The bill, also known as “Asylum Seeker Ban of 2010” and authored by Senator Hokkons Baules, was passed in that body on first reading.
“The Olbiil Era Kelulau understands and sympathizes that there are many places in the world where humans are unreasonably persecuted by their home countries; however, the Republic simply does not have the resources to cope with any asylum seekers who seek refuge in the country,” the bill reads.
Asylum seeker is defined as a human being seeking refuge in another country due to persecution in their home country for political opinions, religious beliefs, race, nationality or membership in a particular social group or political party.
“The Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that due to this current economic crisis and downward fiscal spiral that the Republic is in it simply cannot afford to accept any asylum seekers. Although the Republic sympathizes with the plight of such people seeking refuge, the needs of Palau and its people must come first. Accordingly, the Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that this Bill to ban all asylum seekers from being permitted to seek refuge in the Republic is necessary for the Republic,” it added.
The bill states that the Ministry of State may not accept any application for asylum or refuge within the Republic of Palau.
The bill further states that the Ministry of Justice shall, where a human is illegally attempting to attain status as either an asylum seeker or a refugee, expel that human from the Republic by any reasonable and humane means the Minister deems necessary.
The procedure for expulsion of a human being seeking asylum or refuge in Palau is similar to the procedure for expulsion of an illegal alien.
Senator Baules, in a phone interview, clarified that the bill does not promote discrimination.
“We are not discriminating here. We only see to it that the needs of the people here are addressed first. Accepting asylum seekers would place a heavy burden on our struggling nation. Palau simply does not have the resources to cope with them,” he stressed.
Baules added by pointing out that Palau is not the first country that initiated such move.
“Even more developed countries have banned asylum seekers,” said Baules, citing Thailand and Australia where asylum seekers are not permitted to enter.
Baules said that penalties go with violation of the provisions of the bill.
At the discretion of the Ministry, any commercial carrier who unlawfully brings an asylum seeker to the Republic may be subject to a $500 fine and an additional fine commensurate with any fees incurred by the Republic as a result of the asylum seeker’s stay in the country.
At the discretion of the concerned authorities, any noncommercial carrier who unlawfully brings an asylum seeker to the Republic may be subject to a $500 fine, and if the carrier is a boat or a private plane with a captain, the captain of such boat or plane, at the discretion of the Minister, is subject to not more than one month in prison.
Where the asylum seeker arrives in Palau under his own power, whether by a self-propelled boat, plane, or other self-propelled mode of transportation, the asylum seeker may, at the discretion of the Minister, be subject to a fine of $500, not more than three months in jail, immediately expelled from the Republic, or any combination of the abovementioned penalties.
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