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Governments that pay people smugglers should face legal action, Indonesia’s UNHCR rep says
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) representative in Indonesia, Thomas Vargas, has warned people smugglers remain active in the region and said legal action should be taken against governments that make payments to smugglers.
- By Indonesia correspondent Samantha Hawley
- ABC
An Australian official is alleged to have given six crew members $US30,000 ($37,000) to turn a boat carrying 65 asylum seekers back to Indonesia in May 2015.
In an interview with the ABC, Mr Vargas said any nation that paid a people smuggler should be brought to justice either at home or in an international court.
“Any country that pays smugglers breaks the law, it is as simple as that,” Mr Vargas said…