Two more boats arrive to Australia since signing Malaysian deal

Another two boats have arrived to Australia this week since the signing of a deal between Australia and Malaysia to swap 800 asylum-seekers that come to Australia illegally by boat for 4,000 genuine refugees waiting in Malaysia for resettlement.

One boat was carrying 100 asylum-seekers. This group was made up of 31 unaccompanied minors, 60 single adult males, and family groups including women and children. One of the women was wearing a full burqa and it is believed that those on board are from Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.

Asylum seekers were taken to the processing centre on Christmas Island, where a mother hugged her toddler and smiled widely, as did the other women in the group. The smiles did not last long though as Australian officials soon told them that the $55,000 they gave to people smugglers to get to Australia was wasted and they would be sent to Malaysia.

The other boat arrived a few days later carrying about 62 asylum seekers. This brings the total number of asylum seekers to be sent to Malaysia to 269.

The transfer of the 269 asylum-seekers to Malaysia has been delayed until the Australian High Court can complete an investigation into the lawfulness of the agreement. At the heart of the matter is the transfer of 44 unaccompanied minors. The court will determine whether the Australian government can legally send unaccompanied minors to Malaysia, a country that has not signed the UN Convention protecting the rights of refugees. The court case will be heard the week of 22 August.

The Australian government fears that the delay in sending asylum-seekers to Malaysia will be exploited by people smugglers and more boats will arrive to the harm of the asylum-seekers who will spend all their money only to be sent to Malaysia.