Mark Dodd; 14/11/09
Six Muslim Uighurs released from Guantanamo Bay and relocated to the tiny Pacific nation of Palau strongly deny any terrorism links, claim they are victims of Chinese oppression and want to settle in Australia. Palau’s President, Johnson Toribiong, says the Uighurs pose no threat to civil society and he is puzzled by Kevin Rudd’s refusal to accept any for resettlement. In an interview with SBS TV’s Dateline, to be shown tomorrow, Mr Toribiong accused Canberra of caving in to pressure from Beijing despite repeated US requests to allow former Guantanamo Uighurs to come to Australia.Concerns about China’s treatment of Muslim Uighurs were underscored with confirmation by Beijing this week that it had executed eight Uighurs convicted of involvement in deadly riots in Xianjiang province in July, its worst ethnic violence in decades.
See: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/guantanamo-uighurs-no-threat/story-e6frg6nf-1225797554714; Obama Guantanamo advisor steps down; 14/11/09; http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/obama-guantanamo-advisor-steps-down/story-fn3dxix6-1225797579110
Tags: Australia, China, Migrants & Refugees, Palau, Terrorism, USA