EAST TIMOR PM OPPOSES REFUGEE CENTRE

THE AGE – 30 april 2011

East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao says he is against an Australian proposal to establish a regional refugee centre in his country.

"I have never accepted it," he said on the sidelines of a ruling party conference in Dili.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard raised the idea last year as a way of stemming the flow of asylum seekers who travel via Indonesia to northern Australia in rickety boats.

Her government says negotiations are ongoing with East Timor.

The only person in the tiny country who has spoken in favour of the idea is President Jose Ramos-Horta, who sought asylum abroad during Indonesia's harsh military occupation of East Timor from 1975 to 1999.

Ramos-Horta's office yesterday clarified Australian media reports that he had rejected Canberra's proposal, saying it was a matter of ongoing regional discussion.

A spokesman for the president said while East Timor would not agree to a regional centre on a bilateral basis, Dr Ramos-Horta had not rejected the concept altogether.

"As the president has said before, East Timor would never turn its back on asylum seekers," the spokesman said.

"But this is not a bilateral matter. It can only be resolved on a regional basis and through discussions through organisations such as ASEAN, which East Timor hopes to join this year or next year, and with groups such as the United Nations."

Australian opposition leader Tony Abbott said Ms Gillard's plan was a "flight of fantasy".

AFP/AAP