Fed: Afghans call on Aust to identify refugeees on Tampa

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2001
Fed: Afghans call on Aust to identify refugeees on Tampa

CANBERRA, Aug 29 AAP - Australia should identify genuine refugees aboard a Norwegian
ship stranded off Christmas Island, honorary consul for Afghanistan, Mahmoud Saikal said
today.

Mr Saikal said he believed a significant percentage of the asylum seekers aboard the
Tampa were genuinely fleeing Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia.

"We appeal to the Australian government to take emergency measures towards the identification
of genuine refugees on board," he told reporters in Canberra.

"And allow them to prove their case on Australian soil."

Mr Saikal represents the Islamic State of Afghanistan, known as the Northern Alliance,
which controls about 10 per cent of the country, while the Taliban controls about 90 per
cent.

The Northern Alliance is recognised by the United Nations.

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KEYWORD: BOAT AFGHAN

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