Afghan govt urges UN inspection
From AAP
05feb02
THE Afghan government has urged Australia to allow a United Nations delegation to inspect conditions at the Woomera detention centre first-hand.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, wants to send a special envoy to inspect the facility amid concerns human rights issues are not being addressed.
Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock today said the request would be considered but denied there were specific human rights issues.
Afghan Minister for Public Works, Abdul Kaliz Fazal, a long time resident of Australia, said Australia should accept the envoy and show the international community it had nothing to hide.
"I think the Australian government should themselves ask for an independent commission to come and inspect the detention centres because Australia's reputation internationally will be (harmed) if they don't accept these inspectors," he told ABC television.
Mr Fazal also urged Afghan asylum seekers whose applications for temporary residence visas had been turned down or were still being processed to take up the government offer of a resettlement allowance.
"It's better than nothing, it's better than a detention centre," he said.
"Two months ago those people had a case to stay in Australia or another country ... but now Afghanistan is in a different situation."