Journalist and Kurdish-Iranian refugee Behrouz Boochani landed in New Zealand last night and has said this morning that he will not seek asylum there for now but will look at it as a possibility “later”. Last night, the news emerged that Boochani had safely left Papua New Guinea for NZ after being forcibly held for over six years by Australia’s offshore processing regime.
Many people assumed Boochani had been granted asylum or residency by New Zealand. Boochani is, in fact, in New Zealand on a visitor’s visa after he was invited by organisers of a literary festival in Christchurch. And it was jarring to hear this morning that, on his first day as a free man, he still has to continue to do the work of educating both well-wishers and journalists on the complex and fraught details of how difficult it is to escape Australia.
While Boochani weighs his options from New Zealand, his presence there escalates trans-Tasman relations beyond corrosive. New Zealand has been offering to take refugees from Manus for years, but the Australian government has declined, saying that the free travel arrangements between the two countries mean those from Manus could travel to Australia from New Zealand. But as many of those men have pointed out, they would not want to step foot in the country that has treated them this way.
New Zealand Deputy PM Winston Peters has previously said NZ would not consider banning refugees his country accepts from entering Australia, as this would create a kind of second class of citizenship that was fundamentally unacceptable.
Boochani’s escape from PNG, coupled with the recent human rights award given to Abdul Aziz Muhamat that allowed him to seek asylum in Switzerland, makes it apparent that other, saner countries are now running a kind of Schindler’s List to save the men on Manus. This includes Canadians collaborating to sponsor an increasing number refugees who have not won awards and, thus, do not have an escape route.
Boochani’s reprieve in New Zealand is politically freighted, as Australian lawyer and migration agent Alison Battisson points out:
“The arrival of Boochani in New Zealand and his comments regarding his refugee status determination process and detention illustrate just how political the process of seeking asylum is. Not just for him but for the men still on Manus and those transferred to Australia, many of whom remain detained.
“Seeking asylum is a fundamental human right. The process was politicised post-World War II when the nations of the world came together and agreed to protect some of the most vulnerable people. Somehow, in the intervening years, politics has turned against this initial wave of political will.
“The reasons for this and whether this is serving the best interests of individual states must be examined. New Zealand’s issuance of a visa to Behrouz should serve to ignite further discussion.”
While Australia continues to detain and deport more New Zealanders than any other nationality, Boochani’s presence as free man just across the Tasman ends a biblically awful week for Scott Morrison’s credibility but a far worse one for his country.
The PM who said he would “burn for the Australian people every single day” has yet to comment on the freedom of Boochani, who this morning said that he was was pleased to be in “Christchurch … an important and symbolic place that had educated people around the world with kindness”.
What does this mean for Australia’s relationship with New Zealand? Send your thoughts to boss@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name for publication.
It was bittersweet watching the rejoicing on Twitter last night as so many people reacted to the headline, without realising it is only a one-month visa. Whatever happens though it’s wonderful to see Behrouz Boochani walk free from the clutches of the Australian government. I hope he enjoys peace and freedom from here on, whether in Aotearoa New Zealand or elsewhere.
Is there any way we could cede our sovereign nationhood and become NZ’s two West Islands?
This will only strain relations if our Coalies are dumb enough to get sucked in. They may decide though to go for first mover advantage unless there’s a quiet diplomatic agreement for NZ not to sink the boot.
I’m hoping he’ll get some sort of offer to stay in NZ without having to go through the farcical asylum process. Despite the blatherings of Dutton and the electoral rump the fact remains there’s still no exit strategy to this foolish too-smart-by-half scheme.
Unless they’re planning a tenth anniversary in asylum party or perhaps three months long service leave a gradual face saving wind down is the best option and one they should grab ASAP. The idea that anyone resettled in NZ would risk a visit here beggars belief except perhaps to the sort of rusted on dullards who’ve never owned a passport and been anywhere.
I truly think he is better off in New Zealand as the country would fit into his life style. It is quite obvious it doesn’t fit into a large number of New Zealanders lifestyle as they are all over here in Sydney or up the coast surfing. But wait until he finds out about their dole system and free medical and we will see how he feels then, along with the refugee handouts he has missed out on. I know that there are some out there who feel that Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and other Australian cities, should be competing with the Mobs in Berlin and Switzerland, as well as Paris. But of course there are just to many in Australia who respect and like the lifestyle they have worked and fought for over the years. If some other keyboard activists had worked and saved their money, they would also respect the lifestyle they have and would be willing to share with other working class people from over seas.
What in the name of blue eyed malingerism are you talking about there KenT? What a one – eyed, mean – spirited little approach to everyday existence your post would tend to indicate. Particularly given what Rebekah Holt’s story of Mr Boochani’s possible freedom from unlawful incarceration is all about and shows of the current deplorable mess our political class would have this otherwise wonderful country in. Ugh!
Society is comprised of us good folk who work hard for a living and then there’s that other lot the “not Us” who are lazy good for nothings and who essentially lean on us lifters, don’t they? Your peanuckle “ideas” based on fear and hatred of the new/unfamiliar and those husks of humanity who hold to them make a fair and open minded, progressive sit quietly in a darkened room with a cold compress on one’s prematurely balding head in aching despair. Bleeding heart enough for you?
It is well known that in the hey day of boat people the more sophisticated illegals – first went to New Zealand on valid visas then until they managed to work the system for a NZ residency stayed in the country until they received permanent residency – once that was achieved then they jumped the ditch to come here legally and settled here. BUT after a few years [Canberra is the slow learners capital of Australia} that was plugged. So god luck to him and luckily USA has accepted him and he would be a fool not to go because they US economy isn’t in a recession like Australia. He will make a good living there – rather than receiving dole payments here.
Believe it or not, there are people with slightly higher goals than the dole, even among ‘illegals’ as you falsely call them.
Boochani already has so many invitations to speak and write worldwide about Australia’s detention disgrace that the dole is not something he will ever need worry about. Unlike yourself I suspect.
Well what would one call a person who pays to undertake a known illegal journey arranged by criminal gangs – who have an extensive knowledge of migration and an efficient organised way to navigate the around a country’s laws? Perhaps you may find it more palatable to call the illegals – clients – and the organisers – lawyers specialising in admiralty and migration law.
In real world parlance the labels are criminals and accomplices.
The criminal party in this case is the Australian government, which is flouting the international agreements it signed to protect refugees fleeing for their life and liberty. And further denying them the right to settle in third party countries.
Congratulations on achieving accomplice status.
I’d call them asylum seekers. And desperate.
I, like so many other will call them “Illegal Immigrants” especially after they pass through 3 to 4 other safe countries to get to Australia. 30 years in Law Enforcement and evaluation gave me more insight into the workings and dealings of the criminal world then most others. I do fear for Australia when I have seen and been informed why things can not be changed or achieved because of the power that “out side” sources are apposed to. Many years ago, I don’t know if you have any knowledge of it, but we here in Australia, excepted people from all over the world. They came and built the Snowy Scheme, Farmed and built solid businesses, and joined us as solid citizens. But they came, every one of them through the front door. Not via a criminal net work of illegal human traffickers, as you appear to support. “So young man, think carefully before you invest in your own wisdom”. P.S, That is an old Italian saying my father taught me.