World News 03-09-2001 Afghan Boat People Bound For Papua New Guinea who: Australian navy what: Take Afghan boat people to Papua New Guinea as Tampa saga continues where: Australia when: Today snippet: "An Australian naval ship with hospital facilities has pulled up alongside a Norwegian freighter ready to transfer hundreds of unwanted asylum seekers for the next leg of their journey," says a Reuters report in The Financial Times this morning as the saga of the Tampa continues. The 433 mostly Afghan refugees, who were refused entry to Australia last week after being rescued from drowning by the Tampa last weekend, will now be taken to Papua New Guinea where they will be divided into two groups and sent to New Zealand and the tiny island of Nauru, the world`s smallest republic, where their asylum applications will be processed. However, Melbourne pressure group the Victorian Council of Civil Liberties is challenging the government, reports The Telegraph, saying that the asylum seekers are subject to Australian law. They have begun a federal court action to prevent the refugees being forced out of Australian waters. As the six-to-ten day journey to Papua New Guinea begins, a federal court will hear the case and if the government loses, they may well turn around and come straight back. [... more]

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