Nauru refugees offered 'safe' land

The Australian ship HMNAS Manoora at sunset off the central Pacific island of Nauru. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Australia paints Cambodia as a perfect haven — forgetting crime rate, disease, human rights record and unrest.

It's a safe, diverse and democratic country with a high standard of health care, a low cost of living, and virtually no violent crime or stray dogs.

Or so claims the Australian Government, which plans to fly a first batch of refugees to Cambodia next week under a much criticised resettlement deal with the dirt-poor Southeast Asian nation. The first charter flight could leave Nauru as early as next Monday, according to a letter circulated among refugees this week. Those on board will receive "cash in hand", free "villa-style" housing in Phnom Penh, health insurance, help finding work and access to education and language training.

Those who follow later will receive a "different" - presumably less generous - assistance package, says the letter from the Government, which does not explain why its portrayal of Cambodia differs so radically from the advice it gives to Australian tourists heading to the country. They are warned about frequent "snatch and grab crimes against foreigners by thieves on motorcycles", sometimes leading to injuries, assaults and armed robberies, "violent clashes" between security forces and demonstrators, and "common" diseases such as tuberculosis, rabies, typhoid, hepatitis and dengue fever.

Not mentioned in the travel advice, but surely relevant to those contemplating Australia's resettlement offer, is Cambodia's shocking human rights record, which includes sending asylum-seekers and refugees back to countries from which they fled because of torture, persecution and violence.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Amnesty and other rights groups expressed deep concern about the agreement signed last year by Australia and Cambodia. It followed a pledge by the Coalition Government that no refugee who reaches Australia by boat will be allowed to settle in the country.

Under the deal with Phnom Penh, Australia will pay resettlement costs, as well as donating an extra A$40 million ($40.8 million) in aid over the next four years. However, Cambodia has said it will only accept refugees who volunteer for resettlement. Hence Australia's tempting-sounding offer of "an opportunity for you and your family to start a new life in a safe country, free from persecution and violence, and build your future".

The letter also dangles in front of refugees the prospect of cheap cigarettes ($1.60 a packet), petrol ($1.68 a litre) and meals out ($4.62 a head).

Ian Rintoul, a spokesman for Australia's Refugee Action Collective, said that, as far he knew, no one on Nauru had accepted the offer. Nor had anyone taken up the opportunity of Khmer language classes.

One refugee on Nauru told Guardian Australia: "People googled Cambodia and they said it's not a safe country, there [are] lots of dangers, and I know people have lots of concerns about it. So, not many people are interested."