Government News Index
Tampa was right - and wrong: PM
Daily Telegraph
21mar02
PRIME MINISTER John Howard yesterday congratulated Tampa captain Arne Rinnan after he was awarded a human rights prize for his actions during last year's refugee crisis.
The Tampa's owner, Wilhem Wilhemsen Lines, and its crew also shared the honours, which are awarded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The Nansen Committee, which judges the prize, praised Capt Rinnan, his crew and the shipping company for their conduct during the standoff between the Australian Government and 433 asylum seekers.
The Tampa picked up the refugees from a sinking boat in the Indian Ocean last August, but Capt Rinnan was refused permission to land on Australian territory at Christmas Island.
In keeping with the Government's hardline stance on the issue of people smuggling, Australian SAS commandos were sent to transfer those on board to navy ships.
They were then taken to Nauru while their claims for asylum were processed.
Through it all, Capt Rinnan, his crew, and the shipping company "demonstrated personal courage and a unique degree of commitment to refugee protection," the Nansen Committee said.
Speaking last December, Capt Rinnan shrugged off such accolades, saying: "I have only been rescuing people at sea and the rest was politics."
He also said he had not received any official thanks from Australia for his efforts during the refugee crisis, adding, "I have not heard a word from Mr Howard."
But yesterday Mr Howard told ABC Radio it was entirely appropriate that the company and Capt Rinnan be rewarded for their efforts.
"I think it's entirely consistent for people to recognise their humanitarian gesture in rescuing people on that vessel and they did do the right thing in relation to that," he said.
"Our quarrel with the Tampa was not that they rescued the asylum seekers. Our quarrel was that there should have been a different pattern of conduct after that.
"So I think the two things are quite consistent. Our position is correct and their humanitarian gesture should be appropriately recognised and I congratulate them."
In its remarks, the committee said Wilhem Wilhemsen Lines and Capt Rinnan had risked substantial delays and large financial losses to rescue the boat people.
It recognised the company's long record of rescuing people at sea, and noted that "refugees fleeing persecution frequently use unseaworthy vessels in a bid to reach safety".
The Nansen Award, with a $100,000 prize, will be awarded to Capt Rinnan and the shipping company on June 20 -- World Refugee Day