorest nations.
''We will explain to them about Cambodia . . . the country is like this or this, a lecture for them and then they will decide if they want to come or not,'' he said.
If any refugees sign papers agreeing to leave Nauru they will stay in temporary accommodation in Phnom Penh and be provided with basic essentials, language and other training for 12 months before having to leave for designated reintegration areas outside the capital.
Asked why they will not be allowed to stay in Phnom Penh, Mr Long Visalo said there are already too many people living in the city, where there are traffic jams.
''They can't live here. They may need land to farm rice or crops,'' he said.
Under the agreement refugees will be eligible for support to start up small businesses.
The agreement commits Australia to transporting the refugees back to their country of origin or any other country that would accept them if they decide they do not want to resettle in Cambodia.
In a joint statement after last weekend's signing ceremony, both Australia and Cambodia said ''both governments are working closely to ensure the smooth and successful implementation of this arrangement in co-operation with the UNHCR''.
But UNHCR commissioner Antonio Guterres said refugees fleeing armed conflict are entitled to better treatment than being shipped from one country to the next.
''This is a worrying departure from international norms. We are seeing record forced displacements globally, with 87 percent of refugees now being hosted in developing countries,'' Mr Guterres said.
''It's crucial that countries do not shift their refugee responsibilities elsewhere. International responsibility sharing is the basis on which the whole global refugee system works,'' he said.
''I hope the Australian government will reconsider its approach.''
Fairfax Media
''There are no plans to expand our two-person office in Phnom Penh at this point,'' said Vivian Tan, a spokeswoman for the agency in Bangkok.
The UN's refusal to react immediately to the plan, which it has described as a deeply concerning precedent, comes as Cambodian officials play down the possibility of any refugees being sent by Australia within months, possibly years, despite Australia having already committed $40 million in additional aid to the country.
Cambodia's Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said his country wants to take far fewer refugees than expected after an initial pilot program that could involve only a handful of people.
''It would be 20 or 10 or 50 or 100 or something like this. Not 1000 as people have said,'' Mr Khieu Sopheak told the 'Phnom Penh Post.'
After Australia's Immigration Minister Scott Morrison sipped champagne to celebrate the agreement in Phnom Penh last weekend, Cambodian officials have detailed a long process before any refugees are resettled in villages and communes outside the capital Phnom Penh.
Long Visalo, secretary of state at Cambodia's foreign ministry, told journalists that before refugees slated for resettlement on the Pacific island of Nauru are selected, Cambodian officials will go there to brief them on the country's difficulties and traditions.
Cambodia is one of the world's poorest nations.
''We will explain to them about Cambodia . . . the country is like this or this, a lecture for them and then they will decide if they want to come or not,'' he said.
If any refugees sign papers agreeing to leave Nauru they will stay in temporary accommodation in Phnom Penh and be provided with basic essentials, language and other training for 12 months before having to leave for designated reintegration areas outside the capital.
Asked why they will not be allowed to stay in Phnom Penh, Mr Long Visalo said there are already too many people living in the city, where there are traffic jams.
''They can't live here. They may need land to farm rice or crops,'' he said.
Under the agreement refugees will be eligible for support to start up small businesses.
The agreement commits Australia to transporting the refugees back to their country of origin or any other country that would accept them if they decide they do not want to resettle in Cambodia.
In a joint statement after last weekend's signing ceremony, both Australia and Cambodia said ''both governments are working closely to ensure the smooth and successful implementation of this arrangement in co-operation with the UNHCR''.
But UNHCR commissioner Antonio Guterres said refugees fleeing armed conflict are entitled to better treatment than being shipped from one country to the next.
''This is a worrying departure from international norms. We are seeing record forced displacements globally, with 87 percent of refugees now being hosted in developing countries,'' Mr Guterres said.
''It's crucial that countries do not shift their refugee responsibilities elsewhere. International responsibility sharing is the basis on which the whole global refugee system works,'' he said.
''I hope the Australian government will reconsider its approach.''
Fairfax Media
